Robert Jeffress - Choosing Repentance Over Guilt (Part 1)

January 9, 2026 | 27:29

Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Choosing Repentance Over Guilt (Part 1) | January 9, 2026
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:01.491 --> 00:00:06.362
  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the
  • 00:00:06.496 --> 00:00:07.697
  • First baptist church of dallas, texas,
  • 00:00:07.831 --> 00:00:09.933
  • This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
  • 00:00:10.066 --> 00:00:13.203
  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress,
  • 00:00:14.704 --> 00:00:16.039
  • And welcome again to "pathway to victory".
  • 00:00:16.039 --> 00:00:18.274
  • Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned
  • 00:00:18.341 --> 00:00:21.911
  • And fall short of the glory of god."
  • 00:00:21.911 --> 00:00:24.380
  • And because of our sinful nature,
  • 00:00:24.380 --> 00:00:26.116
  • It's not a matter of if we're going to mess up,
  • 00:00:26.116 --> 00:00:29.185
  • But only when we're going to mess up.
  • 00:00:29.185 --> 00:00:31.821
  • So, whenever we experience moments of failure,
  • 00:00:31.821 --> 00:00:34.624
  • We have a choice to make.
  • 00:00:34.624 --> 00:00:36.259
  • Are we going to deny our roles or will we fess up and repent?
  • 00:00:36.259 --> 00:00:41.131
  • You'll never regret coming clean with god.
  • 00:00:41.131 --> 00:00:44.467
  • My message is titled, "choosing repentance over guilt,"
  • 00:00:44.467 --> 00:00:48.605
  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:48.605 --> 00:00:52.175
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:52.175 --> 00:00:57.814
  • Male announcer: each day, millions of lost people are
  • 00:00:57.881 --> 00:01:00.183
  • Searching for hope and truth.
  • 00:01:00.183 --> 00:01:02.218
  • Through "pathway to victory," god's word is reaching into
  • 00:01:02.218 --> 00:01:05.088
  • Homes across america and around the world, but there are still
  • 00:01:05.088 --> 00:01:08.691
  • So many who haven't heard the saving message of jesus christ.
  • 00:01:08.691 --> 00:01:12.295
  • You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
  • 00:01:12.295 --> 00:01:15.565
  • You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries who are
  • 00:01:15.565 --> 00:01:18.735
  • Sharing the gospel through television and radio.
  • 00:01:18.735 --> 00:01:21.437
  • Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide with the
  • 00:01:21.437 --> 00:01:25.108
  • Life-changing power of the cross.
  • 00:01:25.108 --> 00:01:27.644
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:29.078 --> 00:01:36.419
  • Jeffress: the internal revenue service received
  • 00:01:36.419 --> 00:01:38.922
  • An anonymous envelope.
  • 00:01:38.922 --> 00:01:40.857
  • Inside the envelope was a note and ten $1000 bills.
  • 00:01:40.857 --> 00:01:46.529
  • The note read, "dear sirs, for several months i've been unable
  • 00:01:46.529 --> 00:01:51.634
  • To sleep due to the guilt i felt over cheating on my income tax
  • 00:01:51.634 --> 00:01:56.139
  • Last year.
  • 00:01:56.139 --> 00:01:57.507
  • Enclosed, you will find $10,000.
  • 00:01:57.507 --> 00:02:01.110
  • If i still can't sleep, i'll send you the rest
  • 00:02:01.177 --> 00:02:04.347
  • Of what i owe you."
  • 00:02:04.347 --> 00:02:07.550
  • You know, in our series, "choose your attitudes,
  • 00:02:11.521 --> 00:02:14.457
  • Change your life," we're saying that an attitude is our response
  • 00:02:14.457 --> 00:02:19.229
  • To the circumstances of life.
  • 00:02:19.229 --> 00:02:20.597
  • We can't choose our circumstances, but we can choose
  • 00:02:20.597 --> 00:02:23.800
  • How we respond to those circumstances.
  • 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:26.302
  • You know, sometimes we try to cover over our failure,
  • 00:02:26.302 --> 00:02:30.039
  • Our failure to meet god's standard.
  • 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:32.175
  • Sometimes we rationalize it.
  • 00:02:32.175 --> 00:02:34.277
  • Sometimes we did what this guy did and make a half hearted
  • 00:02:34.277 --> 00:02:37.380
  • Attempt at restitution.
  • 00:02:37.380 --> 00:02:39.515
  • But one of the biggest decisions we have to make in life is,
  • 00:02:39.582 --> 00:02:43.419
  • Are we going to deny our failure or are we going to choose
  • 00:02:43.419 --> 00:02:48.091
  • To repent of our failure?
