Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Spiritual Terrorism (Part 1)

April 15, 2025 | S25:E108

Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Spiritual Terrorism (Part 1) | April 15, 2025

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♪♪♪
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Allen jackson: it's good to be with you again, we're continuing
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Our study on "angels, demons and you."
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It's that end "you" part that makes all the difference.
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This is not a theoretical discussion, we're trying to
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Understand how spiritual forces influence our lives.
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In this session, we're going to talk about spiritual terrorism,
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It's an awkward truth but it's an important one.
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You know, there are some truths we'd just rather not think
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About, we try to avoid them, maybe you avoid doctor's
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Appointments or dentist's appointments or you don't like
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To read the letters that come from the irs, but the reality is
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All of those things are really helpful pieces of information.
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Well, knowing the truth about the spiritual forces that are
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Shaping your days and will determine the outcome of your
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Future is not just important, it's essential.
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So grab your bible, get a notepad, most of all open your
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Heart, and let's see what god has for us today.
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Allen jackson: we're working through a series on
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"angels, demons, and you."
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And the end "you" is the important part, it's not
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A theoretical discussion.
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We've spent some time talking about how to invite the spirit
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Of god into our lives, how to be aware of the angels that god has
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At his disposal as our helpers, but we need to equally be aware
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Of the spiritual forces of darkness that are arrayed
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Against us, because they're just as certain.
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It's not theoretical, we need to understand how to engage
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In that conflict.
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So the title for this particular session is
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"spiritual terrorism."
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I don't intend it as a threat, one of the ways of understanding
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History is in methods of warfare.
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World war i was about trench warfare, vietnam was about
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Guerrilla warfare in the jungles of southeast asia.
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For several years, we've been involved in conflicts in the
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Desert and those are wide-open spaces, so distance matters and
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Covering that distance.
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And well, terrorism, the way it's being practiced today is
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Changing how conflict happens.
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You know, in the revolutionary war, when the farmers and the
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Woodsmen in the colonies had to fight the british regulars, the
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British regulars lined up in bright red coats in straight
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Lines on the battlefield, the woodsmen from the colonies had
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Been shooting squirrels in the forest so they stood behind
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Trees and shot the officers.
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It was an effective strategy but it was against the rules.
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And one of the ways of understanding the changing
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Course of history is when different types of warfare have
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Been implemented, and terrorism, as we watch it today, is
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A change.
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Terrorism is about combatants on the field of conflict who don't
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Wear uniforms, who don't identify with the nation,
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They're identified by an ideology, they don't acknowledge
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The geneva convention.
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If you don't know what that is, there's an agreed upon
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Humanitarian conduct during conflict.
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Even in the midst of wars that decide the futures of nations
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And empires, we have agreed upon a manner of conduct
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That's appropriate.
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Modern day terrorists don't recognize that, they have
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A different moral code.
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Women and children are not off-limits, they're used as
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Weapons, they're used as shields, it's a part of
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The conflict.
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You may look at that and say, "well, it's not fair."
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I agree, but it's a change in strategy and tactic, and we're
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Naive if we don't acknowledge it.
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Well, there's a spiritual struggle taking place in the
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Earth, it's between good and evil, and it aligns itself more
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And description with what we see in the nature of modern day
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Terrorists than it does a conflict where the principles
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Participate in the geneva convention, it's evil.
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By definition, it's a conflict between good and evil.
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And in the church, we have been very vulnerable because we've
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Heard the phrase that we should, "love everybody," that, "god is
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Love," and it's true that god is love and we have assignments to
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Love our enemies, but it doesn't say that we always have to
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Be kind.
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Jesus wasn't always kind, jesus said some rather harsh things,
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God certainly throughout scripture is not always kind,
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He's a god of judgment just as certainly as he's a god of love.
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And the church is gonna have to mature a bit, we're gonna have
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To grow up, we've had so much, so much affluence, so much
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Security, our threats were distant, that we've been able to
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Have a rather theoretical faith.
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But the world has changed, many components have spoken into that
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But the reality is we are in a new world, and the church is
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Gonna have to grow with that.
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It's a rather awkward truth, and when i say awkward, not that it
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Is any less significant or less important, it's just one we
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Would rather not hear.
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You ever gone to the doctor and gotten an awkward truth?
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You know, "you're too heavy."
