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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Trying Not To Notice (Part 2)

October 17, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Trying Not To Notice (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Culture #Evil #LightoftheWorld #Witness/Witnessing #Calling #Purpose #Commission #Rejoice #Persecution #Suffering #IdentityinChrist #Praise

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Trying Not To Notice (Part 2) | October 17, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: you know, we're witnessing something of a crisis
  • 00:00:06.756 --> 00:00:07.824
  • In our nation, something i never thought i would see, expressions
  • 00:00:09.059 --> 00:00:12.262
  • Of antisemitism, hatred for the jewish people coming from
  • 00:00:12.262 --> 00:00:15.932
  • America, coming from the christian community, the
  • 00:00:15.932 --> 00:00:19.035
  • Conservative side of the ideological spectrum, to
  • 00:00:19.035 --> 00:00:22.105
  • A degree and scope i've never seen before.
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  • Well, it was important enough that i stopped and put together
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  • A book.
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  • The title of it is "supporting israel, how far is too far."
  • 00:00:28.111 --> 00:00:31.648
  • It's an important concept that isn't political.
  • 00:00:31.648 --> 00:00:34.517
  • It's grounded in a biblical worldview.
  • 00:00:34.517 --> 00:00:36.453
  • I think we need to understand our responsibilities to the
  • 00:00:36.453 --> 00:00:39.255
  • Jewish people, to the modern state of israel, not from
  • 00:00:39.255 --> 00:00:42.325
  • An ideological perspective, not from the perspective of nation
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  • States, but as people of god.
  • 00:00:45.195 --> 00:00:47.697
  • It's important.
  • 00:00:47.697 --> 00:00:49.065
  • It's an important season.
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  • A lot of voices, and i know there's some fatigue with the
  • 00:00:50.400 --> 00:00:52.235
  • Conflict in the middle east, but we can't afford to be fatigued
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  • With our assignments to honor god and the responsibilities
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  • That come with that.
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  • I believe the book will be a help to you.
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  • I believe it'll help you navigate the conversation with
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  • Your family and your friends.
  • 00:01:03.613 --> 00:01:05.648
  • Enjoy the read.
  • 00:01:05.648 --> 00:01:09.085
  • Allen: you know, how you--how many of you have ever had
  • 00:01:13.256 --> 00:01:14.858
  • A let's pray moment and you prayed for somebody?
  • 00:01:14.858 --> 00:01:17.594
  • Maybe you know you missed one or two of those probably before you
  • 00:01:17.594 --> 00:01:19.963
  • Got to the one you were ready to fire on.
  • 00:01:19.963 --> 00:01:23.266
  • All right, you walked away from him and you go, "oh, i could
  • 00:01:23.266 --> 00:01:25.268
  • Have done that let's pray thing."
  • 00:01:25.268 --> 00:01:29.372
  • I mean, i've prayed with some of you because you were like, "oh,
  • 00:01:29.372 --> 00:01:31.708
  • I should have prayed for somebody."
  • 00:01:31.708 --> 00:01:33.076
  • Like trust me, there'll be more.
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  • But once you've kind of crossed that experience threshold and it
  • 00:01:36.479 --> 00:01:40.583
  • Becomes a part of your repertoire, then you're like
  • 00:01:40.583 --> 00:01:44.387
  • Hear them and you go, "oh yeah, let's pray."
  • 00:01:44.387 --> 00:01:47.323
  • You'll have similar experiences to be an ambassador for jesus.
  • 00:01:47.323 --> 00:01:53.129
  • And we've been passing on them because we didn't want
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  • The disgrace.
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  • We really didn't want to be identified with him.
  • 00:01:57.567 --> 00:02:01.004
  • We didn't wanna say, "oh no, no, i'm with those people.
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  • I'll stand for those values."
  • 00:02:05.708 --> 00:02:08.144
  • We've been quiet.
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  • And if you're willing, the lord will put those places where you
  • 00:02:10.313 --> 00:02:13.783
  • Won't have to be obnoxious, you won't have to be worried, you
  • 00:02:13.783 --> 00:02:15.652
  • Don't have to be belligerent.
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  • You'll be able to, in a very quiet way, go, "no,
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  • I'm for that.
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  • I believe in that.
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  • I don't think that is right.
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  • I think you should be able to bring a biblical worldview into
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  • The public square.
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  • I don't believe that is a warp in my character at all.
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  • And i'm grateful to be identified with those people."
  • 00:02:37.407 --> 00:02:41.010
  • If you'll open your heart to that, god will give you--and you
  • 00:02:41.010 --> 00:02:43.813
  • Can begin to rejoice, we can begin to rejoice.
  • 00:02:43.813 --> 00:02:46.149
  • "i was counted worthy.
  • 00:02:46.149 --> 00:02:49.886
  • He said i was worth, he was willing to be identified with me
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  • In public if i'd be identified with him.
  • 00:02:52.655 --> 00:02:54.357
  • I'm in for some of that.
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  • I'm in for some of that."
  • 00:02:56.993 --> 00:03:01.130
  • It's really a powerful principle.
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  • It'll change your imagination, it'll galvanize you, it'll give
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  • You courage and strength in the face of some real opposition.
  • 00:03:05.401 --> 00:03:09.439
  • The disciples didn't get it right.
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  • It's already in their resume.
  • 00:03:11.975 --> 00:03:13.343
  • They denied the lord.
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  • They hid when he needed a friend.
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  • They weren't there for him.
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  • On resurrection day, they weren't sitting outside the tomb
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  • Cutting the celebratory cake.
  • 00:03:21.184 --> 00:03:24.554
  • But i think this beginning point is really important that when
  • 00:03:24.554 --> 00:03:27.023
  • You're faced with those opportunities to suffer disgrace
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  • For the name of the lord that you understand it doesn't feel
  • 00:03:29.525 --> 00:03:32.028
  • Good, it isn't pleasant, it isn't comfortable.
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  • It can be painful, can have consequences that are painful.
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  • You can feel threatened.
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  • But the response that you wanna bring to the forefront is, "i'm
  • 00:03:39.202 --> 00:03:42.171
  • Gonna rejoice.