  • 00:02:48.091 --> 00:02:50.226
  • And that's what we're going to talk about today.
  • 00:02:50.293 --> 00:02:53.129
  • We're going to talk about choosing repentance over guilt.
  • 00:02:53.196 --> 00:02:58.034
  • That choice not only affects our life right now, but it affects
  • 00:02:58.101 --> 00:03:02.739
  • Our eternal destiny.
  • 00:03:02.739 --> 00:03:05.241
  • Now, you know, when we talk about repentance,
  • 00:03:05.308 --> 00:03:07.443
  • People sometimes have a funny idea of what repentance means.
  • 00:03:07.443 --> 00:03:10.847
  • They picture some scraggly street preacher
  • 00:03:10.847 --> 00:03:13.950
  • Out on the sidewalk with a sandwich board saying,
  • 00:03:13.950 --> 00:03:16.919
  • "repent, the end of the world is at hand."
  • 00:03:16.919 --> 00:03:19.789
  • It's true.
  • 00:03:20.423 --> 00:03:21.791
  • Repentance is important for non-christians to receive
  • 00:03:21.791 --> 00:03:24.961
  • Salvation, but, interestingly, in the bible, repentance is
  • 00:03:24.961 --> 00:03:29.732
  • Something more for christians than for non-christians.
  • 00:03:29.732 --> 00:03:33.803
  • In fact, when martin luther nailed his, "ninety-five theses"
  • 00:03:33.870 --> 00:03:38.708
  • To the door in wittenberg, the very first of those theses
  • 00:03:38.708 --> 00:03:43.313
  • Was this, "when our lord and master jesus christ
  • 00:03:43.313 --> 00:03:47.083
  • Said, 'repent,' he willed that the entire life
  • 00:03:47.083 --> 00:03:51.054
  • Of believers be one of repentance."
  • 00:03:51.054 --> 00:03:55.858
  • Repentance is not just a one time action to receive
  • 00:03:55.925 --> 00:03:59.962
  • Salvation, it is the lifestyle, it is the attitude,
  • 00:03:59.962 --> 00:04:04.267
  • Of believers.
  • 00:04:04.267 --> 00:04:06.369
  • Now, what do we mean by repentance?
  • 00:04:06.436 --> 00:04:08.738
  • Contrary to popular thinking, repentance is not primarily
  • 00:04:08.738 --> 00:04:13.209
  • An emotion.
  • 00:04:13.209 --> 00:04:14.977
  • We think it's weeping and convulsing over your failure.
  • 00:04:14.977 --> 00:04:20.083
  • That can be a part of it, but that's not what the word
  • 00:04:20.083 --> 00:04:23.186
  • Repentance means.
  • 00:04:23.186 --> 00:04:24.954
  • The word repentance in greek is metanoeó.
  • 00:04:24.954 --> 00:04:29.726
  • Two words, two root words.
  • 00:04:29.726 --> 00:04:32.095
  • Meta, change.
  • 00:04:32.095 --> 00:04:33.896
  • Noeó, the mind.
  • 00:04:33.896 --> 00:04:37.200
  • Metanoeó, a change of mind.
  • 00:04:37.200 --> 00:04:40.403
  • That's literally what it means to repent, to have a change
  • 00:04:40.403 --> 00:04:43.606
  • Of mind.
  • 00:04:43.606 --> 00:04:44.941
  • For a christian, repentance, and write this down, is a change
  • 00:04:44.941 --> 00:04:48.644
  • Of mind that leads to a change of direction in our life.
  • 00:04:48.644 --> 00:04:53.349
  • A change of mind that leads to a change of direction in our life.
  • 00:04:53.349 --> 00:04:57.987
  • You probably had this experience before, especially if you've
  • 00:04:57.987 --> 00:05:01.491
  • Driven around downtown dallas.
  • 00:05:01.491 --> 00:05:03.192
  • Have you ever had the experience of driving down one of these
  • 00:05:03.192 --> 00:05:06.629
  • Roads and seeing all of the traffic heading toward you and
  • 00:05:06.629 --> 00:05:12.935
  • You look around and you notice all of the street signs are
  • 00:05:12.935 --> 00:05:15.972
  • Backwards and you realize you're going the wrong way
  • 00:05:15.972 --> 00:05:21.444
  • On a one way street.
  • 00:05:21.444 --> 00:05:23.246
  • At that moment, you have a decision to make.
