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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - When The Cheering Stopped (Part 2)

May 7, 2025 | S25:E130

Allen Jackson - When The Cheering Stopped (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Serving #Sacrifice #Religion #Jesus #Future #Timing #Obedience #Prophecy #inActive #AllenJacksonMinistries #AllenJackson #ReturnofChrist #Giving #Disobedience #SecondComing #Generosity #Signs&Wonders

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - When The Cheering Stopped (Part 2) | May 7, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:05.431
  • Allen jackson: it's good to be with you again.
  • 00:00:05.531 --> 00:00:07.166
  • You know, we're walking through a season of some pretty
  • 00:00:07.266 --> 00:00:09.735
  • Unprecedented turmoil.
  • 00:00:09.868 --> 00:00:10.235
  • There are cars burning, and car dealerships burning, and there
  • 00:00:12.071 --> 00:00:15.908
  • Are judges, there's just a lot of stuff.
  • 00:00:15.908 --> 00:00:19.011
  • Well, i'm really excited about our offer this month.
  • 00:00:19.011 --> 00:00:20.813
  • In fact, we chose it because i think it will bring you a
  • 00:00:20.813 --> 00:00:23.649
  • Pathway of stability in the midst of all the turmoil.
  • 00:00:23.649 --> 00:00:26.518
  • It's written by a good friend of mine, rob morgan, "the lord is
  • 00:00:26.518 --> 00:00:29.822
  • My shepherd."
  • 00:00:29.822 --> 00:00:31.156
  • And it seems to me we need to know the tranquility that comes
  • 00:00:31.156 --> 00:00:34.293
  • From a shepherd who is marking a path for us, and then standing
  • 00:00:34.293 --> 00:00:37.963
  • Watch over us when we know there's predators about.
  • 00:00:37.963 --> 00:00:41.667
  • We're living in a predatory season.
  • 00:00:41.667 --> 00:00:43.569
  • We need to know the lord is a shepherd, and i believe this
  • 00:00:43.569 --> 00:00:47.339
  • Offer can make a real difference in your life.
  • 00:00:47.339 --> 00:00:48.974
  • In fact, it's important enough that we'll make it available for
  • 00:00:48.974 --> 00:00:51.643
  • A gift of any amount.
  • 00:00:51.643 --> 00:00:53.479
  • I think it's far more important that you have it in your hand
  • 00:00:53.479 --> 00:00:55.981
  • Than the cost attached to it.
  • 00:00:55.981 --> 00:00:57.683
  • God is moving in the earth, and we wanna move with him.
  • 00:00:57.683 --> 00:01:00.285
  • Our shepherd will lead us through.
  • 00:01:00.285 --> 00:01:02.054
  • You'll enjoy the book.
  • 00:01:02.054 --> 00:01:03.589
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:03.655 --> 00:01:14.032
  • Allen: now in matthew 24, jesus pivots, meaning he takes a
  • 00:01:18.170 --> 00:01:22.107
  • New direction.
  • 00:01:22.107 --> 00:01:23.475
  • It's like he plants a foot in the ground,
  • 00:01:23.475 --> 00:01:24.810
  • And he goes another way.
  • 00:01:24.810 --> 00:01:26.178
  • The instructions are going to change.
  • 00:01:26.178 --> 00:01:29.148
  • Remember, there's two or three days of this very up close and
  • 00:01:29.148 --> 00:01:32.084
  • Personal and intense training that he's giving to those who
  • 00:01:32.084 --> 00:01:34.953
  • Will listen to him.
  • 00:01:34.953 --> 00:01:36.288
  • And he's been trying to expose the hypocrisy of the leaders in
  • 00:01:36.288 --> 00:01:38.924
  • Jerusalem, so the people will have the courage not to be swept
  • 00:01:38.924 --> 00:01:41.593
  • Along by them.
  • 00:01:41.593 --> 00:01:43.395
  • But now there's a pivot that takes place, and he's going to
  • 00:01:43.395 --> 00:01:47.232
  • Begin to give us some instruction on preparations for
  • 00:01:47.232 --> 00:01:50.269
  • The parousia.
  • 00:01:50.269 --> 00:01:51.637
  • It's a fancy religious word, it means "the second coming."
  • 00:01:51.637 --> 00:01:55.440
  • He's gonna begin to talk to the people that are listening about
  • 00:01:55.440 --> 00:01:58.744
  • His return.
  • 00:01:58.744 --> 00:02:02.414
  • It seems a little inconsistent with the messaging until you see
  • 00:02:02.414 --> 00:02:05.617
  • The bigger picture.
  • 00:02:05.617 --> 00:02:07.452
  • Jesus understands that he's within a few days of leaving,
  • 00:02:07.452 --> 00:02:11.356
  • And he's going to begin to try to prepare his best friends for
  • 00:02:11.356 --> 00:02:14.159
  • What next will look like.
  • 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:16.328
  • What an amazing friend we have.
  • 00:02:16.328 --> 00:02:19.398
  • It's matthew 24:36, "no one knows about that day or hour."
  • 00:02:19.398 --> 00:02:25.204
  • He's talking about when his return will be.
  • 00:02:25.204 --> 00:02:27.272
  • And he said, "no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor
  • 00:02:27.272 --> 00:02:30.008
  • The son, but only the father."
  • 00:02:30.008 --> 00:02:31.944
  • Now with that statement, if you meet somebody that tells you
  • 00:02:31.944 --> 00:02:34.179
  • They know when jesus is returning, what do you know?
  • 00:02:34.179 --> 00:02:38.350
  • That they don't know.
  • 00:02:38.350 --> 00:02:40.586
  • I wouldn't argue, i wouldn't debate.
  • 00:02:40.586 --> 00:02:42.120
  • I'd just smile, and go, "oh, bless your heart."
  • 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:46.325
  • If they're not from around here, they'll think you
  • 00:02:46.325 --> 00:02:47.960
  • Complimented them.
  • 00:02:47.960 --> 00:02:49.328
  • It's okay.
  • 00:02:49.328 --> 00:02:50.829
  • "as it was in the days of noah, so it will be at the coming of
  • 00:02:50.829 --> 00:02:54.233
  • The son of man.
  • 00:02:54.233 --> 00:02:55.567
  • For in the days before the flood, people were eating and
  • 00:02:55.567 --> 00:02:58.337
  • Drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage, up till the
  • 00:02:58.337 --> 00:03:01.440
  • Day noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what
  • 00:03:01.440 --> 00:03:04.042
  • Would happen until the flood came and took them all away.
  • 00:03:04.042 --> 00:03:07.512
  • That is how it will be at the coming of the son of man."
  • 00:03:07.512 --> 00:03:09.881
  • So, jesus just gave us a picture of what it will be like before
  • 00:03:09.881 --> 00:03:13.685
  • He comes.