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  • God, thank you.
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  • Thank you for that. thank you for that.
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  • It frightened me, but thank you.
  • 00:03:49.812 --> 00:03:53.483
  • Felt a lot like rejection, lord, but thank you that i could stand
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  • Up for you.
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  • We get a--peter gives us a little coaching on it.
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  • 1 peter's written near--some years after the events of acts
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  • Chapter 5.
  • 00:04:08.097 --> 00:04:09.465
  • He's giving us the benefit of some life experience,
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  • And he said, "dear friends, don't be surprised at the
  • 00:04:11.901 --> 00:04:13.736
  • Painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were
  • 00:04:13.736 --> 00:04:16.673
  • Happening to you.
  • 00:04:16.673 --> 00:04:18.341
  • But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of christ,"
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  • Sound familiar?
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  • What do you say when you participate in the sufferings of
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  • Christ, get mad at the people that made you suffer?
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  • Resent them?
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  • Withdraw from them?
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  • Change your language so you don't suffer.
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  • That's not what he said.
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  • He said, "rejoice that you participate, so that you may be
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  • Overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
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  • If you're insulted because of the name of christ, you're
  • 00:04:41.164 --> 00:04:43.599
  • Blessed, for the spirit of glory and of god rests on you."
  • 00:04:43.599 --> 00:04:48.204
  • This isn't theoretical for peter.
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  • He's been insulted because of the name of christ.
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  • He's been threatened.
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  • By this point in his life, he's suffered physically and
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  • Emotionally, relationally in every conceivable way.
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  • And he's giving us some firsthand experience, not
  • 00:04:59.415 --> 00:05:01.918
  • Theoretical theology, but from his own life journey.
  • 00:05:01.918 --> 00:05:05.321
  • He said, "if you're insulted because of the name of christ,
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  • You're blessed for the spirit of glory and of god rests on you."
  • 00:05:07.724 --> 00:05:11.661
  • Or if the spirit of glory rests on you, what would you do?
  • 00:05:11.661 --> 00:05:13.963
  • You should rejoice if you suffer.
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  • It shouldn't be as a murderer or a thief or any other kind of
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  • Criminal or even as a meddler.
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  • You know, he said, "if you're suffering because your
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  • Character's warped and your behavior is bad, don't drag god
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  • Into this."
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  • "you know, pastor, i've been suffering at work."
  • 00:05:32.048 --> 00:05:33.549
  • "how come?"
  • 00:05:33.549 --> 00:05:34.884
  • Well, because i'm a lousy employee.
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  • I get there late, i leave early.
  • 00:05:36.252 --> 00:05:40.857
  • I'm being persecuted."
  • 00:05:40.857 --> 00:05:42.225
  • "no, you're being held accountable."
  • 00:05:42.225 --> 00:05:44.894
  • We should be the most employable people available to anyone.
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  • Our words should be good, our work ethics should be the best,
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  • Our attitudes should be superlative.
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  • Don't everybody shout out "amen" at once.
  • 00:05:55.838 --> 00:05:57.974
  • [congregation chuckling]
  • 00:05:57.974 --> 00:05:59.308
  • "if you suffer, it shouldn't be as a murderer or a thief or any
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  • Other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
  • 00:06:02.078 --> 00:06:03.846
  • However, if you suffer as a christian, do not be ashamed,"
  • 00:06:03.846 --> 00:06:09.986
  • If the message is inserted, "don't be ashamed when you
  • 00:06:09.986 --> 00:06:12.622
  • Suffer as a christian," what are you tempted to feel?
  • 00:06:12.622 --> 00:06:15.892
  • Shame.
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  • "i didn't do it right.
  • 00:06:17.326 --> 00:06:18.795
  • I should have been a better christian.
  • 00:06:18.795 --> 00:06:20.196
  • I should have used different words."
  • 00:06:20.196 --> 00:06:24.100
  • See, shame says somehow you're wrong, you're not valuable, you
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  • Didn't get it correct.
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  • Don't be ashamed, but do what?
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  • "praise god that you bear that name."
  • 00:06:31.474 --> 00:06:35.778
  • That's that same theme we saw way back in acts chapter 5
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  • Decades earlier.
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  • They left the sanhedrin rejoicing that they'd been
  • 00:06:40.683 --> 00:06:42.819
  • Counted worthy to suffer disgrace.
  • 00:06:42.819 --> 00:06:46.122
  • And peter says, "listen, if you suffer as a christian, don't be
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  • Ashamed, but praise god."
  • 00:06:50.259 --> 00:06:54.197
  • He didn't say it wasn't shameful, he didn't say it
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  • Wasn't painful, he didn't say it was easy, he said in the midst
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  • Of all that disruption, the response you're looking for is
  • 00:06:59.101 --> 00:07:03.406
  • To give glory to god.
  • 00:07:03.406 --> 00:07:08.344
  • You know, if we're gonna go--if you've never flown before, we're
  • 00:07:08.344 --> 00:07:10.480
  • Gonna get on an international flight, somebody, if they were
  • 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:13.783
  • Helpful, would probably tell you, "you know, as the plane
  • 00:07:13.783 --> 00:07:15.852
  • Gets to altitude, your ears are gonna pop."
  • 00:07:15.852 --> 00:07:18.955
  • Well, if nobody told you that, you know, little babies on the
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  • Planes start crying because they don't know how to process it,
  • 00:07:20.957 --> 00:07:24.560
  • They just know it hurts.
  • 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:26.462
  • And if nobody's ever told you, you think, "well, maybe, you
  • 00:07:26.462 --> 00:07:28.164
  • Know, my eardrums are gonna rupture or something horrible."
  • 00:07:28.164 --> 00:07:30.266
  • No, you can clear your ears.
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  • We're being given some counsel on what to do when there is push
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  • Back because of your affiliation with jesus.
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  • And the counsel we're not being given is, "do everything you can
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  • To avoid that.
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  • Don't tell anybody.
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  • Turn down the--"
  • 00:07:47.183 --> 00:07:48.518
  • That's not what he's telling us.