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No, i'm too short; i've never won that argument, but it makes
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Perfect sense to me, at 6'5" i would be healthy.
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Awkward truth.
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Awkward truth is truth a lot of times you wanna avoid, you don't
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Want to think about, you'd rather not dwell on it, you'd
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Just rather move on.
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Can't we think about something happier?
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That's a little awkward.
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But the reality is, awkward truth, typically the best way
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Through is to embrace it as soon as possible, to meet it head on,
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To embrace it fully and completely and totally.
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And i would submit that's true with this particular discussion.
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Awareness is a key, maybe you prefer vigilance, but being
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Aware matters.
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In john chapter 10, in verse 10, jesus is speaking and he said,
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"the thief," satan, he, "comes only to steal, to kill and
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Destroy, but i've come that you might have life and have
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It abundantly."
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Now, jesus defined the broad parameters of our lives, we're
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Caught between this conflict between the kingdom of light,
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The kingdom of god, and the kingdom of darkness.
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There's not a third option, there's not a third rail, and
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Satan and his entire host, his entire kingdom have one ultimate
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Objective, your destruction.
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If they can't totally destroy your life, they'll do their best
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To disrupt it, to steal from you what god intended you to have;
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They'll try to discourage you, diminish you, limit your
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Effectiveness, hinder you, hamper you, torment you.
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It's a kingdom of torment and diminishment and destruction,
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And when you entertain ungodliness or immorality or
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Wickedness or darkness you invite that into your life just
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As certainly as when you invite the spirit of god into your life
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And you choose jesus as lord that you choose deliverance and
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Restoration and forgiveness and wholeness.
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Jesus said it, this isn't some abstract notion of a preacher,
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"the thief comes to steal, to kill and destroy."
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Jesus said, "i have come that you can have life and have it to
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The full," the fullest possible life for a human being is
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Yielded to the lordship of jesus of nazareth.
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He won't diminish you, he won't take something from you, he
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Won't limit you.
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In fact, he'll take the limits off of your life.
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So as christ followers, then, we are engaged in a conflict, you
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Don't have to choose it, simply by your participation in the
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Kingdom of god you have an enemy who has targeted you.
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Say, "well, i don't like that, i'd rather not think about it."
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I know, it's awkward, but ignoring it won't change
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That reality.
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In romans chapter 12, in verse 21, it says, "don't be overcome
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By evil, but overcome evil with good."
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Multiple assignments in that short little sentence, "don't be
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Overcome by evil," don't allow evil to overcome you, recognize
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It for what it is, don't yield to it, don't accommodate it,
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Don't give it greater authority.
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But then we're given another assignment, we have to overcome
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Evil, that's not a passive response, that's not just
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Withdrawing, that's not just isolation, we've been given an
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Assertive role to overcome evil.
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It seems to me that the 21st century church and much of the
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20th century church chose a different path, we chose
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To overlook evil, we'll just accommodate it.
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Nah, i didn't notice, didn't pay much attention, wasn't affecting
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Me directly so i just didn't look.
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But that's not the assignment, i believe we'll be held
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Accountable if we spend our lives overlooking evil.
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"don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil," not with anger,
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Not with hate, not with violence, not with politics,
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"overcome evil with good."
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I'll give you one more verse thats right into this
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Discussion, revelation 21, that's very near the end of the
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Book, it's the identification of who the victors are, who is
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Triumphant at the end of the entire story, who is gonna
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Receive the blessing and the benefit of participating in the
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Kingdom of god.
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It's revelation 21:7, "he who overcomes will inherit all of
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This, and i will be his god and he'll be my son."
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"he who overcomes," we've rewritten that, "he who is born
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Again, he who's saved, he who gets baptized."
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I believe in all of those things, i believe in conversion,
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I'm very much an advocate for baptism, they're biblically
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Directed, but we're not done there, that's just your entry
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Into the journey.
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The objective of being born again, the objective of
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Salvation, the objective of the obedience and baptism is to add
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Momentum so that you will have the tools you need to lead the
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Life of an overcomer, not just in overcoming the challenges
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That present to you; every life has challenges to overcome,
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Every one of us, disappointments, hardships,
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Things that we didn't intend to be a part of our journey that
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Encroach upon our lives, those things we all have to deal with.
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The kingdom assignment is standing together,
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Shoulder-to-shoulder as the body of christ, to see evil overcome.
