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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - You've Gotta Serve Somebody (Part 1)

August 16, 2025 | S25 E232 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - You've Gotta Serve Somebody (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#inActive #ServantofGod #Serving #Purpose #ChurchPlanting #Calling #Obedience #PromisesofGod #TrustGod #SeekGod #Bible #Culture #KingdomofGod #Faith

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - You've Gotta Serve Somebody (Part 1) | August 16, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.316
  • Allen jackson: i sat down recently with my father to do
  • 00:00:06.455 --> 00:00:09.091
  • A podcast for my "culture and christianity" podcast, and it
  • 00:00:09.224 --> 00:00:10.292
  • Was so valuable to me.
  • 00:00:13.629 --> 00:00:16.265
  • I mean, it was stories that obviously i'm familiar with,
  • 00:00:16.265 --> 00:00:18.734
  • But as i heard him recount his faith, it ignited something
  • 00:00:18.734 --> 00:00:22.104
  • In me about the faithfulness of god across generations.
  • 00:00:22.104 --> 00:00:26.008
  • Well, i encourage my dad to put together a book about his
  • 00:00:26.008 --> 00:00:28.677
  • Experiences with the holy spirit.
  • 00:00:28.677 --> 00:00:30.779
  • It changed his life, my parents's life, ultimately
  • 00:00:30.779 --> 00:00:33.582
  • My family's life.
  • 00:00:33.582 --> 00:00:35.250
  • I believe the book will be a real encouragement to you.
  • 00:00:35.250 --> 00:00:38.020
  • I wanna make it available to you right along with "unleashing
  • 00:00:38.020 --> 00:00:40.889
  • The power of the holy spirit."
  • 00:00:40.889 --> 00:00:42.357
  • It's something i put together a while back that's been one of
  • 00:00:42.357 --> 00:00:45.127
  • The most effective tools we've ever had in the ministry.
  • 00:00:45.127 --> 00:00:47.796
  • Together, they'll open the doorway for you to not just have
  • 00:00:47.796 --> 00:00:51.033
  • Language around the holy spirit, but to have something to
  • 00:00:51.033 --> 00:00:54.269
  • Actually do to invite him into your life in a regular basis,
  • 00:00:54.269 --> 00:00:56.972
  • To give you the wisdom you need to help you unlock the problems
  • 00:00:56.972 --> 00:01:00.609
  • That we face, the spirit of god within us to help us, guide us,
  • 00:01:00.609 --> 00:01:04.646
  • And direct us.
  • 00:01:04.646 --> 00:01:06.081
  • That's invaluable, and these books will help you understand.
  • 00:01:06.081 --> 00:01:12.154
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:15.491 --> 00:01:31.140
  • Allen: i've been inviting you to imagine that god has a plan
  • 00:01:35.110 --> 00:01:37.212
  • For your life that extends beyond just going to heaven or
  • 00:01:37.212 --> 00:01:40.949
  • That extends beyond just a plan for your eternity.
  • 00:01:40.949 --> 00:01:44.486
  • And that god's plan for you is inseparable.
  • 00:01:44.486 --> 00:01:47.122
  • In fact, it will be experienced as you understand and
  • 00:01:47.122 --> 00:01:50.192
  • Appropriate or believe god's promises.
  • 00:01:50.192 --> 00:01:53.629
  • That it won't chase you down, it won't find you.
  • 00:01:53.629 --> 00:01:56.465
  • You'll have to believe those promises.
  • 00:01:56.465 --> 00:01:59.168
  • And that if you can imagine those things, then you're
  • 00:01:59.168 --> 00:02:01.503
  • Willing to live as a part of god's people.
  • 00:02:01.503 --> 00:02:04.406
  • And god's people are those people who believe his promises
  • 00:02:04.406 --> 00:02:07.442
  • And embrace his plan for their life.
  • 00:02:07.442 --> 00:02:08.944
  • They're not the people who sit in churches or have bibles
  • 00:02:08.944 --> 00:02:12.214
  • Or moral.
  • 00:02:12.214 --> 00:02:13.782
  • And at the end of the day all of us wanna be involved in god's
  • 00:02:13.782 --> 00:02:16.485
  • Plan, i hope, that we're willing to believe god's promises and to
  • 00:02:16.485 --> 00:02:20.189
  • Live as his people.
  • 00:02:20.189 --> 00:02:21.823
  • In this session i borrowed a line from bob dylan.
  • 00:02:21.823 --> 00:02:24.193
  • I don't do that often.
  • 00:02:24.193 --> 00:02:27.262
  • You gotta serve somebody.
  • 00:02:27.262 --> 00:02:29.464
  • But i wanna start in 2 peter chapter 1 with the passage
  • 00:02:29.464 --> 00:02:31.967
  • That's really informed this whole series.
  • 00:02:31.967 --> 00:02:35.103
  • Peter, the fisherman that jesus recruited said, "his divine
  • 00:02:35.103 --> 00:02:37.906
  • Power has given us everything we need for life and godliness."
  • 00:02:37.906 --> 00:02:41.376
  • That's an amazing statement.
  • 00:02:41.376 --> 00:02:43.378
  • That god has given us everything we need to be godly.
  • 00:02:43.378 --> 00:02:45.747
  • I don't know about you, but a lot of days, i don't feel
  • 00:02:45.747 --> 00:02:47.616
  • Like that.
  • 00:02:47.616 --> 00:02:49.051
  • I think he must have left something out.
  • 00:02:49.051 --> 00:02:52.054
  • Do you wake up every morning thinking, "oh, i want to
  • 00:02:52.054 --> 00:02:54.056
  • Be godly"?
  • 00:02:54.056 --> 00:02:59.127
  • Let me ask you in a different way.
  • 00:02:59.127 --> 00:03:00.462
  • How many of you live with somebody that you're certain
  • 00:03:00.462 --> 00:03:02.064
  • Does not wake up every morning thinking,
  • 00:03:02.064 --> 00:03:03.699
  • "oh, i wanna be godly."
  • 00:03:03.699 --> 00:03:06.235
  • Okay, well, the scripture says, "he's given us everything we
  • 00:03:06.235 --> 00:03:11.373
  • Need for life and godliness."
  • 00:03:11.373 --> 00:03:12.975
  • We have to choose to believe that, "through our knowledge of
  • 00:03:12.975 --> 00:03:15.811
  • Him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
  • 00:03:15.811 --> 00:03:17.879
  • And through these he's given us his very great
  • 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:19.915
  • And precious promises."
  • 00:03:19.915 --> 00:03:21.917
  • He has given, it's the perfect tense,
  • 00:03:21.917 --> 00:03:23.385
  • Means it's already been done.
  • 00:03:23.385 --> 00:03:24.720
  • Not going to be done. nothing gonna be added to it.
