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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Into The World (Part 1)

April 1, 2025 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Into The World (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Salvation #Purpose #BodyofChrist #Church #God'sWill #ServantofGod #Serving #Religion #Culture #Change #Focus #Calling #AllenJacksonMinistries #AllenJackson #LightoftheWorld #Temple #Tabernacle

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Into The World (Part 1) | April 1, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: i began in a previous session, a study that i
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  • Want to continue with you for a bit on the "tabernacle, temple,
  • 00:00:10.102 --> 00:00:14.339
  • Synagogues & churches."
  • 00:00:14.339 --> 00:00:17.209
  • If you are just a casual reader of the bible, i think those
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  • Would all be familiar to you when god delivered the hebrew
  • 00:00:20.212 --> 00:00:22.848
  • Slaves from egypt.
  • 00:00:22.848 --> 00:00:25.284
  • There was a tremendous challenge in front of the people.
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  • They've been slaves for hundreds of years, and although god had
  • 00:00:27.553 --> 00:00:30.589
  • Delivered them, they didn't understand how to be an
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  • Autonomous group of people.
  • 00:00:33.358 --> 00:00:34.960
  • They were en route to a territory, a land that god had
  • 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:38.230
  • Promised them, but before they could occupy that land and
  • 00:00:38.230 --> 00:00:41.600
  • Flourish, they had to learn how to become a community, a group
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  • Of people.
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  • That's what the books are largely of--the books of
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  • Moses are.
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  • You know, those first five books of the bible: genesis, exodus,
  • 00:00:50.843 --> 00:00:52.711
  • Leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy, that most
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  • Exciting read.
  • 00:00:55.147 --> 00:00:58.250
  • Well, you know, once we get to exodus and that great
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  • Deliverance, the balance of those books are really taking a
  • 00:01:01.253 --> 00:01:03.822
  • Group of slaves, a mixed multitude, the bible refers to
  • 00:01:03.822 --> 00:01:06.825
  • Them as, and helping them become a group of people.
  • 00:01:06.825 --> 00:01:10.329
  • And one of the first things that god directed moses to give to
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  • The people, were the instructions for building
  • 00:01:13.499 --> 00:01:16.135
  • The tabernacle.
  • 00:01:16.135 --> 00:01:18.237
  • They were still a mobile itinerant to people.
  • 00:01:18.237 --> 00:01:20.706
  • They didn't need a fixed structure, so they, god gave
  • 00:01:20.706 --> 00:01:23.542
  • Them a plan for a rather elaborate tent as a center
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  • Of worship.
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  • Because it became very clear that his purpose was to build
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  • Culture in the midst of his people.
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  • What does it mean to be the people of god?
  • 00:01:37.489 --> 00:01:40.826
  • And it wasn't arbitrary, it wasn't whimsical, it wasn't
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  • Random, it was very orderly, even where they would camp and
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  • How they would position themselves, and i mean, down to
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  • Their personal hygiene.
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  • All of that was connected to their community and their
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  • Relationship with god.
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  • There was no separation of sacred and secular.
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  • And when they finally occupied the promised land and the
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  • Monarchy emerged, they were given permission to build a
  • 00:02:05.083 --> 00:02:09.688
  • Temple, a permanent structure in jerusalem, and god said, "my
  • 00:02:09.688 --> 00:02:13.091
  • Presence will dwell there in the midst of my people."
  • 00:02:13.091 --> 00:02:15.661
  • And the temple occupied that place in the hearts of the
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  • People for many, many centuries.
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  • It was their national bank, it was the center of national
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  • Power, it was the center of national pride.
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  • It was the most remarkable building in the midst of the
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  • Nation, the temple.
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  • In fact, you could tell the spiritual condition of the
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  • People by the care they gave to the temple.
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  • When the temple was in disrepair, they had drifted a
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  • Long way away from god.
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  • When the temple was well maintained, god was more at the
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  • Center of their behavior again; their culture was being shaped
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  • By their relationship with god.
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  • It's a bit of an aside, but i think i could make that argument
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  • About our nation.
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  • You visit our cities, there were times and seasons in our
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  • Nation's history, where the most beautiful buildings in our
  • 00:02:59.671 --> 00:03:01.907
  • Cities were the churches.
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  • Not so much these days.
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  • I mean there's some exceptions, but not so much.
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  • In fact, the sentiment really isn't there.
  • 00:03:11.617 --> 00:03:14.620
  • Most beautiful, the largest, most elaborate buildings in our
  • 00:03:14.620 --> 00:03:18.824
  • Communities these days tend to be sports arenas.
  • 00:03:18.824 --> 00:03:23.662
  • Then the synagogue came along, somewhere--the temple hadn't
  • 00:03:23.662 --> 00:03:28.967
  • Been destroyed yet, but there was certainly a transition.
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  • The synagogue was a place where if you had ten jewish men, you
  • 00:03:31.503 --> 00:03:35.040
  • Could convene a center of learning to read the scripture,
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  • To learn together, and the synagogue became a center of
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  • Culture building; far more distributed than the tabernacle
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  • Or the temple.
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  • And then the new testament equivalent of that was
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  • The church.
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  • And i would submit to you that churches are intended to be for
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  • The purpose, not just of personal salvation but of
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  • Transforming culture.
  • 00:03:58.263 --> 00:04:00.399
  • In the same way that the tabernacle was, the temple was,
  • 00:04:00.399 --> 00:04:03.135
  • The synagogue was, so was the church.