  • 00:03:13.685 --> 00:03:15.187
  • And he lists some behaviors that people will be engaged in.
  • 00:03:15.187 --> 00:03:18.056
  • I would note to you that none of them are ungodly or immoral.
  • 00:03:18.056 --> 00:03:22.828
  • They'll be buying and selling, marrying and giving in marriage.
  • 00:03:22.828 --> 00:03:25.330
  • They'll be doing normal life things.
  • 00:03:25.330 --> 00:03:27.532
  • They'll be living too far into the world system to understand
  • 00:03:27.532 --> 00:03:31.236
  • That god is moving.
  • 00:03:31.236 --> 00:03:34.940
  • He said, "up until the day that noah entered the ark, nobody
  • 00:03:34.940 --> 00:03:38.043
  • Knew what was coming."
  • 00:03:38.043 --> 00:03:39.378
  • You read that, and you go, "well, maybe."
  • 00:03:39.378 --> 00:03:43.915
  • Look, you should, it should give you concern, if you can walk
  • 00:03:43.915 --> 00:03:48.920
  • With your friends who are marginally aware of the things
  • 00:03:48.920 --> 00:03:52.324
  • Of god, and there's no distinction with you.
  • 00:03:52.324 --> 00:03:54.092
  • There better be some distinctiveness in our lives.
  • 00:03:57.496 --> 00:04:00.432
  • Or we're like salt, it's not salty.
  • 00:04:00.432 --> 00:04:04.269
  • If you put salty, that's not very salty, you start taking the
  • 00:04:04.269 --> 00:04:08.273
  • Top off the salt shaker, it must not be working right.
  • 00:04:08.273 --> 00:04:10.208
  • It's the humidity, live in the south.
  • 00:04:10.208 --> 00:04:12.878
  • It'll be just like that, he said.
  • 00:04:16.581 --> 00:04:19.184
  • Verse 40, "two men will be in the field; and one will be taken
  • 00:04:19.184 --> 00:04:21.586
  • And the other left.
  • 00:04:21.586 --> 00:04:22.954
  • Two women will be grinding with a hand mill;
  • 00:04:22.954 --> 00:04:24.389
  • And one will be taken and the other left."
  • 00:04:24.389 --> 00:04:26.158
  • There's a sense of very unexpectedness, an assumption
  • 00:04:26.158 --> 00:04:29.294
  • That we're all good, and the assumption's faulty.
  • 00:04:29.294 --> 00:04:33.565
  • And then he says, "therefore keep watch, because you don't
  • 00:04:33.565 --> 00:04:35.667
  • Know on what day your lord will come."
  • 00:04:35.667 --> 00:04:37.502
  • Again, there's an unexpectedness to this.
  • 00:04:37.502 --> 00:04:39.705
  • I'm amused at the determination christians have to try to tell
  • 00:04:39.705 --> 00:04:43.775
  • Everybody, "we know.
  • 00:04:43.775 --> 00:04:45.143
  • This is the time."
  • 00:04:45.143 --> 00:04:46.478
  • I'm like, "did you read what the boss said?
  • 00:04:46.478 --> 00:04:51.750
  • 'you do not know."'
  • 00:04:51.750 --> 00:04:53.218
  • "but understand this: if the owner of the house had known at
  • 00:04:53.218 --> 00:04:56.054
  • What time the night the thief was coming, he would have kept
  • 00:04:56.054 --> 00:04:58.390
  • Watch and would not have let his house be broken into."
  • 00:04:58.390 --> 00:05:00.792
  • No duh.
  • 00:05:00.792 --> 00:05:04.196
  • "so you also must be ready, because the son of man will come
  • 00:05:04.196 --> 00:05:06.865
  • In an hour when you don't expect him.
  • 00:05:06.865 --> 00:05:10.168
  • Who then is the faithful and wise servant?"
  • 00:05:10.168 --> 00:05:12.704
  • That's a very important question.
  • 00:05:12.704 --> 00:05:14.940
  • I want jesus to think that i'm a wise and faithful servant,
  • 00:05:14.940 --> 00:05:17.509
  • Don't you?
  • 00:05:17.509 --> 00:05:18.977
  • I don't want him to think i was a good preacher, a good church
  • 00:05:18.977 --> 00:05:21.313
  • Attender, a good organizer.
  • 00:05:21.313 --> 00:05:23.849
  • I don't want him to think i was a good planner.
  • 00:05:23.849 --> 00:05:27.452
  • I want the lord to look at me, and go, "you are a
  • 00:05:27.452 --> 00:05:29.321
  • Faithful servant."
  • 00:05:29.321 --> 00:05:31.423
  • That's the category where i want to ring the bell, so that's the
  • 00:05:31.423 --> 00:05:35.594
  • Question posed.
  • 00:05:35.594 --> 00:05:36.962
  • He's gonna give us an answer.
  • 00:05:36.962 --> 00:05:38.296
  • Who" then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master
  • 00:05:38.296 --> 00:05:40.532
  • Has put in charge of the servants in his household to
  • 00:05:40.532 --> 00:05:43.435
  • Give them their food at the proper time?
  • 00:05:43.435 --> 00:05:45.003
  • It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so
  • 00:05:45.003 --> 00:05:49.641
  • When he "returns.
  • 00:05:49.641 --> 00:05:52.444
  • What are we supposed to be busy with?
  • 00:05:52.444 --> 00:05:56.748
  • Serving the people and the purposes of god.
  • 00:05:56.748 --> 00:06:00.452
  • "he's coming back," he said.
  • 00:06:00.452 --> 00:06:02.888
  • And there's gonna be an unexpected component to it.
  • 00:06:02.888 --> 00:06:06.291
  • And what you want to be busy with is the assignment he's
  • 00:06:06.291 --> 00:06:09.561
  • Given us.
  • 00:06:09.561 --> 00:06:11.229
  • "but suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, nah,
  • 00:06:11.229 --> 00:06:15.367
  • He's staying away a long time, and then he begins to beat his
  • 00:06:15.367 --> 00:06:18.303
  • Fellow servants and eat and drink with the drunkards."
  • 00:06:18.303 --> 00:06:22.374
  • Well, we'll just call that evangelism.
  • 00:06:22.374 --> 00:06:25.911
  • "the master of that servant will come on a day when he doesn't
  • 00:06:30.115 --> 00:06:32.984
  • Expect him, at an hour that he's not aware of."
  • 00:06:32.984 --> 00:06:37.088
  • Watch this.
  • 00:06:37.088 --> 00:06:38.523
  • "and he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the
  • 00:06:38.523 --> 00:06:42.828
  • Hypocrites, where there'll be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
  • 00:06:42.828 --> 00:06:48.600
  • It's a pretty hard pivot jesus makes.