  • 00:03:24.720 --> 00:03:27.656
  • It's not going to be extended. it's a "fait accompli."
  • 00:03:27.656 --> 00:03:30.659
  • It's been fully accomplished.
  • 00:03:30.659 --> 00:03:32.961
  • "so that through them you may participate in the divine nature
  • 00:03:32.961 --> 00:03:35.998
  • And escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
  • 00:03:35.998 --> 00:03:39.268
  • The promises of god, i don't believe should be imagined to be
  • 00:03:39.268 --> 00:03:41.637
  • Something is like bolt-on ideas, add-ons
  • 00:03:41.637 --> 00:03:45.274
  • They shouldn't be considered 'cause i think if you don't
  • 00:03:45.274 --> 00:03:47.843
  • Believe the promises and appropriate them, you will not
  • 00:03:47.843 --> 00:03:50.312
  • Escape the evil desires and the corruption of this present age.
  • 00:03:50.312 --> 00:03:56.118
  • So we either believe god and begin to appropriate what he
  • 00:03:56.118 --> 00:03:59.221
  • Said is possible for those of us who follow him, or we will be
  • 00:03:59.221 --> 00:04:03.258
  • Overwhelmed by the corruption and the evil of the present age.
  • 00:04:03.258 --> 00:04:06.061
  • Those are the options.
  • 00:04:06.061 --> 00:04:09.197
  • Those two things have been stated in the perfect tense.
  • 00:04:09.197 --> 00:04:11.366
  • He's already given them to us and he's given us everything
  • 00:04:11.366 --> 00:04:14.970
  • We need.
  • 00:04:14.970 --> 00:04:16.305
  • That's amazing to me.
  • 00:04:16.305 --> 00:04:18.240
  • Nothing left out, nothing withheld.
  • 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:21.410
  • We have everything that we need.
  • 00:04:21.410 --> 00:04:22.878
  • So if we put it in its simplest forms, god's provision is in his
  • 00:04:22.878 --> 00:04:26.048
  • Promises and those promises are our inheritance.
  • 00:04:26.048 --> 00:04:30.686
  • Many of you have heard us talk about the jewish people in
  • 00:04:30.686 --> 00:04:33.588
  • Israel and the inheritance god has given them at the end of the
  • 00:04:33.588 --> 00:04:36.124
  • Mediterranean, that little strip of land.
  • 00:04:36.124 --> 00:04:38.760
  • Well, to the rest of us, he hasn't given a piece of land,
  • 00:04:38.760 --> 00:04:42.397
  • But we live a life that is defined by the promises of god.
  • 00:04:42.397 --> 00:04:47.169
  • You know, in the old testament we read the story--in fact, we
  • 00:04:47.169 --> 00:04:49.304
  • Just finished reading the story of a leader named joshua through
  • 00:04:49.304 --> 00:04:52.708
  • Whom god led his people into a promised land.
  • 00:04:52.708 --> 00:04:55.610
  • Well, the new testament tells us a story of a leader named jesus,
  • 00:04:55.610 --> 00:04:59.348
  • And god leads his people into the land of his promises through
  • 00:04:59.348 --> 00:05:02.050
  • What jesus did for us with his redemptive work.
  • 00:05:02.050 --> 00:05:05.454
  • Now, just as the descendants of abraham, isaac, and jacob had to
  • 00:05:05.454 --> 00:05:09.925
  • Occupy that promised land even though it was their inheritance,
  • 00:05:09.925 --> 00:05:13.962
  • You and i will have to occupy the promises of god.
  • 00:05:13.962 --> 00:05:17.232
  • We will have to appropriate them.
  • 00:05:17.232 --> 00:05:19.568
  • So we've been looking at some aspects of that and trying to
  • 00:05:19.568 --> 00:05:21.737
  • Understand it.
  • 00:05:21.737 --> 00:05:23.105
  • In this session, i want to take it a little step further, just
  • 00:05:23.105 --> 00:05:25.140
  • An idea.
  • 00:05:25.140 --> 00:05:26.508
  • I hope it's apparent to you that god will keep his covenant.
  • 00:05:26.508 --> 00:05:29.111
  • Covenant is the most binding word in the bible.
  • 00:05:29.111 --> 00:05:31.046
  • There's no word that carries with it a greater strength of
  • 00:05:31.046 --> 00:05:34.416
  • Contract than covenant.
  • 00:05:34.416 --> 00:05:37.819
  • To say god keeps his promises feels a little light to me
  • 00:05:37.819 --> 00:05:41.957
  • Because i think we think that promises is something that are a
  • 00:05:41.957 --> 00:05:43.925
  • Bit more transitory.
  • 00:05:43.925 --> 00:05:45.260
  • Promises tend to depend upon relative humidity and all sorts
  • 00:05:45.260 --> 00:05:50.732
  • Of things.
  • 00:05:50.732 --> 00:05:52.067
  • The covenants of god are the most binding agreement he makes
  • 00:05:52.067 --> 00:05:55.003
  • With human beings.
  • 00:05:55.003 --> 00:05:57.205
  • In joshua--i'm sorry, deuteronomy chapter 6, there's a
  • 00:05:57.205 --> 00:05:59.941
  • Promise god is making to--through moses
  • 00:05:59.941 --> 00:06:03.011
  • To the children of israel.
  • 00:06:03.011 --> 00:06:04.479
  • He said, "when the lord your god brings you into the land, he
  • 00:06:04.479 --> 00:06:06.314
  • Swore to your fathers, to abraham, isaac and jacob, to
  • 00:06:06.314 --> 00:06:08.583
  • Give you--a land with large, flourishing cities that you
  • 00:06:08.583 --> 00:06:11.753
  • Didn't build,
  • 00:06:11.753 --> 00:06:13.088
  • Houses filled with all kinds of good things that you didn't
  • 00:06:13.088 --> 00:06:15.390
  • Provide, wells you didn't dig, and vineyards and olive groves
  • 00:06:15.390 --> 00:06:17.926
  • That you didn't plant--then when you eat and are satisfied,
  • 00:06:17.926 --> 00:06:22.330
  • Be careful,
  • 00:06:22.330 --> 00:06:26.001
  • Be careful that you don't forget the lord, who brought you out of
  • 00:06:26.001 --> 00:06:29.271
  • Egypt, out of the land of slavery."
  • 00:06:29.271 --> 00:06:30.806
  • Now, the people to whom that was delivered didn't occupy
  • 00:06:30.806 --> 00:06:32.808
  • The land.
  • 00:06:32.808 --> 00:06:35.143
  • They died in the desert because they chose not to make
  • 00:06:35.143 --> 00:06:38.346
  • The effort.
  • 00:06:38.346 --> 00:06:40.816
  • They said it's true--when they got to the place that they could
  • 00:06:40.816 --> 00:06:42.784
  • Actually see it and explore it, they said, "it's truly an
  • 00:06:42.784 --> 00:06:46.054
  • Amazing place.
