Allen Jackson - When God Intevenes (Part 2)

December 27, 2024 | S

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 - When God Intevenes (Part 2) | December 27, 2024
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: i put a little paradigm at the top of
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  • Your outline.
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  • We really began using that during covid, in the midst of
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  • Some of the craziness that began to emerge in that season.
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  • Really, as a means of avoiding deception so that we could
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  • Fulfill god's purposes.
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  • And it's proved useful, far beyond the covid narrative.
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  • I think it's helpful--one of the most consistent warnings
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  • Jesus gave us about this time in history was about the
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  • Prevalence, the increase, of deception.
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  • And that little tool will help, a great deal.
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  • If you'll cultivate the habit of watching, and listening, not
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  • Just being present, but actually watch, and listen, and then
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  • Think, but then don't stop there.
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  • Then you have to be willing to act.
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  • You wanna watch, and listen, and think, and act.
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  • We're gonna talk about that a bit more as we move through the
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  • End of this year and begin a new year.
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  • I had the radio on, this week, in my car and i didn't catch the
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  • Introduction of the person who was being interviewed, but he
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  • Was some sort of highly celebrated economist, very
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  • Well-educated, very well-respected, you could tell
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  • By the tone of the interview.
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  • It just happened to be foolish, in my opinion.
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  • But i grew up in a barn so you can watch, and listen, and think
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  • For yourself.
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  • But the premise that he kept asserting, repeatedly, over and
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  • Over and over, again, was that, "economically," he would say.
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  • And he would have-- "economically, there's really
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  • Absolutely no difference whatsoever between legal and
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  • Illegal immigration."
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  • Oh, don't heckle, but i suppose he made the assertion more than
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  • A dozen times and he would, "economically--" and i'm--i
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  • Start talking to my radio, which is really not a good practice.
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  • They're one-way.
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  • Now, google can hear you, but your radio can't.
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  • And i said, "well, you know, if i use that theory, if i use your
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  • Premise, as far as purchasing power, there's no difference in
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  • The money i earned than if i robbed a bank!"
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  • I mean, if we're just talking purchasing power, there's
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  • No difference!
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  • I mean, there's that little inconvenience of one's legal and
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  • One's illegal, and if you wanna set aside the law, and you wanna
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  • Give complete license to lawlessness, then there's really
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  • No difference than earning something and
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  • Stealing something.
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  • Well, if you're just kind of, sort of not paying attention,
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  • And you're not really listening, and you're not watching, and
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  • You're not thinking, you'll be deceived by knuckleheads!
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  • People who have an agenda that they don't fully disclose, and
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  • We don't have a tremendous number of places where the truth
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  • Is celebrated, so you have to be a bit more wary as a consumer.
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  • I wanna encourage you to continue to watch, and to
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  • Listen, to think, and to act on the truth that you can see.
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  • If you'll combine that with reading your bible, and learning
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  • To listen to the spirit of god, i believe the lord will lead us
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  • Through, no matter how confusing, or deceiving, the
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  • Messaging around us.
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  • If you're not doing that, you will be deceived, because the
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  • Messaging is confusing.
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  • I don't think we have to be frightened, in fact, it's kind
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  • Of exciting.
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  • God's preparing a people for, i believe, the greatest experience
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  • In the kingdom of god that the world has ever seen.
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  • I believe we'll see more people come to faith in the season
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  • Ahead than any time the world has ever known.
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  • Now, some of that has to do with the population growth, in all
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  • Fairness, but it also has to do with an explosion of technology
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  • That makes it affordable for a little country church in
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  • Tennessee to turn on the lights and we can talk to people in
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  • Anywhere on the planet, which is truly remarkable.
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  • Now, we will also see the greatest opposition to the
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  • Gospel that the world has ever known.
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  • And that will grow in intensity.
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  • So you don't want to allow the fact that there's opposition to
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  • Be the component that would cause you to stand for the
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  • Truth, or not.
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  • We'll be advocates for the truth, where the--where it
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  • Seems to be celebrated, and we'll be advocates for the truth
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  • Where it is less so.
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  • We have chosen to be advocates for the truth, amen?
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  • So watch, listen, think, and act, you've got the tools, now.
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  • We'll keep taking some looks through that window and see if
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  • Somebody else shows up with something absurd.
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  • They are still releasing productions on a very regular
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  • Basis, from the theater of the absurd, in case you
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  • Have forgotten.
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  • Remember, when we started this a moment ago, we said that
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  • Breakthroughs bring with them, sometimes, a sense of being
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  • Set apart?
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  • So one of the questions i will ask you, and i'll ask you
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  • Repeatedly: are you willing to be set apart for the purposes of
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  • God or do you just wanna blend in?
