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Read The Signs

Watch Read The Signs
Allen Jackson Ministries
February 7, 2021
27:29

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

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Read The Signs

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  • Allen Jackson: We're learningto follow God in new ways.
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  • We're learning to get overourselves a little bit,
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  • and the smugness and thecertainty that we had everything
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  • lined up just right, and thatwe have it all figured out.
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  • We've got to stop being offendedwhen God doesn't answer our
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  • prayers the way we want him to.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • CC by Aberdeen Captioning1-800-688-6621www.abercap.com
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen Jackson: And I don'tremember exactly how old I was,
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  • I was five or six, and my dadasked me to go on a road trip
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  • with him.
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  • We lived--the family lived inMissouri at the time.
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  • We were coming to Tennessee.
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  • I don't remember much about thetrip except that the trip was
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  • filled with him teaching me toread the road signs.
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  • I'm sure he was trying to keepme from driving him nuts with
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  • questions while we traveled.
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  • It must have worked to someextent because I remember
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  • the lesson.
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  • Scroll forward a few years,I was studying at Hebrew
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  • University in Jerusalem.
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  • Phillip and I were there.
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  • To attend the university, youhave to go to language school.
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  • I didn't even know theHebrew alphabet.
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  • And if you didn't know,the Hebrew language is
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  • an ancient language.
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  • They have a different alphabetand it reads from right to left,
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  • so the back of your book is thefront of your book.
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  • It's sufficient to say it wasa bit confusing.
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  • Well, a small breakthrough forme in that process was when
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  • I began to learn the alphabetand the language well enough
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  • that I could just read the signson the roadways.
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  • It made me feel much less like astranger and a bit more at home
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  • in some very unfamiliarsurroundings.
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  • Well, interpreting the signsof our times is essential.
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  • And if you've limited your faithto a knowledge of conversion and
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  • an baptismal experience, I wantto commend you for those things,
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  • they're both very important, butbeyond that initiation into the
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  • kingdom of God is the lifeof a Christ follower.
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  • And to live effectively, totravel the path we're on,
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  • we've got to be able toread the signs.
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  • Not a new idea,it's a Jesus idea.
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  • We're gonna followMatthew's presentation.
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  • Actually, I'm just gonna takethree chapters.
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  • It's an unfolding narrativebetween Jesus and his
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  • closest friends.
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  • I believe the Holy Spiritthrough Matthew is helping us
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  • learn something that willprovide direction in our lives
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  • right now.
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  • I'm not an advocate for studyingour Bible just to collect facts.
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  • When I open my Bible, I do itbecause I recognize I have
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  • a need to understand Godin my life today.
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  • I wanna start in Matthew 16,with verse 1: "The Pharisees and
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  • the Sadducees came to Jesus andthey tested him by asking him to
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  • show them a sign from heaven.
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  • And his answer was, 'Whenevening comes, you say, "It'll
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  • be fair weather,for the sky is red."
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  • And in the morning, "Todayit'll be stormy, for the sky is
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  • red and overcast."
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  • You know how to interpret theappearance of the sky, but you
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  • cannot interpret the signsof the times.'"
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  • "Interpret" suggest somethingless than exact.
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  • And when you interpret language,not every word in a language
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  • interprets directly.
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  • And then there's a bit of a--there's a margin for error
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  • and getting the right meaningwhen you interpret language.
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  • And so when Jesus talks about usinterpreting the signs, it's not
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  • something that's gonna always beobvious to everyone.
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  • There's an awareness required.
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  • A local knowledge is important.
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  • Now, it's popular in AmericanChristianity to say, "We won't
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  • have to suffer.
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  • We'll be rescued."
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  • We've got some rather fancytheological constructions
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  • for that.
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  • Well, it's a wonderful idea.
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  • It brings a sense of peaceand security to us.
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  • Unfortunately, I think it bringsa casualness to our faith that
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  • often is not helpful.
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  • But you know, for much of theglobal Christian community,
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  • that's a rather naive responseto the Scripture.
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  • It'd be a very difficult messageto say to believers in Iran,
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  • or Egypt, or China, orIndonesia, or India, or
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  • Pakistan, or several dozen otherplaces on our map that
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  • as a Christ follower youwon't have to suffer.
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  • They wouldn't even understandwhat you were saying.
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  • So I would submit to you,we need a little help in
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  • interpreting the signsof the times.
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  • Now, it's very difficultto process change.
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  • Gradual change, incrementalchange, perhaps, but rapid,
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  • widespread change isdisorienting.
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  • There are so many breaks withyour past habits and routines.
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  • It's unsettling.
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  • In fact, once you get thatmovement started, it's much
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  • easier to keep it going.
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  • I think we can understand.
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  • It's Matthew chapter 20.
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  • Now, we're gonna step in withJesus and his disciples.
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  • Beginning in verse 17, "As Jesuswas going to Jerusalem, he took
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  • the twelve disciples aside andhe said to them, 'We're going up
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  • to Jerusalem and the Son of Manwill be betrayed by the chief
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  • priests and theteachers of the law.
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  • They will condemn him to deathand will turn him over to the
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  • Gentiles to be mocked, andflogged, and crucified.
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  • On the third day, he'llbe raised to life.'"
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  • Is it safe to say theydon't understand?
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  • How many think that thedisciples had absolute clarity
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  • on what Jesus was sayingto them?
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  • I mean, we know the story wellenough, we know they absolutely
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  • don't, and yet thewords aren't confusing.
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  • There's not somethinglinguistically hidden.
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  • He's not speakingin some parable.
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  • They're confused and there'sreally no explanation offered.
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  • I'll give you my opinion.
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  • I think in the disciples'imagination, they think what
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  • Jesus is telling them about issomething in the far distance.