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  • We have transformed them, i believe, against the council of
  • 00:04:06.705 --> 00:04:09.441
  • Scripture into personal salvation centers, but we've
  • 00:04:09.441 --> 00:04:12.144
  • Kind of disinvested ourselves from cultural impact.
  • 00:04:12.144 --> 00:04:16.515
  • In fact, we're not even sure it's appropriate to talk about
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  • It anymore.
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  • And i would submit to you that if the church does not engage
  • 00:04:20.452 --> 00:04:23.088
  • Our culture, we will lose our freedom.
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  • I understand why we are reluctant, but i'm telling you
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  • We are at a tipping point.
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  • We cannot imagine that political leaders can institute change and
  • 00:04:34.633 --> 00:04:37.669
  • Make us a more godly people.
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  • That has to come from the people of faith.
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  • We can choose leaders that may govern by a more biblically
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  • Oriented worldview and they can make decisions that would
  • 00:04:46.645 --> 00:04:50.482
  • Reflect that, but for that to be sustainable, it requires
  • 00:04:50.482 --> 00:04:54.886
  • Transformation at the level of the hearts of the people
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  • Of faith.
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  • We have to understand our assignment to engage culture.
  • 00:04:59.958 --> 00:05:04.696
  • Right now it would be wonderful if the church would just say,
  • 00:05:04.696 --> 00:05:07.899
  • "we remember that rule where god said thou shalt not steal,"
  • 00:05:07.899 --> 00:05:14.406
  • Because we're a nation of thieves.
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  • When more than 90% of the federal workforce hasn't been
  • 00:05:20.645 --> 00:05:23.081
  • Going into the office monday through friday to work for
  • 00:05:23.081 --> 00:05:25.684
  • Years, and we just don't say anything when we find hundreds
  • 00:05:25.684 --> 00:05:30.455
  • Of billions of dollars being squandered on the most bizarre
  • 00:05:30.455 --> 00:05:34.059
  • Things; many of them advocating for a worldview, for a religion,
  • 00:05:34.059 --> 00:05:39.030
  • If you will prefer, that is not a biblical worldview.
  • 00:05:39.030 --> 00:05:45.137
  • And we're reluctant to go out?
  • 00:05:45.137 --> 00:05:46.505
  • I don't think that's good.
  • 00:05:46.505 --> 00:05:49.274
  • We just stay quiet and act like we don't notice.
  • 00:05:49.274 --> 00:05:53.278
  • Maybe because we've had our snout in the trough.
  • 00:05:53.278 --> 00:05:54.980
  • I don't know, but for whatever reason, we're going to have to
  • 00:05:54.980 --> 00:05:57.549
  • Have the courage to say, "thou shalt not steal has not
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  • Been suspended."
  • 00:06:00.252 --> 00:06:07.459
  • But this notion of churches as culture builders leads me to
  • 00:06:07.459 --> 00:06:10.629
  • This series.
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  • I want to take a few sessions.
  • 00:06:11.963 --> 00:06:13.331
  • We'll talk a bit about initially the church, with a capital c,
  • 00:06:13.331 --> 00:06:15.901
  • The broader church, and then i want to talk about our
  • 00:06:15.901 --> 00:06:17.736
  • Particular community of faith.
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  • What the lord, i believe, has put in front of us and there
  • 00:06:20.005 --> 00:06:22.207
  • Aren't so much declarations that we have made about what we
  • 00:06:22.207 --> 00:06:25.210
  • Decided, but it's more about what we've observed that god has
  • 00:06:25.210 --> 00:06:28.079
  • Chosen to do through us.
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  • For in my life that, that's been the most fruitful way for me to
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  • Follow the lord is try to recognize what he has initiated
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  • And say i want to cooperate.
  • 00:06:37.956 --> 00:06:39.357
  • So this session we're going to talk about going into the world.
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  • I believe we are sent ones.
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  • I understand the language that we've been called out of the
  • 00:06:46.465 --> 00:06:48.733
  • World, the ecclesia or those who are called out, and that's true.
  • 00:06:48.733 --> 00:06:51.803
  • We're called out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of
  • 00:06:51.803 --> 00:06:54.773
  • Light, but then having accepted that assignment, our goal is not
  • 00:06:54.773 --> 00:06:58.777
  • Just our salvation; our goal is to serve the lord.
  • 00:06:58.777 --> 00:07:04.249
  • The goal of the christian life is to do the will of god, not go
  • 00:07:04.249 --> 00:07:09.321
  • To heaven.
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  • If you're not doing the will of god, you should not imagine you
  • 00:07:11.356 --> 00:07:14.659
  • Will go to heaven.
  • 00:07:14.659 --> 00:07:17.395
  • So the objective of our faith is to enable us to do the will
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  • Of god.
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  • I'm not suggesting you're going to earn heaven.
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  • It's beyond our ability to do so.
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  • But the evidence that you have received the new birth, is that
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  • You have fully committed yourself to do the will of god.
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  • Let's start with this notion of being sent into the world.
  • 00:07:36.147 --> 00:07:39.084
  • It's kind of a bumpy thing.
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  • Jesus said, "the world has hated me, they're going to hate
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  • You too."
  • 00:07:44.322 --> 00:07:46.424
  • Ah, can you believe that?
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  • Jesus said, "they have hated me and they're going to hate hate
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  • You because you love me."
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  • Well, you would know jesus loves us too much to send us into a
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  • Room filled with hate.
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  • Come on, hug it out.
  • 00:08:02.507 --> 00:08:06.978
  • Well, it's a good thought.
  • 00:08:06.978 --> 00:08:08.313
  • It just doesn't happen to be biblical.