  • 00:05:23.246 --> 00:05:27.350
  • You can decide that "i'm right and they're wrong and i'm gonna
  • 00:05:27.350 --> 00:05:31.053
  • Stay and go in the direction i'm going" or you can acknowledge
  • 00:05:31.053 --> 00:05:35.825
  • That, in fact, you're mistaken.
  • 00:05:35.825 --> 00:05:38.327
  • Now, just acknowledging that isn't enough to keep from
  • 00:05:38.327 --> 00:05:41.564
  • A crash.
  • 00:05:41.564 --> 00:05:42.899
  • You have to do more than acknowledge it.
  • 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:44.901
  • You actually have to do what?
  • 00:05:44.901 --> 00:05:46.669
  • Turn around.
  • 00:05:46.669 --> 00:05:48.037
  • Turn around.
  • 00:05:48.404 --> 00:05:50.039
  • Repentance and turning around are inseparably linked
  • 00:05:50.039 --> 00:05:54.477
  • With one another.
  • 00:05:54.477 --> 00:05:55.812
  • A change of mind that leads to a change of direction.
  • 00:05:55.812 --> 00:05:59.682
  • If you don't believe that, listen to god's word
  • 00:05:59.682 --> 00:06:02.185
  • Through the prophet ezekiel and ezekiel 33:11 to 12.
  • 00:06:02.185 --> 00:06:06.589
  • I love how the living bible paraphrases this.
  • 00:06:06.589 --> 00:06:09.759
  • God said, "'as surely as i live, says, the lord god, i have
  • 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:14.430
  • No pleasure in the death of the wicked; but i desire
  • 00:06:14.430 --> 00:06:17.700
  • That the wicked turn from his evil ways and live.
  • 00:06:17.700 --> 00:06:22.505
  • Turn, turn from your wickedness, for why will you die?
  • 00:06:22.505 --> 00:06:27.810
  • For the good works of a righteous man will not save him
  • 00:06:27.810 --> 00:06:30.947
  • If he turns to sin; and the sins of an evil man will not destroy
  • 00:06:30.947 --> 00:06:36.385
  • Him if he repents and turns from his sins.'"
  • 00:06:36.385 --> 00:06:41.958
  • Do you see the relationship?
  • 00:06:41.958 --> 00:06:43.292
  • To repent is to turn around, a change of mind, that leads
  • 00:06:43.292 --> 00:06:48.564
  • To a change of direction.
  • 00:06:48.564 --> 00:06:50.399
  • Well, what is the result of not making that choice?
  • 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:54.470
  • What is the result of not repenting of our sin?
  • 00:06:54.470 --> 00:06:59.375
  • In a word, guilt.
  • 00:06:59.375 --> 00:07:02.411
  • Before we look at how to develop an attitude of repentance
  • 00:07:02.411 --> 00:07:06.249
  • In our lives, let's talk about the opposite of repentance,
  • 00:07:06.249 --> 00:07:10.052
  • And that is guilt.
  • 00:07:10.052 --> 00:07:12.188
  • Guilt is one of the most debilitating of all human
  • 00:07:12.188 --> 00:07:16.192
  • Emotions and one of the best illustrations of the damage
  • 00:07:16.192 --> 00:07:20.863
  • Guilt does in our life is in the familiar story of king david
  • 00:07:20.863 --> 00:07:25.801
  • Found in 2 samuel chapters 11 to 12.
  • 00:07:25.801 --> 00:07:30.206
  • You remember the story.
  • 00:07:30.206 --> 00:07:31.774
  • David was, by far, the most successful king
  • 00:07:31.774 --> 00:07:34.844
  • In israel's history.
  • 00:07:34.844 --> 00:07:36.546
  • He had reached the zenith of his power.
  • 00:07:36.546 --> 00:07:39.615
  • The nation had never been more successful in conquering
  • 00:07:39.615 --> 00:07:42.618
  • Its enemies.
  • 00:07:42.618 --> 00:07:43.953
  • He had accumulated great wealth.
  • 00:07:43.953 --> 00:07:46.122
  • And yet, at the high point of his career, he traded all
  • 00:07:46.122 --> 00:07:51.861
  • Of that for a few moments of passion with somebody else's
  • 00:07:51.861 --> 00:07:56.499
  • Wife, a wife named bathsheba.
  • 00:07:56.499 --> 00:07:59.936
  • By the way, that is when you are most vulnerable to sin.
  • 00:07:59.936 --> 00:08:04.206
  • Remember what paul says?
  • 00:08:04.206 --> 00:08:05.541
  • "therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
  • 00:08:05.541 --> 00:08:10.546
  • It is in those times of great success in your life that many
  • 00:08:10.546 --> 00:08:14.483
  • Times you're most vulnerable to satan's temptations.
