Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - What's Next (Part 1) | March 25, 2026
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- Allen jackson: you know, around the world,
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- Known right here at home and around the earth, wherever
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- God opens a door.
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- Let's keep gathering his people and building his church until
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- The day our king returns.
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- Allen: i think the question uppermost in my heart at least
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- Is, what's next?
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- One of the things that was very clear in watching last evening
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- Was that we're very much a nation divided and whether
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- You're celebrating or mourning, that reality should not be okay
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- With us.
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- And so i think it's a question i would like to process with you
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- A little bit for this evening, and i really wanna start before
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- I get to the scriptures with an honest, as transparent a
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- Response as i can give you, and that's that all day long.
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- I've been walking around with is just quiet sense in me just to
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- Say thank you to the lord.
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- It doesn't feel boisterous to me.
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- There's no swagger in it.
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- You know, i'm grateful for every prayer that we were able to pray
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- For every hour we were able to pray for.
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- I'm grateful, but i don't imagine that we have seen
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- Anything except an expression of god's mercy.
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- I believe he would have been--i think he would be fully
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- Justified had he chosen to respond to us with judgment.
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- And i believe, in a remarkable way, he has shown us grace and
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- Mercy, and my understanding of that at this point is that we've
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- Been presented with an opportunity that we have yet
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- Another chance to serve the lord and i don't think we can afford
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- To treat that shabbily or casually or with indifference.
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- I don't believe we can afford to squander it on selfishness
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- Or foolishness.
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- It seems to me to be a very sobering thing this time.
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- I think the lord heard prayers in so many unique ways, and i
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- Wanna encourage you just to quietly say thank you to the
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- Lord with humility, with a sense of awe at the kindness of god.
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- He is good to us.
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- Our lives are defined by the goodness of god and the grace of
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- God and the mercy of god, and when you have the awareness to
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- Recognize that he's acted towards us out of mercy, to be
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- Anything less than grateful for that.
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- God heard the prayers of his people.
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- You know, i'm very conscious.
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- We've talked about it a bit and i'm not gonna--that's not my
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- Point tonight when the church fails, great suffering ensues,
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- And we were at a place where i believe the church had stumbled
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- Significantly enough that god would have been appropriate in
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- Bringing judgment to us, and because in his mercy, he has
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- Given us another opportunity.
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- It feels like a sacred thing to me and i didn't bring
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- Commitment cards.
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- I'm not signing you up for anything yet.
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- But i wanna start with this notion that we're called by god,
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- 1 corinthians 1, it's not an unfamiliar passage, i suspect to
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- Most of us but it very much seemed on point to me today.
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- I woke up with it bouncing around in my heart.
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- It says, "brothers, think of what you were when you
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- Were called."
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- You know god called us, right?
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- Before we saw him, he called us.
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- He called us out of darkness.
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- He chose us to participate in the kingdom of his son.
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- He sent his son on a search and rescue mission when we were
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- Still rebellious and godless.
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- You understand the nature of that equation, right?
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- We didn't seek god out of our moral clarity or the great--
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- The wonder of our character.
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- God reached out to us.
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- "think of what you were when you were called.
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- Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were
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- Influential; not many were of noble birth.
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- But god chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;
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- God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
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- He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised
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- Things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that
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- Are, so that no one may boast before him.
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- It is because of him that you are in christ jesus, who has
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- Become for us wisdom from god--that is, our righteousness,
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- Holiness and redemption.
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- Therefore, as it is written, 'let him who boast boast in
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- The lord."'
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- You know, that's a pretty phenomenal passage of scripture.
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- Paul's writing to the church in corinth, and he said, "you need
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- To reflect for just a moment on who you were when god
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- Called you."
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- He said you were the group nobody wanted.
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- You weren't born to the right families you didn't study in the
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- Right schools.
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- You lived on the wrong side of the tracks.
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- Is that there really wasn't much about you that was noble.
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- I think it's true.