  • 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:51.803
  • In the paragraphs before, he's talking to the religious
  • 00:06:51.803 --> 00:06:54.406
  • Leaders, and he's saying, "you know, your hypocrisy is
  • 00:06:54.406 --> 00:06:57.642
  • Not hidden.
  • 00:06:57.642 --> 00:06:59.144
  • Your duplicity has been exposed.
  • 00:06:59.144 --> 00:07:02.581
  • You're not as clever as you think you are.
  • 00:07:02.581 --> 00:07:05.083
  • You should repent."
  • 00:07:05.083 --> 00:07:07.452
  • And they're gonna make their choices, but they've been given
  • 00:07:07.452 --> 00:07:09.387
  • One last invitation.
  • 00:07:09.387 --> 00:07:10.755
  • Actually, they've been given multiple invitations.
  • 00:07:10.755 --> 00:07:13.024
  • The lord is with them, standing in the halls of the temple,
  • 00:07:13.024 --> 00:07:16.361
  • Inviting them to change.
  • 00:07:16.361 --> 00:07:18.597
  • Some of them will, but then he makes this hard pivot, and he
  • 00:07:18.597 --> 00:07:22.601
  • Said, "you know, i'll be gone very quickly, but i'm coming
  • 00:07:22.601 --> 00:07:25.604
  • Back for you.
  • 00:07:25.604 --> 00:07:27.706
  • And there'll be a lot of messages saying this or that,
  • 00:07:27.706 --> 00:07:30.876
  • But nobody knows when i'm coming back.
  • 00:07:30.876 --> 00:07:32.844
  • Not even the angels in heaven know.
  • 00:07:32.844 --> 00:07:35.213
  • It'll be a lot like it was in noah's day, big boats and lots
  • 00:07:35.213 --> 00:07:37.916
  • Of animals, but people were just busy with their stuff."
  • 00:07:37.916 --> 00:07:40.519
  • He said, "who is a wise and faithful servant?"
  • 00:07:43.788 --> 00:07:45.724
  • He says, "the one that's busy with the kingdom business."
  • 00:07:45.724 --> 00:07:50.161
  • See, it's not an intrusion.
  • 00:07:50.161 --> 00:07:52.664
  • It's not all another project.
  • 00:07:52.664 --> 00:07:55.901
  • It's what we were created for.
  • 00:07:55.901 --> 00:07:57.536
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:07:57.869 --> 00:08:03.808
  • Allen: and the question i'm asked most often is, "how do i
  • 00:08:06.011 --> 00:08:08.513
  • Know what god wants me to do?
  • 00:08:08.513 --> 00:08:09.848
  • If i just knew what god wanted me to do, i would do it,
  • 00:08:09.848 --> 00:08:12.217
  • Whatever it is."
  • 00:08:12.217 --> 00:08:13.818
  • Well, our offer this month i think will help.
  • 00:08:13.818 --> 00:08:15.420
  • It's by a good friend of mine, rob morgan, "the lord is
  • 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:17.856
  • My shepherd."
  • 00:08:17.856 --> 00:08:19.224
  • He's gonna unpack the scripture that tells us how to follow the
  • 00:08:19.224 --> 00:08:22.160
  • Lord's guidance and understand his abiding presence and
  • 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:25.597
  • His comfort.
  • 00:08:25.597 --> 00:08:26.932
  • It'll help you chart a course and know the path that god has
  • 00:08:26.932 --> 00:08:30.402
  • For you.
  • 00:08:30.402 --> 00:08:31.736
  • Get a copy, it'll make a difference in your life.
  • 00:08:31.736 --> 00:08:33.572
  • Female speaker: life can be overwhelming, but true peace
  • 00:08:33.638 --> 00:08:36.041
  • Is possible.
  • 00:08:36.041 --> 00:08:37.375
  • Pastor robert morgan's book, "the lord is my shepherd,"
  • 00:08:37.375 --> 00:08:39.778
  • Reflects in the specific ways psalm 23 speaks to our
  • 00:08:39.778 --> 00:08:42.480
  • Lives today.
  • 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:43.848
  • It will help you find rest for your soul and discover the joy,
  • 00:08:43.848 --> 00:08:46.818
  • Inspiration, power, and peace found in psalm 23.
  • 00:08:46.818 --> 00:08:50.522
  • In today's culture, it's essential to know god is leading
  • 00:08:50.522 --> 00:08:53.224
  • Us, charting our path, and watching over us.
  • 00:08:53.224 --> 00:08:56.494
  • Request your copy of "the lord is my shepherd" when you donate
  • 00:08:56.494 --> 00:08:58.930
  • Any amount at allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:08:58.930 --> 00:09:04.936
  • Allen: you know, i remind people frequently that god has given us
  • 00:09:06.371 --> 00:09:09.107
  • Directives regarding our money, so that we keep our hearts free
  • 00:09:09.107 --> 00:09:14.145
  • From the love of it.
  • 00:09:14.145 --> 00:09:16.748
  • We're encouraged to be generous, to learn to give.
  • 00:09:16.748 --> 00:09:21.620
  • And here go the skeptics, you know, they start sitting
  • 00:09:21.620 --> 00:09:23.588
  • Up straighter.
  • 00:09:23.588 --> 00:09:24.956
  • "i knew it, he was after your money."
  • 00:09:24.956 --> 00:09:26.291
  • No, that's not true.
  • 00:09:26.291 --> 00:09:27.659
  • We want your blood, too, donate that.
  • 00:09:27.659 --> 00:09:29.027
  • God said, "the first tenth belongs to him."
  • 00:09:32.664 --> 00:09:36.134
  • Well, that's an old testament concept.
  • 00:09:36.134 --> 00:09:37.602
  • So is, "thou shalt not kill."
  • 00:09:37.602 --> 00:09:41.272
  • So has, "he created the male and female," but we don't wanna
  • 00:09:41.272 --> 00:09:43.441
  • Leave that out of the new testament like so many churches
  • 00:09:43.441 --> 00:09:45.410
  • Are doing right now.
  • 00:09:45.410 --> 00:09:47.779
  • I believe that first tenth belongs to the lord.
  • 00:09:51.783 --> 00:09:54.085
  • It isn't mine.
  • 00:09:54.085 --> 00:09:55.987
  • I mean, it's not even mine to arbitrate.
  • 00:09:55.987 --> 00:09:58.256
  • I just give it to the lord.
  • 00:09:58.256 --> 00:10:00.825
  • It's all his, but i do that because it breaks that
  • 00:10:00.825 --> 00:10:03.428
  • Stranglehold in me.
