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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - When God Intervenes (Part 1)

December 26, 2024 | S

Allen Jackson - When God Intervenes (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Faith #TrustGod #Prayer #Religion #Christmas #WordofGod #Timing #Miracles #Patience #WaitingonGod #inActive #Breakthrough #AllenJacksonMinistries #AllenJackson #Diligence #Galatians4:4

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - When God Intervenes (Part 1) | December 26, 2024
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: i want to start a new series with you under the
  • 00:00:07.389 --> 00:00:10.159
  • General theme of breakthroughs, those places in our lives where
  • 00:00:10.259 --> 00:00:11.360
  • God intervenes.
  • 00:00:13.195 --> 00:00:15.330
  • And this really has come out of a portion of my own journey in
  • 00:00:15.330 --> 00:00:18.434
  • These last few weeks and even months.
  • 00:00:18.434 --> 00:00:19.835
  • I've got a good friend, and we touch base from time to time, in
  • 00:00:19.835 --> 00:00:24.873
  • Another state and we had agreed for some breakthroughs,
  • 00:00:24.873 --> 00:00:30.245
  • Particularly in some initiatives that he was walking through.
  • 00:00:30.245 --> 00:00:34.049
  • And it's led to several conversations about what
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  • Breakthroughs would look like and how that would feel and how
  • 00:00:35.951 --> 00:00:38.554
  • We would know.
  • 00:00:38.554 --> 00:00:40.222
  • And i--so as i've been thinking and praying and living with
  • 00:00:40.222 --> 00:00:43.158
  • That, i wanna just walk through some of that with you.
  • 00:00:43.158 --> 00:00:46.261
  • And the christmas season seemed like a perfect time to do that.
  • 00:00:46.261 --> 00:00:49.765
  • And in my head, a breakthrough are those places where there's
  • 00:00:49.765 --> 00:00:51.967
  • An intervention, where god intervenes in our lives, where
  • 00:00:51.967 --> 00:00:55.104
  • There's an outcome that could really only adequately be
  • 00:00:55.104 --> 00:00:57.272
  • Understood by acknowledging that god was involved in what
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  • Was happening.
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  • It's something beyond a very well-organized something, or
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  • Something that was really well thought through, or something
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  • That really expressed the creativity that god had given
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  • To us.
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  • A breakthrough to me represents something far beyond that where
  • 00:01:10.119 --> 00:01:12.221
  • People look at that and go, you know, "only god."
  • 00:01:12.221 --> 00:01:15.691
  • And i'm not saying we didn't plan and it didn't require
  • 00:01:15.691 --> 00:01:17.793
  • Creativity and it didn't require diligence, but god was involved.
  • 00:01:17.793 --> 00:01:21.797
  • In galatians 4 and verse 4, it says: "when the time had fully
  • 00:01:21.797 --> 00:01:24.299
  • Come, god sent his son, born of a woman, born under law, to
  • 00:01:24.299 --> 00:01:29.138
  • Redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights
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  • Of sons."
  • 00:01:31.773 --> 00:01:33.442
  • "when the time was just right," one of the translations says,
  • 00:01:33.442 --> 00:01:36.044
  • God sent his son that we might become children of god.
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  • Folks, we didn't initiate that.
  • 00:01:40.649 --> 00:01:43.152
  • That was not the result of a planning committee that said,
  • 00:01:43.152 --> 00:01:45.621
  • "you know, we're really in deep weeds and we need some help."
  • 00:01:45.621 --> 00:01:49.091
  • God initiated it--that whoever would choose could be a part of
  • 00:01:49.091 --> 00:01:52.728
  • His eternal kingdom.
  • 00:01:52.728 --> 00:01:54.730
  • So for those christians that are kind of on the spectrum where
  • 00:01:54.730 --> 00:01:58.433
  • Miracles are infrequent and maybe relegated to some point in
  • 00:01:58.433 --> 00:02:02.070
  • The distant past, i would remind you there is no entrance into
  • 00:02:02.070 --> 00:02:05.207
  • The kingdom of god without the supernatural involvement of god.
  • 00:02:05.207 --> 00:02:09.244
  • A new birth is more than a rational choice.
  • 00:02:09.244 --> 00:02:12.314
  • It's an expression of the power of god where we're delivered
  • 00:02:12.314 --> 00:02:15.083
  • From a kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of
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  • The son.
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  • And that was god initiated.
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  • So we've all experienced a breakthrough, if you're a
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  • Christ follower.
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  • When i say breakthroughs and we're gonna talk about this a
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  • Good bit.
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  • We're gonna look at some different individuals and
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  • Breakthroughs that they've had and what components we could
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  • Learn from that.
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  • But when i think of a breakthrough, it represents
  • 00:02:34.169 --> 00:02:36.338
  • Many things.
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  • It could be a point of deliverance.
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  • It could be a time of great revelation, of insight,
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  • Of understanding.
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  • It could be a time of redirection.
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  • It could be a place where god's purposes and plans are initiated
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  • In a completely new way.
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  • Sometimes it's a completion of something that we're not capable
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  • Of completing on our own.
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  • And god brings it to a finality.
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  • It can be the purposes of god being advanced or revealed or
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  • Welcomed or understood.
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  • No, i think in most of the conversations i have with folks
  • 00:03:05.167 --> 00:03:08.070
  • And we're talking and praying about breakthroughs that we're
  • 00:03:08.070 --> 00:03:10.539
  • Searching for, the ideal breakthrough is when there's a
  • 00:03:10.539 --> 00:03:15.244
  • Problem or a challenge or some deficit that we will acknowledge
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  • And we invite god into that.
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  • And in the ideal circumstance, god responds with complete--a
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  • Complete solution and the completely intact
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  • Imagined future.
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  • Boom!
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  • That's the way we want it.
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  • Oh, don't look innocent.
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  • I mean, i've listened to thousands of people present
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  • Prayer requests and the one we want is what we want, the way we
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  • Want when we want.
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  • Now will be acceptable.
