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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - An Amazing Life (Part 2)

April 23, 2025 | S25:E116

Allen Jackson - An Amazing Life (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Faith #TrustGod #Purpose #WalkwithGod #RelationshipwithGod #Disciples #Religion #Jesus #Ministry #Obedience #inActive #Calling #AllenJacksonMinistries #AllenJackson #Commitment #Boldness #LightoftheWorld

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - An Amazing Life (Part 2) | April 23, 2025
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: it's good to be with you again.
  • 00:00:05.431 --> 00:00:07.166
  • You know, we're walking through a season of some pretty
  • 00:00:07.166 --> 00:00:09.735
  • Unprecedented turmoil.
  • 00:00:09.735 --> 00:00:12.071
  • There are cars burning and car dealerships burning and there
  • 00:00:12.071 --> 00:00:15.908
  • Are judges--there's just a lot of stuff.
  • 00:00:15.908 --> 00:00:19.011
  • Well, i'm really excited about our offer this month.
  • 00:00:19.011 --> 00:00:20.813
  • In fact, we chose it because i think it will bring you a
  • 00:00:20.813 --> 00:00:23.649
  • Pathway of stability in the midst of all the turmoil.
  • 00:00:23.649 --> 00:00:26.518
  • It's written by a good friend of mine, rob morgan, "the lord
  • 00:00:26.518 --> 00:00:29.621
  • Is my shepherd."
  • 00:00:29.621 --> 00:00:31.090
  • And it seems to me we need to know the tranquility that comes
  • 00:00:31.090 --> 00:00:34.293
  • From a shepherd who is marking a path for us and then standing
  • 00:00:34.293 --> 00:00:37.963
  • Watch over us when we know there's predators about.
  • 00:00:37.963 --> 00:00:41.667
  • Well, we're living in a predatory season, we need to
  • 00:00:41.667 --> 00:00:44.336
  • Know the lord is a shepherd, and i believe this offer can make a
  • 00:00:44.336 --> 00:00:48.040
  • Real difference in your life.
  • 00:00:48.040 --> 00:00:49.408
  • In fact, it's important enough that we'll make it available for
  • 00:00:49.408 --> 00:00:51.643
  • A gift of any amount.
  • 00:00:51.643 --> 00:00:53.479
  • I think it's far more important that you have it in your hand
  • 00:00:53.479 --> 00:00:55.981
  • Than the cost attached to it.
  • 00:00:55.981 --> 00:00:57.683
  • God is moving in the earth and we wanna move with him.
  • 00:00:57.683 --> 00:01:00.285
  • Our shepherd will lead us through.
  • 00:01:00.285 --> 00:01:02.054
  • You'll enjoy the book.
  • 00:01:02.054 --> 00:01:08.093
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:11.430 --> 00:01:18.570
  • Allen: god is not bound by the limits that you and i know.
  • 00:01:18.570 --> 00:01:23.509
  • And see, the reality of that then is it creates confusion in
  • 00:01:23.509 --> 00:01:27.212
  • Us when we see him at work.
  • 00:01:27.212 --> 00:01:28.547
  • "well, what's he doing?
  • 00:01:28.547 --> 00:01:31.583
  • And i've seen him heal other people.
  • 00:01:31.583 --> 00:01:33.185
  • Why didn't he heal this person in the way i wanted him to?"
  • 00:01:33.185 --> 00:01:38.624
  • We want to reduce god to some formula that we manipulate and
  • 00:01:38.624 --> 00:01:41.593
  • We control.
  • 00:01:41.593 --> 00:01:45.164
  • And here's the punch line, god is capable of overcoming our
  • 00:01:45.164 --> 00:01:49.268
  • Failed attempts to be good followers.
  • 00:01:49.268 --> 00:01:51.303
  • Because see, we're reluctant.
  • 00:01:54.973 --> 00:01:56.308
  • We're like, "what if i try that and it doesn't work and i've
  • 00:01:56.308 --> 00:01:59.044
  • Damaged the kingdom," right?
  • 00:01:59.044 --> 00:02:03.415
  • "what if i go to work and i tell somebody i'm a christian and
  • 00:02:03.415 --> 00:02:05.984
  • Then tomorrow i kick the copier,."
  • 00:02:05.984 --> 00:02:15.928
  • Because they've been so enthralled
  • 00:02:15.928 --> 00:02:17.996
  • With your portrayal of righteousness and purity that
  • 00:02:17.996 --> 00:02:21.466
  • They could not imagine you--
  • 00:02:21.466 --> 00:02:25.237
  • God is capable of overcoming our failed attempts at being
  • 00:02:25.237 --> 00:02:30.242
  • Good followers.
  • 00:02:30.242 --> 00:02:32.945
  • Look at matthew 15, "jesus called the crowd to him and he
  • 00:02:32.945 --> 00:02:37.783
  • Said, 'listen and understand.
  • 00:02:37.783 --> 00:02:39.184
  • What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but
  • 00:02:39.184 --> 00:02:42.821
  • What comes out of his mouth, that is what makes
  • 00:02:42.821 --> 00:02:45.257
  • Him 'unclean.'"
  • 00:02:45.257 --> 00:02:46.725
  • Well, that's very disruptive because his audience believes
  • 00:02:46.725 --> 00:02:50.262
  • That they're better than everybody else because of what
  • 00:02:50.262 --> 00:02:52.764
  • They keep on their fork.
  • 00:02:52.764 --> 00:02:55.767
  • They know they're superior.
  • 00:02:55.767 --> 00:02:58.770
  • They're special, they're unique, and much of it is centered in
  • 00:02:58.770 --> 00:03:03.542
  • What they choose to eat and what they refuse to eat.
  • 00:03:03.542 --> 00:03:06.678
  • And jesus just said to them, "your fork is not the
  • 00:03:06.678 --> 00:03:10.682
  • Dividing line."
