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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - When God Moves - Choose (Part 2)

January 6, 2026 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - When God Moves - Choose (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#WordofGod #Author #Joy #SpiritualWarfare #Morals #Poverty #Strength #Children #Perseverance #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - When God Moves - Choose (Part 2) | January 6, 2026
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world,
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  • People are searching for truth, and together we're doing our
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  • Very best to help them find it.
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  • When you become a ministry partner with allen jackson
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  • Ministries, you're joining a growing community of believers
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  • Who are committed to strengthening the church and
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  • Sharing god's word through every available channel--
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  • Television, radio, podcast, books, bible studies,
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  • Digital resources, conferences.
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  • Your monthly partnership helps us equip believers to reach new
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  • Audiences, to take the hope of jesus to people who may never
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  • Have heard the gospel otherwise.
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  • Together, we can stand firm in our faith and make god's truth
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  • Known right here at home and around the earth, wherever
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  • God opens a door.
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  • Let's keep gathering his people and building his church until
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  • The day our king returns.
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  • You can find more about becoming a ministry partner
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  • At allenjackson.com/partner.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: you know, eating and drinking for us is mostly about
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  • Things not to do, things you don't wanna indulge in or
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  • Overeat or beverages you shouldn't drink, something; but
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  • For a jewish audience, eating and drinking was very much a
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  • Part of their expression of godliness.
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  • They had kosher rules.
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  • There were things they were forbidden to eat and--so diet
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  • Was very, very much a part of how they understood obedience to
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  • The lord.
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  • And paul writes and he says the kingdom of god is not about
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  • What's on your fork, but it's about righteousness, peace,
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  • And joy.
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  • I think we've treated joy as kind of a different way of
  • 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:54.530
  • Saying happy, and it's something very different.
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  • Joy isn't about happiness.
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  • You can be joyful in inconvenient and
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  • Uncomfortable times.
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  • It's hard to be happy when you're--something's inconvenient
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  • And uncomfortable, but you can be joyful.
  • 00:02:05.073 --> 00:02:11.079
  • In galatians 5:22, it's a familiar list.
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  • It's the fruit of the spirit.
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  • There are nine things listed there.
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  • "the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
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  • Goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
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  • Against such things there is no law."
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  • There's no spiritual law.
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  • There's no force of nature that supersedes those nine things.
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  • I would submit to you we've considered the fruit of the
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  • Spirit something that was kind of optional.
  • 00:02:31.934 --> 00:02:35.003
  • "well, i mean, those would be nice for some people, you know,
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  • But i'm not just inherently gentle.
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  • I've never particularly enjoyed self-control.
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  • I like to be around kind people, but i'm a bit more of an
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  • Assertive individual."
  • 00:02:49.051 --> 00:02:52.955
  • I think we've treated the fruit of the spirit like it was
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  • Something optional, like something secondary.
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  • I believe they're absolutely essential to a healthy
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  • Spiritual life.
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  • If you know the essential oils or the essential nutrients or
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  • The essential herbs or the essential elements that are
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  • Necessary for your physical well-being, that's a good thing;
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  • But a better thing is the purposeful cultivation of the
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  • Fruit of the spirit.
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  • Not just the ability to recite the list or know where you find
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  • The verse; but in the praxis of your life, in the interaction of
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  • Your life, are those things increasing?
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  • Are they more visible to the people around you?
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  • Doesn't mean you're passive.
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  • Jesus was anything but passive, anything but passive.
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  • His followers were not shrinking violets.
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  • They weren't easily intimidated.
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  • On multiple occasions they were brought in before the
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  • Authorities that had the power to have them condemned to death
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  • And they were ordered never to mention the name of jesus again
  • 00:03:53.915 --> 00:03:56.418
  • And they would say, "well, you do what you have to do, but
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  • We're not changing the message."
  • 00:03:58.654 --> 00:04:01.189
  • Unbelievable stuff.
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  • Doesn't look like the 21st century expressions of
  • 00:04:02.557 --> 00:04:04.393
  • Christianity at all.
  • 00:04:04.393 --> 00:04:07.062
  • Doesn't look like it at all.
  • 00:04:07.062 --> 00:04:10.132
  • It's appalling to me the debate that's taking place around the
  • 00:04:10.132 --> 00:04:13.335
  • Martyrdom of a young man.
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  • I've never seen anything like that in my lifetime.
  • 00:04:16.905 --> 00:04:20.609
  • I was a child, but i've lived through some very high-profile
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  • Ali--assassinations in this country: presidents, civil
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  • Rights leaders.
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  • Tragic occurrences.
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  • If families and friends and supporters had been attacked in
  • 00:04:29.751 --> 00:04:32.521
  • The way they've attacked the family of a christian martyr,
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  • Our cities would have burned.
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  • And i'm not saying the cities should be burning, i'm telling
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  • You we're watching hatred in a way we haven't seen.
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  • This is not normal.
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  • And i'm not validating or affirming, i'm telling you the
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  • Response is illogical.
  • 00:04:50.605 --> 00:04:51.940
  • It's irrational, and we take sides and go, "well, you know, i
  • 00:04:51.940 --> 00:04:55.610
  • Just don't know how i feel about that."
  • 00:04:55.610 --> 00:04:57.045
  • What do you mean?
  • 00:04:57.045 --> 00:04:59.715
  • It was a murder.
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  • We better be purposefully cultivating the fruit of
  • 00:05:02.918 --> 00:05:05.454
  • The spirit.
  • 00:05:05.454 --> 00:05:06.788
  • We will need them to overcome.
  • 00:05:06.788 --> 00:05:10.959
  • Romans 15, "may the god of hope fill you with all joy and peace
  • 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:15.197
  • In believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of
  • 00:05:15.197 --> 00:05:19.034
  • The holy spirit."
  • 00:05:19.034 --> 00:05:21.069
  • Folks, we need the power of god.
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  • What's the incubator for that power?