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  • Jesus is only 33.
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  • This is still a relativelynew adventure to them.
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  • He said, "Follow me and I'llmake you fishers of men," and
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  • this particular group has walkedaway from everything:
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  • businesses, relationships,routines, habits.
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  • They've establisheda new way of life.
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  • They are all in, both publiclyand privately, with support of
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  • this itinerant rabbi,Jesus of Nazareth.
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  • They've seen the mostextraordinary things.
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  • He can dance on the waves.
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  • He can make wine at a wedding.
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  • He commands the windand the waves.
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  • He casts out demons.
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  • He confounds his enemies.
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  • He can raise the deador heal the blind.
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  • Betrayal and crucifixionseem most improbable.
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  • And maybe it's some distantpoint in the future.
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  • We've been to Jerusalem with himbefore and we've seen his
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  • enemies arrayed against him, andhe's defeated them either with
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  • logic or with cunning.
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  • They've just posed no realthreat so they cannot process
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  • what's happening.
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  • Is that fair?
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  • Jesus could nothave been more plain.
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  • The words couldnot be more simple.
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  • He gave it to them as a roadmap and it's gone completely
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  • past them.
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  • Same chapter, Matthew 20,there's some rather immature
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  • questions posed to Jesus.
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  • In fact, they make you smile ifyou don't put yourself into
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  • the circumstance.
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  • "The mother of Zebedee's sonscame to Jesus."
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  • Who are Zebedee's sons?
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  • James and John.
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  • So their mom comes in to Jesus,kneels down, and asks
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  • a favor of him.
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  • Jesus said, "What isthat you want?"
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  • "Well, grant that one of thesetwo sons of mine may sit at your
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  • right hand and the other at yourleft in your kingdom."
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  • Awkward!
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  • I mean, the rest of the crew'ssitting there watching this.
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  • Where's my mom?
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  • Helicopter parents aren't new.
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  • My boys need an advantage.
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  • And Jesus's answeris stunning to me.
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  • He said, "You don't knowwhat you're asking."
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  • You have no ideawhat you're asking.
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  • So Jesus said to the men,"Can you drink the cup
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  • I'm going to drink?"
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  • How many think that had any ideawhat that was gonna be?
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  • He's told them plainly.
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  • We just read it.
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  • It's recently been told to them.
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  • "Can you drink the cupI'm going to drink?"
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  • I promise you, they're notthinking about it.
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  • They're not processing it.
  • 00:08:57.428 --> 00:08:58.862
  • It hasn't broken through theirconsciousness yet 'cause their
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  • answer is, "We can."
  • 00:09:02.066 --> 00:09:06.437
  • And Jesus, without any debateor argument, he said to them,
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  • "You will indeeddrink from my cup."
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  • You don't think your wordshave spiritual authority?
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  • I would suggest to you they do.
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  • "'You will indeed drink from mycup, but to sit at my right hand
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  • or left is not for me to grant.
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  • These places belong to those forwhom they have been prepared by
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  • my Father.'
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  • When the ten heard about this,they were indignant with
  • 00:09:30.494 --> 00:09:32.496
  • the two brothers."
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  • Ya think?Ya think?
  • 00:09:33.831 --> 00:09:38.168
  • Maybe there's a little internaldiscussion amongst the 12
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  • that afternoon.
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  • You had to bring yourmom in, didn't ya?
  • 00:09:42.006 --> 00:09:46.377
  • We know your mom.
  • 00:09:46.377 --> 00:09:49.446
  • She always--but Jesus, I'mintrigued by Jesus's response.
  • 00:09:49.446 --> 00:09:56.353
  • He didn't try to disruptor distract.
  • 00:09:56.353 --> 00:09:58.922
  • He didn't shrug it off.
  • 00:09:58.922 --> 00:10:00.257
  • He didn't say--you know,he didn't deflect.
  • 00:10:00.257 --> 00:10:02.993
  • He turned to them and said,"Are you prepared to drink from
  • 00:10:02.993 --> 00:10:05.195
  • the cup I'm going to?
  • 00:10:05.195 --> 00:10:07.297
  • I've told you what's coming."
  • 00:10:07.297 --> 00:10:09.900
  • And their answer was,"Yes, we're ready."
  • 00:10:09.900 --> 00:10:11.301
  • He said, "Game on."
  • 00:10:11.301 --> 00:10:14.338
  • male announcer: You know, one ofthe great things about the Bible
  • 00:10:18.575 --> 00:10:20.644
  • is you don't need to have theknowledge of a "Jeopardy" champ
  • 00:10:20.644 --> 00:10:23.480
  • to be able to jump in.
  • 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:25.049
  • Just a quick review of the storyand, boom, you're right there
  • 00:10:25.049 --> 00:10:28.252
  • with it.
  • 00:10:28.252 --> 00:10:29.586
  • And sometimes it's those of uswho think we know everything
  • 00:10:29.586 --> 00:10:32.956
  • about God's story that are theones who really need the review.
  • 00:10:32.956 --> 00:10:36.894
  • So as a way to help all of us,we're gonna recap the entire
  • 00:10:36.894 --> 00:10:40.864
  • story so far inunder 60 seconds.
  • 00:10:40.864 --> 00:10:44.068
  • "Sixty seconds?" you say."Impossible!"
  • 00:10:44.068 --> 00:10:47.071
  • To which I say, "Well, maybe,but let's give this a shot."
  • 00:10:47.071 --> 00:10:50.407
  • Okay, go.
  • 00:10:50.407 --> 00:10:54.078
  • The story starts at thebeginning of the whole
  • 00:10:54.078 --> 00:10:55.846
  • enchilada, when God spoke theuniverse into existence,
  • 00:10:55.846 --> 00:10:58.582
  • including creating the world'sfirst man and woman.