  • 00:03:10.682 --> 00:03:13.485
  • He just made them all mad.
  • 00:03:13.485 --> 00:03:16.688
  • If we had to bring that into the 21st century, he's being
  • 00:03:16.688 --> 00:03:19.291
  • Political, because he's challenging the cultural norms.
  • 00:03:19.291 --> 00:03:28.033
  • He's challenging the status quo.
  • 00:03:28.033 --> 00:03:32.204
  • He's saying, "your conventional wisdom is not kingdom wisdom."
  • 00:03:32.204 --> 00:03:38.477
  • So when he has a private moment, the disciples hurry over to him.
  • 00:03:38.477 --> 00:03:42.748
  • "and peter said, 'explain the parable to us.'"
  • 00:03:42.748 --> 00:03:46.918
  • We're so confused.
  • 00:03:46.918 --> 00:03:51.189
  • And jesus asked them a question.
  • 00:03:51.189 --> 00:03:55.794
  • "are you still so dull?"
  • 00:03:55.794 --> 00:03:58.530
  • It's rhetorical.
  • 00:03:58.530 --> 00:03:59.898
  • The answer is, "absolutely.
  • 00:03:59.898 --> 00:04:04.369
  • We're having trouble with this.
  • 00:04:04.369 --> 00:04:05.804
  • You've challenged the convictions we've held all of
  • 00:04:05.804 --> 00:04:08.607
  • Our lives."
  • 00:04:08.607 --> 00:04:09.941
  • This is another one of those questions like, have you gotten
  • 00:04:09.941 --> 00:04:11.410
  • Out of the boat lately?
  • 00:04:11.410 --> 00:04:12.744
  • Has god challenged any of your longstanding convictions lately?
  • 00:04:12.744 --> 00:04:18.450
  • We're reading our bibles.
  • 00:04:18.450 --> 00:04:19.785
  • When you read it, do you allow it to invite you towards god in
  • 00:04:19.785 --> 00:04:23.055
  • Ways that you haven't known him?
  • 00:04:23.055 --> 00:04:24.656
  • Or do you just read it with the absolute certainty that you're
  • 00:04:24.656 --> 00:04:27.693
  • Right, so you're not really paying that much attention?
  • 00:04:27.693 --> 00:04:31.596
  • Are you really that dull?
  • 00:04:31.596 --> 00:04:33.065
  • I don't want him saying that to me.
  • 00:04:33.065 --> 00:04:36.101
  • I wanna move, i wanna grow, i wanna change, i wanna learn, i'm
  • 00:04:36.101 --> 00:04:38.970
  • Willing to stumble a little bit, i'll get back up.
  • 00:04:38.970 --> 00:04:42.274
  • Not putting my foot behind my head, but i'm willing to stumble
  • 00:04:42.274 --> 00:04:44.343
  • A little bit.
  • 00:04:44.343 --> 00:04:47.479
  • Matthew 14, we read the verse before this just a moment ago,
  • 00:04:47.479 --> 00:04:50.215
  • Peter was standing on the lake.
  • 00:04:50.215 --> 00:04:52.384
  • Don't you know he's grinning back at the disciples in
  • 00:04:52.384 --> 00:04:54.286
  • The boat?
  • 00:04:54.286 --> 00:04:57.756
  • They're not any different than we are.
  • 00:05:01.626 --> 00:05:02.994
  • They talked trash all the time.
  • 00:05:02.994 --> 00:05:04.363
  • They argued all the time about who was the greatest.
  • 00:05:04.363 --> 00:05:08.533
  • One of them got--two of them got their mommy to come see
  • 00:05:08.533 --> 00:05:11.269
  • Jesus to see if they could get privilege.
  • 00:05:11.269 --> 00:05:15.173
  • They did!
  • 00:05:15.173 --> 00:05:17.309
  • Imagine pushing your mom and, "go talk to him for us."
  • 00:05:17.309 --> 00:05:21.279
  • Mamas, you better let your boys grow up.
  • 00:05:25.183 --> 00:05:26.885
  • Jesus--peter's standing on the lake.
  • 00:05:30.021 --> 00:05:31.556
  • You know he's looking back at the guys, winking.
  • 00:05:31.556 --> 00:05:33.024
  • In verse 30, "when he saw the wind, he was afraid and he began
  • 00:05:36.328 --> 00:05:41.199
  • To sink."
  • 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:43.468
  • I asked you about getting out of the boat a couple of times.
  • 00:05:43.468 --> 00:05:46.705
  • Now here's the--here's the awkward truth, if you get out of
  • 00:05:46.705 --> 00:05:48.607
  • The boat, you highly increase the possibility of sinking.
  • 00:05:48.607 --> 00:05:57.516
  • But if you stay in the boat, you completely eliminate the
  • 00:05:57.516 --> 00:06:00.919
  • Possibility of learning to know the lord in a new way.
  • 00:06:00.919 --> 00:06:03.355
  • I don't want to always take the safest path.
  • 00:06:06.324 --> 00:06:09.394
  • I don't always want to take the most convenient route.
  • 00:06:09.394 --> 00:06:12.564
  • I don't always want to just follow the status quo.
  • 00:06:12.564 --> 00:06:15.700
  • I don't always want to just listen to conventional wisdom.
  • 00:06:15.700 --> 00:06:18.403
  • "well, you could get wet."
  • 00:06:22.007 --> 00:06:23.341
  • You sure could.
  • 00:06:23.341 --> 00:06:24.709
  • You might have to swim a ways.
  • 00:06:24.709 --> 00:06:27.646
  • I'd rather swim in my best attempt to follow jesus than sit
  • 00:06:27.646 --> 00:06:34.286
  • In the boat and forfeit the opportunities of
  • 00:06:34.286 --> 00:06:36.354
  • The invitations.
  • 00:06:36.354 --> 00:06:37.956
  • But you need to know this isn't simple stuff.