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  • If we used a little bit of a contemporary example: would you
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  • Just like to say you're a college football fan?
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  • Or are you a ut fan?
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  • If you choose one, it's gonna set you apart, particularly if
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  • You go south of here.
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  • I mean, this year you go proudly, stay humble.
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  • Are you willing to be set apart?
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  • You see, we want delivered, we want healing, we want what
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  • We want.
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  • We want our kids to get what we want them to have, or whatever
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  • It is we're seeking the lord for.
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  • Are we truly willing to say, "lord, i'm gonna respond
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  • To you"?
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  • Well, the time simeon's done with this interaction, it's not
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  • All just a group hug.
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  • Very next verse, that's verse 35 and verse 36, luke goes on.
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  • He said, "there was also a prophetess, anna, the daughter
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  • Of phanuel, of the tribe of asher.
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  • She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years
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  • After her marriage, and then was a widow until she was 84.
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  • She never left the temple but she worshiped night and day,
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  • Fasting and praying.
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  • Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to god
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  • And spoke about the child of all who were looking forward to the
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  • Redemption of jerusalem."
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  • It's a fascinating little window.
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  • It says that "anna never left the temple,"
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  • That "she worshiped night and day, fasting and praying that
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  • God gives her a revelation of the messiah."
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  • But it wasn't just because she was having a good hair day, or
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  • Because the weather happened to be particularly beautiful on
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  • That morning, and so she decided she would go to temple.
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  • It wasn't because she didn't have a better invitation.
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  • It says, "she never left the temple,
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  • That she worshiped god night and day."
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  • I'm enough of a literalist, i believe she worshiped night
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  • And day.
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  • I believe she sought the lord with fasting and prayer.
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  • And because of that, god gave her the insight, gave her
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  • A breakthrough.
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  • There was an intervention on her behalf.
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  • That's the child.
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  • Maybe she heard simeon.
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  • I'm gonna try to wrap this up.
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  • I played with labels for this, because i'm gonna put the
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  • Segments in several of the lessons, god willing.
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  • For the moment, i like "breakthrough hacks."
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  • Some of you prefer "travel tips."
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  • I know, i got a whole list and then i'll decide which one
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  • Sticks, over time.
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  • But between the narrative that we're given in scripture, and
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  • The reality of our lives, we've got to mesh this into a set of
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  • Behaviors that increase our possibility of participation.
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  • We do that with, "let's pray."
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  • You forfeit a tremendous amount, if you never pray with others.
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  • We do that with reading our bible, if you don't read your
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  • Bible, you forfeit a tremendous amount of spiritual stability,
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  • And understanding, and insight.
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  • And there's some other choices that we make that can either
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  • Facilitate god's engagement in our lives, or they'll
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  • Diminish it.
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  • And one that i can take from the lives of these two individuals,
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  • Is that breakthroughs frequently involve god keeping a promise.
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  • For both simeon and anna, what they were looking forward to,
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  • What they were anticipating was god keeping his word.
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  • That he will do what he said he would do.
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  • "he told me he would let me see the messiah.
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  • And i may be 84, but if i have to, i'll be 184, i'm going to
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  • See the messiah.
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  • Now i'm going to the temple every day, and i'm gonna worship
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  • God night and day, and i'll fast and pray, i'm not just mailing
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  • This in.
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  • I'm all in, but i'm gonna see the messiah."
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  • And the breakthroughs in our lives, most frequently, will be
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  • About god keeping his promise.
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  • In the case of simeon and anna, there's a sense of the
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  • Completion and of assignment, and this is really a pretty
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  • Important biblical principle.
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  • You know, we make a journey through time, it's linear.
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  • In fact, the whole story of the bible, the first verse of the
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  • Bible, i bet you know what it is.
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  • What's the first phrase in the bible?
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  • "in the beginning."
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  • The beginning, the beginning of what?
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  • Well, it's not the beginning of the earth and everything that's
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  • In it, because when the spirit of god hovers over the face of
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  • The deep, something's here, it's just chaotic.
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  • We're not really introduced to the very beginning, it's just in
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  • The beginning of what's going to--the opening chapters of
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  • Genesis introduce us to adam, the pinnacle of god's creation.
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  • It's the story of adam and his descendants and how, if they so
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  • Choose, how they might have a relationship with the almighty
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  • God, the creator of the heavens and the earth.
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  • And it starts, "in the beginning," and it takes us to
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  • The book of revelation, which is the conclusion of this
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  • Present age.
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  • It's not the end of god's people, it's not the end of god,
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  • It's not the end of god's activity on this earth.