  • 00:10:58.582 --> 00:11:01.785
  • At first, life was perfect.
  • 00:11:01.785 --> 00:11:03.854
  • But soon after, these folks andtheir kids and grandkids decided
  • 00:11:03.854 --> 00:11:07.324
  • they didn't want to live the wayGod had told them to and pretty
  • 00:11:07.324 --> 00:11:10.094
  • much everybody on earth got intosome kind of evil or another.
  • 00:11:10.094 --> 00:11:13.564
  • So God decided to hit the resetbutton and wiped out all of
  • 00:11:13.564 --> 00:11:16.800
  • earth with a flood, except for aman named Noah and his family.
  • 00:11:16.800 --> 00:11:20.304
  • The population started to growagain and eventually God chose
  • 00:11:20.304 --> 00:11:23.507
  • a group of people to starta new nation called Israel.
  • 00:11:23.507 --> 00:11:26.477
  • Israel went through some prettyrough stuff early on, like bein'
  • 00:11:26.477 --> 00:11:29.446
  • slaves in Egypt.
  • 00:11:29.446 --> 00:11:30.814
  • But eventually, God rescued themand brought them into a giant
  • 00:11:30.814 --> 00:11:33.751
  • piece of land Godhad promised to them.
  • 00:11:33.751 --> 00:11:35.686
  • Later, God raised up atking named David to rule Israel.
  • 00:11:35.686 --> 00:11:39.156
  • David was an amazing guy,helping people live the way
  • 00:11:39.156 --> 00:11:41.925
  • God wanted.
  • 00:11:41.925 --> 00:11:43.293
  • The people of Israel were unitedand living at peace.
  • 00:11:43.293 --> 00:11:46.296
  • But when David's son Solomonbecame king, he sorta forgot
  • 00:11:46.296 --> 00:11:49.399
  • about God and startedto worship other gods.
  • 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:51.902
  • As you can imagine, that wasabout to spell great trouble,
  • 00:11:51.902 --> 00:11:54.671
  • not only for Solomon,but for all of Israel.
  • 00:11:54.671 --> 00:11:58.509
  • Allen Jackson: The truth isthe Bible is intimidating.
  • 00:11:58.509 --> 00:12:00.444
  • Sixty-six books written over along period of time, dozens of
  • 00:12:00.444 --> 00:12:03.580
  • authors, different cultures,words we don't know how to
  • 00:12:03.580 --> 00:12:06.416
  • pronounce, places we don't knowwhere they are, and we're
  • 00:12:06.416 --> 00:12:09.119
  • supposed to understand it.
  • 00:12:09.119 --> 00:12:10.654
  • Most of us have just given up.
  • 00:12:10.654 --> 00:12:12.723
  • Well, I built a tool to help.
  • 00:12:12.723 --> 00:12:14.224
  • It starts with a timeline, 12points that'll arrange the whole
  • 00:12:14.224 --> 00:12:17.461
  • Bible for you in a chronologicalway so you'll know where Abraham
  • 00:12:17.461 --> 00:12:20.397
  • fits in relation to Isaiah.
  • 00:12:20.397 --> 00:12:21.999
  • It'll help you.
  • 00:12:21.999 --> 00:12:23.367
  • And I found some crazy talentedillustrators to do some
  • 00:12:23.367 --> 00:12:25.769
  • whiteboard drawings alongwith it to make it not only
  • 00:12:25.769 --> 00:12:28.438
  • accessible, it makesit kinda fun.
  • 00:12:28.438 --> 00:12:30.340
  • You can do it asan individual study.
  • 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:31.775
  • You can do it as a group.
  • 00:12:31.775 --> 00:12:33.143
  • You can do it with your kidsor your grandkids.
  • 00:12:33.143 --> 00:12:34.478
  • You can get your softball teamtogether and do it.
  • 00:12:34.478 --> 00:12:36.113
  • You can get your neighborsaround a kitchen table.
  • 00:12:36.113 --> 00:12:38.148
  • Hey, churches arestruggling a bit.
  • 00:12:38.148 --> 00:12:39.716
  • You're the church,you and your Bible.
  • 00:12:39.716 --> 00:12:41.351
  • Open your heart.
  • 00:12:41.351 --> 00:12:42.719
  • It's the Whiteboard Bible.
  • 00:12:42.719 --> 00:12:44.054
  • It'll be a blessing.
  • 00:12:44.054 --> 00:12:46.190
  • female announcer: The WhiteboardBible makes the Bible easy for
  • 00:12:46.190 --> 00:12:48.592
  • anyone to understand.
  • 00:12:48.592 --> 00:12:50.294
  • And for those who donate $100or more, you can request
  • 00:12:50.294 --> 00:12:53.864
  • the complete set.
  • 00:12:53.864 --> 00:12:55.232
  • That includes three DVDs, withfun illustrations and
  • 00:12:55.232 --> 00:12:58.068
  • three guidebooks.
  • 00:12:58.068 --> 00:12:59.503
  • Also available for all who givetoday is a sermon DVD from
  • 00:12:59.503 --> 00:13:02.873
  • Pastor Allen where he emphasizesthe importance of knowing
  • 00:13:02.873 --> 00:13:06.243
  • your Bible.
  • 00:13:06.243 --> 00:13:07.578
  • Call... Or visitallenjackson.com.
  • 00:13:07.578 --> 00:13:12.883
  • That's...
  • 00:13:12.883 --> 00:13:18.088
  • Allen Jackson: So immaturequestions are a part
  • 00:13:18.155 --> 00:13:19.690
  • of this learning.
  • 00:13:19.690 --> 00:13:21.024
  • We're gonna ask some thingswithout fully understanding.