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  • Well, yesterday was better.
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  • Tomorrow is questionable.
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  • That would be our breakthrough.
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  • And sometimes the lord does that.
  • 00:03:53.915 --> 00:03:58.020
  • But my observation is that life is seldom ideal.
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  • And while god is busy with breakthroughs, they come in many
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  • Different packages.
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  • In fact, i find that we are frequently delivered out of
  • 00:04:09.798 --> 00:04:12.367
  • Something, but we're not brought into something
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  • Different immediately.
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  • Sometimes the lord delivers us out of a place, but what's next
  • 00:04:18.607 --> 00:04:22.077
  • Is not as immediately apparent and we have to continue to
  • 00:04:22.077 --> 00:04:24.980
  • Follow the lord which causes significant groaning.
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  • Or sometimes we're delivered from something.
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  • But the adversary that we perceived isn't
  • 00:04:33.555 --> 00:04:35.924
  • Just annihilated.
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  • They're not totally removed from the arena.
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  • God's delivered us from that place.
  • 00:04:41.563 --> 00:04:44.232
  • But our adversary still stands there intact and we think,
  • 00:04:44.232 --> 00:04:46.935
  • "well, i thought god would melt them."
  • 00:04:46.935 --> 00:04:52.341
  • Or sometimes it's physical and we pray for healing and god
  • 00:04:52.341 --> 00:04:56.445
  • Brings healing and restoration through the medical community.
  • 00:04:56.445 --> 00:05:01.516
  • And we think, "well, i don't wanna have to go to the doctor."
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  • Duly noted.
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  • I don't want to stop at the filling station either, but it's
  • 00:05:08.857 --> 00:05:13.562
  • Better than pushing a car that's run out of gas.
  • 00:05:13.562 --> 00:05:17.065
  • Sometimes we're healed through a combination of prayer
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  • And medicine.
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  • Sometimes god brings healing, but there's still doctors
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  • Involved or there's a diagnosis that we didn't want.
  • 00:05:22.938 --> 00:05:25.707
  • And then the diagnosis is walked back and somebody said, "well,
  • 00:05:25.707 --> 00:05:29.044
  • You know, i guess they missed it."
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  • I don't think they missed anything.
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  • I think somewhere in between the beginning and the end, god
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  • Was involved.
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  • I think any time you present yourself for help and you get an
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  • Outcome that is acceptable, that brings restoration and renewal,
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  • You should be wise enough to say, "god was involved in that."
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  • If it's a trip to the doctor's office or a trip to the
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  • Mechanic, if you get a favorable outcome, i hope you have the
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  • Wisdom and experience to take a step back and say, "god,
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  • Thank you."
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  • Then you'll pay your bills with joy.
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  • Sometimes god presents opportunities to us,
  • 00:06:03.645 --> 00:06:06.014
  • Breakthrough opportunities, and then you recognize that it could
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  • Be such and yet it still requires of you
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  • Effort and resources.
  • 00:06:13.488 --> 00:06:16.658
  • "well, if it was god--" if it was god, it would sometimes
  • 00:06:16.658 --> 00:06:19.861
  • Require of you effort and resources.
  • 00:06:19.861 --> 00:06:24.232
  • I'm pretty certain god called moses to go help the hebrew
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  • Slaves get out of egypt.
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  • But if i've read the narrative anywhere close to correctly, it
  • 00:06:28.970 --> 00:06:32.474
  • Required a bit of effort on old mo's part.
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  • In fact, it took everything he had.
  • 00:06:37.579 --> 00:06:41.416
  • In fact, god buried him in the desert, but it was a
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  • Breakthrough of biblical proportions.
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  • So if i were looking for the basics and i will get to your
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  • Notes, i promise i will.
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  • Some of you were so excited it was a short outline and you
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  • Thought, "yes!"
  • 00:06:58.433 --> 00:07:01.002
  • You're newer.
  • 00:07:01.002 --> 00:07:03.738
  • You know, the basics around a breakthrough, it seems to me,
  • 00:07:03.738 --> 00:07:06.842
  • Begin with it isn't a passive response.
  • 00:07:06.842 --> 00:07:09.945
  • It's not like we just sit around and say, "you know, if god wants
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  • To help me."
  • 00:07:12.614 --> 00:07:14.683
  • You see, even our entrance into the kingdom of god doesn't
  • 00:07:14.683 --> 00:07:16.985
  • Emerge that way.
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  • The bible says that we have to believe in our heart and confess
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  • With our mouths.
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  • We can't save ourselves. we don't work our way into that.
  • 00:07:21.389 --> 00:07:23.058
  • But you have to respond to the lord.
  • 00:07:23.058 --> 00:07:25.760
  • And if you just sit with your arms folded and say, "well, if
  • 00:07:25.760 --> 00:07:27.629
  • God wants me to go to heaven, he'll come get me.
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  • If god's a god of love and grace and mercy, i don't believe god
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  • Would let anybody go to hell," you can say that all the way
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  • To hell.
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  • It requires a response on our part.
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  • Not that we earn it or deserve it.
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  • Don't imagine that breakthroughs are passive.
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  • Don't imagine that god's interventions are passive.
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  • We read the galatians passage that god's in the--in the
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  • Fullness of time, when the time was just right, god sent
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  • His son.
  • 00:07:52.554 --> 00:07:53.922
  • But you know the christmas narrative well enough to know
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  • That it took breakthroughs in the lives of multiple people for
  • 00:07:56.024 --> 00:07:59.461
  • That story to emerge.
  • 00:07:59.461 --> 00:08:02.230
  • It wasn't absent human beings saying yes to the lord.
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  • It was very much engaged with people.
  • 00:08:05.133 --> 00:08:08.470
  • So don't think that breakthroughs are passive.
  • 00:08:08.470 --> 00:08:10.372
  • Secondly, i would submit to you, they're fueled by obedience.