  • 00:10:03.428 --> 00:10:05.497
  • I'm grateful that my parents taught me that when i was a
  • 00:10:05.497 --> 00:10:07.499
  • Little kid.
  • 00:10:07.499 --> 00:10:09.401
  • It's something that got baked into me, and it is one of the
  • 00:10:09.401 --> 00:10:11.903
  • Great gifts that my parents gave to me.
  • 00:10:11.903 --> 00:10:13.805
  • But god also gives us directives regarding food.
  • 00:10:13.805 --> 00:10:17.542
  • He gives us directives regarding family.
  • 00:10:17.542 --> 00:10:21.312
  • We've just been pretty casual about this.
  • 00:10:21.312 --> 00:10:23.982
  • We're going back to our salvation card, go,
  • 00:10:23.982 --> 00:10:25.717
  • "no, no, look, i'm born again.
  • 00:10:25.717 --> 00:10:27.085
  • I can eat what i want, and drink what i want,
  • 00:10:27.085 --> 00:10:28.787
  • And live how i want, and spend how i want."
  • 00:10:28.787 --> 00:10:30.288
  • No, no.
  • 00:10:30.288 --> 00:10:35.360
  • "what, are you saying we earn our way to godliness?"
  • 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:37.395
  • No, i'm not saying that at all.
  • 00:10:37.395 --> 00:10:38.730
  • I'm saying the call of god and the grace of god is to enable
  • 00:10:38.730 --> 00:10:41.900
  • You to lead righteous lives.
  • 00:10:41.900 --> 00:10:44.602
  • And you can't practice ungodliness and imagine you
  • 00:10:44.602 --> 00:10:47.806
  • Belong to the kingdom.
  • 00:10:47.806 --> 00:10:51.976
  • Or somebody will build a boat in the middle of a field, and you
  • 00:10:51.976 --> 00:10:54.446
  • Won't notice because you'll be too busy with investments, and
  • 00:10:54.446 --> 00:10:56.815
  • Too busy planning the next party, and you won't be ready to
  • 00:10:56.815 --> 00:11:00.251
  • Be on the boat.
  • 00:11:00.251 --> 00:11:01.619
  • Jesus is talking to people who offer daily sacrifices, and
  • 00:11:05.690 --> 00:11:08.893
  • Celebrate all the right holidays, and go to the
  • 00:11:08.893 --> 00:11:11.463
  • Synagogues, and do the scripture readings.
  • 00:11:11.463 --> 00:11:16.601
  • It's luke 21, "jesus looked up, and saw the rich putting their
  • 00:11:16.601 --> 00:11:19.137
  • Gifts into the temple treasury.
  • 00:11:19.137 --> 00:11:23.808
  • And he saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.
  • 00:11:23.808 --> 00:11:26.945
  • And he said, i tell you the truth," and you know now, right,
  • 00:11:26.945 --> 00:11:29.214
  • Buckle up, about to blow everybody's mind.
  • 00:11:29.214 --> 00:11:32.984
  • "this poor widow has put in more than all the others."
  • 00:11:32.984 --> 00:11:36.154
  • No, she dropped in pocket change.
  • 00:11:36.154 --> 00:11:40.558
  • There have been people who made some big gifts.
  • 00:11:40.558 --> 00:11:42.961
  • They're getting naming rights for this stuff.
  • 00:11:42.961 --> 00:11:45.697
  • Jesus said, "well, this poor widow put in more than all
  • 00:11:49.834 --> 00:11:52.036
  • The others.
  • 00:11:52.036 --> 00:11:53.371
  • They gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out of her
  • 00:11:53.371 --> 00:11:55.406
  • Poverty put in all she had to live on."
  • 00:11:55.406 --> 00:11:59.444
  • I don't believe jesus is saying that we have to liquidate, but i
  • 00:11:59.444 --> 00:12:06.885
  • Do believe he's calling our attention to what it means to
  • 00:12:06.885 --> 00:12:09.154
  • Make a sacrifice.
  • 00:12:09.154 --> 00:12:12.190
  • And nobody can tell you that, i would not presume to do that,
  • 00:12:12.190 --> 00:12:15.693
  • Don't want to.
  • 00:12:15.693 --> 00:12:17.962
  • You know, sometimes i meet christians, and they act like
  • 00:12:17.962 --> 00:12:19.564
  • They're so mad at people that have been successful and are
  • 00:12:19.564 --> 00:12:21.733
  • Affluent and have resources.
  • 00:12:21.733 --> 00:12:23.902
  • I remember sitting in a meeting with a man.
  • 00:12:23.902 --> 00:12:25.603
  • He owned two professional sports teams.
  • 00:12:25.603 --> 00:12:29.474
  • And he was a believer, a strong christian.
  • 00:12:29.474 --> 00:12:31.042
  • He was out front with his faith.
  • 00:12:31.042 --> 00:12:32.377
  • It's been a few years ago, so you don't need
  • 00:12:32.377 --> 00:12:33.745
  • To try to figure out who it was.
  • 00:12:33.745 --> 00:12:36.347
  • And he interacted a lot with the christian community.
  • 00:12:36.347 --> 00:12:38.216
  • I remember somebody asked him, and they said, "what do you wish
  • 00:12:38.216 --> 00:12:41.019
  • That christians knew?"
  • 00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.420
  • Well, the first question is, "what do you feel when you're
  • 00:12:42.420 --> 00:12:44.122
  • Amongst christians?"
  • 00:12:44.122 --> 00:12:45.456
  • And he said, "i feel like they're mad at me because i have
  • 00:12:45.456 --> 00:12:47.892
  • Too much."
  • 00:12:47.892 --> 00:12:49.727
  • And the follow-up question is, "what do you wish the christians
  • 00:12:49.727 --> 00:12:52.363
  • Really knew about you?"
  • 00:12:52.363 --> 00:12:53.698
  • He said, "i wish they knew i paid eight people full time to
  • 00:12:53.698 --> 00:12:56.100
  • Give away money."
  • 00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:59.938
  • And i remember sitting there thinking, "yeah, i was kind of
  • 00:12:59.938 --> 00:13:01.673
  • Mad at you until then."
  • 00:13:01.673 --> 00:13:03.074
  • And i spent a while walking around and wondering, "well, how
  • 00:13:07.212 --> 00:13:09.414
  • Much would he have to give away before i thought he'd given
  • 00:13:09.414 --> 00:13:11.182
  • Away enough?
  • 00:13:11.182 --> 00:13:12.517
  • That's really none of my business."
  • 00:13:12.517 --> 00:13:14.619
  • And clearly, god couldn't trust me with that much because i was
  • 00:13:14.619 --> 00:13:17.522
  • Still so messed up, i was mad at somebody that had more.
  • 00:13:17.522 --> 00:13:20.825
  • See, god can't give you more if it'll mess you up.