  • 00:08:14.483 --> 00:08:17.887
  • This temptation came about one evening while david was looking
  • 00:08:17.887 --> 00:08:23.993
  • Out from his balcony at a building residence
  • 00:08:23.993 --> 00:08:29.432
  • Across the street, and on the rooftop this woman, bathsheba,
  • 00:08:29.432 --> 00:08:34.070
  • Was bathing, was going through the rites of purification.
  • 00:08:34.070 --> 00:08:38.207
  • The 2 samuel 11 says that it occurred at a time when david
  • 00:08:38.207 --> 00:08:43.179
  • Should have been out fighting with his men.
  • 00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:47.450
  • But, instead, the king said, "you know what?
  • 00:08:47.450 --> 00:08:49.752
  • I'm so successful, i don't have to do that stuff anymore.
  • 00:08:49.752 --> 00:08:52.822
  • Let the underlings do that.
  • 00:08:52.822 --> 00:08:55.024
  • I'm going to enjoy the fruit of my success.
  • 00:08:55.024 --> 00:08:57.827
  • I'm going to go into a time of relaxation."
  • 00:08:57.827 --> 00:09:00.630
  • Could i say an aside here to those of you here
  • 00:09:00.630 --> 00:09:03.265
  • Or are watching this broadcast?
  • 00:09:03.265 --> 00:09:06.035
  • There are some people i have counseled with, some christian
  • 00:09:06.035 --> 00:09:11.407
  • Businessmen, who have said, "you know, i built a successful
  • 00:09:11.407 --> 00:09:15.177
  • Company and i've gotten a tremendous offer on my company.
  • 00:09:15.177 --> 00:09:18.848
  • I think i'm gonna sell it so that i can just spend
  • 00:09:18.848 --> 00:09:22.718
  • The rest of my life doing what i wanna do.
  • 00:09:22.718 --> 00:09:24.887
  • To retire, to travel, not to keep a grueling schedule
  • 00:09:24.887 --> 00:09:28.991
  • Any longer.
  • 00:09:28.991 --> 00:09:30.359
  • I want to be free to do what i want to do."
  • 00:09:30.359 --> 00:09:33.729
  • That is a prescription for spiritual disaster in your life.
  • 00:09:33.729 --> 00:09:38.401
  • Now, listen to me.
  • 00:09:38.401 --> 00:09:39.769
  • God never intended for us to spend the last 20 or 30 of years
  • 00:09:39.769 --> 00:09:44.540
  • Of our life doing nothing but entertaining ourselves.
  • 00:09:44.540 --> 00:09:48.244
  • That was never god's plan.
  • 00:09:48.244 --> 00:09:50.613
  • God wants us to be industrious and productive, and especially
  • 00:09:50.613 --> 00:09:55.351
  • For his kingdom, until the day we die.
  • 00:09:55.351 --> 00:09:57.987
  • Now, i don't mean you work at the same job you've always had.
  • 00:09:57.987 --> 00:10:01.157
  • You may retire from that job, but if you retire from that job,
  • 00:10:01.157 --> 00:10:04.660
  • Find something else to do.
  • 00:10:04.660 --> 00:10:06.495
  • Find something else to invest your life in.
  • 00:10:06.495 --> 00:10:09.699
  • When you have a life of leisure, you are setting yourself up
  • 00:10:09.699 --> 00:10:14.670
  • For satan's temptation in your life.
  • 00:10:14.670 --> 00:10:16.772
  • That's exactly what happened to david.
  • 00:10:16.772 --> 00:10:18.574
  • He had too much time on his hands.
  • 00:10:18.574 --> 00:10:20.009
  • He should have been out fighting, but he saw bathsheba,
  • 00:10:20.009 --> 00:10:23.412
  • They had relations that evening, and, soon, bathsheba reported
  • 00:10:23.412 --> 00:10:28.250
  • To him that she had become pregnant.
  • 00:10:28.250 --> 00:10:31.387
  • Now, immediately, david had a choice.
  • 00:10:31.387 --> 00:10:33.956
  • He could have acknowledged his sin, asked for god's
  • 00:10:33.956 --> 00:10:37.259
  • Forgiveness, made restitution, but, instead, he chose to cover
  • 00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:42.765
  • Over his sin.
  • 00:10:42.765 --> 00:10:44.600
  • In a cover up scheme that rivaled watergate, he decided
  • 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:48.270
  • That he was gonna hide his failure from the kingdom.
  • 00:10:48.270 --> 00:10:51.941
  • Here was plan a.