  • 00:08:10.372 --> 00:08:14.910
  • If you're not walking in obedience to the truth that you
  • 00:08:14.910 --> 00:08:17.546
  • Know, why do you imagine god would bring a breakthrough into
  • 00:08:17.546 --> 00:08:21.349
  • Your life?
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  • Again, i'm not saying you earn it, folks, but i'm saying there
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  • Is a power in the truth, and there's a power and an authority
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  • In obedience.
  • 00:08:28.490 --> 00:08:30.892
  • And we've gotten really sloppy in the contemporary version of
  • 00:08:30.892 --> 00:08:33.562
  • The church.
  • 00:08:33.562 --> 00:08:35.497
  • I mean, we really have, folks.
  • 00:08:35.497 --> 00:08:38.133
  • We're changing.
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  • I'm excited about it.
  • 00:08:39.501 --> 00:08:41.136
  • There's an awakening that's begun and we're a few years
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  • Into it.
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  • We're still kind of rubbing the sleep from our eyes.
  • 00:08:44.706 --> 00:08:47.809
  • And the third thing i would submit is that when there's a
  • 00:08:47.809 --> 00:08:50.078
  • Breakthrough, it typically results in being set apart.
  • 00:08:50.078 --> 00:08:55.050
  • And by that, i--when there's a breakthrough in your life, god's
  • 00:08:55.050 --> 00:08:58.119
  • Purpose has become more apparent to you.
  • 00:08:58.119 --> 00:09:00.989
  • You didn't want that.
  • 00:09:00.989 --> 00:09:02.357
  • That's not usually the nature of the request.
  • 00:09:02.357 --> 00:09:04.392
  • We simply have a point of pain or disruption or need.
  • 00:09:04.392 --> 00:09:07.562
  • And we say, you know, "god, would you help me with this?"
  • 00:09:07.562 --> 00:09:09.965
  • And when god brings those breakthroughs, when there's that
  • 00:09:09.965 --> 00:09:12.033
  • Intervention on his part, if you'll co-operate with it, what
  • 00:09:12.033 --> 00:09:16.304
  • You find on the other side of that is you have an awareness of
  • 00:09:16.304 --> 00:09:19.240
  • Him that you didn't have before.
  • 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:22.177
  • I think it would be safe to say that god intended for the hebrew
  • 00:09:22.177 --> 00:09:24.879
  • Slaves after they were delivered from egyptian slavery to have a
  • 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:29.417
  • Completely different understanding of who god was and
  • 00:09:29.417 --> 00:09:31.720
  • Their relationship with him.
  • 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:33.521
  • Is that fair?
  • 00:09:33.521 --> 00:09:35.023
  • "here's a temple, here's a priesthood, here's a whole set
  • 00:09:35.023 --> 00:09:38.093
  • Of rules.
  • 00:09:38.093 --> 00:09:39.427
  • Here's a whole set of ways to engage with me.
  • 00:09:39.427 --> 00:09:40.795
  • This is what it would mean to worship me."
  • 00:09:40.795 --> 00:09:43.565
  • I tell you that because if you're--if you're really
  • 00:09:43.565 --> 00:09:45.433
  • Serious about saying, "i would like god's help.
  • 00:09:45.433 --> 00:09:47.569
  • I'd like to engage with god.
  • 00:09:47.569 --> 00:09:49.104
  • I would like to welcome the power of god into my life," i'm
  • 00:09:49.104 --> 00:09:52.574
  • Gonna ask you to begin to consider what that could mean.
  • 00:09:52.574 --> 00:09:57.145
  • And it'll mean more than just freedom from pain.
  • 00:09:57.145 --> 00:10:02.283
  • Allen: 2024 has almost slipped past us.
  • 00:10:06.154 --> 00:10:09.424
  • Thank you for your partnership this year.
  • 00:10:09.424 --> 00:10:11.526
  • It's been the most remarkable season we've ever known
  • 00:10:11.526 --> 00:10:13.928
  • Together, and i thank you for your faithful investment of
  • 00:10:13.928 --> 00:10:17.298
  • Time, energy, and prayers in our ministry.
  • 00:10:17.298 --> 00:10:19.768
  • Change is taking place in the earth.
  • 00:10:19.768 --> 00:10:22.103
  • We're seeing in our own nation god responded to us with
  • 00:10:22.103 --> 00:10:24.973
  • Tremendous mercy and grace.
  • 00:10:24.973 --> 00:10:27.542
  • We have leaders that are headed to washington, d.c., to enact
  • 00:10:27.542 --> 00:10:30.578
  • Changes to restore a set of values that have brought
  • 00:10:30.578 --> 00:10:33.048
  • Strength to our nation.
  • 00:10:33.048 --> 00:10:34.516
  • It's a time of great optimism and hope and anticipation, and i
  • 00:10:34.516 --> 00:10:38.486
  • Believe that's true in the church as well.
  • 00:10:38.486 --> 00:10:40.555
  • Folks, we can't stand on the sidelines and expect somebody
  • 00:10:40.555 --> 00:10:43.324
  • Else to be the change.
  • 00:10:43.324 --> 00:10:45.060
  • We need the presence of god to emerge in our schools, on our
  • 00:10:45.060 --> 00:10:48.163
  • College campuses, back in our churches.
  • 00:10:48.163 --> 00:10:51.332
  • And so i think it's a critical time that we bring the message
  • 00:10:51.332 --> 00:10:54.135
  • Of the truth of jesus christ.
  • 00:10:54.135 --> 00:10:55.870
  • It's a hopeful message.
  • 00:10:55.870 --> 00:10:57.205
  • It's a message of wholeness and healing and deliverance and
  • 00:10:57.205 --> 00:11:00.108
  • Freedom that we desperately need in our cities, in our
  • 00:11:00.108 --> 00:11:03.611
  • Communities, wherever god's people gather.
  • 00:11:03.611 --> 00:11:06.114
  • Join us.
  • 00:11:06.114 --> 00:11:07.482
  • Let's be a part of what god is doing in the earth, and we will
  • 00:11:07.482 --> 00:11:10.185
  • Celebrate his faithfulness to the people of our generation.