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We don't yield to it, we don't accommodate it, we intend to see
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It diminished, i intend to see jesus welcomed into our public
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Schools, into our college campuses.
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I look forward to having multiple choices in public
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Elections between godly individuals.
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Why would we yield?
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God is capable of doing that.
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We've embraced immorality, ungodliness and wickedness
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For too long.
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The bible is so clear, god has made abundant provision, we
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Don't have to lead lives of fear.
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I'm telling you, fear stalks the streets of our nation today,
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We're afraid to say what we think, we're afraid for our own
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Physical health, we're afraid for our children, we're afraid
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For our resources.
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Fear is walking our streets, church.
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We have an answer.
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Listen to what the scripture says, psalm 98, verse 1,
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"sing to the lord a new song."
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Now you don't need to sing a new song if you're old song is
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Perfect, we need some new songs.
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"for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his
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Holy arm have worked salvation for him.
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The lord has made his salvation known and revealed his
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Righteousness to the nations."
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I intend to be a part of the generation that sees the
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Righteousness of our lord declared to the nations.
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It would be a good thing, it would be a good thing,
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It would be a good thing.
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We've apologized for it for too long, "well, we don't want to be
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Appropriate another's culture."
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If the culture is destructive and diminishing and facilitates
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Evil in the lives of people, there is a better solution.
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All worldviews aren't the same, all belief systems don't have
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The same outcomes.
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There aren't many approaches to god, jesus said, "i'm the way,
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The truth and the life, and no one comes to the father except
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Through me."
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If the church doesn't believe that, who will?
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God will work salvation.
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Again, not angry, not critical.
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Isaiah 42, "i, the lord, have called you in righteousness."
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Righteousness is a big old word.
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In the biblical sense, it's the ability to stand in the presence
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Of god without fear, without guilt and without shame.
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Now, we're all broken folk, nobody here wants the darkest
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Chapters of your life on the big screens at church.
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In fact, if we had spiritual detectors at the door like they
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Have metal detectors at the airport and when you walked
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Through that little rascal it would flash on the screen the
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Dark parts of your heart, building would be empty today
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'cause pastor'd be outside.
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But righteousness comes to us as a gift through faith in jesus
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Christ, and then there's a power that takes up residence within
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Us, the spirit of god, to help us begin to learn.
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And we have to learn to do this, we have to choose to do this to
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Lead righteous lives.
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You can't accept the gift of righteousness and then give
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Yourself to unrighteousness and think that you will receive
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The benefits.
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We receive the gift of righteousness so that we might
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Have the help, the power, the authority of the spirit of god.
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Then we can begin to learn to lead righteous lives.
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♪♪♪
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Female announcer: it's going to be an amazing spring at world
00:13:51.079 --> 00:13:53.281
Outreach church, and you're invited to be part of it all.
00:13:53.281 --> 00:13:56.684
Join us in murfreesboro for easter weekend and our spring
00:13:56.684 --> 00:13:59.687
Festival, kicking off saturday, april 12 and running through
00:13:59.687 --> 00:14:02.924
Sunday, april 27.
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Worship with musical guest artists crowder, charity gayle,
00:14:04.859 --> 00:14:08.730
Matthew west, franni cash, and the katinas.
00:14:08.730 --> 00:14:11.933
Hear special messages from pastor allen jackson.
00:14:11.933 --> 00:14:14.602
Enjoy fun activities for the whole family, food trucks
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And more.
00:14:17.739 --> 00:14:19.107
Services will take place both indoors and outdoors.
00:14:19.107 --> 00:14:21.609
Invite your friends and family to come celebrate our risen king
00:14:21.609 --> 00:14:24.812
This spring.
00:14:24.812 --> 00:14:26.180
Allen: hey, this is pastor allen.
00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:27.515
I wanna give you a personal invitation to join us on our
00:14:27.515 --> 00:14:29.617
Campus here in murfreesboro for our spring festival and our
00:14:29.617 --> 00:14:33.087
Easter celebration.
00:14:33.087 --> 00:14:34.822
It's a wonderful time to be with people of faith and celebrate
00:14:34.822 --> 00:14:38.626
This most remarkable time of the year.
00:14:38.626 --> 00:14:40.929
Announcer: find all the details at allenjackson.com/spring.
00:14:40.929 --> 00:14:44.532
We can't wait to see you there.