  • 00:10:57.916 --> 00:11:02.620
  • There's gonna be a new heaven and a new earth, but it's the
  • 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:06.891
  • End of this present world order.
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  • It's a linear progression.
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  • And we get a hint of that in the story of simeon and anna,
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  • There's a completion of assignment, there was a
  • 00:11:14.966 --> 00:11:17.368
  • Beginning and ending.
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  • "now you have fulfilled your promise, i'm good.
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  • I have seen the consolation of israel.
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  • I have seen the redeemer of jerusalem."
  • 00:11:26.544 --> 00:11:30.215
  • It also invites us into this awareness that there's another
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  • Dimension of our life-- beyond time.
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  • If we're really gonna get into the weeds on breakthroughs,
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  • Folks, they have something to do with more than just our journey
  • 00:11:37.889 --> 00:11:40.325
  • Through time.
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  • It has to do with our impact, what our life does with our
  • 00:11:43.128 --> 00:11:46.364
  • Journey through time.
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  • We have, tragically, been coached towards some very
  • 00:11:49.033 --> 00:11:53.071
  • Mediocre ideas around our faith.
  • 00:11:53.071 --> 00:11:54.672
  • "pastor, i just want to go to heaven."
  • 00:11:54.672 --> 00:12:00.578
  • May i suggest what you wanna do is be as fully obedient to the
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  • Lord as you're capable of?
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  • You want to fulfill what you were created for.
  • 00:12:07.652 --> 00:12:11.823
  • In fact, if you'll focus on that, your destination is
  • 00:12:11.823 --> 00:12:14.659
  • A non-issue.
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  • If you're not interested in those things and all you want is
  • 00:12:16.961 --> 00:12:18.897
  • The destination, you're likely to forfeit all the above.
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  • I would invite you to think of yourself not as totally defined
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  • By your journey through time.
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  • Allen: 2024 has almost slipped past us.
  • 00:12:35.413 --> 00:12:38.683
  • Thank you for your partnership, this year.
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  • It's been the most remarkable season we've ever
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  • Known, together.
  • 00:12:42.921 --> 00:12:44.255
  • And i thank you for your faithful investment of time,
  • 00:12:44.255 --> 00:12:46.891
  • Energy, and prayers in our ministry.
  • 00:12:46.891 --> 00:12:49.027
  • Change is taking place in the earth, we're seeing in our own
  • 00:12:49.027 --> 00:12:52.330
  • Nation, god responded to us with tremendous mercy and grace.
  • 00:12:52.330 --> 00:12:56.801
  • We have leaders that are headed to washington dc to enact
  • 00:12:56.801 --> 00:12:59.838
  • Changes to restore a set of values that have brought
  • 00:12:59.838 --> 00:13:02.307
  • Strength to our nation.
  • 00:13:02.307 --> 00:13:03.775
  • It's a time of great optimism, and hope, and anticipation, and
  • 00:13:03.775 --> 00:13:07.712
  • I believe that's true in the church, as well.
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  • Folks, we can't stand on the sidelines and expect somebody
  • 00:13:09.814 --> 00:13:12.584
  • Else to be the change.
  • 00:13:12.584 --> 00:13:14.319
  • We need the presence of god to emerge in our schools, on our
  • 00:13:14.319 --> 00:13:17.422
  • College campuses, back in our churches.
  • 00:13:17.422 --> 00:13:20.592
  • And so i think it's a critical time that we bring the message
  • 00:13:20.592 --> 00:13:23.394
  • Of the truth of jesus christ.
  • 00:13:23.394 --> 00:13:25.129
  • It's a hopeful message.
  • 00:13:25.129 --> 00:13:26.464
  • It's a message of wholeness, and healing, and deliverance, and
  • 00:13:26.464 --> 00:13:29.367
  • Freedom that we desperately need in our cities, in our
  • 00:13:29.367 --> 00:13:32.871
  • Communities, wherever god's people gather.
  • 00:13:32.871 --> 00:13:35.373
  • Join us.
  • 00:13:35.373 --> 00:13:36.741
  • Let's be a part of what god is doing in the earth and we will
  • 00:13:36.741 --> 00:13:39.444
  • Celebrate his faithfulness to the people of our generation.
  • 00:13:39.444 --> 00:13:43.114
  • Thank you for being a part.
  • 00:13:43.114 --> 00:13:45.083
  • Female announcer: god has uniquely blessed us.
  • 00:13:46.384 --> 00:13:48.853
  • The best is yet to come.
  • 00:13:48.853 --> 00:13:51.623
  • God has heard our prayers.
  • 00:13:51.623 --> 00:13:54.192
  • God has delivered us from oppression.