  • 00:06:46.054 --> 00:06:47.722
  • It's remarkable.
  • 00:06:47.722 --> 00:06:49.057
  • Everything god said about it is true, but it just feels a bit
  • 00:06:49.057 --> 00:06:51.560
  • Too difficult for us.
  • 00:06:51.560 --> 00:06:54.496
  • We're not sure we wanna do that."
  • 00:06:54.496 --> 00:06:56.498
  • It says god was so angry with them that he swore on an oath
  • 00:06:56.498 --> 00:06:59.201
  • That they would all die in the wilderness, and so for decades,
  • 00:06:59.201 --> 00:07:02.070
  • They wandered in a circle until that generation was all gone.
  • 00:07:02.070 --> 00:07:05.841
  • But before they got to that point,
  • 00:07:05.841 --> 00:07:08.076
  • God was giving them an instruction.
  • 00:07:08.076 --> 00:07:09.411
  • He said, "when you get into that land, you're going to have
  • 00:07:09.411 --> 00:07:11.480
  • Blessings that you didn't create.
  • 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:13.882
  • You'll have opportunities that were beyond what you prepared
  • 00:07:13.882 --> 00:07:17.052
  • For yourself.
  • 00:07:17.052 --> 00:07:19.087
  • There will be things accrued to you.
  • 00:07:19.087 --> 00:07:20.455
  • There will be things presented to you that you shouldn't
  • 00:07:20.455 --> 00:07:22.958
  • Imagine you made happen fully."
  • 00:07:22.958 --> 00:07:25.694
  • And his note there was, "be careful.
  • 00:07:25.694 --> 00:07:28.663
  • Be careful when that happens, that you don't forget the lord."
  • 00:07:28.663 --> 00:07:32.400
  • Well, i would submit to you that it's a pretty accurate
  • 00:07:32.400 --> 00:07:34.503
  • Description of our lives.
  • 00:07:34.503 --> 00:07:36.972
  • We have blessings and opportunities and freedoms and
  • 00:07:36.972 --> 00:07:39.341
  • Liberties that we didn't create.
  • 00:07:39.341 --> 00:07:43.545
  • We stand on the shoulders of the sacrifices that of others
  • 00:07:43.545 --> 00:07:46.081
  • Have made.
  • 00:07:46.081 --> 00:07:48.383
  • And i'm not saying that you haven't sacrificed or that you
  • 00:07:48.383 --> 00:07:50.685
  • Haven't worked hard or that you haven't been diligent.
  • 00:07:50.685 --> 00:07:52.587
  • I believe many of you have.
  • 00:07:52.587 --> 00:07:55.690
  • But there's a danger, and i would just repeat what god said
  • 00:07:55.690 --> 00:07:58.860
  • To them because i think it's relevant for me and i think it
  • 00:07:58.860 --> 00:08:00.896
  • Could be relevant for you.
  • 00:08:00.896 --> 00:08:02.330
  • We wanna be careful that we don't forget the lord.
  • 00:08:02.330 --> 00:08:07.102
  • That he's the one who delivered us from darkness.
  • 00:08:07.102 --> 00:08:10.205
  • If it hadn't been for his sovereign intervention in our
  • 00:08:10.205 --> 00:08:12.507
  • Lives, we wouldn't have the opportunities we have today.
  • 00:08:12.507 --> 00:08:17.445
  • That god keeps his word.
  • 00:08:17.445 --> 00:08:20.015
  • It's a very important somewhere that needs to be established as
  • 00:08:20.015 --> 00:08:22.918
  • A cornerstone in your heart, in your decision making,
  • 00:08:22.918 --> 00:08:27.956
  • In the plans that you put together, that god keeps
  • 00:08:27.956 --> 00:08:31.326
  • His word.
  • 00:08:31.326 --> 00:08:33.261
  • It's true with his blessings,
  • 00:08:33.261 --> 00:08:34.996
  • It's equally true with his judgment.
  • 00:08:34.996 --> 00:08:36.331
  • God keeps his word.
  • 00:08:36.331 --> 00:08:39.000
  • Joshua chapter 24, if we scroll forward a few years, joshua now
  • 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:42.537
  • Is near the end of his life.
  • 00:08:42.537 --> 00:08:45.006
  • He's led those former slaves of egypt into the promised land.
  • 00:08:45.006 --> 00:08:48.677
  • He's seen them conquer jericho
  • 00:08:48.677 --> 00:08:50.312
  • And many other places after that.
  • 00:08:50.312 --> 00:08:51.646
  • There's still work to be done, and so he's providing some final
  • 00:08:51.646 --> 00:08:55.216
  • Instructions to the tribes of israel.
  • 00:08:55.216 --> 00:08:59.321
  • Based upon his experience, he's watched one of these transitions
  • 00:08:59.321 --> 00:09:01.957
  • From moses into his own life, and now he realizes that his
  • 00:09:01.957 --> 00:09:05.694
  • Season of leadership is coming to a conclusion, so he gives
  • 00:09:05.694 --> 00:09:08.830
  • These instructions to the people.
  • 00:09:08.830 --> 00:09:11.333
  • He said, "if serving the lord seems undesirable to you, then
  • 00:09:11.333 --> 00:09:13.969
  • Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the
  • 00:09:13.969 --> 00:09:17.372
  • Gods your forefathers served on the river, or the gods of the
  • 00:09:17.372 --> 00:09:19.941
  • Amorites, in whose land you're living."
  • 00:09:19.941 --> 00:09:22.243
  • And the line that i hope many of you know, "but as for me in my
  • 00:09:22.243 --> 00:09:25.113
  • Household, we'll serve the lord."
  • 00:09:25.113 --> 00:09:28.984
  • We've probably all seen that on little plaques or greeting cards
  • 00:09:28.984 --> 00:09:33.021
  • Or some way that it can be sold.
  • 00:09:33.021 --> 00:09:37.125
  • Hope joshua gets royalties.
  • 00:09:37.125 --> 00:09:42.330
  • But he's reminding us of something that is very important
  • 00:09:42.330 --> 00:09:44.899
  • For us today that we have a choice to make whether or not we
  • 00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:48.336
  • Will serve the lord.
  • 00:09:48.336 --> 00:09:50.538
  • He didn't say, "choose today whether you want to be a part of
  • 00:09:50.538 --> 00:09:53.041
  • God's eternal kingdom."
  • 00:09:53.041 --> 00:09:55.610
  • He said, "you have a choice to make about how you're going to
  • 00:09:55.610 --> 00:09:57.579
  • Live your life.
  • 00:09:57.579 --> 00:09:59.381
  • About what you will serve."
  • 00:09:59.381 --> 00:10:02.617
  • See, we have separated our faith from this notion of serving.