  • 00:11:10.185 --> 00:11:13.855
  • Thank you for being a part.
  • 00:11:13.855 --> 00:11:17.058
  • Female announcer: god has uniquely blessed us.
  • 00:11:17.125 --> 00:11:19.594
  • The best is yet to come.
  • 00:11:19.594 --> 00:11:22.397
  • God has heard our prayers.
  • 00:11:22.397 --> 00:11:24.966
  • God has delivered us from oppression.
  • 00:11:24.966 --> 00:11:28.837
  • We live in a season of shaking, but together we stand, united in
  • 00:11:28.837 --> 00:11:35.210
  • Heart and purpose, to accomplish the will of god in
  • 00:11:35.210 --> 00:11:38.513
  • Our generation.
  • 00:11:38.513 --> 00:11:41.015
  • We will not stop.
  • 00:11:41.015 --> 00:11:45.086
  • Allen: i wanna ask you to make a sacrificial investment in
  • 00:11:45.086 --> 00:11:47.856
  • Our ministry.
  • 00:11:47.856 --> 00:11:49.224
  • We have a generous partner who'll match every gift between
  • 00:11:49.224 --> 00:11:51.292
  • Now and the end of the year.
  • 00:11:51.292 --> 00:11:52.660
  • We're making plans for the year ahead with a boldness and a
  • 00:11:52.660 --> 00:11:55.630
  • Courage unlike anything we've done in the past.
  • 00:11:55.630 --> 00:11:58.633
  • We wanna make as clear a statement for the gospel of
  • 00:11:58.633 --> 00:12:01.236
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:12:01.236 --> 00:12:02.604
  • We wanna strengthen the church.
  • 00:12:02.604 --> 00:12:04.205
  • We want to tell the truth in a way that people can rally
  • 00:12:04.205 --> 00:12:07.242
  • Around it.
  • 00:12:07.242 --> 00:12:08.576
  • God is moving in the earth and we intend to participate
  • 00:12:08.576 --> 00:12:11.212
  • With him.
  • 00:12:11.212 --> 00:12:12.580
  • I hope you'll join us as we look forward to the new year.
  • 00:12:12.580 --> 00:12:15.550
  • Thank you in advance for your generous investments in what god
  • 00:12:15.550 --> 00:12:18.787
  • Is doing.
  • 00:12:18.787 --> 00:12:20.121
  • God bless you.
  • 00:12:20.121 --> 00:12:21.489
  • Announcer: as we step into this new season, let's be faithful to
  • 00:12:21.489 --> 00:12:24.392
  • Seek god.
  • 00:12:24.392 --> 00:12:25.994
  • Let's make room for him to refine our hearts so we can join
  • 00:12:25.994 --> 00:12:29.397
  • Him in what he's doing.
  • 00:12:29.397 --> 00:12:31.399
  • Pastor allen's new 90-day devotional journal called, "set
  • 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:35.403
  • Apart for his purposes," can help.
  • 00:12:35.403 --> 00:12:38.173
  • Each day brings a new scripture, teaching, prayer, and a
  • 00:12:38.173 --> 00:12:41.943
  • Journaling prompt.
  • 00:12:41.943 --> 00:12:43.278
  • We'll also send custom page markers so you can flag anything
  • 00:12:43.278 --> 00:12:46.714
  • You want to revisit.
  • 00:12:46.714 --> 00:12:48.249
  • Request your copy of "set apart for his purposes" when you
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  • Donate $50 or more today at allenjackson.com
  • 00:12:50.952 --> 00:12:55.256
  • Or call...
  • 00:12:55.256 --> 00:13:03.398
  • Allen: breakthroughs.
  • 00:13:06.935 --> 00:13:09.470
  • God's interventions in our lives.
  • 00:13:09.470 --> 00:13:12.540
  • I wanna--i wanna look at two.
  • 00:13:12.540 --> 00:13:14.342
  • They're a part of the jesus story, the birth narrative in
  • 00:13:14.342 --> 00:13:19.247
  • The luke's gospel.
  • 00:13:19.247 --> 00:13:21.082
  • Not so much the stable in bethlehem, but they have a very
  • 00:13:21.082 --> 00:13:24.219
  • Significant message to be delivered for both the reader
  • 00:13:24.219 --> 00:13:27.388
  • And the audience in the first century.
  • 00:13:27.388 --> 00:13:30.525
  • Simeon and anna, you know them, many of you know them rather
  • 00:13:30.525 --> 00:13:34.195
  • Well, i suspect.
  • 00:13:34.195 --> 00:13:36.264
  • The challenge they face wouldn't be the typical challenge.
  • 00:13:36.264 --> 00:13:38.933
  • It wasn't the challenge of elizabeth and zechariah, who
  • 00:13:38.933 --> 00:13:41.736
  • Were childless, and the biological clock
  • 00:13:41.736 --> 00:13:44.873
  • Was not encouraging.
  • 00:13:44.873 --> 00:13:47.075
  • Simeon and anna had a different kind of a challenge.
  • 00:13:47.075 --> 00:13:51.279
  • God has made a promise to them and they're aware of that.
  • 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:55.450
  • They're conscious of that.
  • 00:13:55.450 --> 00:13:56.818
  • It's expressed to us in the text, but their clock
  • 00:13:56.818 --> 00:14:01.656
  • Is ticking.
  • 00:14:01.656 --> 00:14:02.991
  • In fact, luke says of anna, "she was very old."
  • 00:14:02.991 --> 00:14:07.495
  • You know, i've introduced lots of people in my life but i don't
  • 00:14:07.495 --> 00:14:10.064
  • Know that i've ever introduced somebody, saying, "they are
  • 00:14:10.064 --> 00:14:13.034
  • Very old."
  • 00:14:13.034 --> 00:14:17.705
  • How'd you like to make the book, as being "very old"?
  • 00:14:17.705 --> 00:14:24.512
  • I mean, that's kind of like hopelessly decrepit, beyond
  • 00:14:24.512 --> 00:14:28.383
  • The pale.