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- As i was watching the election returns come in, the part that
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- Touched my heart the most, i think, was i'd watched these
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- People go to those maps and i had great compassion on them
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- Because i've tried to use one of those maps in front of groups of
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- People and i look like the village idiot and they can go
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- Back and forth to this year and that year and this county and
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- How many people have voted and what color their hair was, and
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- I'm just sitting there in amazement.
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- But the part that touched my heart was they would go to the
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- Heart of our nation where there weren't great big cities and the
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- Population counts weren't huge, and they would say, "an enormous
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- Percentage of the people in this county have voted."
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- And they would touch on another one and they'd say, "you
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- Know what?
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- And a significant portion of people in this county
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- Have voted."
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- And i watched it ripple through the evening and by the end of
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- The evening, if they were voting in the way that whoever would
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- Be, i'd like to watch all the different channels because you
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- Get a variety of emotions that way.
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- And if it was on a channel that was celebrating the outcomes,
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- There would be joy and if there wasn't, there would be
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- Bewilderment about all these people.
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- And that passage kept coming back to my mind because they
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- Were pointing at the really center part of the
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- United states.
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- It weren't where the great cities were and they weren't
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- Often the great population centers or where there were
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- Great numbers of electoral votes.
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- They weren't swing states, it was flyover country.
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- They were supposedly the irrelevant people.
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- You know, the blue color people, the unsophisticated people, the
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- Working class people, the people easily dismissed by others.
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- All sorts of pejorative labels have been attached to them.
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- And as i watched that unfold, i was so deeply grateful to stand
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- With him.
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- I thought what an honor because what seemed to either bring joy
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- Or consternation, depending on perspectives, was that within
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- Those people, there was still a vestige, a remnant of a memory
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- Of a biblical worldview, that they still retained a sense of
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- From a judeo christian perspective of right and wrong.
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- And while there wasn't a lot of neon where they lived and nobody
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- Particularly cared, they went and stood in line and said, "we
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- Would rather honor the lord."
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- And i thought of what paul said to the corinthians, "think of
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- What you were when you were called."
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- And i thought of the statement that was being made in
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- Our nation.
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- It's why all day long
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- I haven't been saying thank you because of an election outcome.
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- Folks, our problem is not political.
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- Our problem is spiritual.
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- If you haven't awakened to that yet.
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- But i thought god, there are still untold numbers of people
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- Who will stand up and say, "i think we should honor the lord."
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- There may not be cameras rolling and they may not be considered
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- Celebrities and they may not have a huge list of influencers,
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- But their names are known in heaven.
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- And i would rather be counted with them than any group of
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- People i can think of.
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- We've lost our balance a bit.
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- We've talked about it a lot over the last few months and even
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- Years and even in the church, we've lost our balance and the
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- Church in general has not been doing a great job of leading
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- Because we want the affirmation that comes from some of those
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- Places that have higher attention.
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- But you could feel that or i could feel the response coming
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- From that heartland--to the things we've been--men shouldn't
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- Be competing with women in sports, they shouldn't be boxing
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- With the women,
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- Or that marriage was a biblical definition long before it was a
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- Cultural or a political definition.
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- Then it doesn't mean our marriages are always easy, or
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- Perfect, or that sometimes they don't break.
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- But it doesn't mean that we have the permission to change
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- The definition.
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- And i felt as if they were saying, you know, biological
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- Sexually isn't confusing, because if you've ever taken
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- Care of a herd of animals, it's just not that confusing.
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- Or that they understood that, ultimately, you can't just keep
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- Spending more money than you earn.
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- It's not sustainable and $37 trillion in debt and mounting
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- Every moment is an intimidating number.
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- And i thought, god, there are still people who listened
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- To you and i thank you for that.
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- I mean it as sincerely--i put together some more lesson and i
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- Will give it to you, but if i could send you home with any
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- Idea, it would just to be to walk about and quietly say to
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- The lord, "thank you for people who trust you.
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- Thank you for those people."