  • 00:10:02.617 --> 00:10:07.055
  • We have introduced it in a part of the equation that really
  • 00:10:07.055 --> 00:10:09.357
  • Isn't supported by scripture.
  • 00:10:09.357 --> 00:10:11.960
  • We've kind of had to extrapolate verses and duct tape it together
  • 00:10:11.960 --> 00:10:16.164
  • To get to this place where our faith is about eternity, then
  • 00:10:16.164 --> 00:10:19.634
  • The notion of being the people of god means we're the people
  • 00:10:19.634 --> 00:10:22.270
  • Who serve god.
  • 00:10:22.270 --> 00:10:24.973
  • That whatever you serve with your time and your attention and
  • 00:10:24.973 --> 00:10:27.842
  • Your effort and your resources is truly the way to understand
  • 00:10:27.842 --> 00:10:31.379
  • What is supreme in your life.
  • 00:10:31.379 --> 00:10:34.182
  • We don't think about worshiping idols that are crafted very
  • 00:10:34.182 --> 00:10:36.551
  • Often anymore by wood or stone or metal.
  • 00:10:36.551 --> 00:10:40.422
  • So we think, "well, it's not really possible that we could be
  • 00:10:40.422 --> 00:10:42.824
  • Idolatrous because we don't do that, but whatever has the
  • 00:10:42.824 --> 00:10:46.961
  • Primary assignment of our attention wherever the
  • 00:10:46.961 --> 00:10:51.499
  • Significance of our life is focused, that is what
  • 00:10:51.499 --> 00:10:54.002
  • We worship.
  • 00:10:54.002 --> 00:10:55.637
  • And joshua was saying to the people, you have a choice to
  • 00:10:55.637 --> 00:10:57.939
  • Make what you're going to serve.
  • 00:10:57.939 --> 00:11:01.609
  • And then he makes that statement that we all know, "as for me in
  • 00:11:01.609 --> 00:11:04.145
  • My house," but i would submit to you it's more significant for
  • 00:11:04.145 --> 00:11:06.781
  • Joshua because the people who were his peer group, the people
  • 00:11:06.781 --> 00:11:09.884
  • That he would have graduated high school with, the people
  • 00:11:09.884 --> 00:11:13.555
  • That he might have started his career with, the people that he
  • 00:11:13.555 --> 00:11:16.825
  • Could tell stories with about the brick pits of egypt because
  • 00:11:16.825 --> 00:11:19.461
  • That's where joshua started.
  • 00:11:19.461 --> 00:11:21.629
  • "do you remember the slave masters?
  • 00:11:21.629 --> 00:11:23.098
  • Do you remember what it used to be like on the
  • 00:11:23.098 --> 00:11:24.566
  • Egyptian holidays?
  • 00:11:24.566 --> 00:11:25.900
  • Do you remember the egyptian priest?
  • 00:11:25.900 --> 00:11:27.235
  • Do you remember the whole--" well, the people that started
  • 00:11:27.235 --> 00:11:29.471
  • That journey with him are not there.
  • 00:11:29.471 --> 00:11:32.540
  • They're all gone, save caleb,
  • 00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:36.578
  • Because they chose not to serve the lord.
  • 00:11:36.578 --> 00:11:39.914
  • So when joshua was making this presentation to the people, this
  • 00:11:39.914 --> 00:11:43.017
  • Isn't some theological theory to him, it's not some hypothetical.
  • 00:11:43.017 --> 00:11:47.255
  • It's not like, you know, well, it's possible.
  • 00:11:47.255 --> 00:11:50.125
  • He's lived this out.
  • 00:11:50.125 --> 00:11:51.459
  • He lost an entire generation of people.
  • 00:11:51.459 --> 00:11:56.364
  • And he's saying, "i understand that there are generations who
  • 00:11:56.364 --> 00:11:58.566
  • Will say, we don't wanna serve the lord.
  • 00:11:58.566 --> 00:12:02.137
  • We don't intend to do that.
  • 00:12:02.137 --> 00:12:05.373
  • And i don't want you to be one of those," he says.
  • 00:12:05.373 --> 00:12:08.476
  • But you have to choose.
  • 00:12:08.476 --> 00:12:10.645
  • Which brings me to the point that we've made often around
  • 00:12:10.645 --> 00:12:12.747
  • Here is that every generation has to choose for themselves.
  • 00:12:12.747 --> 00:12:17.018
  • And one of the, if not the greatest gift that i believe
  • 00:12:17.018 --> 00:12:20.088
  • Parents can give to their children, is to do everything in
  • 00:12:20.088 --> 00:12:22.724
  • Your power to add momentum to help them choose to serve
  • 00:12:22.724 --> 00:12:25.260
  • The lord.
  • 00:12:25.260 --> 00:12:27.395
  • It's the only thing i think that will take them through.
  • 00:12:27.395 --> 00:12:31.833
  • So it's the presentation i wanna spend our time with in this
  • 00:12:31.833 --> 00:12:35.570
  • Session has to do with this nature of serving
  • 00:12:35.570 --> 00:12:37.472
  • The lord and what that looks like.
  • 00:12:37.472 --> 00:12:38.873
  • And i'm not recruiting.
  • 00:12:38.873 --> 00:12:41.075
  • I'm not above it, i'm sure i will do it at some
  • 00:12:41.075 --> 00:12:43.478
  • Point in the future, but i'm not this weekend,
  • 00:12:43.478 --> 00:12:47.081
  • Other than to recruit you to a larger imagination
  • 00:12:47.081 --> 00:12:49.651
  • Of serving the lord.
  • 00:12:49.651 --> 00:12:50.985
  • The bible talks about rewards for the faithful and
  • 00:12:50.985 --> 00:12:53.488
  • Wise servant.
  • 00:12:53.488 --> 00:12:57.625
  • Allen: i sat down with my father recently, did a podcast.
  • 00:13:01.729 --> 00:13:04.666
  • He told the story how he came to faith,
  • 00:13:04.666 --> 00:13:06.301
  • How god transformed our family, he started a home bible study,
  • 00:13:06.301 --> 00:13:09.404
  • All the way up to the beginning of this church that
  • 00:13:09.404 --> 00:13:11.206
  • I've served now for decades.
  • 00:13:11.206 --> 00:13:13.308
  • As i listened, the heart of it was the work of the holy spirit
  • 00:13:13.308 --> 00:13:15.844
  • In his life and through his life.
  • 00:13:15.844 --> 00:13:17.912
  • I asked him to do a book around the topic and we have it
  • 00:13:17.912 --> 00:13:21.816
  • So that you can invite the spirit of god to be the dynamic
  • 00:13:21.816 --> 00:13:24.052
  • Presence of the power of god to bring change
  • 00:13:24.052 --> 00:13:27.288
  • And life and hope no matter what the circumstance is.