00:14:44.532 --> 00:14:46.968
Allen: i believe god is moving in the earth in an unprecedented
00:14:51.172 --> 00:14:54.108
Way, and at the heart of that is an awakening, it's a shaking,
00:14:54.108 --> 00:14:58.112
And in that shaking, there's a sifting.
00:14:58.112 --> 00:14:59.747
There are people falling through the cracks and there are people
00:14:59.747 --> 00:15:01.883
Becoming more alert and aware of what god is doing.
00:15:01.883 --> 00:15:04.953
At the heart of that is the acknowledgment, the realization
00:15:04.953 --> 00:15:08.523
That spiritual forces shape our lives.
00:15:08.523 --> 00:15:11.559
Folks, this isn't for the lunatic fringe, this isn't for
00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:14.529
The hyper spiritual people.
00:15:14.529 --> 00:15:16.965
This is the stuff of the bible and it better be the stuff of
00:15:16.965 --> 00:15:19.400
Our lives or we are in a tremendous deficit position.
00:15:19.400 --> 00:15:23.938
Well, i've written a book, "angels, demons & you," simply a
00:15:23.938 --> 00:15:27.075
Biblical review of those spiritual forces that are
00:15:27.075 --> 00:15:29.877
Impacting us today.
00:15:29.877 --> 00:15:31.212
There's a battle in the earth and it's not between armies
00:15:31.212 --> 00:15:33.948
Wearing the labels of nations or terrorist groups.
00:15:33.948 --> 00:15:36.818
It's a spiritual battle.
00:15:36.818 --> 00:15:38.386
If you don't understand, if you don't understand the equipment
00:15:38.386 --> 00:15:40.989
And the authority you've been given, you are at a tremendous
00:15:40.989 --> 00:15:44.592
Position of forfeiture.
00:15:44.592 --> 00:15:46.828
Don't live that way.
00:15:46.828 --> 00:15:48.196
"angels, demons & you," you need the solution.
00:15:48.196 --> 00:15:51.699
Female announcer: loneliness, depression, despair, they all
00:15:51.699 --> 00:15:55.003
Have a spiritual origin.
00:15:55.003 --> 00:15:56.637
We're in a spiritual battle, and the forces of evil stand against
00:15:56.637 --> 00:16:00.174
Us, but we don't need to be afraid.
00:16:00.174 --> 00:16:02.710
We need to prepare.
00:16:02.710 --> 00:16:04.212
Allen: jesus said the children have angels assigned to them,
00:16:04.212 --> 00:16:06.781
That have the father's attention.
00:16:06.781 --> 00:16:08.349
It's safe to say that in the kingdom of god there are
00:16:08.349 --> 00:16:11.419
Spiritual beings in significant number.
00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:16.024
And they're ministering spirits, the bible says, sent forth to
00:16:16.024 --> 00:16:19.160
Help us.
00:16:19.160 --> 00:16:20.828
They're messengers, they fill the pages of scripture, and yet
00:16:20.828 --> 00:16:23.798
We tend to kind of imagine as if it's peripheral, secondary, that
00:16:23.798 --> 00:16:27.869
You could be a christ follower, not really be engaged or have to
00:16:27.869 --> 00:16:30.671
Imagine spiritual forces.
00:16:30.671 --> 00:16:32.707
"we believe in organization."
00:16:32.707 --> 00:16:35.343
Well, so do i, i like a good plan, and i like an organization
00:16:35.343 --> 00:16:39.747
That is run well.
00:16:39.747 --> 00:16:41.482
But i don't want to--it's not an either or equation, and i
00:16:41.482 --> 00:16:44.085
Certainly don't want to exchange the power of god and the
00:16:44.085 --> 00:16:47.922
Spiritual help that he's made available to us, for the
00:16:47.922 --> 00:16:50.425
Imagination that we can out organize evil.
00:16:50.425 --> 00:16:52.727
Announcer: pastor allen's new book, "angels, demons & you"
00:16:52.727 --> 00:16:55.596
Offers compelling biblical evidence about angels and
00:16:55.596 --> 00:16:58.766
Demons, and their roles in the heavens, on earth and in
00:16:58.766 --> 00:17:02.703
Our lives.
00:17:02.703 --> 00:17:04.038
It answers the questions you want to know.
00:17:04.038 --> 00:17:06.841
Learn what the bible has to say about angels, demons and
00:17:06.841 --> 00:17:10.111
Spiritual warfare.