  • 00:13:20.825 --> 00:13:23.061
  • We've loved it so much.
  • 00:13:26.598 --> 00:13:29.834
  • We've been so greedy.
  • 00:13:29.834 --> 00:13:31.936
  • Now if you have a lot, the expectations are higher.
  • 00:13:31.936 --> 00:13:35.907
  • I always smile at people, "so, you know, i can't give that
  • 00:13:35.907 --> 00:13:37.508
  • Much, that'd be more than god's people could deal with."
  • 00:13:37.508 --> 00:13:40.011
  • Oh, really?
  • 00:13:40.011 --> 00:13:41.379
  • Jesus doesn't stop.
  • 00:13:44.883 --> 00:13:46.251
  • Very next verse, "some of his disciples were remarking about
  • 00:13:46.251 --> 00:13:48.219
  • How the temple was adorned with beautiful stones."
  • 00:13:48.219 --> 00:13:50.955
  • This is all one discussion.
  • 00:13:50.955 --> 00:13:52.323
  • This isn't broken apart, you know, we tend to pull a verse
  • 00:13:52.323 --> 00:13:54.559
  • Out and preach a sermon, but this is one discussion.
  • 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:57.128
  • In these three or four days between his arrival and his
  • 00:13:57.128 --> 00:13:59.564
  • Betrayal, "they remark about how the temple was adorned with
  • 00:13:59.564 --> 00:14:02.500
  • Beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to god.
  • 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:04.535
  • But jesus said, 'as for what you see here, the time will come
  • 00:14:04.535 --> 00:14:06.938
  • When not one stone will be left on another; every one of them
  • 00:14:06.938 --> 00:14:09.674
  • Will be thrown down."'
  • 00:14:09.674 --> 00:14:11.643
  • The most beautiful building in all of israel is the temple.
  • 00:14:11.643 --> 00:14:14.345
  • It took herod more than 40 years to build it.
  • 00:14:14.345 --> 00:14:18.249
  • Some of the largest cut stones in the history of humanity are a
  • 00:14:18.249 --> 00:14:21.252
  • Part of that temple.
  • 00:14:21.252 --> 00:14:22.654
  • It was one of the wonders of the ancient world.
  • 00:14:22.654 --> 00:14:24.289
  • People would come from all over the roman empire to see the the
  • 00:14:24.289 --> 00:14:27.258
  • Jewish temple in jerusalem.
  • 00:14:27.258 --> 00:14:29.761
  • And on the heels of this conversation, where jesus said,
  • 00:14:29.761 --> 00:14:31.729
  • "that little widow just gave more than everybody else," the
  • 00:14:31.729 --> 00:14:34.265
  • Disciples comment on the beauty of the temple, and jesus said,
  • 00:14:34.265 --> 00:14:37.235
  • "every stone will be torn down," and within a handful of years.
  • 00:14:37.235 --> 00:14:41.572
  • Even the stones of the temple are temporary.
  • 00:14:44.876 --> 00:14:48.012
  • The message jesus is giving is be careful where you direct your
  • 00:14:48.012 --> 00:14:50.815
  • Affection, or you will imagine that what validates you, what
  • 00:14:50.815 --> 00:14:55.453
  • Secures your future, what makes you unique, what gives you a
  • 00:14:55.453 --> 00:14:58.990
  • Place in the kingdom of god is something that's temporary.
  • 00:14:58.990 --> 00:15:04.062
  • Enjoy the things that god provides, but don't misdirect
  • 00:15:04.062 --> 00:15:06.497
  • Your effort and allegiance.
  • 00:15:06.497 --> 00:15:09.133
  • Be generous towards god.
  • 00:15:09.133 --> 00:15:10.501
  • If i had to look for a summary line, it's, "be generous towards
  • 00:15:10.501 --> 00:15:12.670
  • God, no matter what level of resources you have."
  • 00:15:12.670 --> 00:15:17.008
  • That's a learned behavior.
  • 00:15:17.008 --> 00:15:18.343
  • It's not intuitive.
  • 00:15:18.343 --> 00:15:19.711
  • By nature, i'm selfish.
  • 00:15:19.711 --> 00:15:21.045
  • My parents, when my brothers and i were at home when
  • 00:15:21.045 --> 00:15:22.647
  • We were little, my parents had this really weird idea.
  • 00:15:22.647 --> 00:15:24.382
  • They were messed up.
  • 00:15:24.382 --> 00:15:25.750
  • I already told you, they wanted me to clean my room.
  • 00:15:25.750 --> 00:15:28.286
  • I mean, it was a bad environment.
  • 00:15:28.286 --> 00:15:31.289
  • And this other mistaken notion that we should share.
  • 00:15:31.289 --> 00:15:37.095
  • It was awful.
  • 00:15:37.095 --> 00:15:39.197
  • Somebody would give me because they recognized i was a special
  • 00:15:39.197 --> 00:15:42.200
  • Child, and they would recognize my tender heart and my
  • 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:48.439
  • Gentle character.
  • 00:15:48.439 --> 00:15:49.807
  • And they would give me a bag of m&ms, and i would mistakenly let
  • 00:15:49.807 --> 00:15:55.413
  • My parents know.
  • 00:15:55.413 --> 00:15:58.116
  • And then here's where it would go really weird.
  • 00:15:58.116 --> 00:16:00.084
  • They would say, "don't you want to share with your brothers?"
  • 00:16:00.084 --> 00:16:04.489
  • What's the answer to that?
  • 00:16:04.489 --> 00:16:06.891
  • "no, let them get their own chocolate.
  • 00:16:06.891 --> 00:16:12.330
  • I was the good kid.
  • 00:16:12.330 --> 00:16:14.532
  • Clearly, they noticed."
  • 00:16:14.532 --> 00:16:17.435
  • I'm grateful for my parents's determination because it
  • 00:16:21.572 --> 00:16:24.242
  • Took some.
  • 00:16:24.242 --> 00:16:26.778
  • Oh, you're applauding because you know how much effort
  • 00:16:26.778 --> 00:16:31.749
  • It took.
  • 00:16:31.749 --> 00:16:33.084
  • I know what you're doing, but it's the same invitation god
  • 00:16:33.084 --> 00:16:35.787
  • Is giving.
  • 00:16:35.787 --> 00:16:37.655
  • Our natural tendency is not to be generous, our natural
  • 00:16:37.655 --> 00:16:41.059
  • Tendency is to say, "i've done enough."
  • 00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:44.462
  • Our natural tendency says, "well, they'll never
  • 00:16:44.462 --> 00:16:46.064
  • Stop asking."
  • 00:16:46.064 --> 00:16:47.432
  • And jesus said that, he said, "you'll always have the poor
  • 00:16:47.432 --> 00:16:48.933
  • With you."
