Protecting Spiritual Life: Stay vigilant against negative influences, lead with faith everywhere, learn from the Bible for practical steps to make a difference, and be open to God's transformation.
The devil's influence in our lives is closer than we often perceive, and it's crucial to protect our spiritual life from such disruptions. Alan Jackson Ministries aims to spread God's truth across the nation and around the world. They invite listeners to become more fully devoted followers of Jesus and lead with their faith everywhere they go. Pastor Allen's new book, Jesus, his followers, and politics, offers a biblical perspective on current chaos and practical steps to make a difference. The story of the sinful woman in the gospel serves as a reminder to listen not just to others but also to the spirit of God and the word of God, questioning if our lives are truly being transformed by God's movement. The ministry encourages us to be open to God's transformation and becoming, rather than living presumptively based on past religious actions or habits.
Jesus' Kingdom Message: To understand the kingdom of God, one must align their life fully with Jesus, diligently seek Him, and remain steadfast in faith amidst challenges.
Jesus' message emphasizes the concept of another kingdom beyond our physical world, inviting us to consider dimensions that are equally real as the material realm we currently inhabit. This message is encapsulated in the metaphorical parable of the sower and the seeds (Luke 8:4-15). The different types of soil represent various responses to the "seed" or the word of God. For a deeper understanding of the kingdom of God, it's crucial to be fully aligned with Jesus, as demonstrated by the disciples who left their businesses and changed relationships to follow him (Luke 8:1-3). The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom is promised to those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 13:8), indicating that it's not for casual observers or part-time inquirers. Instead, one must be committed and willing to persevere through life's challenges to mature spiritually. In essence, the message encourages us to listen attentively, align our lives completely with Jesus, and remain steadfast in our faith to reap the rewards of understanding the kingdom of God.
Spiritual Growth and Cultural Engagement: Engage with God's Word daily, discuss cultural issues guided by biblical principles, and share God's truth with those around us, as many 'political' issues have roots in biblical principles.
Regular interaction with God's Word and active engagement in cultural discussions, guided by biblical principles, are crucial for personal spiritual growth and impacting society positively. Jesus emphasizes the significance of His Word as a seed, stating that all growth begins with it. The devil aims to disrupt our spiritual lives, tempting us as he did Jesus, and we must be aware of these spiritual forces at work. In the book "Jesus, His Followers, and Politics," Pastor Allen encourages taking our voice into the public square, discussing current events from a biblical perspective, without advocating for political parties or candidates. He emphasizes that many issues often labeled as 'political' are actually biblical principles. For instance, marriage being between a man and a woman, parental authority, etc. This book aims to provide insight into navigating our culture with God's truth. The takeaway is not to wait for election results but to take the truth of God to the people around us in this specific season, understanding that many things we call political are actually rooted in biblical principles.
Disciple's Journey: Diligence, understanding, and obedience to God's word is essential for spiritual growth, while self-examination helps avoid self-inflicted spiritual failures.
The journey of faith involves testing and challenges, which serve to strengthen our connection with God and His word. This test not only confirms our commitment but also reveals our heart condition. Jesus' parable of the sower illustrates how worries, riches, and pleasures can choke the growth of the seed (God's word) in our lives, preventing us from maturing spiritually. Conversely, a noble and good heart is essential for nurturing God's word and experiencing its transformative impact on our lives. Additionally, our problems are not primarily political; they stem from our heart issues. The condition of our hearts can be assessed through our actions and choices, such as supporting policies that contradict God's commandments. Ultimately, Jesus expects the crop (outcome) of our lives to reflect right engagement with His word, resulting in visible and measurable transformation. In conclusion, a meaningful takeaway is that discipleship requires diligence, understanding, and obedience to God's word, as well as an examination of our heart condition to ensure we are not self-inflicting spiritual failures. The call to discipleship is more than attending Bible studies; it involves putting God's word into practice in our lives, making it visible and transformative for others to see.
Listening to God: Important to prayerfully seek guidance of Holy Spirit, as not attending to God's voice can forfeit what we possess, while living obediently for the glory of God is essential.
In our pursuit of understanding the Word of God, we must also strive to listen carefully and attentively to the voice of God. This requires not just reading and studying scripture but investing time in prayer and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus warned us that everything will be disclosed and brought into the open, so it's essential to consider how we listen. Listening enables us to receive more, and a lack of interest or attention can result in forfeiting what we currently possess. In a world where many claim to be Christian but resist God's movement, we should strive to live obediently and pursue God wholeheartedly. It is not enough to have a form of godliness without the power of it; we must truly live for the glory of God. Let us raise our voices, hands, hearts, and serve the Lord with all that we are, as we stand together in this privileged journey of seeking and following God's will.
Biblical Living and Politics: Pastor Allen's new book 'Jesus, His Followers, and Politics' offers practical insights to fulfill our biblical assignment in these times by living like Christ, donate $25 or more at alanjaxon.com or 855-5772255
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to bring God's truth into our culture by being salt and light. This involves living a life reflecting the qualities of the Prince of Peace, the Lily of the Valley, and the Lion of Judah, among others. We are participants in the kingdom of God because we have found the door, which is Christ. His sacrifice makes us righteous. To equip ourselves for this calling, Pastor Allen's new book, "Jesus, His Followers, and Politics," offers practical insight. By donating $25 or more, you can request a copy at alanjaxon.com or by calling 855-5772255. This book aims to help us fulfill our biblical assignment in these times. Keep listening for more encouraging messages on Alan Jackson Ministries. God bless!