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  • Look at matthew 10.
  • 00:08:09.681 --> 00:08:11.016
  • Jesus said, "i'm sending you out like sheep among wolves.
  • 00:08:11.016 --> 00:08:18.323
  • Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."
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  • Wow, "i'm sending you out," what?
  • 00:08:22.527 --> 00:08:25.730
  • "like sheep amongst wolves," you understand that's a mismatch?
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  • I'm sending you out as lunch meat.
  • 00:08:30.969 --> 00:08:34.339
  • You can't outrun a wolf, you can't out fight a wolf.
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  • If you don't have a shepherd, you got no shot.
  • 00:08:37.642 --> 00:08:42.314
  • If you're not under the authority of the shepherd, you
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  • Have no chance; we won't outthink evil, we won't outwork
  • 00:08:44.783 --> 00:08:49.054
  • Evil, we won't out organize evil.
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  • We have to understand there's a power greater than ourselves and
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  • We are dependent upon it.
  • 00:08:54.759 --> 00:08:58.597
  • In exodus 3, this is the recruitment of moses at that
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  • Burning bush.
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  • You remember the story, god says, "now, go.
  • 00:09:02.567 --> 00:09:04.703
  • I'm sending you to pharaoh to bring my people out.
  • 00:09:04.703 --> 00:09:08.373
  • I'm sending you.
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  • Oh, i've got the power.
  • 00:09:10.475 --> 00:09:11.810
  • I've got the ability, but i'm sending you."
  • 00:09:11.810 --> 00:09:15.280
  • See, i think we have this overwhelming desire to see god
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  • Change things: change our schools, our universities, our
  • 00:09:18.316 --> 00:09:21.853
  • Economy, the moral fabric of our culture.
  • 00:09:21.853 --> 00:09:24.422
  • We would love to see those things happen, right?
  • 00:09:24.422 --> 00:09:26.825
  • I mean that would poll, "yes!"
  • 00:09:26.825 --> 00:09:29.394
  • And then god says, "i agree, and i'm sending--send pastor.
  • 00:09:29.394 --> 00:09:37.602
  • He's about half crazy, he'll probably go."
  • 00:09:37.602 --> 00:09:43.141
  • Jeremiah chapter 1, "the lord said to me," god's recruiting
  • 00:09:43.141 --> 00:09:47.512
  • Jeremiah, he's a young man, and then god said to him, "don't
  • 00:09:47.512 --> 00:09:49.848
  • Say, 'i'm only a child.'
  • 00:09:49.848 --> 00:09:51.883
  • You must go to everyone i send you to and say whatever i
  • 00:09:51.883 --> 00:09:55.954
  • Command you."
  • 00:09:55.954 --> 00:09:57.722
  • Ah, you got to go where i tell you and say what i want you to."
  • 00:09:57.722 --> 00:10:02.694
  • "no, i'm good, thank you."
  • 00:10:02.694 --> 00:10:05.430
  • It's the next sentence that's the most troubling.
  • 00:10:05.430 --> 00:10:07.832
  • He said, "don't be afraid of them."
  • 00:10:07.832 --> 00:10:11.236
  • If god's telling you not to be afraid, what do you know?
  • 00:10:11.236 --> 00:10:15.340
  • I'd be frightened, "don't be afraid of them," it's the next
  • 00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:19.277
  • Sentence, it's even worse, "i'm with you and i will rescue you."
  • 00:10:19.277 --> 00:10:25.383
  • You don't need rescued unless you're in a bad spot.
  • 00:10:25.383 --> 00:10:29.054
  • You don't need rescued from vacation.
  • 00:10:29.054 --> 00:10:32.590
  • You don't need rescued from the winning lottery number.
  • 00:10:32.590 --> 00:10:36.861
  • You need rescued from desperate places.
  • 00:10:36.861 --> 00:10:40.031
  • "jeremiah, go, you go where i tell you to go and you say what
  • 00:10:40.031 --> 00:10:43.968
  • I tell you to say, and don't be afraid."
  • 00:10:43.968 --> 00:10:50.275
  • Ezekiel 2, "the people to whom i'm sending you are obstinate
  • 00:10:50.275 --> 00:10:55.413
  • And stubborn."
  • 00:10:55.413 --> 00:10:56.781
  • Well, i don't like that a bit.
  • 00:10:56.781 --> 00:10:58.783
  • "god, couldn't you send me to the compliant, receptive people?
  • 00:10:58.783 --> 00:11:03.321
  • I invited six people to my small group and eight of them said no.
  • 00:11:03.321 --> 00:11:12.063
  • "the people i'm sending you to are obstinate and stubborn."
  • 00:11:12.063 --> 00:11:18.603
  • "well, could i have a different assignment?"
  • 00:11:18.603 --> 00:11:22.073
  • Folks, we've been sent into the world.
  • 00:11:22.073 --> 00:11:24.008
  • We've been sent into the setting where they organized the
  • 00:11:24.008 --> 00:11:26.745
  • Execution of our lord.
  • 00:11:26.745 --> 00:11:31.316
  • In john 20, "jesus said, 'peace be with you!
  • 00:11:31.316 --> 00:11:33.418
  • As the father who sent me, i send you.'"
  • 00:11:33.418 --> 00:11:37.522
  • It's the consistent message of scripture, we've been
  • 00:11:37.522 --> 00:11:39.624
  • Sent folks.
  • 00:11:39.624 --> 00:11:40.959
  • We've lost this message.
  • 00:11:40.959 --> 00:11:43.661
  • We've wanted to wear camouflage.