  • 00:13:54.192 --> 00:13:58.096
  • We live in a season of shaking, but together we stand.
  • 00:13:58.096 --> 00:14:03.601
  • United in heart and purpose to accomplish the will of god, in
  • 00:14:03.601 --> 00:14:07.772
  • Our generation.
  • 00:14:07.772 --> 00:14:10.275
  • We will not stop.
  • 00:14:10.275 --> 00:14:14.345
  • Allen: i wanna ask you to make a sacrificial investment in
  • 00:14:14.345 --> 00:14:17.115
  • Our ministry.
  • 00:14:17.115 --> 00:14:18.483
  • We have a generous partner who will match every gift between
  • 00:14:18.483 --> 00:14:20.551
  • Now and the end of the year.
  • 00:14:20.551 --> 00:14:21.920
  • We're making plans for the year ahead with a boldness and a
  • 00:14:21.920 --> 00:14:24.889
  • Courage, unlike anything we've done in the past.
  • 00:14:24.889 --> 00:14:27.892
  • We wanna make as clear a statement for the gospel of
  • 00:14:27.892 --> 00:14:30.495
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:14:30.495 --> 00:14:31.863
  • We wanna strengthen the church.
  • 00:14:31.863 --> 00:14:33.464
  • We want to tell the truth in a way that people can rally
  • 00:14:33.464 --> 00:14:36.501
  • Around it.
  • 00:14:36.501 --> 00:14:37.869
  • God is moving in the earth and we intend to participate
  • 00:14:37.869 --> 00:14:40.471
  • With him.
  • 00:14:40.471 --> 00:14:41.839
  • I hope you'll join us as we look forward to the new year.
  • 00:14:41.839 --> 00:14:44.809
  • Thank you, in advance, for your generous investments in what god
  • 00:14:44.809 --> 00:14:48.046
  • Is doing.
  • 00:14:48.046 --> 00:14:49.380
  • God bless you.
  • 00:14:49.380 --> 00:14:50.748
  • Female announcer: as we step into this new season, let's be
  • 00:14:50.748 --> 00:14:52.917
  • Faithful to seek god.
  • 00:14:52.917 --> 00:14:55.253
  • Let's make room for him to refine our hearts, so we can
  • 00:14:55.253 --> 00:14:58.323
  • Join him in what he's doing.
  • 00:14:58.323 --> 00:15:00.658
  • Pastor allen's new 90-day devotional journal called,
  • 00:15:00.658 --> 00:15:04.662
  • "set apart for his purposes," can help.
  • 00:15:04.662 --> 00:15:07.432
  • Each day brings a new scripture, teaching, prayer, and a
  • 00:15:07.432 --> 00:15:11.202
  • Journaling prompt.
  • 00:15:11.202 --> 00:15:12.537
  • We'll also send custom page markers so you can flag anything
  • 00:15:12.537 --> 00:15:15.974
  • You want to revisit.
  • 00:15:15.974 --> 00:15:17.508
  • Request your copy of "set apart for his purposes" when you
  • 00:15:17.508 --> 00:15:20.211
  • Donate $50 or more today, at allenjackson.com.
  • 00:15:20.211 --> 00:15:24.582
  • Or call...
  • 00:15:24.582 --> 00:15:32.557
  • Allen: there's another dimension of our service, there's another
  • 00:15:36.794 --> 00:15:39.030
  • Dimension of our person.
  • 00:15:39.030 --> 00:15:40.898
  • Time is not your enemy.
  • 00:15:40.898 --> 00:15:45.403
  • I'll give you an example in your notes, because i think it
  • 00:15:45.403 --> 00:15:47.672
  • Highlights this for us, so beautifully and i don't wanna
  • 00:15:47.672 --> 00:15:51.342
  • Stay here long, but in deuteronomy 34, this is moses,
  • 00:15:51.342 --> 00:15:54.679
  • The greatest leader in the bible until we get to jesus.
  • 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:57.148
  • And he starts out with this group of people who were slaves,
  • 00:15:57.148 --> 00:16:01.119
  • And they're delivered, and the red sea, and the man of the
  • 00:16:01.119 --> 00:16:04.255
  • Whole deal, and now he's at the end of his journey through time,
  • 00:16:04.255 --> 00:16:07.859
  • And they didn't make it into the promised land.
  • 00:16:07.859 --> 00:16:12.096
  • What was discussed at that bush that was burning, way back in
  • 00:16:12.096 --> 00:16:14.932
  • Exodus chapter 3 has not become a part of his experience,
  • 00:16:14.932 --> 00:16:18.236
  • Because of the unbelief of the people.
  • 00:16:18.236 --> 00:16:19.904
  • God said, "you can't go in there.