Listening & The Kingdom of God - Part 2
AJM extra media account
100 Episodes
Recent Episodes from AJM extra media account
Jesus, His Followers, & Politics - Are We Awake Yet?
The word “political” now extends beyond describing a political party or elected officials. It’s being used as a label for people who speak about current events, values, and cultural trends—including Christians who share their biblical worldview. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses the importance of paying attention to current events and being aware of the cultural shifts happening around us. Some say Christians should not address today’s issues, but the Bible presents a different truth. The assignments God gave Moses, Isaiah, John the Baptist, Paul, Jesus, and others involved bringing God’s Truth into their culture and even directly addressing political leaders. Pastor Allen offers action steps to apply to our own lives, so we can be prepared to share our faith effectively and impact the world.
Disciples With Authority & Power - Part 2
Jesus gave His followers important assignments, but He didn’t leave them unequipped. His power and authority are available to us, if we decide to commit to following Him. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses discipleship, as demonstrated in the Gospel of Luke. The twelve disciples didn’t always have the complete picture or understand entirely what Jesus was trying to tell them—but that didn’t stop Jesus from trusting them with the future of His Church. Jesus’ responses to them teach us about what discipleship should look like, even today. There’s a cost that comes with discipleship—but there’s a great reward, too: We surrender the things that fade in exchange for eternity with our Lord.
Disciples With Authority & Power - Part 1
Jesus gave His followers important assignments, but He didn’t leave them unequipped. His power and authority are available to us, if we decide to commit to following Him. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses discipleship, as demonstrated in the Gospel of Luke. The twelve disciples didn’t always have the complete picture or understand entirely what Jesus was trying to tell them—but that didn’t stop Jesus from trusting them with the future of His Church. Jesus’ responses to them teach us about what discipleship should look like, even today. There’s a cost that comes with discipleship—but there’s a great reward, too: We surrender the things that fade in exchange for eternity with our Lord.
Listening, Learning & God's Power
How can we learn to hear God when He speaks to us? In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson explores what the Gospel of Luke has to say about listening to God’s direction over the noise of the world. He discusses the importance of prayer, Bible reading, obedience, and pursuing relationships with other Christ-followers. He also shares the contrast found between a few key miracle stories in Luke; they can help us understand how God’s instruction may differ from what culture tells us to do. Life-altering transformation is available to all of us as we choose to increasingly listen to and obey God.
Interview with Yael Eckstein
“Disaster on God's people is disaster on God's people, and Jews and Christians are in this together,” Yael Eckstein said. Join Pastor Allen Jackson for an interview with Eckstein, President of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), as we remember those impacted by the October 7 attacks in Israel. Eckstein discusses the work the IFCJ is doing to provide aid, relief, and hope for those affected by the war. She shares how the prayers and support of Christians in America has been encouraging and urges us to continue praying for the peace of Israel. This interview was a part of the Flags of Fellowship event, hosted by IFCJ, Trinity Broadcasting Network, and hundreds of churches across the United States, including World Outreach Church. Antisemitism is on the rise again, and as Christians, we need to use our voices and boldly stand with our friends in Israel.
Jesus, His Followers, & Politics - Are We Awake Yet?
The word “political” now extends beyond describing a political party or elected officials. It’s being used as a label for people who speak about current events, values, and cultural trends—including Christians who share their biblical worldview. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses the importance of paying attention to current events and being aware of the cultural shifts happening around us. Some say Christians should not address today’s issues, but the Bible presents a different truth. The assignments God gave Moses, Isaiah, John the Baptist, Paul, Jesus, and others involved bringing God’s Truth into their culture and even directly addressing political leaders. Pastor Allen offers action steps to apply to our own lives, so we can be prepared to share our faith effectively and impact the world.
Jesus, His Followers, & Politics - Was Jesus "Political"?
Was Jesus political? It depends on how you define the word “political.” In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson offers insight on how politics and our faith interact. To walk in faith, we must be willing to apply biblical truth to our lives and our current culture—and that can mean speaking into the issues of our day. Pastor Allen shows several examples of people in the Bible whose assignments from God required them to directly address and interact with the political people and structures around them, including Esther, Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Jesus Himself.
Jesus, His Followers, & Politics - A Time of Great Change
The rapid rate of change can feel disorienting and confusing—especially when good is called evil, and evil is called good. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses many of the changes we’re experiencing, and the importance of sharing our biblical worldview with the people around us. Change can be difficult to embrace and uncomfortable to endure, but if we continue to follow the Lord, it can lead to great spiritual growth. Pastor Allen offers several examples of people in the Bible who followed God through major changes, then provides trustworthy ways we can find stability and strength in the midst of our current season.
Decisions Regarding Jesus - Part 2
Decisions Regarding Jesus - Part 1
In the American Church, we love to study God’s Word and talk about our faith theoretically—but sometimes we struggle to apply its instruction in our lives. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses the Gospel of Luke, teaching about the reality of spiritual forces in our world and showing the contrast between those who rejected Jesus’ message and those who accepted it. We have that choice to make, too; will we further shy away from sharing God’s Truth, or will we be people who are obedient to Scripture, even in the face of rejection?