Tony Jackson

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PRCUALife, protecting life through all its stages. Welcome to If Not For God, stories of hopelessness that turn to hope. Here is your host, Mike Zwick. What a treat we really have for you, I'm telling you, on If Not For God today. From my perspective, it's really, really cool to see just discipleship in action, man, to watch how one person's life affects another. And so for those of us who love Mike and love the way he searches after God and thirst for him like a deer pants for water, there were people that affected his life and put him on his path. And so we get a chance to meet one of those today. And so I'll let Mike introduce him. I actually got a, I was talking to my friend Tony Jackson.

I met him at Winston-Salem first years and years ago. And he would tell me that he was on the radio every Saturday morning and we would talk about it. And I said, oh, that's great.

And I would listen. And one night I was talking to him and I was almost preaching to him. And he said, hey, Mike, Mike, Mike, I want to ask you something.

Yeah, go ahead. He said, why don't you come on the radio? And I said, well, where are y'all on? He said, we're on tomorrow morning at 830. And I said, I'll be there. So, you know, the truth be told, I probably would not have If Not For God if it had not been for brother Tony Jackson, um, inviting me to come on now try Jesus ministries, um, on the radio station.

And, uh, so I'm very grateful for that. Uh, but Tony Jackson, he grew up right here in Winston-Salem, um, graduated from Carver high school, uh, just retired. He's excited about that recently married to his, uh, uh, lovely wife, uh, CNC. And, uh, he grew up, I think he went to church maybe on Easter. All he knew about Jesus was he just thought Jesus was a little baby and a manger. And at the age of 24, Tony, you met somebody.

Is that right? Amen. Amen. I met a friend and talked to a friend and he introduced me to the gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ. And that was the turnaround right then and there, I began a new season, a new life in Christ. And it's just been amazing the way the Lord has unfolded this, this adventure really. And of course we all know that we have ups downs part of the transition, but part of a renewed mind to seek him and to thank him. So we just thank God for Mike Zwick and this radio station and everything that comes along with it. You're Robbie included.

We don't want to leave Robbie out. We just thank God for the fellowship. And I'm excited about what the Lord is doing and what he's going to use today to glorify himself and draw many to the kingdom. So we thank God for this.

Yeah, absolutely. One of the things that I was looking at was it's actually Matthew chapter six, and it says, using the CSB, it says, be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward with your father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don't sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you that they have the reward, but when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that you're giving maybe in secret and your father who sees in secret will reward you. Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people.

Truly, I tell you they have their reward, but when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door and pray to your father who was in secret and your father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And so when I see that, I'm reminded of Tony Jackson, because I know a lot of times when I try to do something, I always pray that I'm not doing it for my own glory or anything like that. But I know Tony, with you, not only are you always willing to give people a helping hand, but you're also not out there seeking reward for it. And I know a lot of people, they help people and they're just doing it so that they can get something in return. But I see you helping people just to help you.

I know you're involved in the prison ministry and what compels you to do that? Well, to be open, we got to be honest with ourselves with once we realize it's not ours and we're talking about stewardship again, everything belongs to the Lord and he just lends to us the things that we use for his glory. So when we're opening stuff, the Lord is so willing to lead us to not only give, but to do it with a cheerful heart because we know it's not ours. You can't take nothing with you.

You didn't bring nothing. So you got to let go and be quick to let go because if you hesitate or if you wait, you just blew another opportunity, which will probably come again, but not in that same form. So when you let go, you let God, you not only give him elbow room to work, he's wants to be glorified because that's what he's about.

Yeah. I mean, and one of the things that I was just looking at, it's actually in Acts chapter 15. And in Acts chapter 15, we were just talking about this. Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark with Paul and he wanted to bring them on the ministry trip. And Paul did not want to bring John Mark because John Mark had fled earlier.

They had brought them on a missionary journey in what was now would be the rugged mountains of near Turkey or in Turkey. And he just left. And Paul said no, because he left.

We're not going to bring him again. And Barnabas said, no, we're going to bring him. And it's funny the way that the story turns out. If you look at Paul's last words, you know, when you say, well, which one of them was right? Was it Paul or was it Barnabas? Barnabas was actually right.

Because in Paul's last words in 2 Timothy chapter 4, he says to bring Mark with you because he is useful for me in my ministry. And we were just talking about this a minute ago about how sometimes when you're doing ministry, sometimes you have to believe in somebody, even maybe when nobody else is believing in them. And I know when we were just talking a few minutes ago, I had never been on the radio before. I didn't know anything like that.