  • 00:07:48.518 --> 00:07:50.553
  • In fact, it says just the opposite, that they never
  • 00:07:50.553 --> 00:07:52.889
  • Stopped day after day in public and in private, they doubled
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  • Down on the message.
  • 00:07:57.894 --> 00:08:00.096
  • And decades later, peter isn't retracting and he said, "you
  • 00:08:00.096 --> 00:08:02.565
  • Know, i was young and brash and foolish and i
  • 00:08:02.565 --> 00:08:04.367
  • Didn't understand."
  • 00:08:04.367 --> 00:08:05.735
  • No, he's giving us counsel born out of his life experience.
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  • Acts 16, i'm gonna step forward.
  • 00:08:12.975 --> 00:08:14.410
  • We're gonna go back in the narrative and pick it up
  • 00:08:14.410 --> 00:08:16.279
  • A little more consistent with acts 5, but there's
  • 00:08:16.279 --> 00:08:19.649
  • An illustration of this.
  • 00:08:19.649 --> 00:08:21.517
  • Paul and silas find themselves arrested.
  • 00:08:21.517 --> 00:08:25.154
  • These jesus people have trouble.
  • 00:08:25.154 --> 00:08:27.523
  • They got rap sheets, for real.
  • 00:08:27.523 --> 00:08:33.629
  • Imagine living in a world where jesus people are disrespected to
  • 00:08:33.629 --> 00:08:36.799
  • The point that they're accused, arrested.
  • 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:41.504
  • We're on the cusp of it.
  • 00:08:41.504 --> 00:08:43.205
  • I don't know which way it will go.
  • 00:08:43.205 --> 00:08:44.574
  • It may get rolled back and we may have a season of freedom to
  • 00:08:44.574 --> 00:08:46.642
  • Proclaim the gospel, but it could turn the other way.
  • 00:08:46.642 --> 00:08:51.080
  • There's people celebrating a christian martyr.
  • 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:55.418
  • You're trying hard not to notice, but that's
  • 00:08:55.418 --> 00:08:57.086
  • What's happening.
  • 00:08:57.086 --> 00:08:59.655
  • It should make us all uncomfortable, not afraid.
  • 00:08:59.655 --> 00:09:02.291
  • We should rejoice.
  • 00:09:02.291 --> 00:09:03.626
  • We live in a time where there's--god is moving in
  • 00:09:03.626 --> 00:09:05.328
  • The earth.
  • 00:09:05.328 --> 00:09:09.999
  • We'll all celebrate hundreds of thousands of young people that
  • 00:09:09.999 --> 00:09:12.368
  • Had their hearts open to the gospel through the efforts of an
  • 00:09:12.368 --> 00:09:14.704
  • Individual or a group of people.
  • 00:09:14.704 --> 00:09:18.841
  • "the crowd joined in the attack against paul and silas, and the
  • 00:09:18.841 --> 00:09:21.344
  • Magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten.
  • 00:09:21.344 --> 00:09:24.747
  • And after they've been severely flogged," not just flogged,
  • 00:09:24.747 --> 00:09:27.717
  • They're severely flogged, "they were thrown into prison, and the
  • 00:09:27.717 --> 00:09:30.019
  • Jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.
  • 00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:32.388
  • And upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell
  • 00:09:32.388 --> 00:09:35.458
  • And fastened their feet in the stocks."
  • 00:09:35.458 --> 00:09:38.294
  • About midnight paul and silas were complaining that their team
  • 00:09:38.294 --> 00:09:44.834
  • Had mismanaged the public event.
  • 00:09:44.834 --> 00:09:49.605
  • "about midnight paul and silas were praying and singing hymns
  • 00:09:49.605 --> 00:09:52.441
  • To god, and the other prisoners were listening to them."
  • 00:09:52.441 --> 00:09:56.379
  • So, i think the events in acts chapter 5 are--it becomes a part
  • 00:09:56.379 --> 00:10:00.950
  • Of the community, it becomes a part of their pattern.
  • 00:10:00.950 --> 00:10:03.753
  • It's why peter can write it near the end of his life.
  • 00:10:03.753 --> 00:10:07.023
  • It's what they've learned, it's how they lived through
  • 00:10:07.023 --> 00:10:08.758
  • The opposition.
  • 00:10:08.758 --> 00:10:10.893
  • So, it becomes more to me than just an observance of biblical
  • 00:10:10.893 --> 00:10:13.896
  • History or an exegetical approach to the apostolic faith
  • 00:10:13.896 --> 00:10:19.201
  • In the book of acts.
  • 00:10:19.201 --> 00:10:21.971
  • I think when we face opposition that what needs to be one of our
  • 00:10:21.971 --> 00:10:26.375
  • Core responses is to begin to say, "god, thank you that you'd
  • 00:10:26.375 --> 00:10:29.078
  • Count me worthy."
  • 00:10:29.078 --> 00:10:32.048
  • It'll help us overcome the fear, it'll help us put off the shame,
  • 00:10:32.048 --> 00:10:37.353
  • It'll help us overcome the discomfort.
  • 00:10:37.353 --> 00:10:40.322
  • It'll refocus our thoughts on what's ahead of us and not on
  • 00:10:40.322 --> 00:10:44.827
  • The loss in the moment because there'll be some losses attached
  • 00:10:44.827 --> 00:10:49.031
  • To honoring the lord.
  • 00:10:49.031 --> 00:10:51.200
  • There's other choices.
  • 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:56.439
  • Allen: now, how should we respond to the nation of israel
  • 00:11:00.576 --> 00:11:03.179
  • And the jewish people?
  • 00:11:03.179 --> 00:11:04.580
  • It's a complex question in today's world.
  • 00:11:04.580 --> 00:11:07.016
  • Well, i've written a book, "supporting israel, how far is
  • 00:11:07.016 --> 00:11:09.785
  • Too far?" to help us establish a biblical perspective on what has
  • 00:11:09.785 --> 00:11:14.423
  • Become a complex question in contemporary culture.
  • 00:11:14.423 --> 00:11:18.027
  • We don't wanna follow the guidance and the counsel of some
  • 00:11:18.027 --> 00:11:20.896
  • Of the elite universities in this nation.
  • 00:11:20.896 --> 00:11:23.566
  • We wanna form a perspective that's built from god's word.