  • 00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:44.196
  • John 14, jesus said, "you know the way to the place where
  • 00:06:44.196 --> 00:06:47.799
  • I'm going."
  • 00:06:47.799 --> 00:06:49.167
  • He's talking to the disciples about his exit.
  • 00:06:49.167 --> 00:06:52.070
  • He said, "you know the way to the place where i'm going," and
  • 00:06:52.070 --> 00:06:54.272
  • Thomas is so honest.
  • 00:06:54.272 --> 00:06:55.607
  • Thomas said, "lord, we don't know where you're going, so how
  • 00:06:55.607 --> 00:06:58.710
  • Can we know the way?"
  • 00:06:58.710 --> 00:07:00.946
  • We have all been in settings where someone is teaching or
  • 00:07:00.946 --> 00:07:04.583
  • Giving information and we have no idea what they're talking
  • 00:07:04.583 --> 00:07:07.385
  • About, right?
  • 00:07:07.385 --> 00:07:09.721
  • We've done it in school.
  • 00:07:09.721 --> 00:07:11.089
  • We've been in those english classes where they're talking
  • 00:07:11.089 --> 00:07:12.991
  • About dangling participles.
  • 00:07:12.991 --> 00:07:17.362
  • And we're going like, "well, is there a medical treatment for
  • 00:07:17.362 --> 00:07:19.664
  • That or?"
  • 00:07:19.664 --> 00:07:21.066
  • Or you've had some 4-year-old trying to explain something
  • 00:07:25.103 --> 00:07:28.006
  • About your phone to you and you're acting like you're
  • 00:07:28.006 --> 00:07:30.408
  • Following them through the progression.
  • 00:07:30.408 --> 00:07:33.245
  • And you're just thinking, "don't change my home screen because
  • 00:07:33.245 --> 00:07:35.847
  • I'll never know how to make a phone call again."
  • 00:07:35.847 --> 00:07:40.585
  • And poor thomas, you know, he said, "lord," he doesn't
  • 00:07:44.723 --> 00:07:47.893
  • Stay quiet.
  • 00:07:47.893 --> 00:07:49.661
  • He doesn't try to wait it out and he said, "i got no idea what
  • 00:07:49.661 --> 00:07:53.798
  • You're talking about.
  • 00:07:53.798 --> 00:07:56.401
  • You said, 'follow you,' i followed you.
  • 00:07:56.401 --> 00:07:58.336
  • You're going someplace i can't go.
  • 00:07:58.336 --> 00:07:59.738
  • I don't understand and i don't like the tone of this."
  • 00:07:59.738 --> 00:08:02.707
  • See, following jesus, they've made so many good choices,
  • 00:08:06.144 --> 00:08:09.648
  • They've separated themselves from much of their past.
  • 00:08:09.648 --> 00:08:12.884
  • They've reoriented their lives.
  • 00:08:12.884 --> 00:08:14.953
  • They're willing to be associated with him in public.
  • 00:08:14.953 --> 00:08:18.390
  • And there's still-- it's not simple.
  • 00:08:18.390 --> 00:08:21.226
  • See, we've got to recalibrate 'cause we get mad at god.
  • 00:08:21.226 --> 00:08:24.262
  • "god, i followed you.
  • 00:08:24.262 --> 00:08:25.630
  • I walked the aisle of the church, i said that prayer, i
  • 00:08:25.630 --> 00:08:27.432
  • Got dumped in a pool with hundreds of people looking
  • 00:08:27.432 --> 00:08:29.801
  • At me.
  • 00:08:29.801 --> 00:08:31.136
  • I wrote a check.
  • 00:08:31.136 --> 00:08:34.506
  • And now i have a problem."
  • 00:08:38.109 --> 00:08:42.113
  • We all do that.
  • 00:08:42.113 --> 00:08:45.183
  • See, this learning to follow the lord, to trust him, to grow.
  • 00:08:45.183 --> 00:08:50.455
  • "oh, but i don't wanna stay on the bench.
  • 00:08:50.455 --> 00:08:53.725
  • I don't wanna sit on the sidelines.
  • 00:08:53.725 --> 00:08:56.561
  • I don't wanna be a spectator when god is moving.
  • 00:08:56.561 --> 00:09:01.733
  • How can we help?
  • 00:09:01.733 --> 00:09:03.101
  • What could we do?
  • 00:09:03.101 --> 00:09:04.436
  • How can i be a part?"
  • 00:09:04.436 --> 00:09:06.605
  • Thomas says, "lord, i don't know what you're talking about."
  • 00:09:10.775 --> 00:09:14.279
  • John 20, it's resurrection day.
  • 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:18.083
  • Mary's gone to the tomb early.
  • 00:09:18.083 --> 00:09:19.417
  • Mary magdalene's gone to the tomb early.
  • 00:09:19.417 --> 00:09:23.154
  • The stone's been rolled away.
  • 00:09:23.154 --> 00:09:24.756
  • Jesus is not there.
  • 00:09:24.756 --> 00:09:27.058
  • "so she came running to simon peter and the other disciple."
  • 00:09:27.058 --> 00:09:29.728
  • It's john, "the one jesus loved, and she said, 'they've
  • 00:09:29.728 --> 00:09:32.564
  • Taken the lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they
  • 00:09:32.564 --> 00:09:34.633
  • Put him!'"
  • 00:09:34.633 --> 00:09:36.501
  • Well, if you're reading this gospel, you wanna talk back
  • 00:09:36.501 --> 00:09:41.006
  • To her.
  • 00:09:41.006 --> 00:09:43.508
  • "he told you this was gonna happen."
  • 00:09:43.508 --> 00:09:47.679
  • And you think, "well, surely peter will tell him or john.
  • 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:50.649
  • John's the one that's closest to him."
  • 00:09:50.649 --> 00:09:53.652
  • They don't say anything.