  • 00:13:27.288 --> 00:13:30.358
  • You'll enjoy the book.
  • 00:13:30.358 --> 00:13:31.759
  • Female announcer: experience the holy spirit in a deeper way
  • 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:34.162
  • With this new book by pastor allen's dad,
  • 00:13:34.162 --> 00:13:36.364
  • "the eternal breath of life."
  • 00:13:36.364 --> 00:13:38.800
  • Request your copy when you donate any amount today
  • 00:13:38.800 --> 00:13:41.402
  • And when you give $50 or more you can also request
  • 00:13:41.402 --> 00:13:45.106
  • "unleashing the power of the holy spirit."
  • 00:13:45.106 --> 00:13:47.342
  • It's a collection of pastor allen's sermons
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  • That will help you understand the holy spirit in new ways.
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  • Request yours today at allenjackson.com
  • 00:13:53.047 --> 00:13:56.117
  • Or by calling...
  • 00:13:56.117 --> 00:13:59.888
  • Allen: you know, there's a fundamental principle of physics
  • 00:14:02.490 --> 00:14:05.159
  • That for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction.
  • 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:09.297
  • And those fundamental principles of the world we live in are
  • 00:14:09.297 --> 00:14:12.433
  • Typically reflections of the character of god.
  • 00:14:12.433 --> 00:14:15.803
  • And if you believe that god is a god who rewards, and the bible
  • 00:14:15.803 --> 00:14:18.840
  • Tells us we should,
  • 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:20.642
  • That if you come to god, you have to believe, you must
  • 00:14:20.642 --> 00:14:22.844
  • Believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently
  • 00:14:22.844 --> 00:14:25.513
  • Seek him.
  • 00:14:25.513 --> 00:14:27.081
  • But if you believe that there's a god who rewards you, you also
  • 00:14:27.081 --> 00:14:30.184
  • Have to understand that there's a god where there's
  • 00:14:30.184 --> 00:14:32.353
  • A punishment.
  • 00:14:32.353 --> 00:14:34.055
  • Or at least maybe perhaps a better way to say it is there's
  • 00:14:34.055 --> 00:14:36.557
  • A consequence of refusing to serve the lord 'cause if you
  • 00:14:36.557 --> 00:14:39.260
  • Don't serve the lord you serve something.
  • 00:14:39.260 --> 00:14:43.298
  • So in matthew chapter 24, jesus is telling a parable about a
  • 00:14:43.298 --> 00:14:46.935
  • Wise and faithful servant.
  • 00:14:46.935 --> 00:14:48.670
  • I'd like to be one of those.
  • 00:14:48.670 --> 00:14:51.239
  • I mean, in god's economy, wouldn't you like to be labeled
  • 00:14:51.239 --> 00:14:53.241
  • Wise and faithful?
  • 00:14:53.241 --> 00:14:55.710
  • Or maybe sloppy and slovenly.
  • 00:14:55.710 --> 00:14:58.413
  • I'd like to make the wise and faithful cut.
  • 00:14:58.413 --> 00:15:00.848
  • And so jesus is telling this parable.
  • 00:15:00.848 --> 00:15:02.483
  • He said, "who's a wise and faithful servant, whom the
  • 00:15:02.483 --> 00:15:04.652
  • Masters put in charge of the servants in his household to
  • 00:15:04.652 --> 00:15:07.455
  • Give them their food at their proper time?"
  • 00:15:07.455 --> 00:15:10.358
  • It's not a particularly fun assignment, it's very
  • 00:15:10.358 --> 00:15:11.893
  • Repetitive, it's very confining.
  • 00:15:11.893 --> 00:15:14.896
  • I've had to care for animals on a regular basis and food and
  • 00:15:14.896 --> 00:15:17.498
  • Water is not something you can do once a week or every other
  • 00:15:17.498 --> 00:15:19.968
  • Month or when it's convenient or you have a few moments.
  • 00:15:19.968 --> 00:15:24.172
  • "it will be good for that servant whose master finds him
  • 00:15:24.172 --> 00:15:26.774
  • Doing so when he returns.
  • 00:15:26.774 --> 00:15:28.710
  • I tell you the truth, he'll put him in charge of all of
  • 00:15:28.710 --> 00:15:30.778
  • His possessions."
  • 00:15:30.778 --> 00:15:32.113
  • What's the reward?
  • 00:15:32.113 --> 00:15:33.481
  • If you're a wise and faithful servant, you'll be put in charge
  • 00:15:33.481 --> 00:15:35.450
  • Of all the possessions in the master's house.
  • 00:15:35.450 --> 00:15:38.519
  • I don't believe that's some figurative--
  • 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:41.389
  • I believe god will give you assignments
  • 00:15:41.389 --> 00:15:43.725
  • And responsibilities.
  • 00:15:43.725 --> 00:15:45.093
  • He will entrust you with things of far greater value, of far
  • 00:15:45.093 --> 00:15:47.996
  • Greater significance than anything this present world
  • 00:15:47.996 --> 00:15:50.264
  • Order holds out to us if you will choose to be a wise and
  • 00:15:50.264 --> 00:15:54.102
  • Faithful servant of almighty god with the days he gives you under
  • 00:15:54.102 --> 00:15:57.505
  • The sun.
  • 00:15:57.505 --> 00:15:59.240
  • And i'm not talking about being a preacher or a professional
  • 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:02.143
  • Christian because i don't believe that's a requirement in
  • 00:16:02.143 --> 00:16:05.580
  • Order to be a wise and faithful servant.
  • 00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:07.415
  • You can be a butcher, a baker or a candlestick maker and be a
  • 00:16:07.415 --> 00:16:10.084
  • Very wise and faithful servant of almighty god.
  • 00:16:10.084 --> 00:16:14.022
  • Or you can be a preacher and be a very unfaithful and
  • 00:16:14.022 --> 00:16:16.224
  • Unwise servant.
  • 00:16:16.224 --> 00:16:18.493
  • It's not a professional commitment, it's a
  • 00:16:18.493 --> 00:16:20.728
  • Personal choice.
  • 00:16:20.728 --> 00:16:22.830
  • Joshua said it this way, "choose today whom you're going
  • 00:16:22.830 --> 00:16:25.266
  • To serve."
  • 00:16:25.266 --> 00:16:27.368
  • It's a conscious, intentional--i think it's noteworthy if we were
  • 00:16:27.368 --> 00:16:30.805
  • Gonna frame that in the language of contemporary evangelicalism,
  • 00:16:30.805 --> 00:16:34.108
  • We would talk about it in terms of conversion.
  • 00:16:34.108 --> 00:16:37.812
  • Again, i believe in being converted, but the rewards go to
  • 00:16:37.812 --> 00:16:41.582
  • The servants, to the wise and faithful servants.