00:17:10.111 --> 00:17:11.646
Gain helpful insight that will help you identify and remove
00:17:11.646 --> 00:17:15.249
Evil from your life.
00:17:15.249 --> 00:17:17.151
Find practical tools and biblical truth that will help
00:17:17.151 --> 00:17:20.154
You align your beliefs more fully with god's word.
00:17:20.154 --> 00:17:23.324
"angels, demons & you" will help you recognize the spiritual
00:17:23.324 --> 00:17:26.694
Battle around you, so you can live without fear and stand firm
00:17:26.694 --> 00:17:30.098
In your faith.
00:17:30.098 --> 00:17:31.432
Allen: this is our season in time to be a difference maker
00:17:31.432 --> 00:17:33.935
For the kingdom of god, and that's a spiritual assignment.
00:17:33.935 --> 00:17:37.805
Female announcer: request your copy when you donate $30 or more
00:17:37.805 --> 00:17:41.242
At allenjackson.com or by calling ...
00:17:41.242 --> 00:17:48.216
Allen jackson: there's a conflict in the earth today,
00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:53.688
A battle raging; it's not a new struggle, this is not the first
00:17:53.688 --> 00:17:56.791
Time, we're not the first generation.
00:17:56.791 --> 00:17:58.960
Are we approaching the end of the age?
00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.495
I think there's a very real argument for that, but not
00:18:00.495 --> 00:18:03.331
Because of just the struggle we see in the world, there've been
00:18:03.331 --> 00:18:05.867
Generations where tremendous, awful destructive forces have
00:18:05.867 --> 00:18:10.571
Been unleashed on humanity.
00:18:10.571 --> 00:18:14.142
It's just our selfishness that when that bumps into us we say,
00:18:14.142 --> 00:18:16.944
"oh, it has to be the end of the world," and then we craft a
00:18:16.944 --> 00:18:20.214
Theology that says, "well, i'm not gonna have to deal with the
00:18:20.214 --> 00:18:22.150
End of the world so i don't have to pay any attention, let's go
00:18:22.150 --> 00:18:24.018
Back to the party."
00:18:24.018 --> 00:18:26.120
What a destructive notion.
00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:28.356
When we see darkness increasing we have to understand we have
00:18:28.356 --> 00:18:31.225
An assignment to be light, this is not a new thing.
00:18:31.225 --> 00:18:34.695
In acts chapter 4, very near the beginning of the
00:18:34.695 --> 00:18:38.099
Church initiative.
00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:39.433
Jesus went back to heaven in acts 1, acts chapter 2 is the
00:18:39.433 --> 00:18:42.170
Day of pentecost when the church goes public.
00:18:42.170 --> 00:18:45.406
In acts chapter 4, it says, "the priest and the captains
00:18:45.406 --> 00:18:47.775
Of the temple guard and the sadducees came up to peter
00:18:47.775 --> 00:18:50.444
And john while they were speaking to the people.
00:18:50.444 --> 00:18:54.448
They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were
00:18:54.448 --> 00:18:56.651
Teaching the people and proclaiming in jesus the
00:18:56.651 --> 00:18:58.819
Resurrection of the dead."
00:18:58.819 --> 00:19:01.656
They were disturbed, angry because they were talking about
00:19:01.656 --> 00:19:04.592
Jesus being raised from the dead, declaring him to be
00:19:04.592 --> 00:19:07.728
The son of god.
00:19:07.728 --> 00:19:09.063
The opposition hasn't changed much in 2,000 years, that
00:19:09.063 --> 00:19:14.502
Story's resisted right now all over our nation.
00:19:14.502 --> 00:19:19.807
"they seized peter and john, and because it was evening they put
00:19:19.807 --> 00:19:22.210
Them in jail until the next day."
00:19:22.210 --> 00:19:24.812
They put them in jail overnight 'cause they were talking about
00:19:24.812 --> 00:19:27.148
Jesus, "but many who heard the message believed, and the number
00:19:27.148 --> 00:19:29.917
Of men grew to about 5,000."
00:19:29.917 --> 00:19:31.786
You willing to spend the night in jail so the gospel
00:19:31.786 --> 00:19:33.588
Can proliferate?
00:19:33.588 --> 00:19:36.757
Are you willing for me to?
00:19:36.757 --> 00:19:38.092
A different question, sorry.