  • 00:05:23.004 --> 00:05:24.639
  • What's the holy spirit gonna--he's gonna bring joy to
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  • Your life.
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  • It'll enable you to endure and overcome.
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  • Joy fuels endurance.
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  • It's very different from happy.
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  • Unhappiness diminishes your endurance.
  • 00:05:34.783 --> 00:05:36.885
  • "well, you know, i'm not happy about this.
  • 00:05:36.885 --> 00:05:40.822
  • You know, i came with such high expectations and now i'm just
  • 00:05:40.822 --> 00:05:43.325
  • Not happy at all.
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  • The service in this restaurant is horrible.
  • 00:05:45.160 --> 00:05:48.864
  • My expectations have plummeted.
  • 00:05:48.864 --> 00:05:51.967
  • I doubt i'll ever be back."
  • 00:05:51.967 --> 00:05:55.237
  • That's a completely different thing from joy.
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  • Joy enables you to endure and overcome.
  • 00:05:58.874 --> 00:06:02.544
  • 2 corinthians 7:4, "great is my confidence in you; great is my
  • 00:06:02.544 --> 00:06:05.747
  • Boasting on your behalf.
  • 00:06:05.747 --> 00:06:07.349
  • I'm filled with comfort; i am overflowing with joy in all
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  • Our affliction."
  • 00:06:12.721 --> 00:06:15.624
  • Paul wrote that to the corinthian church.
  • 00:06:15.624 --> 00:06:17.292
  • Do you remember the corinthians, the immoral gluttonous drunks?
  • 00:06:17.292 --> 00:06:24.533
  • Yeah, that was a church.
  • 00:06:24.533 --> 00:06:26.968
  • "well--well--well, not like us."
  • 00:06:26.968 --> 00:06:30.205
  • Well, he said, "great is my confidence in you.
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  • Great is my boasting on your behalf.
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  • I'm filled with comfort.
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  • I'm overflowing with joy in all of our affliction."
  • 00:06:37.345 --> 00:06:43.452
  • So joy isn't necessarily connected to circumstance.
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  • Look at 2 corinthians 8:1.
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  • "and now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace of god
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  • That has given the macedonian churches.
  • 00:06:50.926 --> 00:06:53.261
  • Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their
  • 00:06:53.261 --> 00:06:57.098
  • Extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity."
  • 00:06:57.098 --> 00:07:02.370
  • The macedonian churches were in a very difficult season.
  • 00:07:02.370 --> 00:07:05.073
  • A lot of pressures upon them and that they responded with joy and
  • 00:07:05.073 --> 00:07:09.544
  • Generosity not because of circumstances, not because it
  • 00:07:09.544 --> 00:07:12.414
  • Was an easy, comfortable, convenient place, because of
  • 00:07:12.414 --> 00:07:15.283
  • Something more powerful, a spiritual force at work in them
  • 00:07:15.283 --> 00:07:18.553
  • And through them to strengthen the church and other places.
  • 00:07:18.553 --> 00:07:23.225
  • Historically, throughout the history of the christian church,
  • 00:07:23.225 --> 00:07:26.361
  • We've been stronger under pressure than when we
  • 00:07:26.361 --> 00:07:28.797
  • Were affluent.
  • 00:07:28.797 --> 00:07:31.433
  • It's a sobering thought.
  • 00:07:31.433 --> 00:07:32.801
  • Look at james 1, verse 2: "consider it all joy, my
  • 00:07:32.801 --> 00:07:35.504
  • Brothers, when you encounter various trials."
  • 00:07:35.504 --> 00:07:40.208
  • I used to wanna read my bible with a bottle of whiteout.
  • 00:07:40.208 --> 00:07:45.046
  • Now we're all digital. i just hit delete.
  • 00:07:45.046 --> 00:07:48.517
  • Well, i wanna highlight a part of that verse.
  • 00:07:48.517 --> 00:07:50.886
  • "consider it all joy."
  • 00:07:50.886 --> 00:07:52.387
  • I'll leave that.
  • 00:07:52.387 --> 00:07:53.722
  • But when you encounter various trials, i'd just like to
  • 00:07:53.722 --> 00:07:55.090
  • Delete that.
  • 00:07:55.090 --> 00:07:57.025
  • How many of you consider trials and tribulations joyful?
  • 00:07:57.025 --> 00:08:01.897
  • No.
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  • Don't look pious.
  • 00:08:03.999 --> 00:08:06.234
  • I pray with you a lot.
  • 00:08:06.234 --> 00:08:08.937
  • When you typically come, i'm under such great stress.
  • 00:08:08.937 --> 00:08:11.506
  • There's great pressure.
  • 00:08:11.506 --> 00:08:12.874
  • I've got problems, and there's trials.
  • 00:08:12.874 --> 00:08:14.876
  • James says consider it great joy.
  • 00:08:14.876 --> 00:08:19.481
  • We wouldn't need the coaching if this was easy.
  • 00:08:19.481 --> 00:08:23.451
  • We wouldn't need the biblical examples.
  • 00:08:23.451 --> 00:08:25.220
  • The bible wouldn't make it such an emphatic point if this was an
  • 00:08:25.220 --> 00:08:28.823
  • Intuitive response.
  • 00:08:28.823 --> 00:08:30.425
  • This is something we're led to by the spirit of god.
  • 00:08:30.425 --> 00:08:33.061
  • Don't choose to let your emotions or your thoughts be the
  • 00:08:33.061 --> 00:08:35.864
  • Primary rudder on the direction of your life.
  • 00:08:35.864 --> 00:08:40.468
  • They're helpful.
  • 00:08:40.468 --> 00:08:41.803
  • They're--god gave them to us.
  • 00:08:41.803 --> 00:08:43.305
  • They're an important part.
  • 00:08:43.305 --> 00:08:44.673
  • I don't want you to check your brain or your emotions at
  • 00:08:44.673 --> 00:08:46.308
  • The door.