  • 00:11:43.661 --> 00:11:46.498
  • We wanted to sound like our secular culture and blend into
  • 00:11:46.498 --> 00:11:48.900
  • Our secular culture.
  • 00:11:48.900 --> 00:11:50.235
  • We wanted to be undercover operatives.
  • 00:11:50.235 --> 00:11:53.938
  • We haven't wanted to say what god says.
  • 00:11:53.938 --> 00:11:57.776
  • Come on now.
  • 00:11:57.776 --> 00:11:59.811
  • We're much better at making friends with the world than
  • 00:11:59.811 --> 00:12:01.713
  • Telling the truth to the world.
  • 00:12:01.713 --> 00:12:03.081
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:12:03.081 --> 00:12:08.319
  • Female announcer: it's going to be an amazing spring at world
  • 00:12:10.321 --> 00:12:12.524
  • Outreach church, and you're invited to be part of it all.
  • 00:12:12.524 --> 00:12:15.927
  • Join us in murfreesboro for easter weekend and our spring
  • 00:12:15.927 --> 00:12:18.930
  • Festival, kicking off saturday, april 12 and running through
  • 00:12:18.930 --> 00:12:22.167
  • Sunday, april 27.
  • 00:12:22.167 --> 00:12:24.102
  • Worship with musical guest artists crowder, charity gayle,
  • 00:12:24.102 --> 00:12:27.972
  • Matthew west, franni cash, and the katinas.
  • 00:12:27.972 --> 00:12:31.176
  • Hear special messages from pastor allen jackson, enjoy fun
  • 00:12:31.176 --> 00:12:34.479
  • Activities for the whole family, food trucks and more.
  • 00:12:34.479 --> 00:12:38.249
  • Services will take place both indoors and outdoors.
  • 00:12:38.249 --> 00:12:40.852
  • Invite your friends and family to come celebrate our risen king
  • 00:12:40.852 --> 00:12:44.055
  • This spring.
  • 00:12:44.055 --> 00:12:45.423
  • Allen: hey, this is pastor allen.
  • 00:12:45.423 --> 00:12:46.758
  • I want to give you a personal invitation to join us on our
  • 00:12:46.758 --> 00:12:48.860
  • Campus here in murfreesboro for our spring festival and our
  • 00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:52.330
  • Easter celebration.
  • 00:12:52.330 --> 00:12:54.065
  • It's a wonderful time to be with people of faith and celebrate
  • 00:12:54.065 --> 00:12:57.869
  • This most remarkable time of the year.
  • 00:12:57.869 --> 00:13:00.171
  • Female announcer: find out more at wochurch.org.
  • 00:13:00.171 --> 00:13:03.007
  • We can't wait to see you there.
  • 00:13:03.007 --> 00:13:06.544
  • Allen: i believe god is moving in the earth
  • 00:13:10.481 --> 00:13:12.217
  • In an unprecedented way, and at the heart of that
  • 00:13:12.217 --> 00:13:15.053
  • Is an awakening, it's a shaking.
  • 00:13:15.053 --> 00:13:17.322
  • And in that shaking, there's a shifting.
  • 00:13:17.322 --> 00:13:19.023
  • There are people falling through the cracks, and there are people
  • 00:13:19.023 --> 00:13:20.992
  • Becoming more alert and aware of what god is doing.
  • 00:13:20.992 --> 00:13:23.995
  • At the heart of that is the acknowledgement,
  • 00:13:23.995 --> 00:13:26.297
  • The realization that spiritual forces shape our lives.
  • 00:13:26.297 --> 00:13:30.935
  • Folks, this isn't for the lunatic fringe.
  • 00:13:30.935 --> 00:13:33.037
  • This isn't for the hyper-spiritual people.
  • 00:13:33.037 --> 00:13:36.107
  • This is the stuff of the bible, and it better be the stuff of
  • 00:13:36.107 --> 00:13:38.543
  • Our lives or we are in a tremendous deficit position.
  • 00:13:38.543 --> 00:13:43.114
  • Well, i've written a book, "angels, demons, & you,"
  • 00:13:43.114 --> 00:13:45.683
  • Simply a biblical review of those spiritual forces that are
  • 00:13:45.683 --> 00:13:48.820
  • Impacting us today.
  • 00:13:48.820 --> 00:13:50.388
  • There's a battle in the earth, and it's not between armies
  • 00:13:50.388 --> 00:13:53.324
  • Wearing the labels of nations or terrorist groups.
  • 00:13:53.324 --> 00:13:56.127
  • It's a spiritual battle.
  • 00:13:56.127 --> 00:13:57.762
  • If you don't understand, if you don't understand the equipment
  • 00:13:57.762 --> 00:14:00.331
  • And the authority you've been given, you are at a tremendous
  • 00:14:00.331 --> 00:14:03.902
  • Position of forfeiture.
  • 00:14:03.902 --> 00:14:05.937
  • Don't live that way.
  • 00:14:05.937 --> 00:14:07.605
  • "angels, demons, & you," you need the solution.
  • 00:14:07.605 --> 00:14:10.808
  • Female announcer: loneliness, depression, despair,
  • 00:14:10.808 --> 00:14:13.645
  • They all have a spiritual origin.
  • 00:14:13.645 --> 00:14:15.813
  • We're in a spiritual battle, and the forces of evil
  • 00:14:15.813 --> 00:14:18.549
  • Stand against us.
  • 00:14:18.549 --> 00:14:20.218
  • But we don't need to be afraid. we need to prepare.