  • 00:14:28.383 --> 00:14:32.487
  • But they've approached a time in their life and the promise of
  • 00:14:32.487 --> 00:14:35.256
  • God has not been fulfilled.
  • 00:14:35.256 --> 00:14:36.658
  • How many think that could be a battle?
  • 00:14:36.658 --> 00:14:39.227
  • Ooh, i promise.
  • 00:14:39.227 --> 00:14:41.396
  • Lord, we've honored you and you've told us you would do
  • 00:14:41.396 --> 00:14:44.899
  • Something, and our peer group is just about gone.
  • 00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:50.939
  • I promise you, i assure you, there was a battle in
  • 00:14:50.939 --> 00:14:54.876
  • Their minds.
  • 00:14:54.876 --> 00:14:57.045
  • They needed a breakthrough.
  • 00:14:57.045 --> 00:15:00.048
  • We'll start in luke chapter 2.
  • 00:15:00.048 --> 00:15:02.383
  • Says: "there was a man in jerusalem called simeon.
  • 00:15:02.383 --> 00:15:05.920
  • He was righteous and devout."
  • 00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:08.456
  • That would be a good way to make the book.
  • 00:15:08.456 --> 00:15:11.292
  • How'd you like to be recorded in heaven, that next to your
  • 00:15:11.292 --> 00:15:13.695
  • Name--"righteous and devout," wow.
  • 00:15:13.695 --> 00:15:19.901
  • Are you striving for that?
  • 00:15:19.901 --> 00:15:21.336
  • It's highly improbable it would ever be addressed towards you if
  • 00:15:21.336 --> 00:15:25.473
  • You don't intend it.
  • 00:15:25.473 --> 00:15:28.276
  • There's a righteousness, it's a gift.
  • 00:15:28.276 --> 00:15:29.744
  • You receive that as a free gift, but then you choose to lead a
  • 00:15:29.744 --> 00:15:33.214
  • Righteous life.
  • 00:15:33.214 --> 00:15:35.984
  • That choice really isn't about the gift you've received.
  • 00:15:35.984 --> 00:15:38.753
  • We've had a lot of conversations in contemporary american
  • 00:15:38.753 --> 00:15:41.089
  • Christendom about the gift of righteousness.
  • 00:15:41.089 --> 00:15:42.724
  • I believe in that.
  • 00:15:42.724 --> 00:15:44.058
  • I'm the beneficiary of that.
  • 00:15:44.058 --> 00:15:46.961
  • But then it is incumbent upon us to choose to lead a
  • 00:15:46.961 --> 00:15:50.331
  • Righteous life.
  • 00:15:50.331 --> 00:15:53.568
  • And it's said of simeon, he was both righteous and devout.
  • 00:15:53.568 --> 00:15:58.072
  • Focused, disciplined, purposeful.
  • 00:15:58.072 --> 00:16:04.212
  • "he was waiting for the consolation of israel, and the
  • 00:16:04.212 --> 00:16:08.916
  • Holy spirit was upon him.
  • 00:16:08.916 --> 00:16:11.652
  • It had been revealed to him by the holy spirit that he wouldn't
  • 00:16:11.652 --> 00:16:13.988
  • Die before he'd seen the lord's messiah.
  • 00:16:13.988 --> 00:16:17.692
  • Moved by the spirit, he went into the temple courts.
  • 00:16:17.692 --> 00:16:20.595
  • When the parents brought in the child jesus to do for him what
  • 00:16:20.595 --> 00:16:23.231
  • Was the custom of the law required, simeon took him in his
  • 00:16:23.231 --> 00:16:26.634
  • Arms and praised god."
  • 00:16:26.634 --> 00:16:29.504
  • Male children were required to be presented to the priest
  • 00:16:29.504 --> 00:16:32.073
  • For circumcision.
  • 00:16:32.073 --> 00:16:34.275
  • So it's highly probable jesus was not the only child being
  • 00:16:34.275 --> 00:16:37.712
  • Presented that day.
  • 00:16:37.712 --> 00:16:39.680
  • This is jerusalem.
  • 00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:41.015
  • This is the temple in jerusalem.
  • 00:16:41.015 --> 00:16:43.918
  • This would be if you visit jerusalem today, the bar
  • 00:16:43.918 --> 00:16:46.454
  • Mitzvahs, the celebrations they have for young men.
  • 00:16:46.454 --> 00:16:49.690
  • When they're moving into adulthood, there are people from
  • 00:16:49.690 --> 00:16:52.160
  • The jewish community all over the world will take their
  • 00:16:52.160 --> 00:16:54.629
  • Families to jerusalem so they can have their bar mitzvah
  • 00:16:54.629 --> 00:16:56.898
  • In jerusalem.
  • 00:16:56.898 --> 00:16:58.933
  • Doesn't take any imagination for me to imagine that there were
  • 00:16:58.933 --> 00:17:02.270
  • Children from around the country being brought to jerusalem
  • 00:17:02.270 --> 00:17:05.006
  • For this.
  • 00:17:05.006 --> 00:17:06.841
  • But in the midst of all those children, simeon, we're told
  • 00:17:06.841 --> 00:17:11.446
  • That the holy spirit was upon him and it was revealed to him
  • 00:17:11.446 --> 00:17:14.549
  • That he wouldn't die before he'd seen the messiah.
  • 00:17:14.549 --> 00:17:16.584
  • And on this day, out of all the children, he goes and takes
  • 00:17:16.584 --> 00:17:20.288
  • Jesus in his arms.
  • 00:17:20.288 --> 00:17:24.058
  • Verse 29: "'sovereign lord, as you promised, you now dismiss
  • 00:17:24.058 --> 00:17:27.261
  • Your servant in peace.
  • 00:17:27.261 --> 00:17:29.430
  • For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you've prepared
  • 00:17:29.430 --> 00:17:32.066
  • In the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the
  • 00:17:32.066 --> 00:17:34.535
  • Gentiles and for glory to your people israel.'