But you had invited me to do something even when you didn't know the outcome. And so I know you do a little bit. You do a lot with prison ministry or stuff like that. But what do you what can you tell us about believing in people who may maybe nobody else believes in? My first thought comes to the idea God never gives up on us. So when he shows me that compassion with all the stuff that we all go through, but I'm telling you, when you take it personally and stuff, you have to look at it from God's perspective. And only the Spirit can give you that perspective.

To me, it's a gift because everybody is not open to receive that. So with that in mind and stuff, when you're doing his will and his kingdom work and stuff, the Lord gently and he's so loving and kind hearted when he just presented things of his nature. So we just thank God for him leading, directing and even setting up situations where you don't even get it. But in the long run, when you invest in somebody else, the Lord going to take care of you. So you get yourself out of the way and just let God manifest and you be a witness because we've been called to be a witness to his glory. So in sharing and caring, that's a big thing with God, because that's what his son did. He bought, surrendered his life and sacrificed. Now you think about this with the blood, the price that was paid, we lose sight because we're so ready to hear things that we don't even know or even understand.

And here's my thing about when somebody say they know I'm very leery because nobody knows like God knows. So if you depend and lean on him, he will be your instructor. And I'm time to orchestrate situations when you know it is out of your hands. So it pays to listen and to be aware of his presence. But I'm telling you, this is a journey. Do you know snap, crackle and pop and be patient with yourself because God going to be patient with you and we are his and it makes a difference. We are the difference makers.

Absolutely. And you know, I heard a story and I actually was watching something on um, it's the Christian station that we have and I can't think of the name of it. But what there was a guy named Bob. And when Bob was growing up, he wasn't a Christian. And he said, all of a sudden, there was this guy who came to their school.

And he was part of this group called young life. And he said, this guy, this guy, Randy, who was actually friends with Bob is what I meant to say, but Randy came in and Randy had a beard. Randy had a motorcycle and Randy had a girlfriend. And Bob said, I wanted a beard. I wanted a motorcycle.

I wanted a girlfriend. And he said, he was part of this group called young life. And he said that Randy just befriended him. Randy just came in and he, he tried to be friends with him. He was trying to be nice to him, trying to do all these things, but he was, and he was also sharing the gospel with him about Jesus. And he said, Bob said that, he said, I didn't really want anything to do with Jesus.

I wasn't ready for that. He says, but I appreciated Randy being friends with me. He said, I decided that I was going to quit school and I was just going to get my GED. And, uh, he said, so what I did, he said, I went to my friend Randy's house and I told, I knocked on his door. He said, a few minutes later, Randy came to the door. And, uh, when Randy came to the door, he said, I told him that I was quitting school and I'm going to the Yosemite mountain, Yosemite national park.

And I'm going there to hike. And Randy says, okay, hold on just a few minutes. Randy went back to the house, came back. He had his suit suitcase with him.

He had a sleeping bag and a few other things. And he says, all right, I'm going to now, Randy had a ministry right now. He had a ministry.

He was working with young life. He, uh, he, he had stuff that he had to do and it would have been really easy for Randy to say to Bob, uh, Bob, I'm going to pray for you. But what he felt the Lord telling him to do was to go with this guy and go to hike with him and just to continue to be his friend. Long story short in part because of that, Bob later became a Christian and now Bob has written several New York times bestsellers.

Uh, his name is actually Bob Goff. He's a lawyer speaker and author of the New York times bestselling books. Uh, love does and every and everybody always, and he's written all over the world. He's a big time Christian.

A lot of people know about him, but you know, you think about it, it was just because of this guy named Randy who loved on him and who took a chance on him. But, uh, Robbie, you, you had something to share. Well, I was just listening, you know, I love the discourse and I, you know, not to be argumentative, but I always like to jump in there and just, Hey man, as I was processing what you were saying, that, you know, who was right and who was wrong, Paul or, or Barnabas. And, and maybe they were both right. You know, there's been a time in my life where, you know, I couldn't work with somebody that I couldn't count on because I had work to do.

And in my personality type that, you know, I'm, I'm, it would affect my work if I'm working with somebody that wasn't necessarily. But the cool thing about it is that God was working on both Paul and Mark. So obviously Mark walked further in his walk because of Barnabas and God put Barnabas in his walk.

But Paul went obviously further too, that at some point in time, Mark became very useful to him. So, you know, I don't know, you know, in the situation that sometimes God pulls people out of my life for a time, and then we re reunite. And I think of a group, you know, Toby Mack was part of that whole, right.

And I can't think DC, DC talk. And I don't know if you've ever seen them back together on any of those things. But I was on a cruise where they got back together after they had split apart. But just think how much God has used that division with the talents of those three people.