  • 00:14:20.218 --> 00:14:23.421
  • Allen: jesus said the children have angels assigned to them
  • 00:14:23.421 --> 00:14:26.124
  • That have the father's attention.
  • 00:14:26.124 --> 00:14:27.458
  • It's safe to say that in the kingdom of god, there are
  • 00:14:27.458 --> 00:14:30.328
  • Spiritual beings in significant number.
  • 00:14:30.328 --> 00:14:35.566
  • And they're ministering spirits, the bible says,
  • 00:14:35.566 --> 00:14:37.435
  • Sent forth to help us.
  • 00:14:37.435 --> 00:14:39.771
  • They're messengers.
  • 00:14:39.771 --> 00:14:41.105
  • They fill the pages of scripture, and yet we tend to
  • 00:14:41.105 --> 00:14:43.341
  • Kind of imagine as if it's peripheral, secondary, that you
  • 00:14:43.341 --> 00:14:47.078
  • Could be a christ follower, not really be engaged or have to
  • 00:14:47.078 --> 00:14:49.614
  • Imagine spiritual forces.
  • 00:14:49.614 --> 00:14:51.849
  • "we believe in organization."
  • 00:14:51.849 --> 00:14:54.619
  • Well, so do i.
  • 00:14:54.619 --> 00:14:56.521
  • I like a good plan and i like an organization that is run
  • 00:14:56.521 --> 00:14:59.357
  • Well, but i don't want to--it's not an either/or equation and i
  • 00:14:59.357 --> 00:15:02.994
  • Certainly don't want to exchange the power of god and the
  • 00:15:02.994 --> 00:15:06.931
  • Spiritual help that he's made available to us for the
  • 00:15:06.931 --> 00:15:09.600
  • Imagination that we can out-organize evil.
  • 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.903
  • Announcer: pastor allen's new book, "angels, demons, & you,"
  • 00:15:11.903 --> 00:15:14.739
  • Offers compelling biblical evidence about angels and demons
  • 00:15:14.739 --> 00:15:18.843
  • And their roles in the heavens, on earth, and in our lives.
  • 00:15:18.843 --> 00:15:23.114
  • It answers the questions you want to know.
  • 00:15:23.114 --> 00:15:25.984
  • Learn what the bible has to say about angels, demons, and
  • 00:15:25.984 --> 00:15:28.953
  • Spiritual warfare.
  • 00:15:28.953 --> 00:15:30.822
  • Gain helpful insight that will help you identify and remove
  • 00:15:30.822 --> 00:15:34.359
  • Evil from your life.
  • 00:15:34.359 --> 00:15:36.094
  • Find practical tools and biblical truth that will help
  • 00:15:36.094 --> 00:15:38.963
  • You align your beliefs more fully with god's word.
  • 00:15:38.963 --> 00:15:42.233
  • "angels, demons, & you" will help you recognize the spiritual
  • 00:15:42.233 --> 00:15:45.837
  • Battle around you so you can live without fear and stand firm
  • 00:15:45.837 --> 00:15:49.240
  • In your faith.
  • 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:50.708
  • Allen: this is our season in time to be a difference maker
  • 00:15:50.708 --> 00:15:52.844
  • For the kingdom of god, and that's a spiritual assignment.
  • 00:15:52.844 --> 00:15:56.781
  • Announcer: request your copy when you donate $30 or more
  • 00:15:56.781 --> 00:15:59.884
  • At allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:15:59.884 --> 00:16:07.725
  • Allen: i'll tell you a little story.
  • 00:16:11.562 --> 00:16:12.930
  • For many years, we have a christmas parade in
  • 00:16:12.930 --> 00:16:14.799
  • Our community.
  • 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:17.235
  • And we went one year and saw that there were no churches in a
  • 00:16:17.235 --> 00:16:19.837
  • Christmas parade.
  • 00:16:19.837 --> 00:16:21.172
  • In fact, there was no jesus in the christmas parade.
  • 00:16:21.172 --> 00:16:23.908
  • There were lots of businesses, and we thought,
  • 00:16:23.908 --> 00:16:26.077
  • "well that's not really good."
  • 00:16:26.077 --> 00:16:27.578
  • And the church was small and we didn't have a lot of resources,
  • 00:16:27.578 --> 00:16:29.981
  • And we thought, "we'll go to the christmas parade.
  • 00:16:29.981 --> 00:16:32.150
  • We could do that."
  • 00:16:32.150 --> 00:16:33.484
  • And so we started and we kind of morphed year after year, and one
  • 00:16:33.484 --> 00:16:36.621
  • Year we decided we would have jesus and mary, and the wise men
  • 00:16:36.621 --> 00:16:40.258
  • And some banners, and we were going to represent the boss in
  • 00:16:40.258 --> 00:16:43.561
  • The christmas parade.
  • 00:16:43.561 --> 00:16:45.530
  • Well i was going do my part.
  • 00:16:45.530 --> 00:16:47.432
  • Years ago i used to train horses a little bit, so we got a little
  • 00:16:47.432 --> 00:16:50.334
  • Burro, and i trained him for the christmas parade and christmas
  • 00:16:50.334 --> 00:16:55.807
  • Programs so he could help mary, mary's transportation.
  • 00:16:55.807 --> 00:17:00.812
  • So we bought it.
  • 00:17:00.812 --> 00:17:02.180
  • In fact, we named the burro murphy.
  • 00:17:02.180 --> 00:17:05.216
  • So at one time, woc owned murphy burro, okay?
  • 00:17:05.216 --> 00:17:14.292
  • Okay, i never said we were creative, okay?