  • 00:16:19.904 --> 00:16:22.540
  • You can't have a land that flows with milk and honey, you're
  • 00:16:22.540 --> 00:16:25.543
  • Gonna wander in a circle for a long time, for decades."
  • 00:16:25.543 --> 00:16:29.313
  • And moses had to lead them.
  • 00:16:29.313 --> 00:16:33.985
  • A faithless, rebellious group of people--
  • 00:16:33.985 --> 00:16:36.988
  • That is not a wonderful assignment.
  • 00:16:36.988 --> 00:16:45.430
  • But now god said, "you're done.
  • 00:16:45.430 --> 00:16:48.833
  • Let's go up the mountain and i will show you the land."
  • 00:16:48.833 --> 00:16:54.005
  • Moses got a fly-over, and then it simply says--i put it in
  • 00:16:54.005 --> 00:16:59.610
  • Your notes, it's deuteronomy 34, that "moses, the servant of the
  • 00:16:59.610 --> 00:17:02.113
  • Lord died there in moab.
  • 00:17:02.113 --> 00:17:04.482
  • As the lord had said, he buried him in moab--" the lord
  • 00:17:04.482 --> 00:17:07.318
  • Buried him.
  • 00:17:07.318 --> 00:17:09.087
  • "in the valley opposite beth peor, but to this day, no one
  • 00:17:09.087 --> 00:17:13.424
  • Knows where his grave is."
  • 00:17:13.424 --> 00:17:16.627
  • But i wanted to give you another window because moses didn't step
  • 00:17:16.627 --> 00:17:19.063
  • Out of the narrative, we're not done with moses.
  • 00:17:19.063 --> 00:17:22.600
  • He's mentioned all through the new testament.
  • 00:17:22.600 --> 00:17:25.536
  • But not just as a record of history, in luke chapter 9, it's
  • 00:17:25.536 --> 00:17:29.907
  • The transfiguration.
  • 00:17:29.907 --> 00:17:31.375
  • Jesus is on the mount of transfiguration with his most
  • 00:17:31.375 --> 00:17:35.079
  • Trusted disciples.
  • 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:36.414
  • And it says, "as he was praying, the appearance of his face
  • 00:17:36.414 --> 00:17:38.249
  • Changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash
  • 00:17:38.249 --> 00:17:41.052
  • Of lightning.
  • 00:17:41.052 --> 00:17:42.420
  • And two men--" two men.
  • 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:45.389
  • Two men.
  • 00:17:45.389 --> 00:17:48.626
  • Not ghosts, not apparitions.
  • 00:17:48.626 --> 00:17:53.164
  • There are words for those things, those aren't the words
  • 00:17:53.164 --> 00:17:55.633
  • That are used.
  • 00:17:55.633 --> 00:17:57.101
  • "two men, moses and elijah, appeared in glorious splendor,
  • 00:17:57.101 --> 00:18:06.344
  • Talking with jesus."
  • 00:18:06.344 --> 00:18:10.148
  • Now the next sentence fascinates me, because at some point after
  • 00:18:10.148 --> 00:18:14.752
  • The event, somebody had to talk about what they talked about.
  • 00:18:14.752 --> 00:18:20.525
  • Because luke records that they spoke about "jesus's departure,
  • 00:18:20.525 --> 00:18:25.496
  • Which he was about to bring to fulfillment at jerusalem."
  • 00:18:25.496 --> 00:18:28.799
  • It sounds like he's gonna catch a flight.
  • 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:33.104
  • Moses and elijah showed up to talk to jesus about his passion,
  • 00:18:33.104 --> 00:18:41.779
  • About the suffering that awaited him in jerusalem.
  • 00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:46.617
  • They'd made a journey of their own.
  • 00:18:46.617 --> 00:18:50.054
  • They stood before pharaoh and said, "let my people go."
  • 00:18:50.054 --> 00:18:54.091
  • They stood before rebellious mobs that said, "we don't like
  • 00:18:54.091 --> 00:18:57.195
  • Your leadership."
  • 00:18:57.195 --> 00:18:59.697
  • Elijah stood on mount carmel and said, "how long will you worship
  • 00:18:59.697 --> 00:19:03.100
  • The idols?"
  • 00:19:03.100 --> 00:19:04.435
  • And nobody would say anything.
  • 00:19:04.435 --> 00:19:06.470
  • Those might be helpful phrases if you're about to stand in
  • 00:19:06.470 --> 00:19:09.073
  • Front of an angry mob in jerusalem that are gonna scream
  • 00:19:09.073 --> 00:19:11.742
  • At you, "crucify him."