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- They make a difference.
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- They make a difference.
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- Folks, we have traded away too much of our faith for approval.
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- Approval of people that we consider to be more fashionable,
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- Or wealthy or who live lives that we think are somehow more
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- Rewarding than the ones that we have.
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- My experience is, most of life is about maintaining a routine.
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- You know, as a young person, my dad was a veterinarian and you
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- Know the stories, we grew up around animals and it's not just
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- Your end.
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- You know, if you got one pet, that's something.
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- But if you've got 40 that belong to somebody else, that's not
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- Quite as much fun.
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- And you have to feed the animals, and water the animals
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- And clean up after the animals, and it sounds really fun if you
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- Go visit the vet clinic for 20 minutes and you get to play with
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- All the puppies.
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- But if you live with them seven days a week, 365 days a year, 12
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- Months, it's not always such a blessing.
- 00:13:14.476 --> 00:13:21.450
- The stalls don't stay clean.
- 00:13:21.450 --> 00:13:25.688
- And from that, i found a joy in that.
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- But i have discovered as my life has continued to unfold, much of
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- Life is about routine.
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- Tasks that we do repetitively.
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- And if you don't choose to do them for the lord, if you don't
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- Attach meaning to them and value to them, they feel like drudgery
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- And a burden.
- 00:13:48.644 --> 00:13:50.579
- I mean, church can have that feeling.
- 00:13:50.579 --> 00:13:52.081
- I'm within 72 hours of a deadline every day.
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- Okay, let's go serve the lord.
- 00:13:56.485 --> 00:14:01.624
- Then your life has its own set of routines.
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- And i feel like we've been co-opted a bit by this desire to
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- Be something we're not.
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- And in order to qualify, we've been trading away integrity, and
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- Trading away our understanding of biblical morality 'cause
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- Maybe it's a little bit more fun to be a little more immoral and
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- We compromise.
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- And if we say we believe the bible is authoritative, people
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- Will look down on us like we're a little antiquated and a little
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- Out of date and we'd rather be perceived as
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- Fashionably informed.
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- And i was so grateful that i could stand with a group of
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- People that say, "i think i'll honor the lord."
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- Allen: hey, i have a suggestion.
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- Let's stop waiting for somebody else to be a better leader.
- 00:14:58.314 --> 00:15:00.783
- Let's determine this year to lead with faith.
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- I've written a book to help.
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- It's a practical collection of tools that you and i can use the
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- Influence of our lives, faith first in the marketplace, in our
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- Homes, with our friends.
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- Folks, it's time for us to stop waiting for somebody else to
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- Step forward.
- 00:15:15.965 --> 00:15:17.333
- Let's determine to lead with faith.
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- We can do that and i believe we can change our homes, our
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- Neighborhoods, our churches, maybe even our nation.
- 00:15:21.971 --> 00:15:25.074
- Announcer: choosing to lead with faith starts with a simple
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- Decision: to be intentional right where you are.
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- In his new book "lead with faith," pastor allen shares
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- Biblical insight and practical tools to help you live out your
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- Faith in meaningful ways every day.
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- This book will encourage you to stand for truth with wisdom,
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- Clarity, and courage without waiting for someone else to
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- Go first.
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- Request "lead with faith" with your gift of $30 or more at
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- Allenjackson.com or call ...
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- Allen: in philippians chapter 3, paul's picking up a
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- Similar idea.
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- He's listed a few of his qualifications.
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- You know, he said, "i had an impeccable pedigree.
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- I was born in the right family, and my family belonged to the
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- Right clan and my clan belonged to the right tribe and i was the
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- Best student in my family, clan, and tribe.
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- I was the brightest star and i had the most potential.
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- And then i met jesus."
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- And he said, "i count it all as loss, as dung, for the sake of
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- Knowing christ jesus my lord."
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- I wanna invite you back to that, folks.
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- We've been given a little window of opportunity and i don't
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- Pretend to understand all that means, other than i believe it
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- Will come with invitations.