  • 00:09:53.652 --> 00:09:57.422
  • I mean, he's told them all multiple times.
  • 00:09:57.422 --> 00:10:01.326
  • No shock.
  • 00:10:01.326 --> 00:10:03.094
  • No new news here.
  • 00:10:03.094 --> 00:10:06.798
  • "they've taken him."
  • 00:10:06.798 --> 00:10:08.133
  • Stone's rolled, the body's gone.
  • 00:10:08.133 --> 00:10:11.269
  • What could have happened?
  • 00:10:11.269 --> 00:10:13.905
  • It's only funny if you're not living it out.
  • 00:10:17.876 --> 00:10:22.781
  • They don't have any frame of reference.
  • 00:10:22.781 --> 00:10:24.182
  • I mean, they've had some experiences.
  • 00:10:24.182 --> 00:10:25.550
  • They were there when that boy was raised at that little
  • 00:10:25.550 --> 00:10:28.253
  • Village of nain and they were standing there in the crowd when
  • 00:10:28.253 --> 00:10:31.456
  • Lazarus came stumbling out of the tomb.
  • 00:10:31.456 --> 00:10:33.358
  • I mean they've seen the power of god, but the pain and the
  • 00:10:33.358 --> 00:10:37.395
  • Disappointment, the fear, the heartbreak.
  • 00:10:37.395 --> 00:10:43.134
  • God didn't move the way we thought god would move.
  • 00:10:43.134 --> 00:10:45.670
  • We saw jesus speak to the wind and the waves, we saw him raise
  • 00:10:45.670 --> 00:10:48.339
  • The dead.
  • 00:10:48.339 --> 00:10:49.708
  • We saw him make water into wine.
  • 00:10:49.708 --> 00:10:53.111
  • We've seen him walk through angry crowds and they couldn't
  • 00:10:53.111 --> 00:10:55.714
  • Touch him.
  • 00:10:55.714 --> 00:10:57.048
  • They arrested him.
  • 00:10:57.048 --> 00:10:58.450
  • They tortured him to death, between two criminals.
  • 00:11:02.420 --> 00:11:08.093
  • You see, everything about their expectations is in--they're
  • 00:11:12.263 --> 00:11:15.667
  • Learning about the lord, they're learning to follow him, they're
  • 00:11:15.667 --> 00:11:18.403
  • Learning how god moves, they're learning to understand how to
  • 00:11:18.403 --> 00:11:21.806
  • Read scripture and then watch it be played out.
  • 00:11:21.806 --> 00:11:24.509
  • It's not simple.
  • 00:11:24.509 --> 00:11:28.747
  • I'm not very comfortable with people that read the scripture
  • 00:11:28.747 --> 00:11:31.883
  • And have such clarity in what's going to happen for the next
  • 00:11:31.883 --> 00:11:34.085
  • Three decades.
  • 00:11:34.085 --> 00:11:37.155
  • In my life, it's not that simple.
  • 00:11:37.155 --> 00:11:41.025
  • I'm like, "lord, i know you're moving and i wanna move with you
  • 00:11:41.025 --> 00:11:43.795
  • So i'm gonna say yes," but i usually do it with my knees a
  • 00:11:43.795 --> 00:11:48.633
  • Little jello-y, more so than i'd like them to be.
  • 00:11:48.633 --> 00:11:52.303
  • I usually will pray a lot before i make a commitment to a course
  • 00:11:55.540 --> 00:12:00.078
  • Of action.
  • 00:12:00.078 --> 00:12:01.412
  • You know, you've heard the expression measure twice and
  • 00:12:01.412 --> 00:12:02.781
  • Cut once, well, i'm gonna pray ten times.
  • 00:12:02.781 --> 00:12:07.385
  • I don't do it with a sense of arrogance and bravado, because
  • 00:12:07.385 --> 00:12:12.123
  • Once you say this is the way we're going, you gotta walk.
  • 00:12:12.123 --> 00:12:16.961
  • Oh, it doesn't take great wisdom or great faith to sit in the
  • 00:12:16.961 --> 00:12:20.298
  • Seat of the skeptic.
  • 00:12:20.298 --> 00:12:21.633
  • Don't stay there.
  • 00:12:21.633 --> 00:12:23.034
  • "they've taken the lord. the tomb's open.
  • 00:12:26.805 --> 00:12:28.473
  • Where is he? what have they done with him?"
  • 00:12:28.473 --> 00:12:31.910
  • And his best friends don't know.
  • 00:12:31.910 --> 00:12:33.578
  • You'd think somebody would have said, "hey, didn't he say
  • 00:12:33.578 --> 00:12:37.015
  • Something--" no, nobody's speaking up.
  • 00:12:37.015 --> 00:12:40.752
  • Matthew 26, jesus is prepping them.
  • 00:12:44.589 --> 00:12:47.425
  • He said, "this very night you will all fall away on account
  • 00:12:47.425 --> 00:12:50.128
  • Of me."
  • 00:12:50.128 --> 00:12:51.496
  • Every one of you.
  • 00:12:51.496 --> 00:12:53.097
  • This is the best of the best, the creme de la creme.
  • 00:12:53.097 --> 00:12:56.201
  • These are the water-walking, miracle-working, demon-chasing
  • 00:12:56.201 --> 00:13:00.205
  • Jesus followers.
  • 00:13:00.205 --> 00:13:01.973
  • These are the apostles.
  • 00:13:01.973 --> 00:13:03.908
  • These are the world changers.
  • 00:13:03.908 --> 00:13:06.511
  • And jesus said, "yeah, before the end of the night, you'll all
  • 00:13:06.511 --> 00:13:08.713
  • Deny me."
  • 00:13:08.713 --> 00:13:10.081
  • Where did we get such hubris?
  • 00:13:13.151 --> 00:13:17.455
  • What causes us to give our god stories in the way that we do?
  • 00:13:17.455 --> 00:13:22.293
  • "i have not had an argument with my wife in 46 years."