  • 00:19:11.742 --> 00:19:15.947
  • We don't know the specifics, all we know is that they talked to
  • 00:19:15.947 --> 00:19:20.451
  • Him about his departure, which he was about to bring to
  • 00:19:20.451 --> 00:19:25.056
  • Fulfillment in jerusalem.
  • 00:19:25.056 --> 00:19:28.893
  • Moses had died and been buried by god, hundreds of years ago.
  • 00:19:28.893 --> 00:19:34.031
  • But moses, a man, appeared and spoke to jesus about the
  • 00:19:34.031 --> 00:19:37.902
  • Tribulations which were before him.
  • 00:19:37.902 --> 00:19:41.405
  • My opinion, it's a dimensional awareness that will strengthen
  • 00:19:41.405 --> 00:19:44.375
  • Our resolve to serve the lord.
  • 00:19:44.375 --> 00:19:46.143
  • There's something to this, that's about more than just
  • 00:19:46.143 --> 00:19:48.145
  • My timeline.
  • 00:19:48.145 --> 00:19:51.782
  • We are a part of the unfolding purposes of almighty god.
  • 00:19:51.782 --> 00:19:58.189
  • Now, that's an investment worth thinking about.
  • 00:19:58.189 --> 00:20:01.559
  • That's a lifestyle worth adopting.
  • 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:04.295
  • That's more than, "well, i'm just going to church.
  • 00:20:04.295 --> 00:20:06.197
  • You know, i've said the sinner's prayer and i've been baptized,
  • 00:20:06.197 --> 00:20:12.603
  • Sometimes i read my bible.
  • 00:20:12.603 --> 00:20:14.272
  • You know, they just keep harping on it, and those awful
  • 00:20:14.272 --> 00:20:20.011
  • Commitment cards are always slipping those in, ice rink, and
  • 00:20:20.011 --> 00:20:27.218
  • Those chair--tables filled with toys, trying to shame me when i
  • 00:20:27.218 --> 00:20:32.790
  • Come and go from church."
  • 00:20:32.790 --> 00:20:37.795
  • You know, we can get some pretty rotten attitudes, and there's
  • 00:20:37.795 --> 00:20:41.899
  • Enough stumbles and missteps by organized churches that
  • 00:20:41.899 --> 00:20:44.535
  • We contribute.
  • 00:20:44.535 --> 00:20:47.104
  • The reality is, the invitation is to serve an almighty god
  • 00:20:47.104 --> 00:20:52.209
  • That will bear benefits that will bring a reward for
  • 00:20:52.209 --> 00:20:54.912
  • All eternity.
  • 00:20:54.912 --> 00:20:57.448
  • Wherever you are on your timeline, don't think this is
  • 00:20:57.448 --> 00:21:00.117
  • An--not a significant time for your relationship with the lord.
  • 00:21:00.117 --> 00:21:03.521
  • If you're young, give your youth to the lord.
  • 00:21:03.521 --> 00:21:07.391
  • If your kids are young, give that season of your life to
  • 00:21:07.391 --> 00:21:10.428
  • The lord.
  • 00:21:10.428 --> 00:21:12.863
  • If they've all left and you've got your calendar back, and
  • 00:21:12.863 --> 00:21:17.468
  • They're not draining your bank account, it's not just your
  • 00:21:17.468 --> 00:21:22.707
  • Time, and your life, and your money.
  • 00:21:22.707 --> 00:21:24.542
  • Give that season of your life to the lord.
  • 00:21:24.542 --> 00:21:30.381
  • There's a second observation: breakthroughs involve
  • 00:21:30.381 --> 00:21:33.451
  • Generational opportunity for those who are listening,
  • 00:21:33.451 --> 00:21:37.455
  • Respectful, open, and aware.
  • 00:21:37.455 --> 00:21:39.156
  • The breakthroughs often involve more than just yourself, they'll
  • 00:21:39.156 --> 00:21:42.093
  • Impact the generations around you.
  • 00:21:42.093 --> 00:21:45.896
  • There's no life-season where breakthroughs are not necessary.
  • 00:21:45.896 --> 00:21:49.567
  • The exodus generation needed the power of god to get them out of
  • 00:21:49.567 --> 00:21:52.336
  • The brick pits of egypt.
  • 00:21:52.336 --> 00:21:54.071
  • The wilderness generation needed the power of god to get them to
  • 00:21:54.071 --> 00:21:57.174
  • Be able to occupy the promised land.
  • 00:21:57.174 --> 00:21:59.377
  • In both circumstances, two very different generations, but they
  • 00:21:59.377 --> 00:22:02.146
  • Were powerless to accomplish what god had said he would do in
  • 00:22:02.146 --> 00:22:05.649
  • Their life.