  • 00:13:21.024 --> 00:13:22.659
  • It's a part of the journey.
  • 00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:23.994
  • Jesus's best friends, thebest-trained people around
  • 00:13:23.994 --> 00:13:25.796
  • him did.
  • 00:13:25.796 --> 00:13:28.131
  • And there's times we're gonnahear and we're not gonna all
  • 00:13:28.131 --> 00:13:30.801
  • have equal understanding.
  • 00:13:30.801 --> 00:13:32.936
  • In Matthew 24--you know,hearing the Word of God does not
  • 00:13:32.936 --> 00:13:37.774
  • mean we always have completeunderstanding of what we're
  • 00:13:37.774 --> 00:13:39.810
  • walking through.
  • 00:13:39.810 --> 00:13:41.178
  • Again, seasons of significantchange, unprecedented changed,
  • 00:13:41.178 --> 00:13:44.481
  • unparalleled change.
  • 00:13:44.481 --> 00:13:47.284
  • It's too much to assimilate.
  • 00:13:47.284 --> 00:13:48.685
  • It's why we have togive attention.
  • 00:13:48.685 --> 00:13:50.153
  • It's why we have topay attention.
  • 00:13:50.153 --> 00:13:51.688
  • It's why we need one another.
  • 00:13:51.688 --> 00:13:53.257
  • Matthew 24: "Jesus left thetemple and was walking away
  • 00:13:53.257 --> 00:13:56.860
  • when his disciples came up tohim to call his attention
  • 00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:59.162
  • to its buildings.
  • 00:13:59.162 --> 00:14:01.131
  • And Jesus answers,'Do you see all these things?
  • 00:14:01.131 --> 00:14:03.867
  • I tell you the truth.'"
  • 00:14:03.867 --> 00:14:05.235
  • What do you know aboutthat phrase now?
  • 00:14:05.235 --> 00:14:07.137
  • When you read that phrase, youneed to buckle up 'cause he's
  • 00:14:07.137 --> 00:14:09.006
  • about to say somethingthat's unbelievable.
  • 00:14:09.006 --> 00:14:10.841
  • So he says before he says it,"I'm telling you the truth."
  • 00:14:10.841 --> 00:14:14.611
  • "I tell you the truth, not onestone here will be left
  • 00:14:14.611 --> 00:14:17.948
  • on another.
  • 00:14:17.948 --> 00:14:19.316
  • Every one will be thrown down."
  • 00:14:19.316 --> 00:14:22.719
  • If you just use your imaginationa little bit, you can see the
  • 00:14:22.719 --> 00:14:24.855
  • shock on the face ofthe disciples.
  • 00:14:24.855 --> 00:14:27.291
  • You can see 'em looking at oneanother wide-eyed.
  • 00:14:27.291 --> 00:14:28.992
  • "What's he mean?"
  • 00:14:28.992 --> 00:14:31.328
  • It took 46 years to buildthe place.
  • 00:14:31.328 --> 00:14:36.033
  • "Well, as Jesus was sitting onthe Mount of Olives--"
  • 00:14:36.033 --> 00:14:38.302
  • They'd just crossed theKidron Valley and go up
  • 00:14:38.302 --> 00:14:40.103
  • the Mount of Olives.
  • 00:14:40.103 --> 00:14:41.438
  • "As he's sitting on the Mount ofOlives, the disciples come
  • 00:14:41.438 --> 00:14:43.307
  • to him privately.
  • 00:14:43.307 --> 00:14:44.675
  • 'Tell us,' they said,'when will this happen?
  • 00:14:44.675 --> 00:14:47.711
  • And what will be the signof your coming and the
  • 00:14:47.711 --> 00:14:49.880
  • end of the age?'"
  • 00:14:49.880 --> 00:14:51.214
  • Jesus makes a statement.
  • 00:14:51.214 --> 00:14:53.717
  • He said, "Not one stone ofthis temple is gonna be
  • 00:14:53.717 --> 00:14:56.219
  • left standing.
  • 00:14:56.219 --> 00:14:57.554
  • It's gonna be destroyed."
  • 00:14:57.554 --> 00:14:59.589
  • The disciples add aninterpretation to it that
  • 00:14:59.589 --> 00:15:02.659
  • Jesus didn't give them.
  • 00:15:02.659 --> 00:15:05.796
  • Their assumption is when thathappens, it will be the end
  • 00:15:05.796 --> 00:15:08.632
  • of the age and timefor Jesus's return.
  • 00:15:08.632 --> 00:15:13.770
  • So their question--they askedhim those two questions,
  • 00:15:13.770 --> 00:15:15.973
  • "When is this gonna happenand what will be the sign
  • 00:15:15.973 --> 00:15:18.909
  • of your return?"
  • 00:15:18.909 --> 00:15:21.778
  • It's very clear from the contextthat they don't understand what
  • 00:15:21.778 --> 00:15:24.948
  • Jesus meant, and he doesn'tcorrect them.
  • 00:15:24.948 --> 00:15:31.054
  • He doesn't say, "Those eventsaren't linked together."
  • 00:15:31.054 --> 00:15:37.294
  • He didn't say, "Yourtimeline's messed up."
  • 00:15:37.294 --> 00:15:39.262
  • In fact, Matthew 24 is Jesus'smost lengthy prophetic
  • 00:15:39.262 --> 00:15:43.233
  • discussion, and heanswers their questions.
  • 00:15:43.233 --> 00:15:49.072
  • He tells them the timelineof when the temple will be
  • 00:15:49.072 --> 00:15:51.808
  • destroyed, and when the end ofthe age will be, and what the
  • 00:15:51.808 --> 00:15:56.013
  • signs of his coming will be.