  • 00:08:46.308 --> 00:08:47.709
  • I just don't want you to let happiness or what you think be
  • 00:08:47.709 --> 00:08:50.345
  • The determiner of whether you say yes to the lord.
  • 00:08:50.345 --> 00:08:54.082
  • We wanna grow up in the lord.
  • 00:08:54.082 --> 00:08:55.450
  • We wanna mature in the lord.
  • 00:08:55.450 --> 00:08:59.888
  • Any more than i--i hope you don't let the 4-year-olds in
  • 00:08:59.888 --> 00:09:02.157
  • Your home, whether they're children or grandchildren, be
  • 00:09:02.157 --> 00:09:04.292
  • The dictators of the course of your family.
  • 00:09:04.292 --> 00:09:07.696
  • They're wonderful.
  • 00:09:07.696 --> 00:09:09.030
  • They bring a great deal of happiness and pleasure to you.
  • 00:09:09.030 --> 00:09:11.333
  • It's wonderful to see another generation coming, but at 4 they
  • 00:09:11.333 --> 00:09:14.469
  • Don't have the maturity to make the great decisions.
  • 00:09:14.469 --> 00:09:19.574
  • I mean, they would like to go online shopping with your
  • 00:09:19.574 --> 00:09:22.077
  • Credit card.
  • 00:09:22.077 --> 00:09:24.245
  • They're more adept at it than you are.
  • 00:09:24.245 --> 00:09:25.747
  • They could get your credit card and they will put you in arrears
  • 00:09:25.747 --> 00:09:29.084
  • In a hurry and they will feel no guilt and shame.
  • 00:09:29.084 --> 00:09:32.921
  • It's available.
  • 00:09:32.921 --> 00:09:36.191
  • But they're not gonna make informed decisions.
  • 00:09:36.191 --> 00:09:39.394
  • "consider it all joy when you encounter various trials,
  • 00:09:39.394 --> 00:09:42.330
  • Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."
  • 00:09:42.330 --> 00:09:47.035
  • I didn't really wanna develop endurance.
  • 00:09:47.035 --> 00:09:50.639
  • I was way good with microwavable faith.
  • 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:53.875
  • I ask, i get.
  • 00:09:53.875 --> 00:09:57.679
  • But god seems to attach value to my ability to endure.
  • 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:01.850
  • "and let endurance have its perfect result that you may be
  • 00:10:01.850 --> 00:10:05.487
  • Perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
  • 00:10:05.487 --> 00:10:10.525
  • God intends for me to learn to endure.
  • 00:10:10.525 --> 00:10:13.928
  • He will require of me perseverance.
  • 00:10:13.928 --> 00:10:19.968
  • It develops many things: trust, confidence.
  • 00:10:19.968 --> 00:10:24.239
  • We learn about the faithfulness of god in ways we would never
  • 00:10:24.239 --> 00:10:27.676
  • Know if i got every wish answered in the moment i had
  • 00:10:27.676 --> 00:10:31.079
  • The thought.
  • 00:10:31.079 --> 00:10:34.282
  • That's destructive parenting for small children, and it's
  • 00:10:34.282 --> 00:10:37.852
  • Destructive parenting for almighty god in our lives.
  • 00:10:37.852 --> 00:10:42.223
  • We have to bump into discipline.
  • 00:10:42.223 --> 00:10:45.293
  • In fact, my bible says in hebrews that if god loves you,
  • 00:10:45.293 --> 00:10:47.696
  • If you're a legitimate child, he will discipline you and that we
  • 00:10:47.696 --> 00:10:51.766
  • Should endure hardship as discipline.
  • 00:10:51.766 --> 00:10:53.568
  • I don't like that either. i'd hit delete.
  • 00:10:53.568 --> 00:10:56.504
  • I would rather endure dessert as discipline.
  • 00:10:56.504 --> 00:11:00.341
  • Let's just have a dessert buffet and everybody be disciplined.
  • 00:11:00.341 --> 00:11:05.313
  • Look at hebrews 12:2.
  • 00:11:05.313 --> 00:11:06.681
  • "fixing our eyes on jesus, the author and perfecter of our
  • 00:11:06.681 --> 00:11:09.784
  • Faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
  • 00:11:09.784 --> 00:11:14.723
  • Despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the
  • 00:11:14.723 --> 00:11:18.193
  • Throne of god."
  • 00:11:18.193 --> 00:11:20.729
  • Jesus was asked to accept an assignment.
  • 00:11:20.729 --> 00:11:23.398
  • Philippians chapter 2 tells us that he chose not to grasp the
  • 00:11:23.398 --> 00:11:28.436
  • Glory of heaven, to not grasp the position and the prestige
  • 00:11:28.436 --> 00:11:33.341
  • And the magnificence of what it meant to be the son of god in an
  • 00:11:33.341 --> 00:11:36.945
  • Eternal kingdom.
  • 00:11:36.945 --> 00:11:39.380
  • But he made himself nothing, and it says he took the form of a
  • 00:11:39.380 --> 00:11:44.018
  • Servant and found himself in human likeness.
  • 00:11:44.018 --> 00:11:47.155
  • He became one of us.
  • 00:11:47.155 --> 00:11:48.590
  • The creator became a part of his creation.
  • 00:11:48.590 --> 00:11:51.993
  • And then he chose obedience, obedience even to the point of
  • 00:11:51.993 --> 00:11:56.397
  • Death, it says.
  • 00:11:56.397 --> 00:11:57.766
  • It's philippians 2, you can check.
  • 00:11:57.766 --> 00:11:59.100
  • It's not in your notes, but it's in the bible.
  • 00:11:59.100 --> 00:12:01.269
  • But it says because he was willing to do that, god exalted
  • 00:12:01.269 --> 00:12:04.506
  • Him and gave him a name that's above every name.