  • 00:16:41.582 --> 00:16:46.087
  • We have to reposition a little bit, we have to recalibrate.
  • 00:16:46.087 --> 00:16:50.258
  • Not to diminish one, but to understand that's the doorway
  • 00:16:50.258 --> 00:16:53.795
  • Into a transformation of life, a revaluation of time and energy
  • 00:16:53.795 --> 00:16:58.499
  • And effort in how we think.
  • 00:16:58.499 --> 00:17:00.201
  • 2 timothy chapter 2. here's a trustworthy saying.
  • 00:17:00.201 --> 00:17:04.338
  • "if we died with him, we'll live with him.
  • 00:17:04.338 --> 00:17:06.707
  • If we endure, we'll reign with him.
  • 00:17:06.707 --> 00:17:09.677
  • If we disown him, he'll disown us.
  • 00:17:09.677 --> 00:17:11.345
  • If we are faithless, he'll remain faithful, for he can't
  • 00:17:11.345 --> 00:17:13.581
  • Disown himself."
  • 00:17:13.581 --> 00:17:14.949
  • I'm fascinated by the phrase that if we endure, we'll reign
  • 00:17:14.949 --> 00:17:17.518
  • With him.
  • 00:17:17.518 --> 00:17:19.687
  • See, there's something ahead of us more than just making
  • 00:17:19.687 --> 00:17:22.023
  • The cut.
  • 00:17:22.023 --> 00:17:27.295
  • We wanna live in such a way that god can trust us with roles
  • 00:17:27.295 --> 00:17:31.265
  • Of significance.
  • 00:17:31.265 --> 00:17:33.534
  • The more i read my bible and the more i try to understand about
  • 00:17:33.534 --> 00:17:36.904
  • What's ahead of us, i truly believe when jesus is coming
  • 00:17:36.904 --> 00:17:40.575
  • Back to this earth to reign, the millennial reign of christ, he's
  • 00:17:40.575 --> 00:17:43.845
  • Gonna rule and reign on earth.
  • 00:17:43.845 --> 00:17:45.213
  • There's a new order coming.
  • 00:17:45.213 --> 00:17:47.348
  • And he says, we're going to reign with him.
  • 00:17:47.348 --> 00:17:48.816
  • It's not going to be a passive time.
  • 00:17:48.816 --> 00:17:51.285
  • If you know something about that season, not everybody's going to
  • 00:17:51.285 --> 00:17:53.688
  • Be happy about it.
  • 00:17:53.688 --> 00:17:57.792
  • And we're going to be called upon to serve with the lord in
  • 00:17:57.792 --> 00:18:01.062
  • Bringing his will to bear on earth as it is in heaven.
  • 00:18:01.062 --> 00:18:03.764
  • He taught us to pray that way.
  • 00:18:03.764 --> 00:18:08.469
  • But the people engaged in that great undertaking invited to
  • 00:18:08.469 --> 00:18:12.006
  • Participate that are the people who have been faithful and
  • 00:18:12.006 --> 00:18:15.076
  • Wise servants.
  • 00:18:15.076 --> 00:18:18.412
  • So what i'm suggesting to you is that an exalted place in the
  • 00:18:18.412 --> 00:18:23.117
  • Emerging kingdom of god is to be considered a servant.
  • 00:18:23.117 --> 00:18:26.721
  • It's a celebrated position.
  • 00:18:26.721 --> 00:18:29.891
  • It's not like way down the org chart.
  • 00:18:29.891 --> 00:18:33.794
  • And i brought you a rather elaborate sampling.
  • 00:18:33.794 --> 00:18:37.398
  • I'm not gonna dwell on them, but it's a diverse listing
  • 00:18:37.398 --> 00:18:40.101
  • Of people.
  • 00:18:40.101 --> 00:18:41.435
  • In romans 16, paul said, "i commend you to our sister
  • 00:18:41.435 --> 00:18:44.172
  • Phoebe, she's a servant of the church."
  • 00:18:44.172 --> 00:18:48.009
  • He didn't list a talent or a gift or a unique ability.
  • 00:18:48.009 --> 00:18:52.213
  • He characterized an attitude.
  • 00:18:52.213 --> 00:18:55.216
  • She serves the church.
  • 00:18:55.216 --> 00:18:58.619
  • In philippians 1, "paul and timothy, servants of
  • 00:18:58.619 --> 00:19:01.722
  • Christ jesus."
  • 00:19:01.722 --> 00:19:04.225
  • He has a very extensive resume.
  • 00:19:04.225 --> 00:19:06.761
  • His curriculum vitae is overwhelming.
  • 00:19:06.761 --> 00:19:10.264
  • But his introduction to the church in philippi, he chooses
  • 00:19:10.264 --> 00:19:13.234
  • To identify himself as a servant.
  • 00:19:13.234 --> 00:19:17.038
  • Philippians chapter 2, it's describing jesus and
  • 00:19:17.038 --> 00:19:20.007
  • His choices.
  • 00:19:20.007 --> 00:19:21.375
  • Says, "he made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a
  • 00:19:21.375 --> 00:19:24.011
  • Servant, being made in human likeness."
  • 00:19:24.011 --> 00:19:29.317
  • Do you remember when jesus celebrated the last supper with
  • 00:19:29.317 --> 00:19:32.220
  • The disciples?
  • 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:34.355
  • It was a very eventful evening.
  • 00:19:34.355 --> 00:19:37.558
  • That meal, it's passover meal, which carries enough emotion
  • 00:19:37.558 --> 00:19:40.628
  • With it in and of itself.
  • 00:19:40.628 --> 00:19:41.963
  • I've been in jerusalem on multiple occasions for passover
  • 00:19:41.963 --> 00:19:45.633
  • And you feel it all throughout the city.
  • 00:19:45.633 --> 00:19:50.371
  • So there's that layer of anticipation and excitement.
  • 00:19:50.371 --> 00:19:53.274
  • The disciples have gone to prepare the place for passover.
  • 00:19:53.274 --> 00:19:56.177
  • Remember the narrative, you know, where will we go?
  • 00:19:56.177 --> 00:19:57.979
  • Well, you'll find that, i mean, it was supernatural how they got
  • 00:19:57.979 --> 00:20:01.249
  • Led to the building, but they finally get to the meal.
  • 00:20:01.249 --> 00:20:03.451
  • They have passover.
  • 00:20:03.451 --> 00:20:04.885
  • In the midst of the meal, jesus said, "one of you is a devil and
  • 00:20:04.885 --> 00:20:09.056
  • You're gonna betray me."
  • 00:20:09.056 --> 00:20:11.259
  • And that ripples around the room.
  • 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:12.760
  • Who is it? could it be me?