  • 00:15:56.013 --> 00:15:59.549
  • And from their vantage pointthat day, I suspect they thought
  • 00:15:59.549 --> 00:16:02.419
  • it was all one in the same.
  • 00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:05.555
  • But they're learning, and youand I are learning.
  • 00:16:05.555 --> 00:16:09.192
  • We're learning to followGod in new ways.
  • 00:16:09.192 --> 00:16:11.361
  • We're learning to get overourselves a little bit, and
  • 00:16:11.361 --> 00:16:13.630
  • the smugness and the certaintythat we had everything lined up
  • 00:16:13.630 --> 00:16:16.833
  • just right, and that we haveit all figured out.
  • 00:16:16.833 --> 00:16:22.973
  • We've gotta stop being offendedwhen God doesn't answer our
  • 00:16:22.973 --> 00:16:25.475
  • prayers the way we want him to.
  • 00:16:25.475 --> 00:16:28.512
  • We've got to be determined tofollow him, even when everything
  • 00:16:28.512 --> 00:16:31.248
  • isn't exactly clear.
  • 00:16:31.248 --> 00:16:34.084
  • The temple is gonna be destroyedin 70 AD, about 40 years after
  • 00:16:34.084 --> 00:16:37.854
  • Jesus has thatconversation with them.
  • 00:16:37.854 --> 00:16:42.559
  • His return and the end of theage was much further away, but
  • 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:45.595
  • in his discourse in Matthew 24and Luke 21, they're parallel
  • 00:16:45.595 --> 00:16:48.832
  • passages, he answered all thequestions of the above.
  • 00:16:48.832 --> 00:16:51.835
  • But he didn't hand it to thedisciples in such a simple way.
  • 00:16:51.835 --> 00:16:57.574
  • Again, hearing does not alwaysequal understanding.
  • 00:16:57.574 --> 00:17:02.345
  • See, it doesn't surprise me thatwe're a little off balance.
  • 00:17:02.345 --> 00:17:07.417
  • The events we've watched inthe last ten months were
  • 00:17:07.417 --> 00:17:09.986
  • beyond imagination.
  • 00:17:09.986 --> 00:17:13.256
  • Week, after week, after week,I have participated in church
  • 00:17:13.256 --> 00:17:16.860
  • and in things in a way thatI'd said I never would.
  • 00:17:16.860 --> 00:17:19.930
  • Much of what is happening wewere told was coming, but we'd
  • 00:17:19.930 --> 00:17:24.701
  • pushed it down the calendar.
  • 00:17:24.701 --> 00:17:26.970
  • Oh, not me.
  • 00:17:26.970 --> 00:17:29.339
  • Not mine.
  • 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.874
  • I have a plan.
  • 00:17:30.874 --> 00:17:32.242
  • I've got vacations scheduled.
  • 00:17:32.242 --> 00:17:34.945
  • I know what I wanted to doover the summer.
  • 00:17:34.945 --> 00:17:36.980
  • I had a--I know how I wantedthe next few months to unfold.
  • 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:40.617
  • And we've been more agitatedabout the disruption than we
  • 00:17:40.617 --> 00:17:43.653
  • have been focused on what Godis saying to us.
  • 00:17:43.653 --> 00:17:48.024
  • But there's a beginningof an awakening.
  • 00:17:48.024 --> 00:17:51.027
  • It's a little unsettling becausewe realized while we slept there
  • 00:17:51.027 --> 00:17:53.830
  • have been some strong thingshappening, but they discount
  • 00:17:53.830 --> 00:17:59.703
  • our boss.
  • 00:17:59.703 --> 00:18:01.538
  • I'm excited.
  • 00:18:01.538 --> 00:18:03.640
  • Failures don't disqualify us.
  • 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:05.575
  • Those 11 men that had so muchtrouble following what Jesus
  • 00:18:05.575 --> 00:18:08.745
  • said were entrusted with theassignment, and you'd have to
  • 00:18:08.745 --> 00:18:11.214
  • say they did pretty well.
  • 00:18:11.214 --> 00:18:15.318
  • They did pretty well.
  • 00:18:15.318 --> 00:18:16.653
  • In fact, you and I are fruitof their faithfulness.
  • 00:18:16.653 --> 00:18:21.925
  • Matthew 28, my last passage fromMatthew, "The eleven disciples
  • 00:18:21.925 --> 00:18:26.830
  • went to Galilee."
  • 00:18:26.830 --> 00:18:28.198
  • It's where they'd beentold to go.
  • 00:18:28.198 --> 00:18:29.533
  • By now, they're payinga little more attention.
  • 00:18:29.533 --> 00:18:32.702
  • "To the mountainwhere Jesus had told them to go.
  • 00:18:32.702 --> 00:18:34.604
  • And when they saw him, theyworshiped him, but some doubted.
  • 00:18:34.604 --> 00:18:39.109
  • And then Jesus came to them andsaid, 'All authority in heaven
  • 00:18:39.109 --> 00:18:41.678
  • and earth has been given to me.
  • 00:18:41.678 --> 00:18:43.079
  • Therefore, you go and you makedisciples of all nations,
  • 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:45.815
  • baptizing them in the name ofthe Father, and the Son, and
  • 00:18:45.815 --> 00:18:48.118
  • the Holy Spirit, and teachingthem to obey everything
  • 00:18:48.118 --> 00:18:51.254
  • I've commanded you.
  • 00:18:51.254 --> 00:18:52.622
  • And surely, I'm with you always,to the very end of the age.'"
  • 00:18:52.622 --> 00:18:56.259
  • No more leaving.
  • 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:58.361
  • I'll be with you to the very endof the age if you'll accept
  • 00:18:58.361 --> 00:19:01.431
  • the assignment.