  • 00:22:05.649 --> 00:22:07.585
  • But the breakthrough of one informed the other.
  • 00:22:07.585 --> 00:22:10.454
  • Simeon and anna, they qualified for social security, but the
  • 00:22:10.454 --> 00:22:14.458
  • Message that they delivered was directed towards a young family
  • 00:22:14.458 --> 00:22:17.461
  • That needed the strength, that needed to be galvanized in what
  • 00:22:17.461 --> 00:22:21.432
  • They had undertaken, because they're gonna have to head to
  • 00:22:21.432 --> 00:22:24.902
  • Egypt, very soon.
  • 00:22:24.902 --> 00:22:27.071
  • And the affirmation that came to them, from two people with a bit
  • 00:22:27.071 --> 00:22:30.574
  • More life experience, that were in the temple, on their behalf,
  • 00:22:30.574 --> 00:22:33.778
  • That day,
  • 00:22:33.778 --> 00:22:35.212
  • I could imagine, made an enormous difference.
  • 00:22:35.212 --> 00:22:39.183
  • In fact, anyone listening and open to god's purposes could
  • 00:22:39.183 --> 00:22:42.153
  • Have benefited from what simeon and anna had to say.
  • 00:22:42.153 --> 00:22:45.556
  • You see, when you choose to honor the lord, when i choose to
  • 00:22:45.556 --> 00:22:48.058
  • Honor the lord, it opens doors for many, for any who are
  • 00:22:48.058 --> 00:22:51.896
  • Willing to learn and respond.
  • 00:22:51.896 --> 00:22:53.864
  • Breakthroughs have generational impact.
  • 00:22:53.864 --> 00:22:58.402
  • How about determining to be one of those people?
  • 00:22:58.402 --> 00:23:03.541
  • And, thirdly: breakthroughs provide a glimpse of god's plan
  • 00:23:03.541 --> 00:23:06.377
  • Or his purpose.
  • 00:23:06.377 --> 00:23:08.179
  • Jeremiah 29:11, i love the verse.
  • 00:23:08.179 --> 00:23:10.114
  • He said, "'i know the plans i have for you,' declares the
  • 00:23:10.114 --> 00:23:12.283
  • Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
  • 00:23:12.283 --> 00:23:16.587
  • You hope in the future.'"
  • 00:23:16.587 --> 00:23:18.956
  • Here's the awkward reality, folks: our awareness of god's
  • 00:23:18.956 --> 00:23:22.026
  • Plans is very limited.
  • 00:23:22.026 --> 00:23:24.962
  • We know what our plan is, we know what we want god--we want
  • 00:23:24.962 --> 00:23:27.364
  • God to work our plan.
  • 00:23:27.364 --> 00:23:29.533
  • I mean, we're usually a little more subtle in how we say it,
  • 00:23:29.533 --> 00:23:31.635
  • But that's the bottom line.
  • 00:23:31.635 --> 00:23:35.473
  • And we're asked to be faithful, or to persevere, or to
  • 00:23:35.473 --> 00:23:38.375
  • Endure, or to overcome, i began to complain.
  • 00:23:38.375 --> 00:23:44.348
  • "god, i don't wanna do this."
  • 00:23:44.348 --> 00:23:46.217
  • "well, this is my plan."
  • 00:23:46.217 --> 00:23:47.551
  • "yeah, yeah, yeah, but have you seen mine?
  • 00:23:47.551 --> 00:23:49.119
  • Mine did not require perseverance and endurance."
  • 00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:56.994
  • The best response i know on this one is to do what you know.
  • 00:23:56.994 --> 00:24:00.564
  • Fully engage your current understanding, walking all the
  • 00:24:00.564 --> 00:24:05.135
  • Lights you've got, serve the lord with joy and enthusiasm to
  • 00:24:05.135 --> 00:24:10.774
  • The point that you understand what that means.
  • 00:24:10.774 --> 00:24:13.177
  • Do what you know.
  • 00:24:13.177 --> 00:24:17.481
  • I know it's not a new expression, at all, and it has
  • 00:24:17.481 --> 00:24:19.783
  • Very little to do with church, but i think it captures the
  • 00:24:19.783 --> 00:24:21.919
  • Spirit of this.
  • 00:24:21.919 --> 00:24:23.387
  • Fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to the ark
  • 00:24:23.387 --> 00:24:26.123
  • And it's beginning to rain.
  • 00:24:26.123 --> 00:24:31.695
  • Do not send me a note.
  • 00:24:31.695 --> 00:24:35.466
  • Stop this passive notion about your faith.