  • 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:21.632
  • Well, the christmas parade started just after noon, and we
  • 00:17:21.632 --> 00:17:25.103
  • Had church services, so there was a whole crew doing the
  • 00:17:25.103 --> 00:17:27.338
  • Christmas parade, and when i got done with church, i was just
  • 00:17:27.338 --> 00:17:30.274
  • Going to go up and watch.
  • 00:17:30.274 --> 00:17:31.609
  • Well, everybody had their roles and their instructions, and i
  • 00:17:31.609 --> 00:17:34.912
  • Get up for the parade where they're staging all the people
  • 00:17:34.912 --> 00:17:37.515
  • Who are going to be in the parade.
  • 00:17:37.515 --> 00:17:39.183
  • And there's wise men and mary and joseph and shepherds, but
  • 00:17:39.183 --> 00:17:41.752
  • There's no murphy.
  • 00:17:41.752 --> 00:17:44.355
  • Now they got the truck in the horse trailer, but there's no
  • 00:17:44.355 --> 00:17:46.824
  • Murphy, and i thought, "oh, well they've taken him over to eat
  • 00:17:46.824 --> 00:17:49.327
  • Some grass or," and i said, "where's murphy?"
  • 00:17:49.327 --> 00:17:54.799
  • And this godly person looked at me and said, "oh, he didn't want
  • 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:57.935
  • To come."
  • 00:17:57.935 --> 00:18:01.472
  • Now i can go from zero to 60, and i was at about 120.
  • 00:18:04.542 --> 00:18:11.315
  • And i said, "well, how did you know he didn't want to come?
  • 00:18:11.315 --> 00:18:14.285
  • Did he tell you?"
  • 00:18:14.285 --> 00:18:17.088
  • What did he say exactly, "it's not a good day for me
  • 00:18:17.088 --> 00:18:19.757
  • To parade"?
  • 00:18:19.757 --> 00:18:24.428
  • And they were very discerning and they didn't seem to have
  • 00:18:24.428 --> 00:18:26.497
  • Much more to say.
  • 00:18:26.497 --> 00:18:27.832
  • They said, "no, he just didn't want to come."
  • 00:18:27.832 --> 00:18:29.200
  • I said, "well, give me the truck keys.
  • 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:30.535
  • Let me go talk to murphy."
  • 00:18:30.535 --> 00:18:33.738
  • It's time for the parade to go, so off the parade goes, and i'm
  • 00:18:33.738 --> 00:18:36.507
  • Going the opposite direction.
  • 00:18:36.507 --> 00:18:38.943
  • And i get to the pasture and lo and behold, murphy said to me,
  • 00:18:38.943 --> 00:18:41.879
  • "i would love to go parading."
  • 00:18:41.879 --> 00:18:47.485
  • So back we go.
  • 00:18:47.485 --> 00:18:48.819
  • Now the parade, they're a half a mile gone.
  • 00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:51.856
  • And i'm way back here at the starting point, and i think,
  • 00:18:51.856 --> 00:18:54.158
  • "no, mary needs transportation."
  • 00:18:54.158 --> 00:18:56.727
  • So murphy and i start running down the street.
  • 00:18:56.727 --> 00:19:04.035
  • Don't you wish you could talk to donkeys?
  • 00:19:04.035 --> 00:19:07.071
  • And a police officer stopped me.
  • 00:19:07.071 --> 00:19:10.541
  • And so we stopped and i said, "sir, this is mary's
  • 00:19:10.541 --> 00:19:13.010
  • Transportation and he will be very disappointed.
  • 00:19:13.010 --> 00:19:17.114
  • He's trained for weeks.
  • 00:19:17.114 --> 00:19:18.482
  • This is his big day.
  • 00:19:18.482 --> 00:19:20.685
  • You don't want to disappoint a donkey."
  • 00:19:20.685 --> 00:19:23.754
  • And he said, "no, i don't."
  • 00:19:23.754 --> 00:19:25.122
  • And he waved me through.
  • 00:19:25.122 --> 00:19:26.457
  • And we're running past a whole series of police officers, and
  • 00:19:26.457 --> 00:19:29.427
  • They're all talking into the radios laughing.
  • 00:19:29.427 --> 00:19:33.664
  • I'm sure not at me, just at murphy, but they were laughing.
  • 00:19:33.664 --> 00:19:40.404
  • But i've never forgotten that, i don't want to.
  • 00:19:40.404 --> 00:19:44.442
  • No, i don't want to.
  • 00:19:44.442 --> 00:19:47.111
  • So here's my suggestion:
  • 00:19:47.111 --> 00:19:50.281
  • Be smarter than a donkey.
  • 00:19:50.281 --> 00:19:59.023
  • I understand the lord asks us to do things that we don't want
  • 00:19:59.023 --> 00:20:02.927
  • To do.
  • 00:20:02.927 --> 00:20:04.996
  • That's the nature of this bargain.
  • 00:20:04.996 --> 00:20:08.499
  • We weren't invited just to do, and you know, i hear people give
  • 00:20:08.499 --> 00:20:10.701
  • Their testimony and they say, "you know, before i was a
  • 00:20:10.701 --> 00:20:13.437
  • Christian, i lived this ungodly life and i did all these things.
  • 00:20:13.437 --> 00:20:17.975
  • And then i became a christian and all of my want-tos changed.
  • 00:20:17.975 --> 00:20:22.513
  • Well, bless your heart, because i became a christ follower and
  • 00:20:22.513 --> 00:20:27.785
  • I've had to take on those want-tos like one at a time.
  • 00:20:27.785 --> 00:20:34.825
  • But i'm still working on the wrong want-tos.