  • 00:13:22.293 --> 00:13:28.199
  • Think, "wow, either you're too stupid to recognize or you're
  • 00:13:28.199 --> 00:13:36.140
  • A liar."
  • 00:13:36.140 --> 00:13:43.248
  • "this very night you'll all fall away on account of me, for it's
  • 00:13:47.485 --> 00:13:50.355
  • Written: 'i will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the
  • 00:13:50.355 --> 00:13:53.458
  • Flock will be scattered.'
  • 00:13:53.458 --> 00:13:54.792
  • But after i've risen, i'll go ahead of you into galilee."
  • 00:13:54.792 --> 00:13:57.095
  • They had clues.
  • 00:13:57.095 --> 00:13:59.664
  • "and peter replied, 'even if all fall away on account of you, i
  • 00:13:59.664 --> 00:14:02.433
  • Never will.'
  • 00:14:02.433 --> 00:14:06.271
  • Jesus said, 'i tell you the truth, this very night before
  • 00:14:06.271 --> 00:14:08.506
  • The rooster crows, you'll disown me three times.'"
  • 00:14:08.506 --> 00:14:12.477
  • Peter doesn't back up very easily.
  • 00:14:12.477 --> 00:14:13.878
  • God bless him.
  • 00:14:13.878 --> 00:14:15.647
  • "even if i have to die with you, i'll never disown you."
  • 00:14:15.647 --> 00:14:21.152
  • Don't miss the next line, "and all the other disciples said the
  • 00:14:21.152 --> 00:14:25.523
  • Same thing."
  • 00:14:25.523 --> 00:14:27.025
  • Not leaving me out of this.
  • 00:14:27.025 --> 00:14:28.359
  • He got out of the boat once.
  • 00:14:28.359 --> 00:14:29.727
  • We're going with him.
  • 00:14:29.727 --> 00:14:31.396
  • No quitters in this room.
  • 00:14:31.396 --> 00:14:33.898
  • This "following jesus" thing, folks, it's not easy.
  • 00:14:33.898 --> 00:14:36.267
  • I'm just--i don't say that to frighten you.
  • 00:14:36.267 --> 00:14:38.870
  • I don't say it to in any way diminish your determination.
  • 00:14:38.870 --> 00:14:42.373
  • I want you to understand that we're not always going to have
  • 00:14:42.373 --> 00:14:45.777
  • The absolute clarity we would like.
  • 00:14:45.777 --> 00:14:48.379
  • And it doesn't mean you've missed the path or that god has
  • 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:50.848
  • Withdrawn from you or that there's some inevitable failure
  • 00:14:50.848 --> 00:14:54.752
  • In you.
  • 00:14:54.752 --> 00:14:56.120
  • It means we are learning, we are growing.
  • 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:57.488
  • You know, you understand how childish we sound when our
  • 00:15:00.858 --> 00:15:05.263
  • Answer to almost everything is, "me do it."
  • 00:15:05.263 --> 00:15:07.265
  • Have you been around little people lately?
  • 00:15:10.368 --> 00:15:11.736
  • It doesn't matter what it is, they can drive the car, they can
  • 00:15:11.736 --> 00:15:13.538
  • Drive the tractor, they can run with a knife, right?
  • 00:15:13.538 --> 00:15:18.276
  • "me do it."
  • 00:15:18.276 --> 00:15:21.012
  • And when you tell them no, it's like, "wah!"
  • 00:15:21.012 --> 00:15:25.283
  • And then you give them a little bit of license and it all
  • 00:15:25.283 --> 00:15:28.753
  • Unravels and then they're like, "you didn't do it right."
  • 00:15:28.753 --> 00:15:34.325
  • And we have that childish kind of an expression of our faith.
  • 00:15:34.325 --> 00:15:40.765
  • And rather than admit the halting nature of how we grow
  • 00:15:40.765 --> 00:15:43.935
  • And the incompleteness of how we're learning, we'll have
  • 00:15:43.935 --> 00:15:46.904
  • Seminars on why that's no longer relevant.
  • 00:15:46.904 --> 00:15:50.208
  • I don't wanna do that.
  • 00:15:50.208 --> 00:15:51.576
  • I believe the angels are way engaged with what i'm doing.
  • 00:15:55.680 --> 00:16:01.185
  • I hope you believe that about yourself.
  • 00:16:01.185 --> 00:16:03.054
  • There's 10s of millions of them.
  • 00:16:06.524 --> 00:16:09.360
  • Yeah, i want a few assigned to my task list.
  • 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:13.898
  • You're very willing to believe the demons are attached to
  • 00:16:13.898 --> 00:16:16.501
  • Your life.
  • 00:16:16.501 --> 00:16:17.935
  • They're opposing you.
  • 00:16:17.935 --> 00:16:22.673
  • Allen: hey, the question i'm asked most often is, "how do i
  • 00:16:26.878 --> 00:16:29.480
  • Know what god wants me to do?
  • 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:30.815
  • If i just knew what god wanted me to do, i would do it,
  • 00:16:30.815 --> 00:16:33.184
  • Whatever it is."
  • 00:16:33.184 --> 00:16:34.786
  • Well, our offer this month i think will help.
  • 00:16:34.786 --> 00:16:36.387
  • It's by a good friend of mine, rob morgan, "the lord is
  • 00:16:36.387 --> 00:16:38.823
  • My shepherd."
  • 00:16:38.823 --> 00:16:40.191
  • He's gonna unpack the scripture that tells us how to follow the
  • 00:16:40.191 --> 00:16:43.127
  • Lord's guidance and understand his abiding presence and
  • 00:16:43.127 --> 00:16:46.564
  • His comfort.
  • 00:16:46.564 --> 00:16:47.899
  • It'll help you chart a course and know the path that god has
  • 00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:51.369
  • For you.