  • 00:11:23.566 --> 00:11:26.135
  • If we'll do that, it'll bring his blessings to our lives.
  • 00:11:26.135 --> 00:11:29.505
  • Enjoy the book.
  • 00:11:29.505 --> 00:11:30.840
  • Female announcer: from the pages of scripture to the front lines
  • 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:32.842
  • Of today's news, israel stands at the center of god's purposes.
  • 00:11:32.842 --> 00:11:37.279
  • Pastor allen's new booklet, "supporting israel, how far is
  • 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:40.816
  • Too far?" offers a quick way to gain a biblical perspective on
  • 00:11:40.816 --> 00:11:44.220
  • Israel, why israel matters to god, and why it should matter
  • 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:48.290
  • To us.
  • 00:11:48.290 --> 00:11:49.625
  • Request your copy with your gift of any amount today at
  • 00:11:49.625 --> 00:11:52.862
  • Allenjackson.com or by calling ...
  • 00:11:52.862 --> 00:11:58.634
  • Allen: god shakes the prison in this case and they walk out.
  • 00:12:02.338 --> 00:12:05.040
  • They don't always walk out.
  • 00:12:05.040 --> 00:12:07.042
  • I want to go back to acts chapter 8.
  • 00:12:07.042 --> 00:12:08.644
  • Now, we're a little closer to the chronology.
  • 00:12:08.644 --> 00:12:11.847
  • Acts chapter 7, we get the first martyr in jerusalem after jesus,
  • 00:12:11.847 --> 00:12:15.317
  • It's stephen.
  • 00:12:15.317 --> 00:12:16.685
  • He's murdered in the streets of the city because he's standing
  • 00:12:16.685 --> 00:12:20.089
  • Up for jesus again.
  • 00:12:20.089 --> 00:12:22.124
  • And saul's gonna become the apostle paul is there and is
  • 00:12:22.124 --> 00:12:25.461
  • A part of the mob and the angry mob.
  • 00:12:25.461 --> 00:12:29.265
  • Acts 8 opens with that, "saul was there, giving his approval
  • 00:12:29.265 --> 00:12:32.101
  • To stephen's death.
  • 00:12:32.101 --> 00:12:33.435
  • And on that day a great persecution broke out against
  • 00:12:33.435 --> 00:12:35.237
  • The church of jerusalem, and all except the apostles were
  • 00:12:35.237 --> 00:12:38.808
  • Scattered through judea and samaria.
  • 00:12:38.808 --> 00:12:41.777
  • Godly men buried stephen and mourned deeply for him.
  • 00:12:41.777 --> 00:12:44.113
  • But saul began to destroy the church.
  • 00:12:44.113 --> 00:12:46.649
  • Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and he
  • 00:12:46.649 --> 00:12:48.851
  • Put them in prison.
  • 00:12:48.851 --> 00:12:50.719
  • And those who had been scattered preached the word wherever
  • 00:12:50.719 --> 00:12:53.255
  • They went."
  • 00:12:53.255 --> 00:12:54.623
  • Philip goes down to samaria and a revival breaks out there.
  • 00:12:54.623 --> 00:12:58.794
  • That there's two things happening here and i want to
  • 00:12:58.794 --> 00:13:00.596
  • Point them out because i think we see them happening now and i
  • 00:13:00.596 --> 00:13:03.199
  • Suspect they're going to both continue to increase.
  • 00:13:03.199 --> 00:13:07.336
  • There is tremendous persecution.
  • 00:13:07.336 --> 00:13:10.206
  • Stephen is martyred.
  • 00:13:10.206 --> 00:13:12.408
  • And he's not martyred by some angry individual, he's martyred
  • 00:13:12.408 --> 00:13:15.644
  • By an angry mob.
  • 00:13:15.644 --> 00:13:17.913
  • So, it's not some aberration, it's not some troubled person,
  • 00:13:17.913 --> 00:13:21.283
  • It's an expression of the will of a significant portion of
  • 00:13:21.283 --> 00:13:24.253
  • The people.
  • 00:13:24.253 --> 00:13:25.588
  • And we see the kind of anger and hatred expressed towards our
  • 00:13:25.588 --> 00:13:28.257
  • Faith that we see.
  • 00:13:28.257 --> 00:13:29.825
  • We have to understand at some level, there's been anger and
  • 00:13:29.825 --> 00:13:32.228
  • Hatred directed at our faith for quite a season or we wouldn't
  • 00:13:32.228 --> 00:13:35.097
  • Have been moderating our behavior and our language.
  • 00:13:35.097 --> 00:13:38.734
  • We wouldn't have taken prayer out of schools, we wouldn't have
  • 00:13:38.734 --> 00:13:40.836
  • Taken the ten commandments off the walls.
  • 00:13:40.836 --> 00:13:42.338
  • After all, it's not a bad thing to teach kids not to steal
  • 00:13:42.338 --> 00:13:44.640
  • Or murder.
  • 00:13:44.640 --> 00:13:47.009
  • We've watched all these things be--happening and we were just
  • 00:13:47.009 --> 00:13:49.278
  • Trying really hard not to notice.
  • 00:13:49.278 --> 00:13:50.846
  • There's no problem here, just whistle louder.
  • 00:13:50.846 --> 00:13:55.184
  • And now we arrive at this place where we find ourselves and it
  • 00:13:55.184 --> 00:13:57.620
  • Feels, in some respects, really similar to what we're reading
  • 00:13:57.620 --> 00:14:00.322
  • That there's this great persecution and anger and
  • 00:14:00.322 --> 00:14:02.925
  • Resentment because of the message that jesus of nazareth
  • 00:14:02.925 --> 00:14:05.494
  • Is the messiah, the savior of the world.
  • 00:14:05.494 --> 00:14:08.530
  • That message is still unpopular.
  • 00:14:08.530 --> 00:14:11.300
  • "what are you trying to do, create a theocracy?"
  • 00:14:11.300 --> 00:14:12.935
  • No, i'm trying to say that jesus of nazareth is the savior of
  • 00:14:12.935 --> 00:14:15.437
  • The world.