  • 00:16:48.933 --> 00:16:50.701
  • You can't alleviate someone else's brokenness with
  • 00:16:50.701 --> 00:16:53.337
  • Your generosity.
  • 00:16:53.337 --> 00:16:54.672
  • One of my mentors in my life told me when i was traveling
  • 00:16:54.672 --> 00:16:57.075
  • More around the world, he said, "you can't break the cycle of
  • 00:16:57.075 --> 00:17:00.578
  • Darkness over the lives of people with money, only the
  • 00:17:00.578 --> 00:17:04.715
  • Cross can do that.
  • 00:17:04.715 --> 00:17:06.684
  • And it's far more valuable to take the message of the cross to
  • 00:17:06.684 --> 00:17:10.221
  • The nations of the world than it is to distribute resources."
  • 00:17:10.221 --> 00:17:14.559
  • But because we haven't believed very much in the power of the
  • 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:17.095
  • Cross, we have tried to alleviate our conscience by
  • 00:17:17.095 --> 00:17:20.064
  • Sharing our resources.
  • 00:17:20.064 --> 00:17:23.534
  • But still, the point in this particular lesson of jesus in
  • 00:17:23.534 --> 00:17:26.104
  • This particular section has to do with our attitude
  • 00:17:26.104 --> 00:17:28.406
  • Towards money.
  • 00:17:28.406 --> 00:17:29.774
  • I put 1 timothy 6 in so you know it's not some isolated theme.
  • 00:17:29.774 --> 00:17:32.743
  • Paul's writing, he said, "the love of money is a root of all
  • 00:17:32.743 --> 00:17:35.113
  • Kinds of evil."
  • 00:17:35.113 --> 00:17:36.948
  • So, it isn't about your stuff.
  • 00:17:36.948 --> 00:17:38.349
  • You do not want to let evil have access to grow in your heart.
  • 00:17:38.349 --> 00:17:44.188
  • You can't afford it, you'll miss the boat.
  • 00:17:44.188 --> 00:17:47.992
  • You will miss the boat.
  • 00:17:47.992 --> 00:17:49.660
  • One last passage, and i'm done.
  • 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:51.028
  • My time's about gone.
  • 00:17:51.028 --> 00:17:52.563
  • This is such a fruitful time.
  • 00:17:52.563 --> 00:17:53.898
  • Go back and read your gospels.
  • 00:17:53.898 --> 00:17:55.233
  • You can look at matthew, start with a triumphal entry, and read
  • 00:17:55.233 --> 00:17:57.001
  • All the way to gethsemane when judas betrays jesus.
  • 00:17:57.001 --> 00:17:59.704
  • There's a whole host of learning in there.
  • 00:17:59.704 --> 00:18:03.508
  • We'll pick a little bit up on wednesday night, but one last
  • 00:18:03.508 --> 00:18:05.576
  • Segment, matthew 26.
  • 00:18:05.576 --> 00:18:07.478
  • "when jesus finished all these sayings, he said to his
  • 00:18:07.478 --> 00:18:09.714
  • Disciples," remember, there's three groups, the disciples, the
  • 00:18:09.714 --> 00:18:12.383
  • Crowd, and the antagonist.
  • 00:18:12.383 --> 00:18:14.352
  • "he says to his disciples, 'as you know, the passover is two
  • 00:18:14.352 --> 00:18:18.256
  • Days away--and the son of man will be handed over to
  • 00:18:18.256 --> 00:18:22.393
  • Be crucified.'
  • 00:18:22.393 --> 00:18:24.529
  • And then the chief priests and the elders of the people
  • 00:18:24.529 --> 00:18:26.631
  • Assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name
  • 00:18:26.631 --> 00:18:29.767
  • Was caiaphas."
  • 00:18:29.767 --> 00:18:31.469
  • And they said, "we've been wrong about this guy.
  • 00:18:31.469 --> 00:18:33.404
  • He's raised the dead and healed the blind.
  • 00:18:33.404 --> 00:18:36.574
  • We need to change our attitude."
  • 00:18:36.574 --> 00:18:39.710
  • That's the logical part, makes perfect sense.
  • 00:18:39.710 --> 00:18:44.215
  • We've given our lives to serving these people.
  • 00:18:44.215 --> 00:18:47.251
  • We've been training since we were children in the scriptures.
  • 00:18:47.251 --> 00:18:52.390
  • "they met in the house of the high priest, caiaphas, and they
  • 00:18:56.594 --> 00:18:59.997
  • Plotted to arrest jesus in some sly way and to kill him.
  • 00:18:59.997 --> 00:19:06.704
  • 'but not during the feast,' they said, 'or there could be a riot
  • 00:19:06.704 --> 00:19:10.341
  • Amongst the people.'"
  • 00:19:10.341 --> 00:19:12.777
  • I told you, one of the groups you will follow through these
  • 00:19:12.777 --> 00:19:14.779
  • Little segments if you go do the homework is these antagonists.
  • 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:19.450
  • What you'll notice is they're unrelenting.
  • 00:19:19.450 --> 00:19:21.152
  • There's no answer that will satisfy them.
  • 00:19:21.152 --> 00:19:23.654
  • There's no expression of the goodness of god or the grace
  • 00:19:23.654 --> 00:19:26.123
  • Of god.
  • 00:19:26.123 --> 00:19:27.491
  • There's no number in the crowd that will cause them to relent.
  • 00:19:27.491 --> 00:19:30.194
  • They imagine they know better.
  • 00:19:30.194 --> 00:19:31.862
  • The behavior of evil is not different, folks.
  • 00:19:31.862 --> 00:19:36.434
  • It's very similar in the 21st century in the 1st century.
  • 00:19:36.434 --> 00:19:40.638
  • If i talk about the way evil is expressed today, people start
  • 00:19:40.638 --> 00:19:43.374
  • Shouting at me, "you're being political."
  • 00:19:43.374 --> 00:19:44.742
  • I'm going, "i'm being very biblical."
  • 00:19:44.742 --> 00:19:47.345
  • I'm not advocating for parties or candidates.
  • 00:19:47.345 --> 00:19:51.015
  • What i would invite you to is this very simple, that there's a
  • 00:19:51.015 --> 00:19:55.019
  • Spiritual force that's opposing jesus.
  • 00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:58.189
  • And it's working through people, spiritual forces work
  • 00:19:58.189 --> 00:20:01.425
  • Through people.
  • 00:20:01.425 --> 00:20:03.094
  • It's working through people who have refused to cooperate
  • 00:20:03.094 --> 00:20:06.764
  • With god.