  • 00:16:51.369 --> 00:16:52.703
  • Get a copy.
  • 00:16:52.703 --> 00:16:54.072
  • It'll make a difference in your life.
  • 00:16:54.072 --> 00:16:55.406
  • Female announcer: life can be overwhelming, but true peace
  • 00:16:55.406 --> 00:16:56.974
  • Is possible.
  • 00:16:56.974 --> 00:16:58.342
  • Pastor robert morgan's book, "the lord is my shepherd,"
  • 00:16:58.342 --> 00:17:00.278
  • Reflects on the specific ways psalm 23 speaks to our
  • 00:17:00.278 --> 00:17:03.448
  • Lives today.
  • 00:17:03.448 --> 00:17:04.816
  • It will help you find rest for your soul and discover the joy,
  • 00:17:04.816 --> 00:17:07.785
  • Inspiration, power, and peace found in psalm 23.
  • 00:17:07.785 --> 00:17:11.456
  • In today's culture, it's essential to know god is leading
  • 00:17:11.456 --> 00:17:14.158
  • Us, charting our path, and watching over us.
  • 00:17:14.158 --> 00:17:17.462
  • Request your copy of "the lord is my shepherd" when you donate
  • 00:17:17.462 --> 00:17:19.931
  • Any amount at allenjackson.com, or by calling...
  • 00:17:19.931 --> 00:17:26.504
  • Announcer: join us at world outreach church in tennessee for
  • 00:17:26.571 --> 00:17:29.173
  • Easter weekend and our spring festival, kicking off saturday,
  • 00:17:29.173 --> 00:17:32.243
  • April 12, and running through sunday, april 27.
  • 00:17:32.243 --> 00:17:34.879
  • Come worship with musical guest artists crowder, charity gayle,
  • 00:17:34.879 --> 00:17:38.182
  • Matthew west, franni cash, and the katinas.
  • 00:17:38.182 --> 00:17:40.318
  • Hear special messages from pastor allen jackson.
  • 00:17:40.318 --> 00:17:43.454
  • Enjoy family activities, food trucks, and more.
  • 00:17:43.454 --> 00:17:46.290
  • It'll be a fantastic spring at world outreach church.
  • 00:17:46.290 --> 00:17:49.160
  • Find all the details at allenjackson.com/spring.
  • 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:52.797
  • We can't wait to see you there.
  • 00:17:52.797 --> 00:17:54.232
  • Allen: finding the way forward, i gotta wrap this up.
  • 00:17:57.668 --> 00:18:01.405
  • Jesus is gone by the time we get to acts chapter 2.
  • 00:18:01.405 --> 00:18:05.776
  • And these clowns we followed through the gospels are left
  • 00:18:05.776 --> 00:18:09.447
  • With the message, along with the help of the holy spirit.
  • 00:18:09.447 --> 00:18:13.384
  • In acts chapter 5, it says, "more and more men and women
  • 00:18:13.384 --> 00:18:15.987
  • Believed in the lord and were added to their number.
  • 00:18:15.987 --> 00:18:19.790
  • As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid
  • 00:18:19.790 --> 00:18:22.093
  • Them on beds and mats so that at least peter's shadow might fall
  • 00:18:22.093 --> 00:18:26.397
  • On some of them as he passed by," wow.
  • 00:18:26.397 --> 00:18:32.737
  • Too busy, too many crowds, too much going on, but just put him
  • 00:18:32.737 --> 00:18:36.374
  • In the street.
  • 00:18:36.374 --> 00:18:37.742
  • "maybe if pete walks down the street, maybe if his shadow were
  • 00:18:37.742 --> 00:18:39.810
  • To hit them.
  • 00:18:39.810 --> 00:18:41.179
  • His shadow won't hit everybody, but his shadow might hit some
  • 00:18:41.179 --> 00:18:42.813
  • And i heard last week that that shadow made a difference."
  • 00:18:42.813 --> 00:18:47.451
  • "well, i don't believe that."
  • 00:18:47.451 --> 00:18:49.520
  • "crowds gathered from the towns around jerusalem, bringing their
  • 00:18:53.758 --> 00:18:57.428
  • Sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them
  • 00:18:57.428 --> 00:19:00.031
  • Were healed."
  • 00:19:00.031 --> 00:19:03.134
  • There's a greater impact from the ministry of jesus in
  • 00:19:03.134 --> 00:19:05.836
  • Jerusalem and the surrounding villages after his ascension
  • 00:19:05.836 --> 00:19:08.973
  • Than when he was there.
  • 00:19:08.973 --> 00:19:10.374
  • And it's those clowns that couldn't figure out where they
  • 00:19:14.178 --> 00:19:17.381
  • Took the body.
  • 00:19:17.381 --> 00:19:20.585
  • It's the ones that said, "lord, can you explain that fork thing
  • 00:19:20.585 --> 00:19:24.188
  • Again to us?
  • 00:19:24.188 --> 00:19:26.324
  • We really can eat bacon?"
  • 00:19:26.324 --> 00:19:28.159
  • Well, you shouldn't, but you could.
  • 00:19:31.529 --> 00:19:36.667
  • Now you would think if your shadow brought healing
  • 00:19:36.667 --> 00:19:42.506
  • And that if your reputation had grown to the point that people
  • 00:19:42.506 --> 00:19:45.576
  • From all sorts of surrounding areas and villages and towns,
  • 00:19:45.576 --> 00:19:48.512
  • Crowds of hundreds and thousands of people are being impacted by
  • 00:19:48.512 --> 00:19:51.782
  • Your messaging, you would think the momentum of that would just
  • 00:19:51.782 --> 00:19:56.921
  • Sweep away opposition.
  • 00:19:56.921 --> 00:19:58.356
  • I would.
  • 00:19:58.356 --> 00:19:59.757
  • Acts chapter 12, "it was about this time that king herod
  • 00:20:03.027 --> 00:20:05.663
  • Arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to
  • 00:20:05.663 --> 00:20:09.100
  • Persecute them.