  • 00:14:15.437 --> 00:14:16.839
  • "well, you can't say that in public."
  • 00:14:16.839 --> 00:14:18.274
  • No, i'm allowed to actually, and i think i will.
  • 00:14:18.274 --> 00:14:22.611
  • And i'm gonna say it in academia, and i'm gonna say it
  • 00:14:22.611 --> 00:14:24.847
  • In courtrooms, and hospitals, and i intend to say wherever the
  • 00:14:24.847 --> 00:14:28.284
  • Lord gives me an opportunity.
  • 00:14:28.284 --> 00:14:30.319
  • If you're an agnostic and you don't believe there's a god, you
  • 00:14:30.319 --> 00:14:33.522
  • Have the privilege of saying that in all of those settings,
  • 00:14:33.522 --> 00:14:36.859
  • And we will protect that privilege.
  • 00:14:36.859 --> 00:14:38.694
  • We think you have the right, but the privilege of asserting the
  • 00:14:38.694 --> 00:14:41.997
  • Uniqueness of jesus has been less respected, and we, as jesus
  • 00:14:41.997 --> 00:14:46.368
  • People, have stepped away from it.
  • 00:14:46.368 --> 00:14:51.006
  • Not helpful. not helpful.
  • 00:14:51.006 --> 00:14:54.944
  • We understand the threat.
  • 00:14:54.944 --> 00:14:56.979
  • But in this passage there's these two things happening, the
  • 00:14:56.979 --> 00:14:59.415
  • Persecution breaks out.
  • 00:14:59.415 --> 00:15:00.883
  • It scatters the believers, scattered throughout judea
  • 00:15:00.883 --> 00:15:04.820
  • And samaria.
  • 00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:06.155
  • The judea is the region immediately around jerusalem,
  • 00:15:06.155 --> 00:15:08.757
  • Samaria is the next one out, so it's kind of expanding
  • 00:15:08.757 --> 00:15:11.727
  • Concentric circles.
  • 00:15:11.727 --> 00:15:13.929
  • Godly men bury stephen.
  • 00:15:13.929 --> 00:15:16.198
  • What's not described as heaviness or despair
  • 00:15:16.198 --> 00:15:19.234
  • Or great fear.
  • 00:15:19.234 --> 00:15:21.070
  • It says, "they went out from there those who were scattered,
  • 00:15:21.070 --> 00:15:23.539
  • Preached the word."
  • 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:25.474
  • They took what caused the persecution in jerusalem and
  • 00:15:25.474 --> 00:15:28.777
  • Exported it.
  • 00:15:28.777 --> 00:15:31.547
  • That's not the behavior we would have--that's not how we would
  • 00:15:31.547 --> 00:15:34.016
  • Have coached this.
  • 00:15:34.016 --> 00:15:35.351
  • "look, that caused real trouble where we were last time.
  • 00:15:35.351 --> 00:15:39.021
  • Let's write a different strategy for samaria," right?
  • 00:15:39.021 --> 00:15:45.060
  • "i mean, i tried that and i mean, it cost stephen dearly, so
  • 00:15:45.060 --> 00:15:49.098
  • We're gonna like dial it back a little bit.
  • 00:15:49.098 --> 00:15:51.567
  • Couldn't we be just a little more inclusive?
  • 00:15:51.567 --> 00:15:55.537
  • Couldn't we get like a dei t-shirt or a crt t-shirt.
  • 00:15:55.537 --> 00:15:59.742
  • I mean, couldn't we at least kind of go undercover for
  • 00:15:59.742 --> 00:16:02.077
  • A little while?"
  • 00:16:02.077 --> 00:16:03.412
  • That's not what they did.
  • 00:16:03.412 --> 00:16:05.214
  • In fact, the supernatural becomes a very--with shrieks,
  • 00:16:05.214 --> 00:16:08.217
  • Evil spirits are coming out.
  • 00:16:08.217 --> 00:16:09.585
  • Could you just dial back the shrieks a little bit.
  • 00:16:09.585 --> 00:16:17.459
  • So, what i want to submit to you, and it says, "there was
  • 00:16:17.459 --> 00:16:19.995
  • Great joy in the city."
  • 00:16:19.995 --> 00:16:21.363
  • Look at verse 8, acts 8:8, "there was great joy in
  • 00:16:21.363 --> 00:16:24.366
  • The city."
  • 00:16:24.366 --> 00:16:27.436
  • Like everybody's not gonna stay joyful.
  • 00:16:27.436 --> 00:16:28.871
  • We can't unpack the whole passage together.
  • 00:16:28.871 --> 00:16:33.542
  • So, you see these two things happening.
  • 00:16:33.542 --> 00:16:35.577
  • Jesus gave us some very clear windows into this.
  • 00:16:35.577 --> 00:16:41.250
  • Matthew 24 is jesus's most lengthy prophetic discourse,
  • 00:16:41.250 --> 00:16:45.154
  • Talking about the end of the age.
  • 00:16:45.154 --> 00:16:46.822
  • And most of us know those first 12 or 14 verses, but he tells
  • 00:16:46.822 --> 00:16:49.825
  • Some parables in there too, and he talks about the parable of
  • 00:16:49.825 --> 00:16:52.895
  • The wheat and the tares.
  • 00:16:52.895 --> 00:16:54.263
  • Do you remember that one?
  • 00:16:54.263 --> 00:16:55.664
  • Where there's a field sowed by the hands working the field and
  • 00:16:55.664 --> 00:16:59.601
  • When the crop comes in, there--the intended crop was
  • 00:16:59.601 --> 00:17:02.938
  • Wheat, but amidst it--in the midst of it there are weeds or
  • 00:17:02.938 --> 00:17:07.042
  • Tares, thistles.
  • 00:17:07.042 --> 00:17:10.979
  • And the people who planted the field are appalled.
  • 00:17:10.979 --> 00:17:13.749
  • It's as if they didn't do their job well.
  • 00:17:13.749 --> 00:17:16.051
  • And they said, "should we go pull up the weeds," and the
  • 00:17:16.051 --> 00:17:17.853
  • Instruction is, "no, because you would disrupt the wheat.