  • 00:19:01.431 --> 00:19:04.434
  • Make disciples ofall nations, go.
  • 00:19:04.434 --> 00:19:07.604
  • Now, they may have fumbled someof the earlier assignments.
  • 00:19:07.604 --> 00:19:09.673
  • They may have had a little bitof trouble with the unfolding
  • 00:19:09.673 --> 00:19:12.642
  • events around Jesus's betrayaland arrest, to his crucifixion
  • 00:19:12.642 --> 00:19:15.679
  • and his resurrection, but you'dhave to say from this point
  • 00:19:15.679 --> 00:19:18.215
  • forward, their focus beganto get much, much better.
  • 00:19:18.215 --> 00:19:22.085
  • They don't always get it right.
  • 00:19:22.085 --> 00:19:24.221
  • There'll be squabblesamongst themselves.
  • 00:19:24.221 --> 00:19:25.689
  • They're not over that yet.
  • 00:19:25.689 --> 00:19:27.691
  • They'll have to have somecouncils in Jerusalem and
  • 00:19:27.691 --> 00:19:29.626
  • to work out their differences.
  • 00:19:29.626 --> 00:19:30.994
  • They'll have some internalfights about who's gonna
  • 00:19:30.994 --> 00:19:32.696
  • travel with whom.
  • 00:19:32.696 --> 00:19:34.831
  • Peter will have a little troubleholding the boundaries against
  • 00:19:34.831 --> 00:19:37.334
  • whether he's going to keep therabbinic rules or whether
  • 00:19:37.334 --> 00:19:40.403
  • he's not.
  • 00:19:40.403 --> 00:19:42.239
  • And Paul is going to call himout a time or two because Paul
  • 00:19:42.239 --> 00:19:44.307
  • just likes calling folks out.
  • 00:19:44.307 --> 00:19:49.913
  • But they took that assignmentvery literally.
  • 00:19:49.913 --> 00:19:55.318
  • They may have fished again,but they never went back to
  • 00:19:55.318 --> 00:19:57.287
  • the fishing business.
  • 00:19:57.287 --> 00:20:00.090
  • They may have returned to somefamiliar places, but they had
  • 00:20:00.090 --> 00:20:02.525
  • a totally new assignment,a totally new perspective,
  • 00:20:02.525 --> 00:20:05.528
  • a totally new hope, a totallynew purpose.
  • 00:20:05.528 --> 00:20:07.998
  • Now, what my prayer for thechurch is is that we come
  • 00:20:07.998 --> 00:20:10.300
  • through this season with a newperspective, and a new purpose,
  • 00:20:10.300 --> 00:20:13.303
  • and a new commitment.
  • 00:20:13.303 --> 00:20:17.007
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:20:17.007 --> 00:20:20.910
  • Folks, I don't think you'reweak, or worldly, or wrong
  • 00:20:20.910 --> 00:20:26.316
  • because what's happeningto us is disorienting.
  • 00:20:26.316 --> 00:20:28.685
  • We're not accustomed to seeingmedia reports that say what
  • 00:20:28.685 --> 00:20:33.189
  • we believe is corrosive.
  • 00:20:33.189 --> 00:20:37.093
  • We're not familiar with seeingthat with the boldness that
  • 00:20:37.093 --> 00:20:39.996
  • we're watching it, where theywill censor in broad ways the
  • 00:20:39.996 --> 00:20:42.899
  • vantage points that we holdand say they're dangerous.
  • 00:20:42.899 --> 00:20:48.405
  • But it's not a surprise.
  • 00:20:48.405 --> 00:20:51.074
  • It's not a frightening time,it's an exciting time.
  • 00:20:51.074 --> 00:20:55.412
  • God is calling us.
  • 00:20:55.412 --> 00:20:58.048
  • We were content to get ourticket to heaven punched
  • 00:20:58.048 --> 00:21:01.017
  • and then go live our lives onour terms, and for some reason
  • 00:21:01.017 --> 00:21:04.487
  • God called our names for thispivotal season.
  • 00:21:04.487 --> 00:21:10.126
  • So what do we do?
  • 00:21:10.126 --> 00:21:12.028
  • Well, it starts with ourprofession of faith.
  • 00:21:12.028 --> 00:21:14.998
  • That's the beginning pointfor all of us.
  • 00:21:14.998 --> 00:21:18.068
  • In fact, I think we ought tojust say that a little prayer
  • 00:21:18.068 --> 00:21:19.803
  • together 'cause you need to knowhow to help somebody else.
  • 00:21:19.803 --> 00:21:22.772
  • I'm not done.
  • 00:21:22.772 --> 00:21:24.140
  • You can't run after this prayer.
  • 00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:25.809
  • I'm about done, but you needthis prayer tucked in
  • 00:21:25.809 --> 00:21:27.911
  • your portfolio.
  • 00:21:27.911 --> 00:21:29.279
  • You need to be as comfortablewith helping somebody do this
  • 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:32.248
  • as anything in your life, 'causethere are people in your sphere
  • 00:21:32.248 --> 00:21:36.353
  • of influence that don'tknow the Lord.
  • 00:21:36.353 --> 00:21:37.687
  • They're not ready to see him.
  • 00:21:37.687 --> 00:21:39.022
  • That can't be okay with you.
  • 00:21:39.022 --> 00:21:42.092
  • It cannot be okay with you.
  • 00:21:42.092 --> 00:21:44.394
  • We have to care about itmore than that.
  • 00:21:44.394 --> 00:21:46.763
  • They may have a formof godliness.
  • 00:21:46.763 --> 00:21:48.098
  • They may attend churchoccasionally.
  • 00:21:48.098 --> 00:21:50.500
  • They may know about God.