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- And we'll have choices to make.
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- And i want you to begin to prepare your heart to say, "i
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- Would count everything a loss compared for the privilege of
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- Serving my lord."
- 00:18:11.073 --> 00:18:13.742
- Because there's really nothing better than that.
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- There's no award, there's no trip, there's no accumulation,
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- There's no blessing.
- 00:18:21.683 --> 00:18:23.652
- We've compromised for too long.
- 00:18:23.652 --> 00:18:26.822
- That's how we find ourselves in a fine mess like this:
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- Where half of our nation really has very little understanding of
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- What a biblical worldview even is.
- 00:18:33.495 --> 00:18:36.598
- You understand that has not always been our circumstance.
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- In the not distant past, things that are accepted as normative
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- Today were not considered normal.
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- Things that we tolerate and embrace and are a part of our
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- Public education were not a part of public education.
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- And that hasn't happened because evil found some new trick, it
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- Happened because the people of god lost their perspective.
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- And so paul writes in that same chapter beginning in verse 12,
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- He said, "not that i've already obtained all of this, or have
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- Already been made perfect, but i press on to take hold of that
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- For which christ jesus took hold of me.
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- Brothers, i don't consider myself yet to have taken hold
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- Of it.
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- But one thing i do: forgetting what is behind and straining
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- Toward what is ahead.
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- I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which god has
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- Called me heavenward in christ jesus."
- 00:19:31.486 --> 00:19:35.891
- And that's really my invitation.
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- That's what's in my heart.
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- Lord, i wanna serve you in a way i've never served you before.
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- Doesn't necessarily mean we're gonna run faster and
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- Jump higher.
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- It may be you have some routine you want me to tend with
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- Focused attention.
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- I'm all in.
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- I'll be delighted to do that.
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- How may i help?
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- What would you have me do?
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- How may i participate in your kingdom?
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- How may i lend my strength or my ability or my awareness or
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- Whatever you've entrusted me to me to see the name of jesus
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- Lifted up?
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- I want to do that in a way that is pleasing to you.
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- I wanna add to that this notion that if you've been called by
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- God, and you have, i wanna be certain you understand you've
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- Been called for a purpose.
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- Now, i've given you the short course, we just spent quite a
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- Few weeks in, the gospel of luke, and i didn't wanna go all
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- The way back through that.
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- But in luke's gospel, we're told that jesus first commissioned
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- His 12 apostles and he sent them out.
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- It was some pretty specific instructions about how to
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- Conduct themselves.
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- And he said, "i give you authority and power."
- 00:20:46.662 --> 00:20:49.231
- He didn't just send them out to do bible studies.
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- And please understand god does not send you and me into our
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- World just to provide polite bible studies.
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- We go with the authority of jesus's name.
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- We go as ambassadors for the eternal kingdom of almighty god.
- 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:10.118
- And for far too long because of our timidity and our lack of
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- Trust and confidence in the word of god, we have gone with this
- 00:21:14.189 --> 00:21:17.893
- Apologetic notion.
- 00:21:17.893 --> 00:21:20.362
- But we just do polite bible studies.
- 00:21:20.362 --> 00:21:22.230
- Now, i'm an advocate for bible study, but we live our lives in
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- This world to give demonstration to the power and authority of
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- The god that we worship.
- 00:21:30.505 --> 00:21:34.276
- And after he sent out the 12, then he commissioned 72.
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- And i put that in your notes.
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- Says, "after this the lord appointed seventy-two others and
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- He sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place
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- Where he was about to go.
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- And he told them, 'the harvest is plentiful, but the workers
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- Are few.
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- Ask the lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers
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- Into his harvest field.
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- Go!
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- I'm sending you out like lambs among wolves.
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- Don't take a purse or a bag or sandals; and don't greet anyone
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- On the road.'"
- 00:22:02.337 --> 00:22:04.306
- Then he'll give them some instructions later and he'll
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- Say, "not only did take a bag and some sandals.