  • 00:17:17.853 --> 00:17:22.224
  • When we harvest it we'll separate it."
  • 00:17:22.224 --> 00:17:23.659
  • And then jesus gives us the meaning of the parable.
  • 00:17:23.659 --> 00:17:25.727
  • He said the field is the end of the age and the harvesters are
  • 00:17:25.727 --> 00:17:28.664
  • The angels.
  • 00:17:28.664 --> 00:17:32.367
  • But the takeaway to me is that the climactic conditions that
  • 00:17:32.367 --> 00:17:36.004
  • Allow the wheat to ripen also allow the weeds to ripen.
  • 00:17:36.004 --> 00:17:40.209
  • That they're both gonna grow at the same time.
  • 00:17:40.209 --> 00:17:43.445
  • And i have to tell you, i've known that parable for a long,
  • 00:17:43.445 --> 00:17:46.615
  • Long time, but i've never really processed it in the way that it
  • 00:17:46.615 --> 00:17:49.384
  • Is becoming very real to me that both good and evil will be given
  • 00:17:49.384 --> 00:17:52.855
  • Some very front and center expressions.
  • 00:17:52.855 --> 00:17:56.658
  • 'cause in my little brain, i thought, "well, if the spirit of
  • 00:17:56.658 --> 00:17:59.128
  • God moved in a remarkable way, the darkness would be crushed
  • 00:17:59.128 --> 00:18:04.500
  • And there would be just like this overwhelming jesus parade
  • 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:07.503
  • Everywhere you look," and yet that's not what happened in
  • 00:18:07.503 --> 00:18:12.040
  • The book of acts.
  • 00:18:12.040 --> 00:18:14.343
  • Thousands and thousands of people in jerusalem are
  • 00:18:14.343 --> 00:18:18.280
  • Professing faith in jesus, being baptized in public gathering
  • 00:18:18.280 --> 00:18:22.284
  • With the disciples, they're having to reorder all of
  • 00:18:22.284 --> 00:18:25.754
  • Their plans.
  • 00:18:25.754 --> 00:18:27.089
  • They've got to put new processes in place.
  • 00:18:27.089 --> 00:18:28.457
  • You know, as groups change and sizes change, the infrastructure
  • 00:18:28.457 --> 00:18:31.193
  • Has to change.
  • 00:18:31.193 --> 00:18:32.661
  • And all of that's happening in jerusalem and it's not
  • 00:18:32.661 --> 00:18:34.496
  • Always--it's a messy business and it's not always easy and
  • 00:18:34.496 --> 00:18:38.033
  • They're working through that.
  • 00:18:38.033 --> 00:18:39.368
  • But there's an amazing response, at the same time, they're
  • 00:18:39.368 --> 00:18:41.937
  • Calling in the leaders of the initiative and having them
  • 00:18:41.937 --> 00:18:44.706
  • Flogged and threatening them.
  • 00:18:44.706 --> 00:18:50.212
  • And we can say the persecuted church always flourishes, and
  • 00:18:50.212 --> 00:18:53.348
  • That sounds wonderful unless you're the one that's
  • 00:18:53.348 --> 00:18:55.050
  • Being persecuted.
  • 00:18:55.050 --> 00:18:57.619
  • And the persecuted church flourishes if the people who are
  • 00:18:57.619 --> 00:19:00.556
  • Persecuting respond in a biblical way.
  • 00:19:00.556 --> 00:19:06.195
  • So, i'm concerned.
  • 00:19:06.195 --> 00:19:07.563
  • I think we're one of those pivot points.
  • 00:19:07.563 --> 00:19:09.331
  • I don't know what next will bring.
  • 00:19:09.331 --> 00:19:11.366
  • I don't think the adversaries of the gospel are going
  • 00:19:11.366 --> 00:19:13.368
  • To withdraw.
  • 00:19:13.368 --> 00:19:14.937
  • I think the question is what will the people of faith do?
  • 00:19:14.937 --> 00:19:18.574
  • We begin to rejoice that we've been counted worthy.
  • 00:19:18.574 --> 00:19:23.378
  • When we celebrate, when we we say, "lord, i will bear your
  • 00:19:23.378 --> 00:19:27.216
  • Name where you've planted me in my neighborhood, in my apartment
  • 00:19:27.216 --> 00:19:31.286
  • Building, in my classroom, in my school, in the hospital where i
  • 00:19:31.286 --> 00:19:35.324
  • Work, wherever that may be."
  • 00:19:35.324 --> 00:19:39.294
  • It's that simple.
  • 00:19:39.294 --> 00:19:49.004
  • I could use bigger font because we're clearly not gonna get to
  • 00:19:49.004 --> 00:19:53.342
  • All that scripture.
  • 00:19:53.342 --> 00:19:56.044
  • Acts 9, we'll look at it real quickly.
  • 00:19:56.044 --> 00:20:00.148
  • Acts chapter 9, saul is recruited by jesus.
  • 00:20:00.148 --> 00:20:03.619
  • Well he's brand new.
  • 00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:06.088
  • I mean, he's a pharisee, he's got lots of religious education,
  • 00:20:06.088 --> 00:20:08.557
  • But he's new to the jesus movement and he's new to the
  • 00:20:08.557 --> 00:20:10.826
  • People who are leading it.
  • 00:20:10.826 --> 00:20:13.895
  • But he's had this traumatic, dramatic personal revelation.
  • 00:20:13.895 --> 00:20:19.468
  • And he's in damascus.
  • 00:20:19.468 --> 00:20:20.802
  • It says, "after many days had gone by, the jews conspired to
  • 00:20:20.802 --> 00:20:22.971
  • Kill him."
  • 00:20:22.971 --> 00:20:25.941
  • Man, he ain't even gotten out of town yet and there's
  • 00:20:25.941 --> 00:20:29.244
  • A conspiracy amongst his former peer group to kill him.
  • 00:20:29.244 --> 00:20:33.215
  • You have to think about that a little bit.
  • 00:20:33.215 --> 00:20:36.752
  • Like not somebody he doesn't know, the people he's trained
  • 00:20:36.752 --> 00:20:40.088
  • With, the people that he's had authority with, the people where
  • 00:20:40.088 --> 00:20:42.758
  • He was the rising star, he was voted most likely to succeed.