  • 00:12:04.506 --> 00:12:07.442
  • Now, we're not called, the majority of us, to be martyrs,
  • 00:12:07.442 --> 00:12:10.678
  • But we are called to yield our lives and our will to the
  • 00:12:10.678 --> 00:12:15.450
  • Purposes of god.
  • 00:12:15.450 --> 00:12:18.653
  • That's the expression of maturity in our lives more than
  • 00:12:18.653 --> 00:12:21.723
  • Our ability to spell nebuchadnezzar in english and
  • 00:12:21.723 --> 00:12:25.794
  • Aramaic and hebrew.
  • 00:12:25.794 --> 00:12:28.797
  • And i love to study. i like to learn.
  • 00:12:28.797 --> 00:12:30.665
  • I've spent a big chunk of my life doing that.
  • 00:12:30.665 --> 00:12:32.500
  • I'm not in any way denigrating that, but the point of learning
  • 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:35.203
  • Is that we might live our faith, that we might shape our culture
  • 00:12:35.203 --> 00:12:40.542
  • With it, not just have polite historical societies.
  • 00:12:40.542 --> 00:12:46.281
  • Jesus understood the kingdom of god.
  • 00:12:46.281 --> 00:12:48.883
  • One of the mentors in my life when i was a young man, he was a
  • 00:12:48.883 --> 00:12:52.654
  • Very, very, very conservative individual.
  • 00:12:52.654 --> 00:12:55.056
  • He--i don't remember ever hearing him raise his voice in
  • 00:12:55.056 --> 00:12:57.592
  • Joy or anger.
  • 00:12:57.592 --> 00:12:59.494
  • I mean, he was just a very brilliant, brilliant man, phd.
  • 00:12:59.494 --> 00:13:04.098
  • And he'd experienced some remarkable miracles in his life,
  • 00:13:04.098 --> 00:13:07.068
  • And i was asking him the questions that a young man
  • 00:13:07.068 --> 00:13:10.038
  • Would ask.
  • 00:13:10.038 --> 00:13:11.372
  • He had an aneurysm behind an eye, and the procedure to
  • 00:13:11.372 --> 00:13:15.944
  • Correct the aneurysm was life-threatening and he made the
  • 00:13:15.944 --> 00:13:19.247
  • Decision to have the procedure, and god had brought him through
  • 00:13:19.247 --> 00:13:22.584
  • And he was relating the story in terms of god's intervention in
  • 00:13:22.584 --> 00:13:25.220
  • His life.
  • 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:26.554
  • When i knew him, at this point he was--it was later in his life
  • 00:13:26.554 --> 00:13:30.058
  • And he wore glasses, and i asked the question.
  • 00:13:30.058 --> 00:13:32.727
  • It was an arrogant question of a young man.
  • 00:13:32.727 --> 00:13:34.429
  • It wasn't in belligerence, but i said, you know,
  • 00:13:34.429 --> 00:13:36.564
  • "dr. irvin, if you believe the lord healed you through the help
  • 00:13:36.564 --> 00:13:39.234
  • Of those surgeons, why are you still wearing glasses?"
  • 00:13:39.234 --> 00:13:45.373
  • And he looked at me with such patience and he said, "oh, my
  • 00:13:45.373 --> 00:13:47.508
  • Glasses have nothing to do with god's ability to heal.
  • 00:13:47.508 --> 00:13:50.078
  • They're a result of aging and god doesn't deliver us
  • 00:13:50.078 --> 00:13:54.215
  • From aging."
  • 00:13:54.215 --> 00:13:57.819
  • He cut down on the rest of my questions list, but i remember
  • 00:13:57.819 --> 00:14:02.824
  • Him saying to me one time that he thought the miracles that we
  • 00:14:02.824 --> 00:14:05.393
  • Read about were not god doing something extraordinary rather
  • 00:14:05.393 --> 00:14:09.063
  • God taking it--god utilizing a part of his creation that we
  • 00:14:09.063 --> 00:14:11.933
  • Don't understand.
  • 00:14:11.933 --> 00:14:16.137
  • You can accept it or not, but it made a lot of sense to me.
  • 00:14:16.137 --> 00:14:19.440
  • We've had such a small vision of god.
  • 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:22.543
  • We're more willing to believe that technology will save our
  • 00:14:22.543 --> 00:14:24.679
  • Future than god will.
  • 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:27.181
  • We're more willing to believe that a political movement will
  • 00:14:27.181 --> 00:14:29.317
  • Change our future more than the people of god changing
  • 00:14:29.317 --> 00:14:31.920
  • Their hearts.
  • 00:14:31.920 --> 00:14:34.155
  • We're more willing to believe that some degree of
  • 00:14:34.155 --> 00:14:35.924
  • International cooperation or tolerance of wickedness will
  • 00:14:35.924 --> 00:14:39.427
  • Change our lives more than our obedience to god and our
  • 00:14:39.427 --> 00:14:42.497
  • Willingness to live out our faith.
  • 00:14:42.497 --> 00:14:46.200
  • Joy, we want to make it an objective in our lives,
  • 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:51.105
  • Something to be cultivated, something to be pursued,
  • 00:14:51.105 --> 00:14:54.409
  • Something to be welcomed, something to be treasured.
  • 00:14:54.409 --> 00:14:57.111
  • What did the angels say to the shepherds?
  • 00:14:57.111 --> 00:14:58.780
  • "we bring you good news of big joy for all the people.
  • 00:14:58.780 --> 00:15:06.087
  • It's gonna sustain you.
  • 00:15:06.087 --> 00:15:07.455
  • It's gonna enable you to overcome.
  • 00:15:07.455 --> 00:15:09.023
  • It's gonna give you a different future."
  • 00:15:09.023 --> 00:15:12.293
  • See, if we'd written that with the angels, we'd have said, "we
  • 00:15:12.293 --> 00:15:14.262
  • Bring you good news of a great tax cut and more affordability.