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- How many swords do you have?"
- 00:22:09.478 --> 00:22:13.482
- In this passage he simply says to them that "i'm sending you
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- Out like lambs among wolves."
- 00:22:16.518 --> 00:22:18.820
- We read that like that makes sense.
- 00:22:18.820 --> 00:22:22.023
- Imagine if i told you i sent your kids out to play with
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- The wolves.
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- A lamb amongst wolves is technically called lunch.
- 00:22:27.662 --> 00:22:33.935
- So the nature of the assignment that jesus was purposefully
- 00:22:33.935 --> 00:22:37.372
- Commissioning these people to was not simple or fun.
- 00:22:37.372 --> 00:22:42.911
- And i wanna--we need to establish that baseline.
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- I believe we have in front of us an opportunity unlike any i have
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- Known in my lifetime for the cause of the kingdom of god.
- 00:22:49.117 --> 00:22:54.089
- I don't know another way to understand this most unique
- 00:22:54.089 --> 00:22:56.691
- Season in which we find ourselves.
- 00:22:56.691 --> 00:22:58.827
- But i also have the sense that it's gonna be a bit like lambs
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- Amongst wolves.
- 00:23:01.630 --> 00:23:06.101
- It's going to require of us a different note of courage,
- 00:23:06.101 --> 00:23:10.472
- Perhaps a different imagination of determination.
- 00:23:10.472 --> 00:23:19.181
- I think we will see god move and respond in ways beyond anything
- 00:23:19.181 --> 00:23:22.350
- We've ever known.
- 00:23:22.350 --> 00:23:25.153
- Again, do you remember who the author of the book of acts is?
- 00:23:25.153 --> 00:23:29.157
- It's luke because in luke's gospel, jesus commissions the 12
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- And he commissions the 72 and after his resurrection, he has
- 00:23:35.096 --> 00:23:38.834
- Some words for the disciples, prior to his resurrection he's
- 00:23:38.834 --> 00:23:42.904
- Trying to get them ready for what's coming.
- 00:23:42.904 --> 00:23:44.439
- And he does a little inventory of what's in their travel bag,
- 00:23:44.439 --> 00:23:47.342
- Their go bag.
- 00:23:47.342 --> 00:23:49.211
- But we get to acts chapter 1, which is luke's message as well,
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- And jesus last words, these are the last words he speaks to his
- 00:23:52.848 --> 00:23:56.017
- Disciples before his ascension back to heaven.
- 00:23:56.017 --> 00:23:59.387
- Now, he's not done with them, because a few chapters later,
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- He's back on the road to damascus with some words for one
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- Saul of tarsus.
- 00:24:05.026 --> 00:24:07.229
- It's a mistake to think that jesus is not engaged with his
- 00:24:07.229 --> 00:24:10.131
- Church in the earth.
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- He recruits saul of tarsus on the road to damascus.
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- In the book of revelation in the first chapter, john, the closest
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- Of the apostles to him.
- 00:24:19.941 --> 00:24:21.276
- It says, "on the lord's day, he was in the spirit and he heard a
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- Voice behind him."
- 00:24:23.812 --> 00:24:28.517
- It's an emotional passage.
- 00:24:28.517 --> 00:24:30.118
- John's an old man, his friends are gone.
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- Most of them have been martyred.
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- He's been arrested, he's imprisoned on an island, he's in
- 00:24:36.091 --> 00:24:38.393
- Exile, doing hard labor, and it says he's in the spirit on the
- 00:24:38.393 --> 00:24:45.066
- Lord's day and he hears a voice.
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- And he describes it in this beautiful poetic language.
- 00:24:50.739 --> 00:24:54.743
- But when he turns around it's jesus.
- 00:24:54.743 --> 00:24:58.380
- Jesus came to see his friend.
- 00:24:58.380 --> 00:25:03.818
- Look, i don't know what you're living for.