  • 00:17:34.535 --> 00:17:39.307
  • The child's father and mother marveled at what was said
  • 00:17:39.307 --> 00:17:41.676
  • About him.
  • 00:17:41.676 --> 00:17:43.044
  • And simeon blessed them and said to mary, his mother: 'this child
  • 00:17:43.044 --> 00:17:45.780
  • Is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in israel,
  • 00:17:45.780 --> 00:17:49.417
  • And to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the
  • 00:17:49.417 --> 00:17:51.853
  • Thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.
  • 00:17:51.853 --> 00:17:54.555
  • And a sword will pierce your own soul too.'"
  • 00:17:54.555 --> 00:17:58.292
  • Simeon stepped onto the stage of scripture there for a few lines,
  • 00:17:58.292 --> 00:18:03.030
  • An old man, full of the holy spirit.
  • 00:18:03.030 --> 00:18:06.901
  • The holy spirit was upon him, we're told.
  • 00:18:06.901 --> 00:18:10.471
  • If you'll allow me just a few observations, these have
  • 00:18:10.471 --> 00:18:12.740
  • Something to do with opinion and something to do with just a
  • 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:14.775
  • Reading of the text.
  • 00:18:14.775 --> 00:18:16.144
  • I'd say it's highly probable that simeon and anna knew
  • 00:18:16.144 --> 00:18:19.113
  • One another.
  • 00:18:19.113 --> 00:18:20.781
  • We're gonna be introduced to both of them in consecutive
  • 00:18:20.781 --> 00:18:23.651
  • Verses here, consecutive passages, as luke presents the
  • 00:18:23.651 --> 00:18:27.488
  • Narrative to us.
  • 00:18:27.488 --> 00:18:29.323
  • Two people in the temple waiting for the revelation to identify
  • 00:18:29.323 --> 00:18:33.394
  • The messiah.
  • 00:18:33.394 --> 00:18:36.164
  • In fact, it's that first statement that i would call your
  • 00:18:36.164 --> 00:18:38.299
  • Attentions to.
  • 00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.667
  • It says that simeon was waiting for the consolation of israel.
  • 00:18:39.667 --> 00:18:43.204
  • Now, i don't know about you, but i'm not a great waiter.
  • 00:18:43.204 --> 00:18:50.278
  • If someone needs patience, i pray the lord gives it to you.
  • 00:18:50.278 --> 00:18:56.984
  • I mean, to be just completely honest, i think microwaves are
  • 00:18:56.984 --> 00:19:00.588
  • Terribly slow.
  • 00:19:00.588 --> 00:19:04.592
  • I mean, i'm old enough to remember when they were
  • 00:19:04.592 --> 00:19:06.360
  • Introduced, at least into the general public and you could
  • 00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:09.096
  • Have one in your home and, you know, whatever that was 100, 120
  • 00:19:09.096 --> 00:19:13.367
  • Years ago, it was a pretty good breakthrough.
  • 00:19:13.367 --> 00:19:17.104
  • But couldn't--isn't there something we could do to improve
  • 00:19:17.104 --> 00:19:19.273
  • On that?
  • 00:19:19.273 --> 00:19:20.641
  • Does it really take, what, 5 minutes to bake a potato still?
  • 00:19:20.641 --> 00:19:24.178
  • Can't we get that down to, like, 90 seconds?
  • 00:19:24.178 --> 00:19:28.783
  • I mean, for real.
  • 00:19:28.783 --> 00:19:31.118
  • Yield signs on the highway.
  • 00:19:31.118 --> 00:19:35.256
  • You know the true meaning of them, right?
  • 00:19:35.256 --> 00:19:37.959
  • It means hurry because if you can get to the intersection
  • 00:19:37.959 --> 00:19:40.027
  • Ahead of those other people, you go first.
  • 00:19:40.027 --> 00:19:46.167
  • Don't practice everything i preach.
  • 00:19:46.167 --> 00:19:51.105
  • And simeon made the book and almost the first thing we're
  • 00:19:51.105 --> 00:19:53.441
  • Told about him is he was waiting to see israel consoled.
  • 00:19:53.441 --> 00:19:59.146
  • Israel is living under great stress.
  • 00:19:59.146 --> 00:20:00.815
  • They're an occupied country.
  • 00:20:00.815 --> 00:20:02.183
  • There's occupying armies, they're paying taxes to a
  • 00:20:02.183 --> 00:20:05.419
  • Pagan king.
  • 00:20:05.419 --> 00:20:07.255
  • It's a daily point of humiliation--not just
  • 00:20:07.255 --> 00:20:10.791
  • Spiritually, there was physical humiliation for their wives and
  • 00:20:10.791 --> 00:20:14.996
  • Their children.
  • 00:20:14.996 --> 00:20:16.964
  • And he's waiting to see israel consoled.
  • 00:20:16.964 --> 00:20:20.735
  • Look at isaiah 40 and verse 31: "those who wait for the lord
  • 00:20:20.735 --> 00:20:24.038
  • Will gain new strength; they'll mount up with wings like eagles
  • 00:20:24.038 --> 00:20:27.842
  • And they'll run and not get tired, and they'll walk and not
  • 00:20:27.842 --> 00:20:30.111
  • Become weary."
  • 00:20:30.111 --> 00:20:31.445
  • Some of you have been asked to wait for your breakthrough.
  • 00:20:31.445 --> 00:20:36.150
  • We're not told how long simeon's been waiting.
  • 00:20:36.150 --> 00:20:38.319
  • We're just told he's no longer young and he's waiting.
  • 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:43.924
  • He's not very old.
  • 00:20:43.924 --> 00:20:45.259
  • Anna is very old, but the promise of scripture is that if
  • 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:51.265
  • You will wait for the lord, you'll gain new strength.
  • 00:20:51.265 --> 00:20:55.436
  • He won't just renew your strength.
  • 00:20:55.436 --> 00:20:57.605
  • He'll give you new strength.