  • 00:15:14.262 --> 00:15:21.235
  • The price of eggs will plummet."
  • 00:15:21.235 --> 00:15:28.509
  • Allen: welcome to 2026. happy new year.
  • 00:15:32.347 --> 00:15:35.216
  • We've created a new book to help you.
  • 00:15:35.216 --> 00:15:36.718
  • It's called "turn up the light."
  • 00:15:36.718 --> 00:15:38.052
  • It's a devotional for the whole year.
  • 00:15:38.052 --> 00:15:39.687
  • It's a really simple idea.
  • 00:15:39.687 --> 00:15:41.022
  • I can join you for a cup of coffee in the morning.
  • 00:15:41.022 --> 00:15:43.858
  • We'll have a brief conversation with a spiritual principle
  • 00:15:43.858 --> 00:15:46.561
  • To start our day, a scripture verse, a prayer.
  • 00:15:46.561 --> 00:15:49.464
  • And then when you're tired of me,
  • 00:15:49.464 --> 00:15:50.798
  • You can close the book.
  • 00:15:50.798 --> 00:15:52.200
  • It's perfect.
  • 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:53.801
  • In all seriousness, we do wanna turn up the light.
  • 00:15:53.801 --> 00:15:56.237
  • Let's not rage against the darkness.
  • 00:15:56.237 --> 00:15:57.638
  • Let's invite god into the midst of this year
  • 00:15:57.638 --> 00:16:00.074
  • And then just see what he will do.
  • 00:16:00.074 --> 00:16:01.943
  • Female announcer: pastor allen's new devotional,
  • 00:16:01.943 --> 00:16:03.544
  • "turn up the light," is designed to equip you every single day
  • 00:16:03.544 --> 00:16:06.748
  • Of the year.
  • 00:16:06.748 --> 00:16:08.082
  • Inside, you'll find 365 short devotionals,
  • 00:16:08.082 --> 00:16:11.419
  • Each with a scripture, teaching, and a prayer.
  • 00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:14.555
  • As you begin this new year, don't rage against the darkness.
  • 00:16:14.555 --> 00:16:17.759
  • Instead, choose to turn up the light.
  • 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:19.927
  • You can request this book when you donate $25 or more today
  • 00:16:19.927 --> 00:16:23.931
  • At allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:16:23.931 --> 00:16:29.203
  • Allen: expressions of joy and i'm done.
  • 00:16:32.974 --> 00:16:34.642
  • Psalm 100, "shout joyfully to the lord, all the earth.
  • 00:16:34.642 --> 00:16:39.247
  • Serve the lord with gladness: come before him with
  • 00:16:39.247 --> 00:16:41.382
  • Joyful singing.
  • 00:16:41.382 --> 00:16:43.251
  • Know that the lord himself is god; it's he who's made us, and
  • 00:16:43.251 --> 00:16:46.054
  • We're not--not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of
  • 00:16:46.054 --> 00:16:49.524
  • His pasture."
  • 00:16:49.524 --> 00:16:51.426
  • It's just the opposite of what we read a few moments ago
  • 00:16:51.426 --> 00:16:53.461
  • From deuteronomy.
  • 00:16:53.461 --> 00:16:54.796
  • God said, "because you wouldn't serve me with gladness and joy,
  • 00:16:54.796 --> 00:16:56.798
  • You'll serve your enemies."
  • 00:16:56.798 --> 00:16:58.966
  • And the psalmist in an expression of corporate worship
  • 00:16:58.966 --> 00:17:02.503
  • Gives us the assignment, "shout joyfully to the lord.
  • 00:17:02.503 --> 00:17:05.973
  • Serve the lord with gladness.
  • 00:17:05.973 --> 00:17:08.276
  • Come before him with joyful singing."
  • 00:17:08.276 --> 00:17:09.844
  • What do we say?
  • 00:17:09.844 --> 00:17:11.212
  • "well, i don't wanna be too emotional.
  • 00:17:11.212 --> 00:17:12.847
  • Pastor almost got me emotional.
  • 00:17:12.847 --> 00:17:14.182
  • He was trying to get me emotional.
  • 00:17:14.182 --> 00:17:15.550
  • I thought he was trying to get me emotional.
  • 00:17:15.550 --> 00:17:16.884
  • I suspected he was trying to get me emotional.
  • 00:17:16.884 --> 00:17:18.252
  • There for a minute i was almost emotional, but thank god i
  • 00:17:18.252 --> 00:17:22.223
  • Managed to get it back together."
  • 00:17:22.223 --> 00:17:29.464
  • And i know we're all different.
  • 00:17:29.464 --> 00:17:31.499
  • I'm not saying you have to stand with your hands in your air to
  • 00:17:31.499 --> 00:17:33.434
  • The--to worship the lord.
  • 00:17:33.434 --> 00:17:36.237
  • Our personalities are different.
  • 00:17:36.237 --> 00:17:39.407
  • You know, if i went to a ballgame and if--i went with
  • 00:17:39.407 --> 00:17:41.342
  • My mom.
  • 00:17:41.342 --> 00:17:43.744
  • My mom didn't care about the ballgame.
  • 00:17:43.744 --> 00:17:46.314
  • She could sit there just inert in her seat and i'm standing up,
  • 00:17:46.314 --> 00:17:50.284
  • I'm throwing things.
  • 00:17:50.284 --> 00:17:51.652
  • I'm questioning the genetic heritage of the officials, and
  • 00:17:51.652 --> 00:17:57.024
  • She just sat there.
  • 00:17:57.024 --> 00:17:58.926
  • It didn't matter to her.
  • 00:17:58.926 --> 00:18:00.261
  • Her personality in that environment was different.
  • 00:18:00.261 --> 00:18:02.763
  • And i know some of us are more extroverted and some of us are
  • 00:18:02.763 --> 00:18:04.899
  • More introverted, but the things that matter to you you find ways
  • 00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:10.204
  • To give expression to.