  • 00:20:12.760 --> 00:20:14.462
  • Judas is identified and he leaves, which no doubt creates
  • 00:20:14.462 --> 00:20:18.232
  • Some additional emotion for those left at the table, you
  • 00:20:18.232 --> 00:20:21.636
  • Can imagine.
  • 00:20:21.636 --> 00:20:25.373
  • Jesus has reminded them of what's coming, and there's great
  • 00:20:25.373 --> 00:20:28.409
  • Anxiety about that.
  • 00:20:28.409 --> 00:20:31.779
  • I've prayed for you that your faith wouldn't leave.
  • 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:33.914
  • In the midst of all of that, do you remember what jesus did?
  • 00:20:33.914 --> 00:20:37.118
  • He washed their feet.
  • 00:20:37.118 --> 00:20:40.855
  • He said, "now i have shown you something.
  • 00:20:40.855 --> 00:20:44.191
  • I've served you, and you should do the same."
  • 00:20:44.191 --> 00:20:49.196
  • We borrowed that, we've ritualized it.
  • 00:20:49.196 --> 00:20:50.731
  • On more than one occasion i've been a part of a service where
  • 00:20:50.731 --> 00:20:52.767
  • We would wash one another's feet.
  • 00:20:52.767 --> 00:20:54.101
  • It's not wrong.
  • 00:20:54.101 --> 00:20:55.469
  • But what jesus was asking us to was something more than a
  • 00:20:55.469 --> 00:20:58.039
  • Ceremonial repetition of a point in history.
  • 00:20:58.039 --> 00:21:01.776
  • He's modeling something for the disciples on the evening when
  • 00:21:01.776 --> 00:21:04.645
  • He's going to be betrayed.
  • 00:21:04.645 --> 00:21:07.715
  • Within a matter of hours, he's going to be tortured to death.
  • 00:21:07.715 --> 00:21:12.320
  • He's identified a traitor in their midst, one who will betray
  • 00:21:12.320 --> 00:21:15.423
  • Him, treasonous.
  • 00:21:15.423 --> 00:21:18.259
  • And in the midst of all of that, the activity he chose to engage,
  • 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:23.864
  • To model for them is to serve them.
  • 00:21:23.864 --> 00:21:26.767
  • You remember peter objected, "lord,
  • 00:21:26.767 --> 00:21:28.102
  • Not me, i should wash your feet."
  • 00:21:28.102 --> 00:21:29.437
  • And he said, "peter, if i don't
  • 00:21:29.437 --> 00:21:30.971
  • Wash your feet, you have no part of me."
  • 00:21:30.971 --> 00:21:32.306
  • And he said, "then not just my feet," you know, peter.
  • 00:21:32.306 --> 00:21:38.713
  • So this notion of being a servant, this is not
  • 00:21:38.713 --> 00:21:41.282
  • Some secondary.
  • 00:21:41.282 --> 00:21:43.451
  • It's not like you don't have anything else to do so, you
  • 00:21:43.451 --> 00:21:45.386
  • Know, is there some way i could serve.
  • 00:21:45.386 --> 00:21:47.922
  • It's an understanding of our lives.
  • 00:21:47.922 --> 00:21:50.424
  • People matter.
  • 00:21:50.424 --> 00:21:52.226
  • They matter to god.
  • 00:21:52.226 --> 00:21:54.662
  • They matter to god enough that jesus humbled himself and became
  • 00:21:54.662 --> 00:21:58.833
  • One of us.
  • 00:21:58.833 --> 00:22:00.568
  • Took the very nature of a servant, became obedient, it
  • 00:22:00.568 --> 00:22:02.937
  • Goes on to say in that second chapter, obedient even to the
  • 00:22:02.937 --> 00:22:05.673
  • Point of death.
  • 00:22:05.673 --> 00:22:08.709
  • You and i, we serve god by serving people.
  • 00:22:08.709 --> 00:22:11.312
  • I don't think you can serve god unless you serve people.
  • 00:22:11.312 --> 00:22:13.781
  • It's not some abstract equation.
  • 00:22:13.781 --> 00:22:18.686
  • I believe in intercession, i believe in bibles, i believe in
  • 00:22:18.686 --> 00:22:21.522
  • All those things, but ultimately, the expression of
  • 00:22:21.522 --> 00:22:24.925
  • Our faith is serving people.
  • 00:22:24.925 --> 00:22:28.396
  • It's not always just the ones we like.
  • 00:22:28.396 --> 00:22:29.964
  • We have to make time for people.
  • 00:22:29.964 --> 00:22:32.233
  • Ugh.
  • 00:22:32.233 --> 00:22:34.935
  • Rather than curse them on the highway, pray for them.
  • 00:22:34.935 --> 00:22:40.541
  • That's trouble right there.
  • 00:22:40.541 --> 00:22:43.711
  • I'm not done with the list.
  • 00:22:43.711 --> 00:22:45.045
  • Moses chapter--hebrews chapter 3, "moses was a faithful servant
  • 00:22:45.045 --> 00:22:49.049
  • In all of god's house."
  • 00:22:49.049 --> 00:22:51.752
  • Wow.
  • 00:22:51.752 --> 00:22:53.454
  • Moses got the ten commandments.
  • 00:22:53.454 --> 00:22:54.889
  • Moses parted the red sea.
  • 00:22:54.889 --> 00:22:56.323
  • Moses came up with the manna thing and the quail thing and
  • 00:22:56.323 --> 00:22:59.527
  • Water from a rock.
  • 00:22:59.527 --> 00:23:02.129
  • Moses did okay.
  • 00:23:02.129 --> 00:23:03.464
  • He had a plan for a tabernacle and an organizational structure
  • 00:23:03.464 --> 00:23:06.367
  • For an entire nation and a set of social arrangements that
  • 00:23:06.367 --> 00:23:10.438
  • Enabled them to flourish as a nation.
  • 00:23:10.438 --> 00:23:12.239
  • All of that comes through moses, but what he's identified as is
  • 00:23:12.239 --> 00:23:15.676
  • He was a servant.
  • 00:23:15.676 --> 00:23:18.979
  • Moses was his faithful servant.
  • 00:23:18.979 --> 00:23:20.414
  • James chapter 1, "james, a servant of god and the lord
  • 00:23:20.414 --> 00:23:23.384
  • Jesus christ."
  • 00:23:23.384 --> 00:23:24.952
  • 2 peter 1, "simon peter, a servant and apostle of
  • 00:23:24.952 --> 00:23:27.822
  • Jesus christ."
  • 00:23:27.822 --> 00:23:29.657
  • Revelation chapter 1, who wrote the book of revelation?
  • 00:23:29.657 --> 00:23:33.561
  • John, good job.
  • 00:23:33.561 --> 00:23:35.463
  • It says, "the revelation of jesus christ, which god gave him
  • 00:23:35.463 --> 00:23:38.532
  • To show his servants."