  • 00:20:06.764 --> 00:20:09.100
  • Now, what makes it particularly confusing and deceptive in this
  • 00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:12.370
  • Particular scene is there are people who are steeped in
  • 00:20:12.370 --> 00:20:15.473
  • Religious behavior.
  • 00:20:15.473 --> 00:20:16.841
  • They wear religious clothes, they work in religious
  • 00:20:16.841 --> 00:20:19.510
  • Buildings, they can quote the prophets, they just don't do
  • 00:20:19.510 --> 00:20:23.314
  • What they say.
  • 00:20:23.314 --> 00:20:25.983
  • So, jesus instructions to us were that we would know one
  • 00:20:25.983 --> 00:20:29.620
  • Another not by where we sit, or by our wardrobe, or by the
  • 00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:33.824
  • Verses we can quote, that we would know one another by the
  • 00:20:33.824 --> 00:20:37.061
  • Fruit of our lives.
  • 00:20:37.061 --> 00:20:40.064
  • We're going to have to become more sophisticated consumers.
  • 00:20:40.064 --> 00:20:45.136
  • God is moving in the earth.
  • 00:20:45.136 --> 00:20:47.705
  • We're celebrating holy week.
  • 00:20:47.705 --> 00:20:51.409
  • Jesus triumphal entry into the city amongst the cheering of the
  • 00:20:51.409 --> 00:20:56.113
  • Crowd, the cheers stopped very quickly.
  • 00:20:56.113 --> 00:20:58.616
  • In fact, one of the gospels records that when he finished
  • 00:20:58.616 --> 00:21:01.452
  • That very emotional entry, and the weeping, and the cheering,
  • 00:21:01.452 --> 00:21:05.022
  • He came to the temple, and it was the end of the day,
  • 00:21:05.022 --> 00:21:08.025
  • And the crowds had dispersed.
  • 00:21:08.025 --> 00:21:10.861
  • And it says that jesus looked around.
  • 00:21:10.861 --> 00:21:13.097
  • There was a big bridge at that time across the kidron valley
  • 00:21:13.097 --> 00:21:16.233
  • That he walked back across the bridge and climbed the the mount
  • 00:21:16.233 --> 00:21:19.337
  • Of olives to where his friends lived.
  • 00:21:19.337 --> 00:21:22.540
  • And then he begins these days of very intense training.
  • 00:21:22.540 --> 00:21:26.377
  • Let's take this week as a training week.
  • 00:21:26.377 --> 00:21:28.946
  • Let's prepare our hearts for easter.
  • 00:21:28.946 --> 00:21:31.682
  • Let's show up.
  • 00:21:31.682 --> 00:21:33.050
  • Next weekend, there'll be people here that aren't normally here.
  • 00:21:33.050 --> 00:21:36.420
  • Now, they'll wanna act like like, "i've always been here."
  • 00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:39.690
  • Don't point out the difference.
  • 00:21:39.690 --> 00:21:43.127
  • "it's good to see you, welcome."
  • 00:21:43.127 --> 00:21:47.798
  • And let's see, let's trust god to change hearts, but let's be
  • 00:21:47.798 --> 00:21:52.303
  • Willing that it begin with us.
  • 00:21:52.303 --> 00:21:55.206
  • Let's be willing to answer the awkward questions jesus might
  • 00:21:55.206 --> 00:21:57.942
  • Ask us.
  • 00:21:57.942 --> 00:21:59.276
  • What do you think about john's baptism?
  • 00:21:59.276 --> 00:22:01.379
  • What did you see that widow put into the offering?
  • 00:22:01.379 --> 00:22:06.250
  • Were you more enamored with the people who had more?
  • 00:22:06.250 --> 00:22:10.154
  • Or did you recognize the sacrifice of someone who
  • 00:22:10.154 --> 00:22:12.957
  • Had little?
  • 00:22:12.957 --> 00:22:16.060
  • Are you gonna plot and scheme how to shut it down?
  • 00:22:16.060 --> 00:22:20.064
  • Are you gonna give your whole self to seeing the
  • 00:22:20.064 --> 00:22:22.400
  • Message expanded?
  • 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:24.902
  • Where are you gonna find yourself?
  • 00:22:24.902 --> 00:22:27.338
  • Are you a part of that rather fluid, indifferent crowd that
  • 00:22:27.338 --> 00:22:30.341
  • Are just gonna go where the opportunity the moment is?
  • 00:22:30.341 --> 00:22:33.677
  • Are you gonna join the disciples?
  • 00:22:33.677 --> 00:22:35.679
  • Careful, there's some very bumpy roads ahead for them, but
  • 00:22:35.679 --> 00:22:42.453
  • There's some amazing rewards ahead for them.
  • 00:22:42.453 --> 00:22:47.258
  • You know, building a boat in the middle of an open field while
  • 00:22:47.258 --> 00:22:49.660
  • Everybody in town mocks you.
  • 00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:52.263
  • "you cashed in your 401k to build what?
  • 00:22:52.263 --> 00:22:56.734
  • Where?
  • 00:22:56.734 --> 00:22:58.636
  • You spent how much on hay?
  • 00:22:58.636 --> 00:23:02.606
  • You don't even own any animals."
  • 00:23:02.606 --> 00:23:06.777
  • Are you willing to be a little different?
  • 00:23:06.777 --> 00:23:11.582
  • I pray we are.
  • 00:23:11.582 --> 00:23:13.684
  • God is moving in the earth.
  • 00:23:13.684 --> 00:23:15.920
  • Why don't you stand with me?
  • 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.254
  • I wanna pray for you.
  • 00:23:17.254 --> 00:23:18.656
  • I was gonna give you a specific invitation, but then i thought,
  • 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:24.295
  • "who's gonna raise their hand, and say, 'i don't wanna be any
  • 00:23:24.295 --> 00:23:26.030
  • Different, i don't wanna cooperate with god, i wanna be
  • 00:23:26.030 --> 00:23:29.066
  • An antagonist"'?
  • 00:23:29.066 --> 00:23:30.434
  • If you've chosen that, i don't think you'd admit it right now.
  • 00:23:30.434 --> 00:23:34.572
  • So, i would rather pray that all of us have a change of heart,
  • 00:23:34.572 --> 00:23:38.943
  • That we would surrender the smug self-righteousness that there's
  • 00:23:38.943 --> 00:23:41.912
  • Nothing significant left for us to do.
  • 00:23:41.912 --> 00:23:44.114
  • You know, my parents started teaching me lessons
  • 00:23:44.114 --> 00:23:45.883
  • About maturing.
  • 00:23:45.883 --> 00:23:48.752
  • I mean, honest to goodness, i remember one time having to go
  • 00:23:48.752 --> 00:23:51.422
  • Back to the bathroom like three or four times because i couldn't
  • 00:23:51.422 --> 00:23:53.791
  • Get the dirt off.