  • 00:18:10.204 --> 00:18:12.473
  • And i don't say that to offer you any form of condemnation, i
  • 00:18:12.473 --> 00:18:15.576
  • Give it to you as an invitation.
  • 00:18:15.576 --> 00:18:16.944
  • If it has never occurred to you to be joyful for the presence of
  • 00:18:16.944 --> 00:18:20.214
  • The lord in your life, i wanna ask you to consider what that
  • 00:18:20.214 --> 00:18:23.317
  • Would look like in the context of who you are.
  • 00:18:23.317 --> 00:18:27.255
  • Don't you be more joyful about an athletic team or a business
  • 00:18:27.255 --> 00:18:30.224
  • Accomplishment or a market report or something a child or a
  • 00:18:30.224 --> 00:18:34.095
  • Grandchild does than you are for the lord.
  • 00:18:34.095 --> 00:18:41.102
  • It's not the same thing for all of us.
  • 00:18:41.102 --> 00:18:42.503
  • We're all different.
  • 00:18:42.503 --> 00:18:43.838
  • I'm not telling you there has to be a uniform response.
  • 00:18:43.838 --> 00:18:45.573
  • That's the government.
  • 00:18:45.573 --> 00:18:46.941
  • If the government made flowers that'd be one kind, they'd all
  • 00:18:46.941 --> 00:18:48.409
  • Be grey.
  • 00:18:48.409 --> 00:18:50.745
  • God made flowers.
  • 00:18:50.745 --> 00:18:52.113
  • There's an infinite number of--he made snowflakes.
  • 00:18:52.113 --> 00:18:54.048
  • Everyone's different. he made your eye.
  • 00:18:54.048 --> 00:18:55.416
  • There's no two eyes that are the same.
  • 00:18:55.416 --> 00:18:57.752
  • Our responses to him can reflect who we are, but you wanna serve
  • 00:18:57.752 --> 00:19:00.688
  • The lord with gladness and joy.
  • 00:19:00.688 --> 00:19:03.357
  • We've been stoic for too long.
  • 00:19:03.357 --> 00:19:06.494
  • You should look forward to being with the people of god.
  • 00:19:06.494 --> 00:19:09.897
  • I know i'm meddling all kinds of ways.
  • 00:19:09.897 --> 00:19:11.766
  • My time's done.
  • 00:19:11.766 --> 00:19:13.868
  • But this is so important, church.
  • 00:19:13.868 --> 00:19:15.536
  • God is moving and we gotta go with him.
  • 00:19:15.536 --> 00:19:18.372
  • We have got to go with him.
  • 00:19:18.372 --> 00:19:20.141
  • If you don't like the people of god, i've been there.
  • 00:19:20.141 --> 00:19:22.577
  • I lived that way.
  • 00:19:22.577 --> 00:19:24.045
  • I didn't wanna be around christians.
  • 00:19:24.045 --> 00:19:25.413
  • I was more comfortable with pagans, and it's because jesus
  • 00:19:25.413 --> 00:19:29.350
  • Was so small in me.
  • 00:19:29.350 --> 00:19:32.720
  • If you don't like to hunt, you don't like to hang out
  • 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:34.522
  • With hunters.
  • 00:19:34.522 --> 00:19:35.856
  • If you don't like to fish, you probably don't like to hang out
  • 00:19:35.856 --> 00:19:37.592
  • With fishermen.
  • 00:19:37.592 --> 00:19:38.926
  • So if you don't like to hang out with christians--"well, they're
  • 00:19:38.926 --> 00:19:42.430
  • All so weird.
  • 00:19:42.430 --> 00:19:43.798
  • They're all--" i know. we are.
  • 00:19:43.798 --> 00:19:46.734
  • But god is moving.
  • 00:19:46.734 --> 00:19:49.170
  • Now, i wanna pray for you.
  • 00:19:49.170 --> 00:19:51.239
  • This christmas season, some of you feel a bit sidelined because
  • 00:19:51.239 --> 00:19:55.243
  • Your heart's broken or you're discouraged or your
  • 00:19:55.243 --> 00:19:57.979
  • Circumstances aren't where you want or you're agitated.
  • 00:19:57.979 --> 00:20:01.682
  • There's something that is a--it's a barrier.
  • 00:20:01.682 --> 00:20:06.721
  • You know, one of the later--newer fads in training is
  • 00:20:06.721 --> 00:20:09.957
  • Carrying a pack.
  • 00:20:09.957 --> 00:20:11.626
  • Don't just go for a run, carry a pack.
  • 00:20:11.626 --> 00:20:13.928
  • Fill it with lead weights and go for a run.
  • 00:20:13.928 --> 00:20:16.597
  • Doesn't that sound like fun?
  • 00:20:16.597 --> 00:20:20.001
  • "can i have a cupcake?"
  • 00:20:20.001 --> 00:20:25.306
  • And some of us are trying to run the christian race carrying a
  • 00:20:25.306 --> 00:20:28.876
  • Bunch of junk, and i wanna ask you if you'll lay it down today.
  • 00:20:28.876 --> 00:20:35.049
  • Some of you need to forgive god.
  • 00:20:35.049 --> 00:20:36.384
  • You're mad at him.
  • 00:20:36.384 --> 00:20:38.886
  • Some of you need to forgive some people 'cause you're mad
  • 00:20:38.886 --> 00:20:40.755
  • At them.
  • 00:20:40.755 --> 00:20:42.823
  • Some of you probably need to forgive yourselves.
  • 00:20:42.823 --> 00:20:46.594
  • Some of you need to ask for forgiveness from god or
  • 00:20:46.594 --> 00:20:50.231
  • Someone else.
  • 00:20:50.231 --> 00:20:51.999
  • But let's not carry that stuff.
  • 00:20:51.999 --> 00:20:54.268
  • "good news of big joy."
  • 00:20:54.268 --> 00:20:57.738
  • Doesn't mean it's gonna be easy, means it's gonna be meaningful.