  • 00:24:35.466 --> 00:24:39.236
  • "well, it's harder then i thought--" no kidding!
  • 00:24:39.236 --> 00:24:43.474
  • Making an impact for eternity, who told you that was easy?
  • 00:24:43.474 --> 00:24:49.246
  • Why would you invest more effort, more discipline, more
  • 00:24:49.246 --> 00:24:52.216
  • Sacrifice, more dollars, and more time in pursuing your
  • 00:24:52.216 --> 00:24:55.619
  • Hobby, than you do in pursuing the lord?
  • 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:59.657
  • What's happened to us, church?
  • 00:24:59.657 --> 00:25:02.126
  • I'm not opposed to hobbies and enjoying those, and pursuing
  • 00:25:02.126 --> 00:25:05.963
  • Those, but don't relegate them to--you know what, the technical
  • 00:25:05.963 --> 00:25:08.532
  • Word for that is "idolatry."
  • 00:25:08.532 --> 00:25:11.502
  • We think there's fulfillment someplace other than the lord, a
  • 00:25:11.502 --> 00:25:13.971
  • Greater fulfillment, a more lasting fulfillment, a greater
  • 00:25:13.971 --> 00:25:17.274
  • Refreshment, a more purposeful refreshment.
  • 00:25:17.274 --> 00:25:19.310
  • So we relegate serving the lord to some secondary position.
  • 00:25:19.310 --> 00:25:24.148
  • Do what you know to do.
  • 00:25:24.148 --> 00:25:27.017
  • Why?
  • 00:25:27.017 --> 00:25:28.385
  • Because breakthroughs provide a glimpse of god's plan
  • 00:25:28.385 --> 00:25:29.720
  • And purpose.
  • 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:31.088
  • Every time you have another breakthrough, you get a bit
  • 00:25:31.088 --> 00:25:32.423
  • More clarity.
  • 00:25:32.423 --> 00:25:33.791
  • Simeon and anna left the temple that day saying, "the messiah
  • 00:25:33.791 --> 00:25:38.262
  • Is here.
  • 00:25:38.262 --> 00:25:40.831
  • He's here.
  • 00:25:40.831 --> 00:25:43.801
  • He's here!
  • 00:25:43.801 --> 00:25:46.537
  • We've seen the child.
  • 00:25:46.537 --> 00:25:49.707
  • Now we know something of the timeline, we know what's coming.
  • 00:25:49.707 --> 00:25:53.377
  • He's here!"
  • 00:25:53.377 --> 00:25:56.347
  • See, a breakthrough changes your understanding of the unfolding
  • 00:25:56.347 --> 00:26:00.351
  • Purposes of god.
  • 00:26:00.351 --> 00:26:02.353
  • "that's what--we don't want that.
  • 00:26:02.353 --> 00:26:03.687
  • I just want out of pain!
  • 00:26:03.687 --> 00:26:05.756
  • I just want what i want."
  • 00:26:05.756 --> 00:26:08.092
  • And god said "no, if you'll cooperate, i'm gonna invite you
  • 00:26:08.092 --> 00:26:11.395
  • Into the narrative."
  • 00:26:11.395 --> 00:26:14.698
  • Breakthroughs.
  • 00:26:14.698 --> 00:26:16.967
  • Breakthroughs!
  • 00:26:16.967 --> 00:26:21.205
  • I brought you a prayer.
  • 00:26:21.205 --> 00:26:23.374
  • Why don't you stand with me?
  • 00:26:23.374 --> 00:26:33.417
  • We'll come out of this with a whole series of breakthrough
  • 00:26:33.484 --> 00:26:35.285
  • Prayers, but we can start with this one.
  • 00:26:35.285 --> 00:26:41.492
  • "heavenly father, help us to complete the assignment which is
  • 00:26:41.492 --> 00:26:45.629
  • Before us.
  • 00:26:45.629 --> 00:26:46.997
  • Grant us understanding hearts-- may we be aware of your spirit
  • 00:26:46.997 --> 00:26:52.302
  • And his direction, illumine our path that we may walk
  • 00:26:52.302 --> 00:26:56.874
  • In obedience.
  • 00:26:56.874 --> 00:26:58.242
  • Give us the courage and boldness necessary to follow each day.
  • 00:26:58.242 --> 00:27:03.247
  • Renew our strength, provide daily all that is needed,
  • 00:27:03.247 --> 00:27:07.551
  • Deliver us from evil...
  • 00:27:07.551 --> 00:27:09.687
  • May we be pleasing in your sight, in jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:27:09.687 --> 00:27:14.892
  • Hallelujah, god bless you.
  • 00:27:14.892 --> 00:27:18.729
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:18.729 --> 00:27:26.370