  • 00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:10.935
  • He had james, the brother of john, put to death with
  • 00:20:10.935 --> 00:20:13.537
  • The sword.
  • 00:20:13.537 --> 00:20:16.607
  • And when he saw that this pleased the jews--" when he saw
  • 00:20:16.607 --> 00:20:23.314
  • That this pleased the jews.
  • 00:20:23.314 --> 00:20:25.816
  • When he saw that cutting off james's head pleased the jews.
  • 00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:36.761
  • Wait a minute.
  • 00:20:36.761 --> 00:20:38.696
  • People are being healed and delivered, not quietly or
  • 00:20:38.696 --> 00:20:44.302
  • Subtly, not incidentally,
  • 00:20:44.302 --> 00:20:47.171
  • But in significant enough numbers that thousands of people
  • 00:20:47.171 --> 00:20:50.174
  • Are being stirred.
  • 00:20:50.174 --> 00:20:51.842
  • There's tremendous division, because herod wants his poll
  • 00:20:51.842 --> 00:20:58.816
  • Numbers to go up.
  • 00:20:58.816 --> 00:21:02.320
  • So he arrests james and has him beheaded, and it makes him
  • 00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:06.724
  • More popular.
  • 00:21:06.724 --> 00:21:09.427
  • So it's not a unified response to this jesus narrative.
  • 00:21:09.427 --> 00:21:13.464
  • See, some of us are waiting until if we say "jesus," the
  • 00:21:13.464 --> 00:21:17.034
  • Applause line goes up.
  • 00:21:17.034 --> 00:21:20.738
  • That frightens me.
  • 00:21:20.738 --> 00:21:23.174
  • That sounds like the group of people to whom jesus says, you
  • 00:21:23.174 --> 00:21:25.409
  • Know, "you should go away from me.
  • 00:21:25.409 --> 00:21:26.777
  • I don't know you."
  • 00:21:26.777 --> 00:21:29.413
  • We did miracles in your name.
  • 00:21:29.413 --> 00:21:30.781
  • "i'm sorry."
  • 00:21:30.781 --> 00:21:32.149
  • I think we read the scripture sometimes far too casually.
  • 00:21:35.786 --> 00:21:41.158
  • Jerusalem is enormously divided.
  • 00:21:41.158 --> 00:21:44.562
  • And it's not the majority that are on board with the
  • 00:21:44.562 --> 00:21:46.864
  • Jesus narrative.
  • 00:21:46.864 --> 00:21:48.899
  • The power brokers still oppose it,
  • 00:21:48.899 --> 00:21:54.105
  • The ones who think the price is too high for them to get out of
  • 00:21:54.105 --> 00:21:57.108
  • The boat.
  • 00:21:57.108 --> 00:21:59.577
  • Life's pretty good.
  • 00:21:59.577 --> 00:22:02.146
  • We can do most of what we want and we've got some semblance of
  • 00:22:02.146 --> 00:22:05.850
  • Control over our future.
  • 00:22:05.850 --> 00:22:09.120
  • We're not following any ragtag somebody.
  • 00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:12.790
  • "when he saw that this pleased the jews, he proceeded to seize
  • 00:22:16.994 --> 00:22:19.730
  • Peter also.
  • 00:22:19.730 --> 00:22:22.967
  • This happened during the feast of unleavened bread."
  • 00:22:22.967 --> 00:22:25.136
  • He used a time when the city was highly crowded.
  • 00:22:25.136 --> 00:22:28.672
  • It's a religious festival.
  • 00:22:28.672 --> 00:22:31.208
  • Great deal of religious conversation, great crowds.
  • 00:22:31.208 --> 00:22:34.445
  • "let's see if we can score some points in the polls by murdering
  • 00:22:34.445 --> 00:22:39.850
  • Our opponents."
  • 00:22:39.850 --> 00:22:41.952
  • Folks, the world hasn't changed much.
  • 00:22:41.952 --> 00:22:45.289
  • The world hasn't changed much.
  • 00:22:45.289 --> 00:22:46.757
  • Finding the way forward, peter's shadow and great miracles, great
  • 00:22:46.757 --> 00:22:51.362
  • Opposition in prison, and one of your closest friends murdered,
  • 00:22:51.362 --> 00:22:55.699
  • And the people are celebrating.
  • 00:22:55.699 --> 00:22:59.236
  • I wanna invite you to be christ followers, a dynamic faith.
  • 00:22:59.236 --> 00:23:03.841
  • Don't wait until the majority says it's good.
  • 00:23:03.841 --> 00:23:05.776
  • If--that won't happen, and if it does, you'll have missed
  • 00:23:05.776 --> 00:23:08.813
  • Your window.
  • 00:23:08.813 --> 00:23:11.549
  • Be the difference maker.
  • 00:23:11.549 --> 00:23:13.651
  • "well, there aren't many christians where i work."
  • 00:23:13.651 --> 00:23:15.186
  • I know, it's why god sent you.
  • 00:23:15.186 --> 00:23:18.422
  • "my family doesn't like--" i know.
  • 00:23:18.422 --> 00:23:21.325
  • Stop apologizing for your faith at your holiday table.
  • 00:23:21.325 --> 00:23:26.530
  • Stop.
  • 00:23:26.530 --> 00:23:27.898
  • I take these--i have these conversations where people say,
  • 00:23:31.669 --> 00:23:34.104
  • "you know, it was the holiday, everybody was coming to
  • 00:23:34.104 --> 00:23:36.106
  • My house.
  • 00:23:36.106 --> 00:23:38.075
  • And i decided to have a prayer."
  • 00:23:38.075 --> 00:23:42.713
  • I mean, change that narrative.
  • 00:23:42.713 --> 00:23:45.983
  • "they're coming to my house and nobody gets dessert unless they
  • 00:23:45.983 --> 00:23:48.686
  • Agreed to read a book."