  • 00:20:57.738 --> 00:21:02.109
  • It's gonna be well rewarded.
  • 00:21:02.109 --> 00:21:05.546
  • Now, if that's you and you'd say, "pastor, there are some
  • 00:21:05.546 --> 00:21:08.516
  • Things i need to lay down," i'm just gonna ask you to stand
  • 00:21:08.516 --> 00:21:10.384
  • Real quickly.
  • 00:21:10.384 --> 00:21:11.719
  • We're not--whichever sanctuary you're in--if you're at home, i
  • 00:21:11.719 --> 00:21:13.587
  • Can see you right through the phone.
  • 00:21:13.587 --> 00:21:16.791
  • I can't, but google can.
  • 00:21:16.791 --> 00:21:25.132
  • I suspected what would happen.
  • 00:21:28.803 --> 00:21:30.171
  • I want you to look around.
  • 00:21:30.171 --> 00:21:32.640
  • It's not like two or three people.
  • 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:36.010
  • It's not like a couple of oddballs going, "ah, i'm kinda
  • 00:21:36.010 --> 00:21:38.512
  • Having a bad christmas."
  • 00:21:38.512 --> 00:21:42.717
  • The overwhelming majority of us face these struggles.
  • 00:21:42.717 --> 00:21:47.154
  • We don't talk about it much in polite company, and i'm not sure
  • 00:21:47.154 --> 00:21:51.092
  • We need to, but we need to know how to be free.
  • 00:21:51.092 --> 00:21:56.397
  • We need to know how to repent.
  • 00:21:56.397 --> 00:22:00.334
  • We need to acknowledge there's a god and we will yield to his
  • 00:22:00.334 --> 00:22:02.937
  • Sovereignty, that we're not gonna withdraw--threaten to
  • 00:22:02.937 --> 00:22:07.341
  • Withdraw our membership card if he doesn't do what we want.
  • 00:22:07.341 --> 00:22:12.713
  • Maybe we use the old quaker prayer.
  • 00:22:16.550 --> 00:22:19.987
  • I don't know if the quakers had anything to do with it.
  • 00:22:19.987 --> 00:22:21.589
  • It's just how i learned it.
  • 00:22:21.589 --> 00:22:23.424
  • But with your palms down to give to the lord what we need to give
  • 00:22:23.424 --> 00:22:25.693
  • Him: the anger, the resentment, the bitterness; and then we'll
  • 00:22:25.693 --> 00:22:29.864
  • Turn our palms up to receive what he has for us: his mercy,
  • 00:22:29.864 --> 00:22:32.633
  • His forgiveness.
  • 00:22:32.633 --> 00:22:34.869
  • Let's not carry it out of here today.
  • 00:22:34.869 --> 00:22:37.538
  • I have this image in my head when there's things that i need
  • 00:22:37.538 --> 00:22:40.040
  • To turn loose of.
  • 00:22:40.040 --> 00:22:41.642
  • I literally put it into a trash bag, tie that thing off, and put
  • 00:22:41.642 --> 00:22:46.247
  • It on a conveyor belt and watch it disappear over the horizon.
  • 00:22:46.247 --> 00:22:48.682
  • It's not mine. it used to be mine.
  • 00:22:48.682 --> 00:22:50.050
  • I used to carry it around with me, but i don't carry
  • 00:22:50.050 --> 00:22:52.753
  • It anymore.
  • 00:22:52.753 --> 00:22:54.455
  • And today we're gonna offload some stuff, you ready?
  • 00:22:54.455 --> 00:22:57.258
  • You can do this at home.
  • 00:22:57.258 --> 00:22:58.926
  • You can do it in new harvest, in all nations, in genesis, and
  • 00:22:58.926 --> 00:23:01.262
  • Even in fellowship square.
  • 00:23:01.262 --> 00:23:07.501
  • Father, i thank you for your word.
  • 00:23:07.501 --> 00:23:10.304
  • I thank you for the announcement from the heavenly host that you
  • 00:23:10.304 --> 00:23:13.707
  • Have brought us good news of great joy, and we choose this
  • 00:23:13.707 --> 00:23:18.145
  • Day to receive.
  • 00:23:18.145 --> 00:23:20.815
  • And, lord, we wanna acknowledge those challenges we have, the
  • 00:23:20.815 --> 00:23:23.384
  • Disappointments, the heartaches, the frustrations, the
  • 00:23:23.384 --> 00:23:28.756
  • Resentment, the anger, the places where our circumstances
  • 00:23:28.756 --> 00:23:32.893
  • And our expectations seem to be in somehow al--they're not
  • 00:23:32.893 --> 00:23:36.864
  • Aligned and it's left us with questions and attitudes.
  • 00:23:36.864 --> 00:23:43.571
  • It's been an encumbrance to us.
  • 00:23:43.571 --> 00:23:45.172
  • We have withdrawn and we've been sullen and we've been
  • 00:23:45.172 --> 00:23:48.809
  • Unresponsive and uncooperative.
  • 00:23:48.809 --> 00:23:51.879
  • We come today to acknowledge that before you to say we're
  • 00:23:51.879 --> 00:23:54.582
  • Sorry, to lay those things down.
  • 00:23:54.582 --> 00:23:58.786
  • We don't wanna carry them one step further, one moment longer.
  • 00:23:58.786 --> 00:24:01.655
  • We put them at the foot of the cross today.
  • 00:24:01.655 --> 00:24:04.425
  • We ask for your mercy and your forgiveness in our lives.
  • 00:24:04.425 --> 00:24:07.928
  • Forgive us when we've grumbled and complained.
  • 00:24:07.928 --> 00:24:11.465
  • We didn't serve you with joy and gladness.
  • 00:24:11.465 --> 00:24:14.568
  • We didn't choose to. we didn't want to.
  • 00:24:14.568 --> 00:24:16.937
  • We weren't confused or distracted.