  • 00:20:42.758 --> 00:20:49.464
  • They want to kill him.
  • 00:20:49.464 --> 00:20:51.733
  • "but saul learned of their plan.
  • 00:20:51.733 --> 00:20:53.068
  • And day and night they kept a close watch on the city gates in
  • 00:20:53.068 --> 00:20:55.437
  • Order to kill him."
  • 00:20:55.437 --> 00:20:56.772
  • They're watching the airports and the bus stations.
  • 00:20:56.772 --> 00:21:00.075
  • They've got roadblocks up on the interstate.
  • 00:21:00.075 --> 00:21:01.777
  • They're checking all the cars.
  • 00:21:01.777 --> 00:21:03.145
  • They don't intend for him to get out of town.
  • 00:21:03.145 --> 00:21:05.580
  • "but his followers took him by night and lowered him in
  • 00:21:05.580 --> 00:21:07.683
  • A basket through an opening in the wall."
  • 00:21:07.683 --> 00:21:10.652
  • So, he goes to jerusalem verse 26, and when he tried to join
  • 00:21:10.652 --> 00:21:13.255
  • The disciples, they were all afraid of him.
  • 00:21:13.255 --> 00:21:16.525
  • They didn't believe he was really a disciple.
  • 00:21:16.525 --> 00:21:17.926
  • He's been killing christians.
  • 00:21:17.926 --> 00:21:20.896
  • And now he's rolled into town and the message, you know, his
  • 00:21:20.896 --> 00:21:23.131
  • Social media post says, "now a believer."
  • 00:21:23.131 --> 00:21:26.635
  • He's on tiktok.
  • 00:21:26.635 --> 00:21:30.572
  • And the disciples in jerusalem go, "i don't trust
  • 00:21:30.572 --> 00:21:33.675
  • Social media."
  • 00:21:33.675 --> 00:21:37.346
  • "but barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.
  • 00:21:37.346 --> 00:21:39.748
  • And he told them how saul on his journey had seen the lord and
  • 00:21:39.748 --> 00:21:42.017
  • The lord had spoken to him, and in damascus he preached
  • 00:21:42.017 --> 00:21:44.353
  • Fearlessly in the name of jesus.
  • 00:21:44.353 --> 00:21:46.555
  • So saul stayed with them and moved about freely in jerusalem,
  • 00:21:46.555 --> 00:21:49.825
  • Speaking boldly in the name of the lord.
  • 00:21:49.825 --> 00:21:51.993
  • He talked and debated with the grecian jews, but they tried to
  • 00:21:51.993 --> 00:21:56.631
  • Kill him."
  • 00:21:56.631 --> 00:21:59.201
  • So, the two cities he's been to since he met jesus, there
  • 00:21:59.201 --> 00:22:07.209
  • Haven't been just death threats, there have been plans
  • 00:22:07.209 --> 00:22:10.379
  • Implemented to kill him.
  • 00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:13.582
  • "when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to
  • 00:22:13.582 --> 00:22:15.817
  • Caesarea," caesarea is a port city 50 miles, 40 miles from
  • 00:22:15.817 --> 00:22:22.891
  • Jerusalem, "and they sent him off to tarsus."
  • 00:22:22.891 --> 00:22:27.529
  • They didn't pull them together and say, "now listen, you're
  • 00:22:27.529 --> 00:22:29.164
  • Gonna have to be tougher."
  • 00:22:29.164 --> 00:22:31.366
  • They said, "this threat is real enough.
  • 00:22:31.366 --> 00:22:33.402
  • You gotta leave town."
  • 00:22:33.402 --> 00:22:36.671
  • Again, god is moving, thousands of people coming to faith.
  • 00:22:36.671 --> 00:22:42.544
  • They're recruiting the chief adversary to the jesus
  • 00:22:42.544 --> 00:22:46.214
  • Initiative amongst the pharisees has a personal encounter with
  • 00:22:46.214 --> 00:22:49.584
  • Jesus of nazareth and makes a 180 degree change and becomes
  • 00:22:49.584 --> 00:22:52.754
  • A powerful voice for the sake of the kingdom.
  • 00:22:52.754 --> 00:22:54.956
  • And the first two cities we follow him through after that
  • 00:22:54.956 --> 00:22:57.659
  • Personal encounter, they're trying to kill him.
  • 00:22:57.659 --> 00:23:04.166
  • And the disciples and the head of the church, jerusalem at this
  • 00:23:04.166 --> 00:23:06.802
  • Point is the center of the church, peter and the crew, and
  • 00:23:06.802 --> 00:23:09.738
  • They say, "listen, we're gonna get you out of town."
  • 00:23:09.738 --> 00:23:14.443
  • God is moving, tremendous outcomes, adversaries of the
  • 00:23:14.443 --> 00:23:18.747
  • Gospel having dramatic life change, and enormous pressure on
  • 00:23:18.747 --> 00:23:24.286
  • The believers.
  • 00:23:24.286 --> 00:23:26.455
  • Are you ready? are you ready?
  • 00:23:26.455 --> 00:23:30.192
  • "well, wait there pastor, can we just do a bible study?
  • 00:23:30.192 --> 00:23:34.529
  • Couldn't we just learn the covenant names of god?
  • 00:23:34.529 --> 00:23:38.733
  • Could we learn the meaning of the different hebrew words
  • 00:23:38.733 --> 00:23:40.936
  • For worship?"
  • 00:23:40.936 --> 00:23:43.338
  • Well, you know, i'm up for all of that if it helps me be
  • 00:23:43.338 --> 00:23:48.643
  • A living advocate for jesus of nazareth.
  • 00:23:48.643 --> 00:23:56.117
  • I wanna close with a psalm.
  • 00:23:56.117 --> 00:23:58.286
  • I thought it's a way to rejoice.
  • 00:23:58.286 --> 00:23:59.621
  • You know, when--sometimes when i--you're--i'm under real
  • 00:23:59.621 --> 00:24:01.122
  • Pressure, i don't have words.
  • 00:24:01.122 --> 00:24:02.757
  • I know that's hard to believe.