  • 00:23:38.532 --> 00:23:40.000
  • He said, "i have a revelation.
  • 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.335
  • Who am i gonna show the end of the age
  • 00:23:41.335 --> 00:23:42.670
  • And what's gonna happen?"
  • 00:23:42.670 --> 00:23:44.004
  • "show it to my servants."
  • 00:23:44.004 --> 00:23:48.342
  • And then the question was, "well, who can we trust with
  • 00:23:48.342 --> 00:23:50.344
  • This revelation?"
  • 00:23:50.344 --> 00:23:51.879
  • And the answer was, "he made it known by sending his angel to
  • 00:23:51.879 --> 00:23:54.515
  • His servant john."
  • 00:23:54.515 --> 00:23:57.485
  • I mean, that's not by any means an inclusive list, but it's a
  • 00:23:57.485 --> 00:24:00.054
  • Pretty intriguing list from paul to moses to jesus to james to
  • 00:24:00.054 --> 00:24:05.593
  • Peter to john, they're all identified,
  • 00:24:05.593 --> 00:24:07.695
  • Presented to us as servants.
  • 00:24:07.695 --> 00:24:09.029
  • So in the 21st century edition of the body of christ, i am very
  • 00:24:09.029 --> 00:24:13.300
  • Delighted to be included, god willing, as a servant.
  • 00:24:13.300 --> 00:24:18.272
  • And i would invite you to that.
  • 00:24:18.272 --> 00:24:21.876
  • So because i was the one building the outline, i put
  • 00:24:21.876 --> 00:24:24.211
  • Together some characteristics of servants of the great king.
  • 00:24:24.211 --> 00:24:28.749
  • I have to think about it that way, the privilege
  • 00:24:28.749 --> 00:24:30.084
  • Of serving the lord.
  • 00:24:30.084 --> 00:24:31.418
  • You see, i was embarrassed by it, first season in my life.
  • 00:24:31.418 --> 00:24:36.557
  • When i left here to go to college, i went to oral
  • 00:24:36.557 --> 00:24:38.659
  • Roberts university.
  • 00:24:38.659 --> 00:24:40.628
  • And at the time, it was a very--they had an excellent
  • 00:24:40.628 --> 00:24:42.863
  • Academic record for an independent university, but not
  • 00:24:42.863 --> 00:24:46.634
  • Everybody thought oral roberts university was a great choice.
  • 00:24:46.634 --> 00:24:50.871
  • And i'd come back home for a holiday and, you know, everybody
  • 00:24:50.871 --> 00:24:53.374
  • Know where you went or what you were doing and they'd ask and
  • 00:24:53.374 --> 00:24:55.342
  • You just kind of move along.
  • 00:24:55.342 --> 00:24:56.710
  • I went to school.
  • 00:24:56.710 --> 00:25:00.147
  • And then the lord began to invite me into ministry, and
  • 00:25:00.147 --> 00:25:03.484
  • That was even more awkward.
  • 00:25:03.484 --> 00:25:06.320
  • 'cause nobody, there was not like a pool saying allen will be
  • 00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:09.924
  • A pastor.
  • 00:25:09.924 --> 00:25:13.394
  • And i came back to town and the church didn't look like it
  • 00:25:13.394 --> 00:25:15.696
  • Does today.
  • 00:25:15.696 --> 00:25:17.064
  • It was a small group of people meeting in a rented space.
  • 00:25:17.064 --> 00:25:22.903
  • We believed in crazy things like praying for the sick, speaking
  • 00:25:22.903 --> 00:25:26.507
  • In tongues.
  • 00:25:26.507 --> 00:25:28.709
  • And people would ask me, "what do you do?"
  • 00:25:28.709 --> 00:25:30.778
  • And i go, "i'm a [mumbling]
  • 00:25:30.778 --> 00:25:32.146
  • What do you do?"
  • 00:25:32.146 --> 00:25:38.118
  • And a change had to come in my heart long before there was a
  • 00:25:38.118 --> 00:25:41.121
  • Change in the place where i served.
  • 00:25:41.121 --> 00:25:44.191
  • I had decided--and it took some tremendous pressure in my life
  • 00:25:44.191 --> 00:25:47.261
  • To be just completely honest about it.
  • 00:25:47.261 --> 00:25:51.065
  • It took a tremendous amount of pressure before i decided that
  • 00:25:51.065 --> 00:25:54.635
  • The greatest honor of my life was serving the lord.
  • 00:25:54.635 --> 00:26:04.411
  • Allen: being a christ follower is not as much about an
  • 00:26:08.549 --> 00:26:10.618
  • Experience and a completed activity, a prayer, a visit
  • 00:26:10.618 --> 00:26:14.455
  • To an altar, a response to an evangelist.
  • 00:26:14.455 --> 00:26:17.191
  • It's certainly a beginning point of welcoming jesus into your
  • 00:26:17.191 --> 00:26:20.594
  • Heart, but it's a life that we lead.
  • 00:26:20.594 --> 00:26:22.630
  • So, we continue to grow and learn and gain strength as life
  • 00:26:22.630 --> 00:26:26.266
  • Presents challenges.
  • 00:26:26.266 --> 00:26:27.601
  • We get to know god in a new way.
  • 00:26:27.601 --> 00:26:29.570
  • Well, i believe this book about the holy spirit is a tool to
  • 00:26:29.570 --> 00:26:32.339
  • Help you gain a new momentum to grow through the things in your
  • 00:26:32.339 --> 00:26:36.510
  • Life under the direction of the power of the spirit of god.
  • 00:26:36.510 --> 00:26:39.813
  • Folks, we're not gonna outwork evil or outthink evil.
  • 00:26:39.813 --> 00:26:42.216
  • We're not gonna out organize evil.
  • 00:26:42.216 --> 00:26:44.118
  • The only thing evil will yield to is a power greater than
  • 00:26:44.118 --> 00:26:46.720
  • Itself, and that power is the spirit of god in you and me
  • 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:51.191
  • Manifest in the earth through people of faith.
  • 00:26:51.191 --> 00:26:54.061
  • We're salt and light.
  • 00:26:54.061 --> 00:26:55.663
  • We're change agents.
  • 00:26:55.663 --> 00:26:57.164
  • I wanna pray.
  • 00:26:57.164 --> 00:26:58.532
  • Heavenly father, give us a discernment to recognize your
  • 00:26:58.532 --> 00:27:01.001
  • Spirit, how we can welcome him into our lives and cooperate
  • 00:27:01.001 --> 00:27:03.937
  • With him to bring your breakthroughs into our lives,
  • 00:27:03.937 --> 00:27:07.241
  • Our homes, and our churches.
  • 00:27:07.241 --> 00:27:09.510
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:09.510 --> 00:27:11.478
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:11.478 --> 00:27:11.478