  • 00:20:34.825 --> 00:20:38.763
  • Because the one that has to be transcendent in my heart is, "i
  • 00:20:38.763 --> 00:20:41.098
  • Want to please the lord."
  • 00:20:41.098 --> 00:20:43.601
  • And i don't want to do anything that is displeasing to him.
  • 00:20:43.601 --> 00:20:51.075
  • And i came with an announcement.
  • 00:20:51.075 --> 00:20:52.576
  • God has sent us to this generation to be salt and light.
  • 00:20:52.576 --> 00:20:59.450
  • And you can say i don't want to, but you'll miss the parade.
  • 00:20:59.450 --> 00:21:08.292
  • Please don't do that.
  • 00:21:08.292 --> 00:21:11.529
  • I think we've been given an incomplete gospel.
  • 00:21:11.529 --> 00:21:15.566
  • I believe somehow, whether it's actually been said or not, or we
  • 00:21:15.566 --> 00:21:18.436
  • Just absorbed it, or maybe i've imagined it, that we've created
  • 00:21:18.436 --> 00:21:21.639
  • This kind of non-biblical position that i can recite a
  • 00:21:21.639 --> 00:21:25.676
  • Prayer and jump through a hoop or two, and then i can continue
  • 00:21:25.676 --> 00:21:29.013
  • My life on my terms.
  • 00:21:29.013 --> 00:21:32.116
  • And i don't understand that to be scriptural.
  • 00:21:32.116 --> 00:21:35.486
  • We've been sent into the world, you've been sent to
  • 00:21:35.486 --> 00:21:37.388
  • A marketplace.
  • 00:21:37.388 --> 00:21:39.190
  • We've been sent to schools, we've been sent to
  • 00:21:39.190 --> 00:21:40.691
  • Neighborhoods, we've been sent to families.
  • 00:21:40.691 --> 00:21:43.294
  • Starts at our kitchen table, as we so frequently say.
  • 00:21:43.294 --> 00:21:48.165
  • We've been sent.
  • 00:21:48.165 --> 00:21:50.768
  • You say, "well, that's not easy," i know, so did the lord.
  • 00:21:50.768 --> 00:21:54.438
  • That's why he said you don't have to be afraid.
  • 00:21:54.438 --> 00:21:55.940
  • That's why he said, "my peace i give to you."
  • 00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:59.543
  • That's why he said, "greater is the spirit that's in you, than
  • 00:21:59.543 --> 00:22:01.746
  • The spirit that's in the world."
  • 00:22:01.746 --> 00:22:04.715
  • That's why he said, "rejoice when they say all manner of evil
  • 00:22:04.715 --> 00:22:08.285
  • Against you because of me.
  • 00:22:08.285 --> 00:22:11.622
  • Because great is your reward in heaven."
  • 00:22:11.622 --> 00:22:15.860
  • We thought, "i don't want to be labeled.
  • 00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:17.294
  • I'm not saying anything.
  • 00:22:17.294 --> 00:22:20.231
  • I'm not talking about gender issues, they'll label me
  • 00:22:20.231 --> 00:22:22.933
  • With something."
  • 00:22:22.933 --> 00:22:25.369
  • We've been sent, we have an assignment to build our culture,
  • 00:22:25.369 --> 00:22:31.108
  • And from a biblical perspective with a biblical worldview.
  • 00:22:31.108 --> 00:22:35.913
  • If our culture is becoming increasingly ungodly, it's not
  • 00:22:35.913 --> 00:22:38.749
  • Become some demonic horde or the end of the age, it's because of
  • 00:22:38.749 --> 00:22:42.653
  • The capitulation of the people of god.
  • 00:22:42.653 --> 00:22:49.827
  • We've been sent.
  • 00:22:49.827 --> 00:22:52.730
  • We really have, there's a pattern to this i think, and
  • 00:22:52.730 --> 00:22:54.965
  • It's really a personal one.
  • 00:22:54.965 --> 00:22:59.303
  • It was throughout the biblical narrative and it still is today.
  • 00:22:59.303 --> 00:23:02.440
  • We started with moses, we'll go back there to exodus 3.
  • 00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:05.676
  • When he has this burning bush event and he goes over to look,
  • 00:23:05.676 --> 00:23:08.012
  • God calls to him from within the bush, and he says, "moses."
  • 00:23:08.012 --> 00:23:14.051
  • I don't know, the bush that was burning is what captured moses's
  • 00:23:14.051 --> 00:23:17.655
  • Attention, but when the burning bush knew his name, moses came
  • 00:23:17.655 --> 00:23:22.560
  • Out of his shoes.
  • 00:23:22.560 --> 00:23:26.263
  • You see, we have chased the spectacle of faith: we've chased
  • 00:23:26.263 --> 00:23:32.002
  • Experiences, or the right group, or somebody whose presentation
  • 00:23:32.002 --> 00:23:36.607
  • Was somehow engaging enough for us, but we really never imagined
  • 00:23:36.607 --> 00:23:39.944
  • It's personal enough to get us out of our shoes.
  • 00:23:39.944 --> 00:23:44.615
  • We just wanted to be spectators, "wow, look at that fire.
  • 00:23:44.615 --> 00:23:48.886
  • We're looking for a fire.
  • 00:23:48.886 --> 00:23:50.254
  • Where's there a revival? where's god now?"
  • 00:23:50.254 --> 00:23:52.490
  • God wants us out of our shoes.
  • 00:23:52.490 --> 00:23:56.160
  • "moses," he said, "this is personal."