- 00:25:03.818 --> 00:25:06.688
- I understand a little bit of the temptation.
- 00:25:06.688 --> 00:25:10.492
- I know we look at our friends that are leading lives that, but
- 00:25:10.492 --> 00:25:13.762
- It, you know, it seems like they have gotten hold of the brass
- 00:25:13.762 --> 00:25:16.731
- Ring and we wanna do that too.
- 00:25:16.731 --> 00:25:20.402
- And there's not a lot of messaging that really encourages
- 00:25:20.402 --> 00:25:23.505
- You to give the lord your best and to sacrifice for the kingdom
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- Of god and to put your heart and soul into it.
- 00:25:26.775 --> 00:25:30.278
- But i want our congregation to be a place where that voice is
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- Repeated, where the children and the young people are encouraged
- 00:25:33.882 --> 00:25:38.086
- To give their very best to the lord,
- 00:25:38.086 --> 00:25:42.190
- Where we encourage one another to honor god with
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- Our daily choices
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- And we know the difference between right and wrong, to
- 00:25:47.462 --> 00:25:49.497
- Choose right with your whole heart.
- 00:25:49.497 --> 00:25:52.834
- When you have an opportunity to use your voice to affirm someone
- 00:25:52.834 --> 00:25:57.772
- In the kingdom that you're willing to use your voice, no
- 00:25:57.772 --> 00:25:59.708
- Matter what the consequences may be.
- 00:25:59.708 --> 00:26:05.580
- Allen: hey, i have a question.
- 00:26:09.250 --> 00:26:10.585
- Have you ever said, "i wish my pastor would lead with more
- 00:26:10.585 --> 00:26:13.388
- Courage," or "i wish my pastor would address what's happening
- 00:26:13.388 --> 00:26:16.458
- In the world with greater boldness"?
- 00:26:16.458 --> 00:26:18.927
- Folks, we can't change other people.
- 00:26:18.927 --> 00:26:20.362
- The only person we can ultimately change is ourselves.
- 00:26:20.362 --> 00:26:22.764
- I have a suggestion.
- 00:26:22.764 --> 00:26:24.232
- What if you and i begin to lead with faith in our own arenas
- 00:26:24.232 --> 00:26:27.669
- Of influence?
- 00:26:27.669 --> 00:26:29.004
- Well, i've written a book to help with that.
- 00:26:29.004 --> 00:26:30.338
- If that seems beyond you or intimidating to you, i believe
- 00:26:30.338 --> 00:26:33.341
- This book will help.
- 00:26:33.341 --> 00:26:34.676
- It'll give you some practical ways that you and i can begin to
- 00:26:34.676 --> 00:26:37.512
- Lead with faith in the marketplace, in our homes, with
- 00:26:37.512 --> 00:26:40.482
- Our friends, wherever that may be.
- 00:26:40.482 --> 00:26:42.817
- We have help in this.
- 00:26:42.817 --> 00:26:44.452
- The spirit of god will help us if we have the willingness to
- 00:26:44.452 --> 00:26:47.222
- Use our influence for the kingdom of god.
- 00:26:47.222 --> 00:26:49.858
- You can get a copy of the book at allenjackson.com.
- 00:26:49.858 --> 00:26:52.427
- You can go get your own today, but i wanna pray.
- 00:26:52.427 --> 00:26:54.529
- I wanna ask the spirit of god to help you and me lead with faith
- 00:26:54.529 --> 00:26:58.366
- This year as never before.
- 00:26:58.366 --> 00:27:00.168
- Let's pray.
- 00:27:00.168 --> 00:27:01.503
- Heavenly father, we ask for your help.
- 00:27:01.503 --> 00:27:03.672
- You have given us strengths and abilities and influence.
- 00:27:03.672 --> 00:27:05.974
- May we use it for the glory of your kingdom.
- 00:27:05.974 --> 00:27:08.610
- In jesus's name, amen.
- 00:27:08.610 --> 00:27:10.311
- ♪♪♪
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