00:19:38.092 --> 00:19:42.730
We've gotten a little soft, we think suffering is parking
00:19:42.730 --> 00:19:45.933
Two rows farther away from the building than we wanted to, not
00:19:45.933 --> 00:19:50.137
Sitting in the sanctuary where we want it to be, not having the
00:19:50.137 --> 00:19:53.341
People participating in worship that we wanted to hear.
00:19:53.341 --> 00:19:58.846
Acts chapter 14, a little further in the story, says,
00:19:58.846 --> 00:20:00.948
"they preached the good news in that city and they won a large
00:20:00.948 --> 00:20:03.050
Number of disciples."
00:20:03.050 --> 00:20:04.485
We'd like to see that happen, large numbers of new disciples.
00:20:04.485 --> 00:20:07.955
"then they returned to lystra, iconium, and antioch,
00:20:07.955 --> 00:20:10.057
Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain
00:20:10.057 --> 00:20:12.560
True to the faith."
00:20:12.560 --> 00:20:13.894
This was their message, it's in quotes, "we must go through many
00:20:13.894 --> 00:20:16.597
Hardships to enter the kingdom of god."
00:20:16.597 --> 00:20:20.468
We gotta go through many hardships.
00:20:20.468 --> 00:20:23.137
"well pastor, that's a little awkward, can't we talk about
00:20:23.137 --> 00:20:25.740
Something else?"
00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.108
Why do we go through hardships, because life is hard?
00:20:27.108 --> 00:20:29.577
No, because there's a conflict in the earth, there are
00:20:29.577 --> 00:20:32.747
Spiritual forces influencing your life today, some for you,
00:20:32.747 --> 00:20:36.550
Some opposing you.
00:20:36.550 --> 00:20:38.986
We're gonna talk about that battleground and how they
00:20:38.986 --> 00:20:40.955
Intersect with your life in a little bit more detail.
00:20:40.955 --> 00:20:44.825
But let's go to acts chapter 19, paul is in the city of ephesus
00:20:44.825 --> 00:20:50.598
And he's having some success with his gospel message.
00:20:50.598 --> 00:20:52.700
It says, "he entered the synagogue," in acts 19, verse 8,
00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:56.203
"and spoke boldly there for three months, he argued
00:20:56.203 --> 00:20:59.407
Persuasively about the kingdom of god."
00:20:59.407 --> 00:21:01.909
It's a kingdom message, not a church message.
00:21:01.909 --> 00:21:05.513
"some of them became obstinate; and they refused to believe, and
00:21:05.513 --> 00:21:09.283
Publicly maligned the way."
00:21:09.283 --> 00:21:12.553
Please note the choices, they refused to believe, "i'm not
00:21:12.553 --> 00:21:16.257
Going to believe that."
00:21:16.257 --> 00:21:18.326
You see, when you choose against god what you do, whether you
00:21:18.326 --> 00:21:22.563
Have done it on purpose or not, you've aligned yourself with the
00:21:22.563 --> 00:21:25.199
Kingdom of darkness.
00:21:25.199 --> 00:21:27.601
Unbelief is not a casual thing, the bible calls it, a heart of
00:21:27.601 --> 00:21:32.006
Unbelief, "wicked."
00:21:32.006 --> 00:21:34.542
You see, when you believe god, when you believe his word, when
00:21:34.542 --> 00:21:37.712
You're faithful to god and faithful to his word you bring
00:21:37.712 --> 00:21:40.781
Alignment with his kingdom.
00:21:40.781 --> 00:21:42.283
When you refuse to believe, you're reading your bible, say,
00:21:42.283 --> 00:21:46.053
"you know, i just don't know if i believe that," you're standing
00:21:46.053 --> 00:21:48.456
In a very dangerous place of aligning yourself with those
00:21:48.456 --> 00:21:51.992
Forces in opposition to god.
00:21:51.992 --> 00:21:56.831
So they're in ephesus, many people are believing but some
00:21:56.831 --> 00:21:59.133
Refused to believe, and typically, then they become
00:21:59.133 --> 00:22:03.771
Opponents because they've given themselves over to a spirit that
00:22:03.771 --> 00:22:06.841
Opposes that message, they began to publicly malign the way.
00:22:06.841 --> 00:22:10.711
"so paul left them.