  • 00:23:48.686 --> 00:23:50.855
  • Raise the bar, own your faith.
  • 00:23:54.525 --> 00:23:58.062
  • "i'm with jesus!"
  • 00:23:58.062 --> 00:24:01.432
  • Well, didn't i hear that you kicked the copier last week
  • 00:24:05.603 --> 00:24:07.905
  • At work?
  • 00:24:07.905 --> 00:24:09.840
  • "yeah, i did.
  • 00:24:09.840 --> 00:24:12.676
  • I'm really sorry about that.
  • 00:24:12.676 --> 00:24:16.847
  • I went and watched the youtube video.
  • 00:24:16.847 --> 00:24:20.317
  • Now i'm gonna put peanut butter in it."
  • 00:24:20.317 --> 00:24:21.919
  • God is moving in the earth, folks.
  • 00:24:25.723 --> 00:24:28.359
  • We gotta decide, are we gonna go with him?
  • 00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:33.764
  • We can't surrender our schools.
  • 00:24:33.764 --> 00:24:36.367
  • We can't surrender our health care systems.
  • 00:24:36.367 --> 00:24:39.937
  • We can't surrender fiscal responsibility.
  • 00:24:39.937 --> 00:24:42.039
  • All those are biblical worldview issues.
  • 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:43.941
  • Children matter, babies matter.
  • 00:24:43.941 --> 00:24:48.045
  • Marriage matters, family matters.
  • 00:24:48.045 --> 00:24:49.947
  • We gotta use our voices.
  • 00:24:49.947 --> 00:24:51.282
  • I brought you a prayer.
  • 00:24:51.282 --> 00:24:52.650
  • Let's stand together.
  • 00:24:52.650 --> 00:24:53.984
  • We're working on a dynamic faith.
  • 00:24:53.984 --> 00:24:55.352
  • As messy as it is, god called us.
  • 00:24:55.352 --> 00:24:59.423
  • We're like thomas, "lord, i don't know what you're doing."
  • 00:24:59.423 --> 00:25:02.493
  • We're like peter, "help, i'm drowning."
  • 00:25:02.493 --> 00:25:07.631
  • But jesus chose them and he's chosen us.
  • 00:25:07.631 --> 00:25:11.101
  • What a privilege. what a privilege.
  • 00:25:11.101 --> 00:25:15.005
  • You better turn to somebody near you and say, "you are privileged
  • 00:25:15.005 --> 00:25:17.174
  • To follow the king."
  • 00:25:17.174 --> 00:25:18.542
  • Turn the other way, go, "i'm not sure about you."
  • 00:25:21.545 --> 00:25:24.615
  • That's about the way it's gonna go.
  • 00:25:28.419 --> 00:25:29.753
  • You'll meet somebody and they'll be glad and you'll meet somebody
  • 00:25:29.753 --> 00:25:31.889
  • And they'll be suspicious.
  • 00:25:31.889 --> 00:25:34.158
  • Keep moving anyway.
  • 00:25:34.158 --> 00:25:36.727
  • Let's say this prayer together, "heavenly father, you have
  • 00:25:36.727 --> 00:25:41.165
  • Called me from an empty way of life into the kingdom of
  • 00:25:41.165 --> 00:25:44.335
  • Your son.
  • 00:25:44.335 --> 00:25:45.736
  • You have opened my eyes and set my feet on a new path.
  • 00:25:45.736 --> 00:25:50.407
  • Give me wisdom and courage to follow you.
  • 00:25:50.407 --> 00:25:53.844
  • I choose to follow jesus, take up my cross and complete the
  • 00:25:53.844 --> 00:25:58.515
  • Course for which i was created.
  • 00:25:58.515 --> 00:26:01.151
  • May the name of jesus be exalted in all the earth, amen."
  • 00:26:01.151 --> 00:26:06.824
  • God bless you.
  • 00:26:06.824 --> 00:26:08.158
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:08.158 --> 00:26:14.932
  • Allen: you know, before our congregation even existed, my
  • 00:26:14.999 --> 00:26:18.335
  • Family used to distribute christian literature.
  • 00:26:18.335 --> 00:26:20.404
  • We found that sharing books changed lives and so we spent a
  • 00:26:20.404 --> 00:26:24.475
  • Lot of time and energy and resources, honestly, sharing
  • 00:26:24.475 --> 00:26:27.711
  • Books around our community.
  • 00:26:27.711 --> 00:26:29.513
  • Well, our offer this month is a book by a good friend of mine,
  • 00:26:29.513 --> 00:26:33.083
  • Rob morgan.
  • 00:26:33.083 --> 00:26:34.451
  • The title is, "the lord is my shepherd."
  • 00:26:34.451 --> 00:26:36.220
  • It's a book about god's abiding presence, his guidance in our
  • 00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:39.690
  • Lives, and the fact that he charts a course for us.
  • 00:26:39.690 --> 00:26:42.760
  • It's a book i believe will change your life, but it's also
  • 00:26:42.760 --> 00:26:46.030
  • A really easy book to share with a friend.
  • 00:26:46.030 --> 00:26:48.632
  • So i wanna give you an invitation.
  • 00:26:48.632 --> 00:26:49.967
  • Let's not just enjoy the word of god and what god does for us.
  • 00:26:49.967 --> 00:26:53.804
  • Let's decide to be a light in our families, in our community,
  • 00:26:53.804 --> 00:26:57.474
  • In your sunday school class, wherever that may be.
  • 00:26:57.474 --> 00:27:00.210
  • I believe this book is a wonderful tool not only for you,
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  • But for the people you care about.
  • 00:27:04.448 --> 00:27:05.916
  • "the lord is my shepherd," that's a message we need now.
  • 00:27:05.916 --> 00:27:12.790
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:16.126 --> 00:27:29.339