  • 00:24:02.757 --> 00:24:05.026
  • It has happened.
  • 00:24:05.026 --> 00:24:07.095
  • But in the times where the pressure's greatest in my life,
  • 00:24:07.095 --> 00:24:09.264
  • I pray what the scripture says about me.
  • 00:24:09.264 --> 00:24:12.067
  • And so, i brought you a psalm.
  • 00:24:12.067 --> 00:24:13.435
  • I think it's a psalm of rejoicing.
  • 00:24:13.435 --> 00:24:16.338
  • There are many.
  • 00:24:16.338 --> 00:24:17.939
  • This one seemed to fit my heart today and i wanna give it
  • 00:24:17.939 --> 00:24:22.277
  • To you.
  • 00:24:22.277 --> 00:24:23.612
  • You need a few ready references in your phone, in your bible,
  • 00:24:23.612 --> 00:24:25.447
  • Where when you're under pressure, when you've faced
  • 00:24:25.447 --> 00:24:28.416
  • Pressure that's frightening, threatening, maybe physically
  • 00:24:28.416 --> 00:24:31.953
  • Uncomfortable, maybe it has cost attached to it, and you want to
  • 00:24:31.953 --> 00:24:37.025
  • Rejoice, you don't wanna go, "what am i supposed to do?
  • 00:24:37.025 --> 00:24:38.860
  • What am i supposed to say?
  • 00:24:38.860 --> 00:24:40.228
  • What--i'm mad at the moment.
  • 00:24:40.228 --> 00:24:41.563
  • What am i--" i'm gonna rejoice.
  • 00:24:41.563 --> 00:24:42.931
  • You need something there that's ready for you.
  • 00:24:42.931 --> 00:24:45.300
  • You with me?
  • 00:24:45.300 --> 00:24:46.968
  • You want to bring the spirit of god into that moment because in
  • 00:24:46.968 --> 00:24:50.238
  • Our own strength and our own wisdom and our own ability,
  • 00:24:50.238 --> 00:24:52.173
  • We're in a deficit, but in him, we can run through a troop and
  • 00:24:52.173 --> 00:24:56.044
  • Leap over a wall.
  • 00:24:56.044 --> 00:24:58.213
  • So, let's stand here.
  • 00:24:58.213 --> 00:24:59.548
  • We're gonna read psalm 118, those 9 verses.
  • 00:24:59.548 --> 00:25:07.722
  • You ready?
  • 00:25:07.722 --> 00:25:09.824
  • "this is the gate of the lord through which the righteous
  • 00:25:09.824 --> 00:25:12.994
  • May enter.
  • 00:25:12.994 --> 00:25:14.329
  • I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become
  • 00:25:14.329 --> 00:25:18.466
  • My salvation.
  • 00:25:18.466 --> 00:25:20.302
  • The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the
  • 00:25:20.302 --> 00:25:24.806
  • Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
  • 00:25:24.806 --> 00:25:28.910
  • This is the day the lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad
  • 00:25:28.910 --> 00:25:33.448
  • In it.
  • 00:25:33.448 --> 00:25:34.816
  • O lord, save us; o lord, grant us success.
  • 00:25:34.816 --> 00:25:38.720
  • Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord.
  • 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:42.290
  • From the house of the lord we bless you.
  • 00:25:42.290 --> 00:25:45.126
  • The lord is god, and he has made his light shine upon us.
  • 00:25:45.126 --> 00:25:49.864
  • With boughs in hand, join us in the festal procession up to the
  • 00:25:49.864 --> 00:25:55.170
  • Horns of the altar.
  • 00:25:55.170 --> 00:25:57.138
  • You are my god and i will give you thanks: you are my god, and
  • 00:25:57.138 --> 00:26:02.410
  • I will exalt you.
  • 00:26:02.410 --> 00:26:04.279
  • Give thanks to the lord, for he is good; and his love endures
  • 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:09.184
  • Forever," amen.
  • 00:26:09.184 --> 00:26:12.187
  • God bless you.
  • 00:26:12.187 --> 00:26:16.992
  • Allen: you know, we don't read our bibles just for exercise or
  • 00:26:21.196 --> 00:26:24.065
  • Just to be dutiful christians.
  • 00:26:24.065 --> 00:26:26.101
  • We read our bibles to understand how to navigate a complex world,
  • 00:26:26.101 --> 00:26:29.170
  • How to understand what's unfolding around us.
  • 00:26:29.170 --> 00:26:32.407
  • We're living in a season where there's a lot of emotion
  • 00:26:32.407 --> 00:26:34.876
  • Expressed about the jewish people in the nation of israel.
  • 00:26:34.876 --> 00:26:37.612
  • From some very well established elite places, there are voices
  • 00:26:37.612 --> 00:26:41.416
  • Saying, "they don't deserve our support."
  • 00:26:41.416 --> 00:26:43.652
  • Well, i wrote a book, "supporting israel, how far is
  • 00:26:43.652 --> 00:26:46.154
  • Too far?" so that we can have a biblical perspective on our
  • 00:26:46.154 --> 00:26:49.424
  • Response to current events.
  • 00:26:49.424 --> 00:26:50.992
  • At the end of the day, i want to align myself with the purposes
  • 00:26:50.992 --> 00:26:53.595
  • Of god, not the thought leaders at elite ivy league schools or
  • 00:26:53.595 --> 00:26:58.066
  • The talking heads in the media.
  • 00:26:58.066 --> 00:26:59.901
  • I intend to stand with the purposes of god.
  • 00:26:59.901 --> 00:27:02.504
  • This book will help you unpack the current events and
  • 00:27:02.504 --> 00:27:06.174
  • Understand the perspective from the viewpoint of scripture on
  • 00:27:06.174 --> 00:27:09.277
  • How you and i can respond in a way that i believe will bring
  • 00:27:09.277 --> 00:27:11.946
  • The blessings of god to our lives and help us accomplish his
  • 00:27:11.946 --> 00:27:15.216
  • Purposes in our generation.
  • 00:27:15.216 --> 00:27:17.519
  • It's worth the read.
  • 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:19.287
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:20.588 --> 00:27:30.331