00:22:10.711 --> 00:22:12.713
He took disciples with him and had discussions daily in the
00:22:12.713 --> 00:22:15.216
Lecture hall of tyrannus.
00:22:15.216 --> 00:22:17.551
This went on for two years, so that all the jews and the greeks
00:22:17.551 --> 00:22:20.221
Who lived in the province of asia heard the word
00:22:20.221 --> 00:22:22.423
Of the lord."
00:22:22.423 --> 00:22:24.125
An entire region of the world has heard the gospel.
00:22:24.125 --> 00:22:27.995
"god did extraordinary miracles through paul."
00:22:27.995 --> 00:22:31.532
Are you up for that category, not just miracles,
00:22:31.532 --> 00:22:34.268
Extraordinary miracles?
00:22:34.268 --> 00:22:37.304
That's another day.
00:22:37.304 --> 00:22:39.306
"even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken
00:22:39.306 --> 00:22:41.609
To the sick, and their illnesses were cured and evil spirits
00:22:41.609 --> 00:22:44.078
Left them."
00:22:44.078 --> 00:22:47.214
Could you receive that way?
00:22:47.214 --> 00:22:50.451
Are you willing to receive that way?
00:22:50.451 --> 00:22:52.386
"i want somebody to pray for me while i pray over this cloth,
00:22:52.386 --> 00:22:58.058
Lay it on yourself."
00:22:58.058 --> 00:23:00.561
"wait a minute, i mean, i know it's in the bible but it's not
00:23:00.561 --> 00:23:03.831
What i want."
00:23:03.831 --> 00:23:06.867
I understand that but i think a part of what god is awakening us
00:23:06.867 --> 00:23:10.638
To is not just to get what we want in the way we want it,
00:23:10.638 --> 00:23:13.974
But how to cooperate with him.
00:23:13.974 --> 00:23:16.644
It seems to me we've had an 18-month seminar and "what you
00:23:16.644 --> 00:23:19.013
Want," doesn't get to go to the head of the line.
00:23:19.013 --> 00:23:23.150
And in the midst of not getting all of our wants,
00:23:23.150 --> 00:23:25.719
Are we willing to follow the lord in some new ways?
00:23:25.719 --> 00:23:28.689
Are we willing to open our heart and our mind?
00:23:28.689 --> 00:23:30.591
Are we willing to interact, are we willing to serve, are we
00:23:30.591 --> 00:23:32.593
Willing to change our routine?
00:23:32.593 --> 00:23:34.528
Or are we just gonna close our fist and stomp our feet and say,
00:23:34.528 --> 00:23:39.099
"i want what i want"?
00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:44.905
Well, "some jews went around driving out evil spirits and
00:23:44.905 --> 00:23:48.309
They tried to invoke the name of the lord jesus over those
00:23:48.309 --> 00:23:50.778
Who were demon-possessed.
00:23:50.778 --> 00:23:52.546
And they would say, 'in the name of jesus whom paul preaches,
00:23:52.546 --> 00:23:54.782
I command you to come out.'"
00:23:54.782 --> 00:24:00.287
Then they turned the page.
00:24:00.287 --> 00:24:03.591
And, "seven sons of a jewish high priest."
00:24:03.591 --> 00:24:06.293
There's a jewish priest that has seven sons and they were
00:24:06.293 --> 00:24:09.263
Watching this and they're engaging in this.
00:24:09.263 --> 00:24:13.868
And, "one day the evil spirit answered them, 'jesus i know,
00:24:13.868 --> 00:24:21.475
And i know about paul, but who are you?'"
00:24:21.475 --> 00:24:27.181
It's not apparent in english, but in greek there's
00:24:27.181 --> 00:24:30.284
Two different words there.
00:24:30.284 --> 00:24:31.619
When it says, "jesus i know," there's one greek word used,
00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:34.555
When it says, "and i know about paul," there's another
00:24:34.555 --> 00:24:36.557
Word used.
00:24:36.557 --> 00:24:38.893
"jesus, i understand, paul, i know about him,
00:24:38.893 --> 00:24:47.935
But i don't know you."
00:24:48.769 --> 00:24:52.139
"the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered
00:24:52.139 --> 00:24:55.643
Them all."
00:24:55.643 --> 00:24:57.511
Seven brothers against one stranger, that's a humiliating
00:24:57.511 --> 00:25:01.849
Outcome, but it gets worse.