  • 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.868
  • They may not be declaredan atheist.
  • 00:21:51.868 --> 00:21:53.203
  • They may not be declareda Buddhist.
  • 00:21:53.203 --> 00:21:54.571
  • They may not be declaredsomething else, but you know
  • 00:21:54.571 --> 00:21:58.241
  • that they have no intent ofhonoring Jesus as Lord.
  • 00:21:58.241 --> 00:22:00.910
  • Folks, passing through churchoccasionally does not make you
  • 00:22:00.910 --> 00:22:03.613
  • a Christ follower any more thanpassing through the parking lot
  • 00:22:03.613 --> 00:22:06.950
  • makes you an automobile.
  • 00:22:06.950 --> 00:22:12.255
  • And many of us have been thereand pretended that.
  • 00:22:12.255 --> 00:22:14.090
  • We've played that game and hadto be awakened to the truth.
  • 00:22:14.090 --> 00:22:17.827
  • But it begins with a birth, anamazing event, a supernatural
  • 00:22:17.827 --> 00:22:22.132
  • event made possiblethrough the redemptive work
  • 00:22:22.132 --> 00:22:24.734
  • of Jesus on the cross.
  • 00:22:24.734 --> 00:22:26.069
  • On the cross, he exhausted thecurse of my sin and my
  • 00:22:26.069 --> 00:22:28.972
  • ungodliness that I might havethe full benefits of his
  • 00:22:28.972 --> 00:22:31.975
  • perfect obedience.
  • 00:22:31.975 --> 00:22:35.111
  • And if I'm willing to forgiveothers, I can ask for
  • 00:22:35.111 --> 00:22:37.547
  • his forgiveness.
  • 00:22:37.547 --> 00:22:38.882
  • And the Bible says somethingsupernatural happens.
  • 00:22:38.882 --> 00:22:41.251
  • There's a new birth.
  • 00:22:41.251 --> 00:22:42.619
  • Not a physical birth, but aspiritual birth, and the part of
  • 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:45.155
  • us that was dead to God is madealive and we become a totally
  • 00:22:45.155 --> 00:22:49.325
  • new creation.
  • 00:22:49.325 --> 00:22:51.528
  • Your future is no longerdominated just by your DNA.
  • 00:22:51.528 --> 00:22:54.964
  • It's dominated by the power ofthe Creator of heaven and earth
  • 00:22:54.964 --> 00:22:57.901
  • because you belong to him.
  • 00:22:57.901 --> 00:23:00.470
  • That's why we call Jesus Lord.
  • 00:23:00.470 --> 00:23:03.973
  • It's not about joining a church.
  • 00:23:03.973 --> 00:23:05.909
  • It's not about putting your nameon a roll, or getting your
  • 00:23:05.909 --> 00:23:08.178
  • doctrine just right, or readingthe right translation,
  • 00:23:08.178 --> 00:23:11.181
  • or the clothing you wearto church for worship.
  • 00:23:11.181 --> 00:23:15.051
  • It begins with a birth.
  • 00:23:15.051 --> 00:23:17.153
  • Just pray this prayer with me,"Almighty God, I'm a sinner
  • 00:23:17.153 --> 00:23:22.225
  • and I need a Savior.
  • 00:23:22.225 --> 00:23:24.227
  • I believe Jesus is your Son,that he died on a cross for my
  • 00:23:24.227 --> 00:23:29.165
  • sin, and that you raised himto life again that I might
  • 00:23:29.165 --> 00:23:35.205
  • be justified.
  • 00:23:35.205 --> 00:23:37.540
  • Forgive me of my sins, and Iforgive everyone of anything
  • 00:23:37.540 --> 00:23:43.379
  • they've done.
  • 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:44.781
  • I release them.
  • 00:23:44.781 --> 00:23:47.050
  • And I thank you now that I'ma child of God, washed by the
  • 00:23:47.050 --> 00:23:51.754
  • blood of Jesus, redeemed,cleansed, delivered, set free.
  • 00:23:51.754 --> 00:23:59.562
  • I belong to God.
  • 00:23:59.562 --> 00:24:01.598
  • In Jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:24:01.598 --> 00:24:05.201
  • Hallelujah.
  • 00:24:05.201 --> 00:24:06.970
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:24:06.970 --> 00:24:11.107
  • But then you have to add to thatyour intent to grow up.
  • 00:24:11.107 --> 00:24:14.744
  • You can't stop there.
  • 00:24:14.744 --> 00:24:17.547
  • You don't want to have--bespiritually stillborn.
  • 00:24:17.547 --> 00:24:21.150
  • That's the beginning.
  • 00:24:21.150 --> 00:24:22.485
  • It gives you the tools, allthat you need to grow up.
  • 00:24:22.485 --> 00:24:24.888
  • Now you're gonna needthe Word of God.
  • 00:24:24.888 --> 00:24:27.857
  • You need a hunger for it.
  • 00:24:27.857 --> 00:24:29.192
  • If you don't have a hungerfor it, start to tell the Lord,
  • 00:24:29.192 --> 00:24:30.927
  • "Lord, I could care less.
  • 00:24:30.927 --> 00:24:32.262
  • Help me.
  • 00:24:32.262 --> 00:24:33.596
  • I know I need to read it, but--"He'll help you.
  • 00:24:33.596 --> 00:24:35.265
  • Stop pretending.
  • 00:24:35.265 --> 00:24:38.635
  • There's nothing to begained by pretending.
  • 00:24:38.635 --> 00:24:40.370
  • Tell--there is a God, folks.
  • 00:24:40.370 --> 00:24:42.438
  • We're gonna see himsooner than later.
  • 00:24:42.438 --> 00:24:45.375
  • Tell him the truth.