  • 00:20:57.605 --> 00:20:59.507
  • You pack on new muscle, you'll gain new capacity, that there's
  • 00:20:59.507 --> 00:21:06.080
  • A benefit, spiritually, sometimes in waiting and, again,
  • 00:21:06.080 --> 00:21:09.116
  • This one's not easy for me.
  • 00:21:09.116 --> 00:21:13.254
  • But that's not all we know about simeon.
  • 00:21:13.254 --> 00:21:14.789
  • It says the holy spirit was upon him.
  • 00:21:14.789 --> 00:21:17.825
  • And then luke gives us some additional insights.
  • 00:21:17.825 --> 00:21:19.627
  • He said some things have been revealed to him by the
  • 00:21:19.627 --> 00:21:21.562
  • Holy spirit--that he wouldn't die until he'd seen the messiah.
  • 00:21:21.562 --> 00:21:25.599
  • That's a pretty significant revelation.
  • 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:28.836
  • Simeon is familiar enough with the person, the voice, the
  • 00:21:28.836 --> 00:21:32.306
  • Direction, the interaction of the spirit of god.
  • 00:21:32.306 --> 00:21:35.943
  • He understands it has implications for the timeline of
  • 00:21:35.943 --> 00:21:39.046
  • His life journey, that he trusts the holy spirit enough that he
  • 00:21:39.046 --> 00:21:43.417
  • Looks at a--we do baby dedications around here and
  • 00:21:43.417 --> 00:21:45.920
  • We'll put 30 babies and their siblings up here at the front of
  • 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:48.622
  • The church and simeon is comfortable enough, he could
  • 00:21:48.622 --> 00:21:50.825
  • Look at that group of kids and go, "that's the one," because he
  • 00:21:50.825 --> 00:21:55.596
  • Took that little baby in his arms and began to speak about
  • 00:21:55.596 --> 00:21:57.932
  • Him, wow.
  • 00:21:57.932 --> 00:22:02.036
  • So i'm gonna submit to you and we're gonna look at it from a
  • 00:22:02.036 --> 00:22:04.004
  • Variety of perspectives that an engagement and understanding and
  • 00:22:04.004 --> 00:22:07.608
  • Awareness of the person of the holy spirit and what it would
  • 00:22:07.608 --> 00:22:10.444
  • Mean to recognize his voice is an essential component
  • 00:22:10.444 --> 00:22:14.215
  • Of breakthroughs.
  • 00:22:14.215 --> 00:22:16.050
  • Not somebody else telling you what the holy spirit said, not
  • 00:22:16.050 --> 00:22:19.620
  • What someone else spoke over your life.
  • 00:22:19.620 --> 00:22:22.156
  • I'm not saying those things couldn't be real or legitimate.
  • 00:22:22.156 --> 00:22:24.425
  • But i'm telling you, if we're gonna walk through seasons of
  • 00:22:24.425 --> 00:22:26.961
  • Deception, you and i will have to recognize the voice of the
  • 00:22:26.961 --> 00:22:29.697
  • Spirit of god.
  • 00:22:29.697 --> 00:22:34.935
  • Simeon also has to make peace that it's most probable he won't
  • 00:22:34.935 --> 00:22:38.239
  • See the messiah minister.
  • 00:22:38.239 --> 00:22:41.175
  • He won't see jesus do miracles.
  • 00:22:41.175 --> 00:22:46.247
  • Don't you know he would have liked to have done that?
  • 00:22:46.247 --> 00:22:49.583
  • He's waiting for the consolation of israel, and the revelation
  • 00:22:49.583 --> 00:22:52.553
  • He's given is that you'll get to recognize--you'll see the baby.
  • 00:22:52.553 --> 00:22:57.825
  • There was no promise that he would get to see jesus
  • 00:22:57.825 --> 00:23:00.795
  • Do miracles.
  • 00:23:00.795 --> 00:23:03.063
  • Folks, we serve at the pleasure of the king.
  • 00:23:03.063 --> 00:23:06.700
  • Remember the topic, it's breakthroughs,
  • 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:08.269
  • God's interventions.
  • 00:23:08.269 --> 00:23:09.804
  • We have roles to play in that.
  • 00:23:09.804 --> 00:23:12.406
  • We can actually facilitate.
  • 00:23:12.406 --> 00:23:15.843
  • And one of the things we've got to resolve is that we serve at
  • 00:23:15.843 --> 00:23:18.546
  • The pleasure of the king.
  • 00:23:18.546 --> 00:23:21.315
  • We serve at the pleasure of the king.
  • 00:23:21.315 --> 00:23:25.453
  • And then i think there's a bit of a hint of
  • 00:23:25.453 --> 00:23:27.421
  • Simeon's personality.
  • 00:23:27.421 --> 00:23:28.756
  • He's pretty assertive.
  • 00:23:28.756 --> 00:23:30.124
  • He takes the baby in his arms.
  • 00:23:30.124 --> 00:23:32.226
  • "hi, mary.
  • 00:23:32.226 --> 00:23:35.496
  • Give me the kid."
  • 00:23:35.496 --> 00:23:38.666
  • I'm sure it was a bit more friendly than that.
  • 00:23:38.666 --> 00:23:41.669
  • And a boldness: he says aloud that god has kept his promises
  • 00:23:41.669 --> 00:23:45.039
  • And acknowledges jesus as messiah.
  • 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:48.542
  • That's not an easy thing to do.
  • 00:23:48.542 --> 00:23:49.910
  • Again, we tend to pray polite prayers.
  • 00:23:49.910 --> 00:23:52.613
  • Simeon is aware enough, informed enough, has enough of a
  • 00:23:52.613 --> 00:23:55.549
  • Revelation, to speak with authority over the life of a
  • 00:23:55.549 --> 00:23:58.619
  • Newborn child.
  • 00:23:58.619 --> 00:24:01.789
  • It's a remarkable scene, honestly.