00:25:01.849 --> 00:25:03.918
"he gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house
00:25:03.918 --> 00:25:06.487
Naked and bleeding.
00:25:06.487 --> 00:25:10.457
When this became known to the jews and the greeks living
00:25:10.457 --> 00:25:12.960
In [the city], they were seized with fear, and the name of the
00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:16.363
Lord was held in high honor."
00:25:16.363 --> 00:25:17.731
God took something that was a disastrous failure and used it
00:25:17.731 --> 00:25:21.068
For his purposes.
00:25:21.068 --> 00:25:23.304
"many of those who believed," hope you'll circle that word,
00:25:23.304 --> 00:25:26.340
"those who believed," because the rest of what we're about
00:25:26.340 --> 00:25:28.309
To read is something that took place in the community
00:25:28.309 --> 00:25:30.911
Of believers; not amongst the pagans, amongst those
00:25:30.911 --> 00:25:34.214
Who believed.
00:25:34.214 --> 00:25:35.583
Because paul has been preaching for three months, there's quite
00:25:35.583 --> 00:25:37.184
The community of believers.
00:25:37.184 --> 00:25:39.587
"many of those who believed came and openly confessed their
00:25:39.587 --> 00:25:43.924
Evil deeds."
00:25:43.924 --> 00:25:45.392
Do we have the imagination that in the midst of those who
00:25:45.392 --> 00:25:47.828
Believe there is still the intentional cultivation of
00:25:47.828 --> 00:25:51.632
Evil deeds?
00:25:51.632 --> 00:25:53.467
Yes is the answer.
00:25:53.467 --> 00:25:57.471
"a number who'd practiced sorcery brought their scrolls
00:25:57.471 --> 00:26:00.240
Together and burned them publicly.
00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.609
When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came
00:26:01.609 --> 00:26:04.311
To 50,000 drachmas.
00:26:04.311 --> 00:26:05.679
In this way the word of the lord spread widely and grew
00:26:05.679 --> 00:26:08.749
In power."
00:26:08.749 --> 00:26:10.250
It's a remarkable little story, it's helpful for our
00:26:10.250 --> 00:26:12.286
Circumstance right now.
00:26:12.286 --> 00:26:14.154
It says the fear of the lord grew in the city in verse 17.
00:26:14.154 --> 00:26:16.624
That would be a primary objective, we want the respect,
00:26:16.624 --> 00:26:18.959
The reverence, the awe of god to increase all over
00:26:18.959 --> 00:26:22.229
Our communities.
00:26:22.229 --> 00:26:24.198
Allen jackson: throughout the book of acts, almost every place
00:26:24.198 --> 00:26:26.500
That paul visited it seems there was a riot or a disturbance
00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:30.070
Of some kind.
00:26:30.070 --> 00:26:31.639
I think the church needs to recalibrate a little bit, our
00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:34.441
Goal is not to be well-liked, our goal is to be effective.
00:26:34.441 --> 00:26:39.179
And i think we have adopted an attitude of rather than being
00:26:39.179 --> 00:26:41.849
Overcomers we have become overlookers, we just overlook
00:26:41.849 --> 00:26:46.253
Sin, we overlook uncomfortable things.
00:26:46.253 --> 00:26:48.989
If we will face the truth and invite god in he will bring
00:26:48.989 --> 00:26:52.426
Victories and we will see a changes of hearts that will
00:26:52.426 --> 00:26:55.529
Impact our homes, our communities and our nation.
00:26:55.529 --> 00:26:58.632
Let's pray.
00:26:58.632 --> 00:27:00.000
Father, i thank you for your word, for its truth, its power,
00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:02.703
And its authority.
00:27:02.703 --> 00:27:04.238
I thank you that the spirit that brought life to jesus's body
00:27:04.238 --> 00:27:07.841
Lives within us.
00:27:07.841 --> 00:27:09.276
Give us the boldness to give first place to jesus in
00:27:09.276 --> 00:27:12.980
Each place you send us.
00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:14.481
I thank you for it.
00:27:14.481 --> 00:27:15.816
In jesus's name, amen.
00:27:15.816 --> 00:27:17.251
God bless you.
00:27:17.251 --> 00:27:18.585
♪♪♪
00:27:18.585 --> 00:27:29.463

Allen Jackson - Spiritual Terrorism (Part 1)

April 15, 2025 | S25:E108

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