  • 00:23:53.791 --> 00:23:56.060
  • I was really offended.
  • 00:23:56.060 --> 00:23:57.394
  • I'm like, "could you just tell me what the secret is?"
  • 00:23:57.394 --> 00:24:00.097
  • And they'd send me back.
  • 00:24:00.097 --> 00:24:01.432
  • "no, you didn't."
  • 00:24:01.432 --> 00:24:02.800
  • I'm like, "i promise there was water and soap."
  • 00:24:02.800 --> 00:24:04.301
  • But you know, i left home, and they kind of stepped out of that
  • 00:24:07.905 --> 00:24:10.741
  • Role and god stepped in.
  • 00:24:10.741 --> 00:24:15.646
  • And he's still asking me to grow up.
  • 00:24:15.646 --> 00:24:19.517
  • When he sent me back for some of those same lessons several times
  • 00:24:19.517 --> 00:24:22.086
  • I'm like, "oh, can you just tell me the secret formula?"
  • 00:24:22.086 --> 00:24:25.222
  • Some of you are mad at god.
  • 00:24:28.292 --> 00:24:31.395
  • Now, he can withstand your rage about his poor job performance,
  • 00:24:31.395 --> 00:24:35.099
  • But you won't withstand rebellion.
  • 00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:39.670
  • So, let's come today with a sincere heart and say, "lord, we
  • 00:24:39.670 --> 00:24:42.139
  • Want your best.
  • 00:24:42.139 --> 00:24:43.908
  • We wanna follow you.
  • 00:24:43.908 --> 00:24:45.676
  • I don't wanna be in the crowd.
  • 00:24:45.676 --> 00:24:48.045
  • I certainly don't want to be an antagonist.
  • 00:24:48.045 --> 00:24:51.649
  • I want to be a disciple."
  • 00:24:51.649 --> 00:24:55.352
  • You up for that?
  • 00:24:55.352 --> 00:24:57.154
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:24:57.154 --> 00:24:58.522
  • Father, thank you for your word, for its truth, and authority,
  • 00:24:58.522 --> 00:25:01.091
  • And power.
  • 00:25:01.091 --> 00:25:02.726
  • I thank you that you love us enough to show us the way, that
  • 00:25:02.726 --> 00:25:06.664
  • You cared about us enough to send jesus.
  • 00:25:06.664 --> 00:25:08.566
  • And lord jesus, that you were invested enough not only to be
  • 00:25:08.566 --> 00:25:14.605
  • One of us, but to tell us the truth, and to show us a way, and
  • 00:25:14.605 --> 00:25:18.442
  • To provide us direction.
  • 00:25:18.442 --> 00:25:20.277
  • And now, i ask, holy spirit, that you would help us.
  • 00:25:20.277 --> 00:25:24.114
  • Bring to our mind those things that we need to be aware of.
  • 00:25:24.114 --> 00:25:26.650
  • Help us to see ourselves with clarity.
  • 00:25:26.650 --> 00:25:29.119
  • May we have the humility to repent, to not defend ourselves
  • 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:31.989
  • Or to justify ourselves, but may we be willing to engage in the
  • 00:25:31.989 --> 00:25:36.727
  • Purposes of god in this generation.
  • 00:25:36.727 --> 00:25:40.364
  • May we not sit back and wait for others to do what needs to
  • 00:25:40.364 --> 00:25:43.000
  • Be done.
  • 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:44.335
  • May we lift our voices, and raise our hands, and offer
  • 00:25:44.335 --> 00:25:46.637
  • Ourselves, and commit our resources to being men and women
  • 00:25:46.637 --> 00:25:49.707
  • For the purposes of god.
  • 00:25:49.707 --> 00:25:52.943
  • I pray that in our lifetime, in this generation, that the name
  • 00:25:52.943 --> 00:25:57.214
  • Of jesus will be lifted up, and your kingdom extended, and the
  • 00:25:57.214 --> 00:26:00.017
  • Church strengthened, and the young people given a
  • 00:26:00.017 --> 00:26:02.553
  • Presentation of the truth that will shape generations to come.
  • 00:26:02.553 --> 00:26:07.591
  • We praise you for it and we thank you for it.
  • 00:26:07.591 --> 00:26:10.561
  • For it's in jesus's name we pray, amen.
  • 00:26:10.561 --> 00:26:13.564
  • Allen: you know, i really dislike the idea of a
  • 00:26:15.366 --> 00:26:17.067
  • Religious lecture.
  • 00:26:17.067 --> 00:26:18.502
  • I believe the point of ministry or opening the word of god is to
  • 00:26:18.502 --> 00:26:21.271
  • Be transformed by it.
  • 00:26:21.271 --> 00:26:22.973
  • So before we go, i want to give you two invitations.
  • 00:26:22.973 --> 00:26:24.875
  • One's a prayer, i'm gonna pray with you, but the other is our
  • 00:26:24.875 --> 00:26:26.944
  • Offer this month.
  • 00:26:26.944 --> 00:26:28.312
  • The book is "the lord is my shepherd" by my friend
  • 00:26:28.312 --> 00:26:30.414
  • Rob morgan.
  • 00:26:30.414 --> 00:26:31.749
  • It's an important word in this season to understand god's
  • 00:26:31.749 --> 00:26:35.719
  • Direction, his abiding presence, his protection.
  • 00:26:35.719 --> 00:26:38.722
  • We all need that.
  • 00:26:38.722 --> 00:26:40.057
  • It'll be a blessing in your life and something i think you'll
  • 00:26:40.057 --> 00:26:42.059
  • Wanna share with some friends.
  • 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:43.594
  • But i wanna pray with you before we go, that we'll know we're
  • 00:26:43.594 --> 00:26:45.663
  • Not alone.
  • 00:26:45.663 --> 00:26:47.031
  • Heavenly father, i thank you for the resources you give us, for
  • 00:26:47.031 --> 00:26:49.767
  • The voices that you provide in our lives, that in a world of
  • 00:26:49.767 --> 00:26:52.803
  • Turmoil, and confusion, and honestly great fear, that your
  • 00:26:52.803 --> 00:26:56.373
  • Calm assuring voice guides us, and i thank you for it today.
  • 00:26:56.373 --> 00:27:00.611
  • Thank you for your faithfulness in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:00.611 --> 00:27:04.648
  • Get a copy of "the lord is my shepherd," and you take your
  • 00:27:04.648 --> 00:27:07.785
  • Prayers into your family.
  • 00:27:07.785 --> 00:27:09.119
  • We're a light in this dark world.
  • 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:11.021
  • God is moving and we wanna move with him.
  • 00:27:11.021 --> 00:27:13.157
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:13.624 --> 00:27:26.570