  • 00:24:01.789 --> 00:24:06.961
  • And luke simply tells us in verse 33 that the--mary and
  • 00:24:06.961 --> 00:24:09.830
  • Joseph marveled at what was said about this new baby.
  • 00:24:09.830 --> 00:24:13.400
  • It's taken all their faith just to get to this point.
  • 00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:15.569
  • I mean, it has stretched them physically and spiritually to
  • 00:24:15.569 --> 00:24:18.672
  • The very limits.
  • 00:24:18.672 --> 00:24:20.274
  • They have stretch marks.
  • 00:24:20.274 --> 00:24:22.776
  • I mean, they're at the very edge of what they can comprehend.
  • 00:24:22.776 --> 00:24:25.312
  • There's been some crazy shepherds babbling on and now
  • 00:24:25.312 --> 00:24:31.051
  • They've gone to the temple, they're just trying to check the
  • 00:24:31.051 --> 00:24:33.220
  • Boxes and do what they're supposed to do.
  • 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.889
  • And here's simeon with the baby and all this and then they're
  • 00:24:34.889 --> 00:24:38.726
  • Just marveling at what's going on.
  • 00:24:38.726 --> 00:24:40.094
  • And then simeon turns to mary.
  • 00:24:40.094 --> 00:24:43.464
  • Luke goes out of his way to make this clear.
  • 00:24:43.464 --> 00:24:45.733
  • It's verse 34: "simeon blessed them and said to mary, his
  • 00:24:45.733 --> 00:24:48.903
  • Mother," at which joseph said, "what am i?
  • 00:24:48.903 --> 00:24:53.941
  • Chopped liver?"
  • 00:24:53.941 --> 00:24:57.745
  • "'the child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many
  • 00:24:57.745 --> 00:25:01.081
  • In israel and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that
  • 00:25:01.081 --> 00:25:05.719
  • The thoughts of many hearts will be revealed and a sword will
  • 00:25:05.719 --> 00:25:09.823
  • Pierce your own soul too.'"
  • 00:25:09.823 --> 00:25:13.961
  • Simeon had a message for mary.
  • 00:25:13.961 --> 00:25:16.597
  • It's really the first hint we have in the narrative that
  • 00:25:16.597 --> 00:25:19.433
  • Joseph perhaps isn't going to complete the same course.
  • 00:25:19.433 --> 00:25:26.473
  • Because before we get to jesus's ministry at the age of 30,
  • 00:25:26.473 --> 00:25:31.245
  • Joseph seems to have stepped out of time.
  • 00:25:31.245 --> 00:25:35.182
  • He's not included, and very early and when jesus is still
  • 00:25:35.182 --> 00:25:41.221
  • Just an infant, we have a hint of that.
  • 00:25:41.221 --> 00:25:43.958
  • Simeon says, "i have a message for you, mary.
  • 00:25:43.958 --> 00:25:47.561
  • There'll be a sword pierce your heart."
  • 00:25:47.561 --> 00:25:50.864
  • That's not an easy message to deliver.
  • 00:25:50.864 --> 00:25:54.068
  • That's not a message of ease and opportunity.
  • 00:25:54.068 --> 00:25:56.870
  • The first part would be kind of fun.
  • 00:25:56.870 --> 00:25:59.373
  • "i've been waiting to see this child for a long, long time."
  • 00:25:59.373 --> 00:26:03.444
  • The rest of the message is not so fun.
  • 00:26:03.444 --> 00:26:05.512
  • Allen: i wanna pray with you before we go.
  • 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:08.115
  • But i have a specific objective in my heart.
  • 00:26:08.115 --> 00:26:11.452
  • You know, god is changing our world and, i believe, purifying
  • 00:26:11.452 --> 00:26:14.655
  • His church for a harvest that is in front of us.
  • 00:26:14.655 --> 00:26:17.791
  • It started with the pandemic and it broke us out of a routine.
  • 00:26:17.791 --> 00:26:21.662
  • We were familiar with the theater of worship.
  • 00:26:21.662 --> 00:26:24.565
  • We knew what to wear.
  • 00:26:24.565 --> 00:26:25.899
  • We knew when to sit and when to stand.
  • 00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:27.401
  • We knew how to attend a public worship service and not
  • 00:26:27.401 --> 00:26:30.204
  • Embarrass ourselves, if we stayed in our lane.
  • 00:26:30.204 --> 00:26:32.773
  • We were a little suspicious of people that worshiped in a way
  • 00:26:32.773 --> 00:26:34.908
  • That we weren't familiar with.
  • 00:26:34.908 --> 00:26:36.577
  • But we really didn't have to bring our heart to the lord.
  • 00:26:36.577 --> 00:26:38.846
  • Well, a season for a passive faith is gone.
  • 00:26:38.846 --> 00:26:41.682
  • We need a courageous faith and a boldness to say, "lord, i'm
  • 00:26:41.682 --> 00:26:45.185
  • Willing to be different so that your purposes can emerge in
  • 00:26:45.185 --> 00:26:47.888
  • My life."
  • 00:26:47.888 --> 00:26:49.223
  • The technical word for that is repentance.
  • 00:26:49.223 --> 00:26:50.691
  • It's not about gross sin in your life.
  • 00:26:50.691 --> 00:26:52.793
  • It's a willingness to change.
  • 00:26:52.793 --> 00:26:54.395
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:26:54.395 --> 00:26:55.729
  • Father, i ask you to help us if there's anything in our
  • 00:26:55.729 --> 00:26:57.931
  • Thoughts, our imagination, our habits, our patterns, that would
  • 00:26:57.931 --> 00:27:01.335
  • Limit what you would do with our lives, help us to change.
  • 00:27:01.335 --> 00:27:04.571
  • We submit ourselves to you and your authority, in jesus's
  • 00:27:04.571 --> 00:27:07.675
  • Name, amen.
  • 00:27:07.675 --> 00:27:09.043
  • God bless you.
  • 00:27:09.043 --> 00:27:10.778
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:10.778 --> 00:27:27.361