  • 00:24:45.375 --> 00:24:48.278
  • He will help you.
  • 00:24:48.278 --> 00:24:50.213
  • Say, "I know you sold a lotof copies, but I think
  • 00:24:50.213 --> 00:24:52.448
  • it's a little dry.
  • 00:24:52.448 --> 00:24:53.783
  • Could you help me?"
  • 00:24:53.783 --> 00:24:55.151
  • He will.
  • 00:24:55.151 --> 00:24:57.220
  • Begin listening, practicingspiritual hygiene.
  • 00:24:57.220 --> 00:25:02.492
  • We treat repentance so casually,go, "Oh, I prayed.
  • 00:25:02.492 --> 00:25:05.395
  • I prayed.I prayed.
  • 00:25:05.395 --> 00:25:08.097
  • I got it."
  • 00:25:08.097 --> 00:25:09.465
  • It'd be like saying, "You know,I showered, I showered."
  • 00:25:09.465 --> 00:25:12.001
  • Lately?
  • 00:25:12.001 --> 00:25:14.671
  • Repentance needs to bea part of your routine.
  • 00:25:14.671 --> 00:25:17.073
  • You cannot practice ungodlinessand think you can participate
  • 00:25:17.073 --> 00:25:21.511
  • in the kingdom of God.
  • 00:25:21.511 --> 00:25:24.280
  • You can make a mistake.
  • 00:25:24.280 --> 00:25:25.615
  • You can make a misstep.
  • 00:25:25.615 --> 00:25:26.983
  • You can--I'm not--we'renot perfect.
  • 00:25:26.983 --> 00:25:28.585
  • We're a broken people inprocess, but you can't choose
  • 00:25:28.585 --> 00:25:32.188
  • to live in sin and thinkGod will welcome you.
  • 00:25:32.188 --> 00:25:38.127
  • We've been way toocasual with him.
  • 00:25:38.127 --> 00:25:42.165
  • Spiritual hygiene.
  • 00:25:42.165 --> 00:25:43.533
  • "Lord, I'm sorry."
  • 00:25:43.533 --> 00:25:45.802
  • That's a daily thing.
  • 00:25:45.802 --> 00:25:48.204
  • We've been a littleoffended this year.
  • 00:25:48.204 --> 00:25:49.706
  • We got the 2 Chronicles verseout, "If my people called by my
  • 00:25:49.706 --> 00:25:53.142
  • name will humble themselves andrepent, I'll heal their land."
  • 00:25:53.142 --> 00:25:56.312
  • We got a little torqued up.
  • 00:25:56.312 --> 00:25:57.680
  • We didn't see as muchhealing as we wanted.
  • 00:25:57.680 --> 00:26:00.216
  • Violence in our cities.
  • 00:26:00.216 --> 00:26:02.185
  • Violence in our Capitol.
  • 00:26:02.185 --> 00:26:05.188
  • We were little indignant.
  • 00:26:05.188 --> 00:26:06.522
  • Well, I prayed twice.
  • 00:26:06.522 --> 00:26:09.492
  • Well, excuse me.
  • 00:26:09.492 --> 00:26:14.897
  • We have to serve.
  • 00:26:14.897 --> 00:26:16.232
  • We have to allow God torearrange our priorities.
  • 00:26:16.232 --> 00:26:18.668
  • We have to let himcontinue to do that.
  • 00:26:18.668 --> 00:26:20.203
  • The disciples, "We lefteverything to follow you."
  • 00:26:20.203 --> 00:26:23.206
  • Jesus said, "Yeah, uh-huh, butunless you take up your cross
  • 00:26:23.206 --> 00:26:26.843
  • every day."
  • 00:26:26.843 --> 00:26:32.515
  • God is moving.
  • 00:26:32.515 --> 00:26:33.883
  • We don't want to miss this.
  • 00:26:33.883 --> 00:26:35.218
  • Be strong and courageous.
  • 00:26:35.218 --> 00:26:38.054
  • There's some unsettlingthings happening.
  • 00:26:38.054 --> 00:26:39.589
  • Be strong and courageous.
  • 00:26:39.589 --> 00:26:42.325
  • You're gonna hear thingsyou don't like.
  • 00:26:42.325 --> 00:26:44.060
  • Be strong and courageous.
  • 00:26:44.060 --> 00:26:46.796
  • The one who callsyou is faithful.
  • 00:26:46.796 --> 00:26:49.899
  • male announcer: Join usevery week for another exciting
  • 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:53.069
  • message fromPastor Allen Jackson.
  • 00:26:53.069 --> 00:26:55.271
  • And until then, visit us onlineand discover remarkable
  • 00:26:55.271 --> 00:26:58.775
  • information and resources tohelp take your Christian life
  • 00:26:58.775 --> 00:27:02.412
  • to the next level.
  • 00:27:02.412 --> 00:27:03.880
  • And if you're visiting theNashville area, we'd love to see
  • 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:06.683
  • you at World Outreach Churchin Murfreesboro.
  • 00:27:06.683 --> 00:27:09.452
  • We're easy to find,so look us up when
  • 00:27:09.452 --> 00:27:11.287
  • you're traveling through.
  • 00:27:11.287 --> 00:27:12.655
  • And don't forget to connect withPastor Jackson every day
  • 00:27:12.655 --> 00:27:15.191
  • through social media.
  • 00:27:15.191 --> 00:27:17.093
  • Thanks so much for joining usand being a part
  • 00:27:17.093 --> 00:27:19.262
  • of this ministry.
  • 00:27:19.262 --> 00:27:20.630
  • We'll see you again next timefor another encounter
  • 00:27:20.630 --> 00:27:22.665
  • with Pastor Allen Jackson.
  • 00:27:22.665 --> 00:27:29.999