And then they're still back together and still friends. So you know, there's just seasons where God is at work. And one of the things I was also going to say since I was listening and paying attention is I love, I love, love, love, how prison ministry, you know, fits into life that here are these people that God, you know, they're in the 16th Psalm, there's a beautiful line that you may not think sounds so beautiful.

But the more I thought about it, the more I think it's beautiful. I think it's the third verse, it says the sorrows of those who chase after other gods will be multiplied. He says, I'm not going to pour out their drink offerings of blood, nor will I have the name of their God on my lips.

But the beginning of that says that when I chase after other gods, my sorrows are going to be multiplied, because God loves me. He wants me to find the bottom. He wants me to say, Well, that's where how's that working out for you, Robbie, you know, and those people in prison, right? A lot of times they're a lot better off than that guy sitting on the top of that, you know, walk over your building over there, because they found their bottom, and God's got them. And so when somebody like Tony comes in there, or you like you, Mike, or anybody in, like, you just have a friend that's in prison, man. And what a neat thing to go present, visit them, because this is an opportunity really, for somebody, you know, say, Well, I like that. You got a beard.

Yeah. And so what are is there maybe a story of something that if somebody that you've met, who has been in prison, who has been maybe at rock bottom, and where you were able to visit them, Tony, and the Lord really changed their lives? Hey, man, you're talking about some testimonies on that.

My Lord, over the years, I think I've served. But because of the COVID right now, and stuff, those doors are kind of like, closed right now. But the relationship over the years, and the lives of choices that people make, and the time that they lose away from their family, their life. It's kind of heartbreaking for, I said, like a lot of situations in their lives, the inmates and stuff, you know, the fellowship, I just miss it all.

And it does make a difference and stuff. But, but many of them will tell you that had it not been for God, and them being locked up, their life probably would be so different as far as destruction. But because the Lord got their attention, got them isolated, separated.

But that's not the story for all of them. But for some and stuff, that's a great story, how the Lord can turn those lives around, and get them to see Him, and be used of Him, and cause a great effect on others outside that realm of the prison, and inside. So, to me and stuff, that is so cherishable, when you can invest in somebody else's life, especially in prison, when they don't have no one, no letters, no way, except the fellowship of someone coming in, praying with them, believing in them, and sharing the gospel.

In a powerful way. So the Lord has so many ways of turning the life, drawing, and causing renewal, and a lot of lives are being restored. And I'm talking about their healthy relationship, instead of, you know, the enemy stealing, robbing, and killing, when the Lord has taken the life, because of your prayer, your time, and saying, Lord, how should I be open to this person, or this life, or even their families? Letters, over the years, has just touched my heart, because it's real, and the Lord is real. You know, so we thank Him for that testimony, and we just say, Lord, have your way with the prison ministry, even now, in this season, in the lives of many that don't even know you. But the ones that do, may they be effective, fruitful, and continually to wait on you, because you're worthy.

Absolutely. It says in Hebrews 13, 3 through 6, in the ERV, it says, Don't forget those who are in prison. Remember them as though you were in prison with them. And don't forget those who are suffering.

Remember them as though you were suffering with them. And so, you know, when I hear that, and I've heard, I heard years ago, they said there was the Chinese church, they were suffering for the gospel, they were being persecuted, and what they said at that time was, they said, we want to let you know that we hear America is being blessed right now, and the Christians in America are being blessed, and we want you to know that we're rejoicing with you, because you're rejoicing. They said, but also it says in Scripture, that to, you know, if somebody's suffering, to share in that with them as well. So to suffer with, I don't know, mental or whatever, but just to suffer with us as well, or remember us.

Remember the pain that we're going through. One of the things that you said too about how people sometimes, and Robbie, about how people hit rock bottom, and that may be the only way that they can turn up, Pastor Brian Biggers from the Lamb's Chapel had actually said the other week, he said, but you say, I don't need to worry, I'm a successful businessman, I'm doing really well. Pastor Biggers, I like what he said, he said, the devil doesn't care which road to hell you're on, as long as you're on the road, right? And so sometimes God will actually wake us up. Second Chronicles 15, starting in verse one, it says, the Spirit of God came upon Azariah, the son of Oded, and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin, the Lord is with you while you are with him.

If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. For a long time, Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest and without law. But when in their distress, they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. In those times, there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in for great disturbances, afflicted all the inhabitants of the land, they were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress.

But you take courage, do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah, the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the Lord. Now, I don't know if you guys heard that or not. It says in scripture, it says right here, in those times, there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in for great disturbances, afflicted all the inhabitants of the land, they were broken in pieces.

Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled with them every sort of distress. Actually heard Tony Evans recently talking about this on the NRB broadcast, but what he said when he was younger, he met his wife, and when he met his wife, his wife wasn't acting the way that he wanted her to act. She wasn't responding the way that he wanted her to respond. So what he did is he took her to this amusement park, he took her on the scariest ride that was in the park, he said, and at first she was kind of sitting away from him, he says, but as the ride got worse and worse and scarier and scarier and scarier, she started to move closer and closer and closer to him. He says by the end of the ride, he said, you would have thought that we were one person.

She was so close to me. He says in the same way, maybe all of the trouble, maybe all of the distress that's been going on in our land in 2020 with COVID, maybe all of the problems with race that we've been having, with the riots, with everything else, maybe, maybe it's just God trying to get our attention and trying to bring us back to him. Amen.

I would totally agree with that because I saw that same program. And the closer we walk, the better off we are as far as his kingdom and his work. So it's really not about us at all. But the idea, there's a great shaking going on now, Saints, in this world that we're living in, if you're not careful and mindful, you will miss what the Lord is saying to you personally, especially corporate, because the church has to pay for not being what God called them to be. And to me, that's a deception. This whole thing about deception is, and let me interject this thought. I'm thinking about this creative being led a third of the host of heaven and deceptive.

He was deceived to even think that he could be God for one thing, but think about the whole world has been deceived to think his influence has so captured. And if we're not careful, we have been infected. So we need to stay daily being cleansed and clean from our own thoughts because our thoughts are not God's thoughts if we're not lining up with him. So that's deception.

And check this out about circumstances and experiences. We all are being influenced to some way about this world that we live in. Flesh, the devil, and even ourselves, if we're not careful and watchful and stuff, we'll be led astray. And the Bible tells us that in the last days, and these are the last days, believe it or not.

I don't know if you heard it before, but these are the last days. It is so evident for them that know him, he's mourning, he's shaking, he's drawing people closer. And the thing about our part is watch as well as pray because if you don't know what you're looking at, you're going to miss it.

And it's just so critical in this time. He said that even the very elect would be deceived if it were not for the spirit of the living God. So saints, it is so easy to be deceived. Anytime we don't do it his way, we are deceived and stuff to think that we know better. Father knows best. Believe me when I tell you, because anybody, any nation that leaves God out, it's going south.

It's just that simple. And we don't understand the gravity of this thing to call sin. Sin has marred not only God's image in us, but the world as we know it. So, you know, if they have been up under the influence, the end and the end, everything will be pulled one day.

So like, if you don't know that you are deceived. So we got to encourage one another, be open to what God is trying to reveal to us through his plan and his kingdom, because that's the only thing that really matter. And he is definitely in control.

He's sovereign. We don't get that. But if you rest in that, God will bring it to fruition. He will work with you. So let us draw closer by encouragement, by loving on one another and letting go. Be quick to let go. The Bible tells us if we're quick to hear and slow to speak, we're going to be okay because you won't get ticked off at whatever God is presenting to you because it's his representation of what he's doing in these last days.

That's right. And as a matter of fact, you know, one of the things that I'm thinking about, there are so many voices out there. We have to stay in the Word. We have to read the Word because if we don't read the Word, then we could easily be deceived because we don't know what the truth is.

You know, I've often heard this said before. They said that people who are taught to detect a fake $100 bill, they said they don't teach them all of the fake $100 bills. They're taught to learn the real $100 bill. And once they learn the real $100 bill, then when they see a fake $100 bill, they know that it's not the real one. And so we have to stay in the Word.

We have to be obedient. A friend of mine named Tiger over in Gibsonville, North Carolina, he told me a story about a guy who was actually, he was in Africa, he was a missionary. And in the middle of the night, he was in his underwear, the Lord woke him up and he said, you need to leave the house.

Get out now. He started running. He started to get, he got out of the house, left his house just as he was. God told him, run this way.

He started to run this way. He said, go to the tree over there. He went to the tree that was over there. He said, start preaching.

Okay. He stands in front of the tree. He starts preaching the gospel. All of a sudden, this guy comes down from out of the tree, comes down, gives his life to Christ, finds out the guy was about to hang himself.

Whoa. All we have to do is be obedient. And listen, listen to me now. If you've never given your life to Christ, Tony's right.

The time is short. Jesus is coming back soon. You need to give your life to Christ. Just say yes to Jesus. Choose to follow him all the days of your life and get around other Christian believers. Amen.

That's a big part of his plan. Don't deny yourself his presence. And we just thank God again for this opportunity, this platform, everything that's involved concerning his kingdom, because when it's all said and done, he's still coming back and we need to be prepared, ready, set to go. Just thank God again. And as we rest in trust, believe me, father is a good father and he has great plans for each and every one of us. We're living in the last day and take it to heart.

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