  • 00:23:56.160 --> 00:24:00.531
  • I could have brought you a dozen examples.
  • 00:24:00.531 --> 00:24:02.032
  • I know, because i had a dozen in my notes and they wouldn't fit
  • 00:24:02.032 --> 00:24:04.268
  • On your outline.
  • 00:24:04.268 --> 00:24:06.504
  • In luke chapter 1, it says, "in the sixth month, god sent the
  • 00:24:06.504 --> 00:24:09.073
  • Angel gabriel to nazareth, to a town in galilee, to a virgin
  • 00:24:09.073 --> 00:24:12.943
  • Pledged to be married to a man named joseph, a descendant
  • 00:24:12.943 --> 00:24:16.046
  • Of david.
  • 00:24:16.046 --> 00:24:17.381
  • And the virgin's name was mary."
  • 00:24:17.381 --> 00:24:18.749
  • That is not a random set of stuff.
  • 00:24:18.749 --> 00:24:21.085
  • God didn't say to gabriel, "just go find somebody.
  • 00:24:21.085 --> 00:24:25.723
  • Send out a group text and see if anybody will hit you back.
  • 00:24:25.723 --> 00:24:30.694
  • Post something on tiktok and see how many likes you get."
  • 00:24:30.694 --> 00:24:38.903
  • He said, "no, gabriel, in the land of israel, tucked away in
  • 00:24:38.903 --> 00:24:45.843
  • The hills in the north, in the hills of galilee, there's a
  • 00:24:45.843 --> 00:24:49.213
  • Little village.
  • 00:24:49.213 --> 00:24:50.548
  • It's a tiny place, maybe 1,500 people, not much water.
  • 00:24:50.548 --> 00:24:56.287
  • There's a young woman there, she's kept herself.
  • 00:24:56.287 --> 00:25:01.225
  • Her name is mary and this is the message for her."
  • 00:25:01.225 --> 00:25:07.264
  • I don't believe god's assignment for you or for me is any
  • 00:25:07.264 --> 00:25:10.034
  • Less specific.
  • 00:25:10.034 --> 00:25:12.736
  • I'm going to ask you to believe that god knows your name.
  • 00:25:12.736 --> 00:25:21.345
  • He knows your name.
  • 00:25:21.345 --> 00:25:22.813
  • The bible tells us he knows how many hairs are on our head.
  • 00:25:22.813 --> 00:25:25.516
  • He knows when we sit or we stand, when we come in or when
  • 00:25:25.516 --> 00:25:27.718
  • We go out.
  • 00:25:27.718 --> 00:25:30.254
  • See, we haven't lived with this awareness.
  • 00:25:30.254 --> 00:25:32.590
  • We're saved, what else do we have to think about?
  • 00:25:32.590 --> 00:25:36.894
  • This is personal; jesus developed people and he's still
  • 00:25:36.894 --> 00:25:40.965
  • Doing that.
  • 00:25:40.965 --> 00:25:42.333
  • It wasn't just a first century phenomenon.
  • 00:25:42.333 --> 00:25:44.635
  • It's a very specific posture that he invited them to.
  • 00:25:44.635 --> 00:25:48.005
  • In matthew 4, jesus is beginning his public ministry.
  • 00:25:48.005 --> 00:25:50.474
  • This is really the beginning of his assignment.
  • 00:25:50.474 --> 00:25:53.243
  • Up until this, its just in preparatory.
  • 00:25:53.243 --> 00:25:55.346
  • And in matthew 4, he begins and he says to some fishermen, busy
  • 00:25:55.346 --> 00:25:58.582
  • Guys, they own a business.
  • 00:25:58.582 --> 00:25:59.950
  • This isn't their day off.
  • 00:25:59.950 --> 00:26:01.352
  • They're not, you know, knocking down a few beers with their
  • 00:26:01.352 --> 00:26:04.054
  • Friends and catching some fish.
  • 00:26:04.054 --> 00:26:06.991
  • They're at work and he says, "follow me; leave your business,
  • 00:26:06.991 --> 00:26:15.332
  • Bust up your economic model, change your habits, follow me,
  • 00:26:15.332 --> 00:26:23.173
  • And i'll make you fishers of men."
  • 00:26:23.173 --> 00:26:25.409
  • And the most bizarre part to me isn't the invitation, it was
  • 00:26:25.409 --> 00:26:28.245
  • Their response.
  • 00:26:28.245 --> 00:26:30.848
  • Well, i believe this invitation to be a christ follower is just
  • 00:26:30.848 --> 00:26:35.085
  • As disruptive in the 21st century as it was in the first.
  • 00:26:35.085 --> 00:26:38.922
  • May not require you to leave your place of employment, but it
  • 00:26:38.922 --> 00:26:42.693
  • Will require you to leave your business because your life is no
  • 00:26:42.693 --> 00:26:47.531
  • Longer about just your business.
  • 00:26:47.531 --> 00:26:50.034
  • You've been sent into the world.
  • 00:26:50.034 --> 00:26:52.836
  • Allen: and i want to pray for god's boldness, let's pray.
  • 00:26:52.903 --> 00:26:55.739
  • Lord, i thank you that you've called us to this season and
  • 00:26:55.739 --> 00:26:58.075
  • That you've given us everything we need to stand on your behalf.
  • 00:26:58.075 --> 00:27:01.745
  • Now give us the wisdom and the courage, the determination to be
  • 00:27:01.745 --> 00:27:04.982
  • Your advocates wherever you send us, in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:04.982 --> 00:27:09.053
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:09.053 --> 00:27:29.306