  • 00:24:16.937 --> 00:24:19.507
  • We made choices and they weren't in your direction.
  • 00:24:19.507 --> 00:24:23.043
  • We behaved like people who don't know you and don't serve you.
  • 00:24:23.043 --> 00:24:27.515
  • We acknowledge it to you today.
  • 00:24:27.515 --> 00:24:28.883
  • We come in humility to repent, to change our thoughts and to
  • 00:24:28.883 --> 00:24:33.153
  • Change our behaviors, to choose a new course.
  • 00:24:33.153 --> 00:24:37.258
  • And, lord, as we lay those things down, we turn our hearts
  • 00:24:37.258 --> 00:24:39.894
  • And our hands to you to receive now your life, your forgiveness.
  • 00:24:39.894 --> 00:24:45.833
  • Lord, cleanse us and we will be clean.
  • 00:24:45.833 --> 00:24:48.269
  • Holy spirit, give us thoughts that will bring a new meaning
  • 00:24:48.269 --> 00:24:51.238
  • And a new purpose to us.
  • 00:24:51.238 --> 00:24:53.140
  • Put voices in our lives that will be a voice of encouragement
  • 00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:55.910
  • And strength.
  • 00:24:55.910 --> 00:24:57.278
  • Allow our voices to become voices of encouragement and
  • 00:24:57.278 --> 00:24:59.446
  • Rejoicing where they have been voices of complaining and
  • 00:24:59.446 --> 00:25:02.516
  • Grumbling and criticism.
  • 00:25:02.516 --> 00:25:06.153
  • I thank you for our new freedom.
  • 00:25:06.153 --> 00:25:09.223
  • I thank you for the joy that's been set before us as children
  • 00:25:09.223 --> 00:25:12.960
  • Of the king with the promise of eternity, of victories before
  • 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:18.732
  • Us, of the triumph of our lord and king, that every knee will
  • 00:25:18.732 --> 00:25:21.602
  • Bow and every name confess that our lord is lord of all.
  • 00:25:21.602 --> 00:25:26.273
  • We praise you for it today; that you're lord of our health, that
  • 00:25:26.273 --> 00:25:29.476
  • You're lord of our resources, that you're lord of our
  • 00:25:29.476 --> 00:25:31.779
  • Calendar, that you're lord of our families.
  • 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:34.081
  • We praise you for it, that greater is the spirit within us
  • 00:25:34.081 --> 00:25:38.018
  • Than any spirit arrayed against us.
  • 00:25:38.018 --> 00:25:40.988
  • We thank you for it, lord, for your deliverance, for
  • 00:25:40.988 --> 00:25:43.657
  • Your freedom.
  • 00:25:43.657 --> 00:25:45.025
  • We praise you this day that we will never be the same.
  • 00:25:45.025 --> 00:25:48.295
  • Good news of big joy for every one of us.
  • 00:25:48.295 --> 00:25:52.499
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:25:52.499 --> 00:25:56.236
  • Hallelujah.
  • 00:25:56.236 --> 00:25:57.605
  • God bless you.
  • 00:25:57.605 --> 00:26:03.777
  • Allen: hey, how we begin our year, it matters.
  • 00:26:07.781 --> 00:26:10.584
  • So we've created a tool to help you get the year off on the
  • 00:26:10.584 --> 00:26:13.053
  • Right foot.
  • 00:26:13.053 --> 00:26:14.421
  • It's a devotional for this year.
  • 00:26:14.421 --> 00:26:15.756
  • We've taken our email devotionals that you're familiar
  • 00:26:15.756 --> 00:26:18.392
  • With and we've edited it into a book, 365-day devotional with a
  • 00:26:18.392 --> 00:26:23.430
  • Little short thought for the day, a scripture verse, a
  • 00:26:23.430 --> 00:26:25.766
  • Prayer, just a little momentum for every day.
  • 00:26:25.766 --> 00:26:28.636
  • Let's start this year on purpose, inviting god's best
  • 00:26:28.636 --> 00:26:32.339
  • Into our lives.
  • 00:26:32.339 --> 00:26:33.807
  • Many of you are familiar with those devotionals.
  • 00:26:33.807 --> 00:26:35.643
  • You get them in your inbox.
  • 00:26:35.643 --> 00:26:37.077
  • We wanna give you a hard copy.
  • 00:26:37.077 --> 00:26:38.412
  • Maybe you get a second copy, share it with a friend.
  • 00:26:38.412 --> 00:26:40.514
  • Use it as a mission project this year.
  • 00:26:40.514 --> 00:26:42.750
  • Maybe take it to work.
  • 00:26:42.750 --> 00:26:44.084
  • Recruit somebody that you're working with.
  • 00:26:44.084 --> 00:26:45.686
  • It's a simple way to invite god into the beginning of your day
  • 00:26:45.686 --> 00:26:49.523
  • On purpose.
  • 00:26:49.523 --> 00:26:50.891
  • And if we do that, i believe the outcome will be
  • 00:26:50.891 --> 00:26:53.427
  • Truly significant.
  • 00:26:53.427 --> 00:26:55.029
  • God in the midst of whatever we're doing makes the
  • 00:26:55.029 --> 00:26:56.964
  • Outcomes better.
  • 00:26:56.964 --> 00:26:58.432
  • It's an exciting time.
  • 00:26:58.432 --> 00:26:59.767
  • I like the beginning of a new year.
  • 00:26:59.767 --> 00:27:01.135
  • All the promise and the hope that that brings, let's put god
  • 00:27:01.135 --> 00:27:03.604
  • In the center of it.
  • 00:27:03.604 --> 00:27:04.972
  • "turn up the light" is the name of the devotional, and i believe
  • 00:27:04.972 --> 00:27:06.974
  • It'll do just that in your life.
  • 00:27:06.974 --> 00:27:08.742
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:09.176 --> 00:27:28.829