  • 00:10:51.941 --> 00:10:53.709
  • He was gonna call for bathsheba's husband, uriah,
  • 00:10:53.709 --> 00:10:57.480
  • Who was out fighting, to come back home for a weekend
  • 00:10:57.480 --> 00:11:01.083
  • Of relaxation with his wife.
  • 00:11:01.083 --> 00:11:04.186
  • And he thought if he could get uriah to come home with
  • 00:11:04.253 --> 00:11:07.123
  • Bathsheba, surely he would sleep with bathsheba and then david
  • 00:11:07.123 --> 00:11:11.961
  • And bathsheba could say, "oh, well, the child belongs
  • 00:11:11.961 --> 00:11:14.230
  • To uriah."
  • 00:11:14.230 --> 00:11:15.598
  • So uriah comes back, but he doesn't sleep with his wife,
  • 00:11:15.598 --> 00:11:19.435
  • The bible says.
  • 00:11:19.435 --> 00:11:20.803
  • Not because he didn't want to, but because he said, "how could
  • 00:11:20.803 --> 00:11:24.440
  • I indulge in this pleasure when my fellow soldiers are out
  • 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:27.610
  • Deprived of this pleasure?"
  • 00:11:27.610 --> 00:11:29.211
  • He had more integrity than the king did.
  • 00:11:29.211 --> 00:11:32.648
  • And so, he abstained.
  • 00:11:32.648 --> 00:11:34.617
  • So david thought, well, that didn't work.
  • 00:11:34.617 --> 00:11:36.252
  • Go to plan b.
  • 00:11:36.252 --> 00:11:38.287
  • Plan b, he sent a letter to uriah's commander
  • 00:11:38.287 --> 00:11:42.625
  • And said, "put uriah on the front lines of battle and then
  • 00:11:42.625 --> 00:11:47.163
  • Withdraw the other soldiers," and that's exactly what happened
  • 00:11:47.163 --> 00:11:51.100
  • And uriah was killed in battle and david now was charged,
  • 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:55.070
  • Not only with adultery, but also with murder.
  • 00:11:55.070 --> 00:11:59.108
  • Again, how did he respond?
  • 00:11:59.108 --> 00:12:02.978
  • He didn't repent.
  • 00:12:02.978 --> 00:12:04.713
  • He didn't acknowledge his sin.
  • 00:12:04.713 --> 00:12:08.284
  • Instead, he kept silent about his sin.
  • 00:12:08.284 --> 00:12:12.688
  • What happened?
  • 00:12:12.688 --> 00:12:14.023
  • What did god do to him?
  • 00:12:14.023 --> 00:12:16.292
  • Absolutely nothing.
  • 00:12:16.292 --> 00:12:20.329
  • For a while, anyway.
  • 00:12:20.329 --> 00:12:23.132
  • Days passed.
  • 00:12:23.132 --> 00:12:25.201
  • Weeks passed.
  • 00:12:25.201 --> 00:12:27.469
  • David took bathsheba to be his own wife after uriah's funeral
  • 00:12:27.469 --> 00:12:31.640
  • And nothing happened.
  • 00:12:31.640 --> 00:12:34.443
  • And david began to think to himself, maybe i have a special
  • 00:12:34.443 --> 00:12:39.782
  • Relationship with god and i don't have to live
  • 00:12:39.782 --> 00:12:41.851
  • By the same standards of other people.
  • 00:12:41.851 --> 00:12:45.321
  • Or maybe god really doesn't care that much about murder
  • 00:12:45.321 --> 00:12:48.424
  • Or adultery.
  • 00:12:48.424 --> 00:12:49.792
  • Maybe there are other sins he's more concerned with.
  • 00:12:49.792 --> 00:12:52.628
  • Maybe god doesn't even exist and that's why he hasn't
  • 00:12:52.628 --> 00:12:56.932
  • Punished me.
  • 00:12:56.932 --> 00:12:59.101
  • David's son, solomon, years later wrote these insightful
  • 00:12:59.101 --> 00:13:02.738
  • Words in ecclesiastes 8:11, "because the sentence against
  • 00:13:02.738 --> 00:13:07.743
  • An evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts
  • 00:13:07.743 --> 00:13:13.215
  • Of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil."
  • 00:13:13.215 --> 00:13:17.753
  • Do you hear what he's saying?
  • 00:13:17.753 --> 00:13:19.255
  • We tend to think, because god doesn't zap us the moment
  • 00:13:19.255 --> 00:13:22.858
  • We sin, that he doesn't care about it, that we're getting
  • 00:13:22.858 --> 00:13:26.495
  • Away with something.
  • 00:13:26.495 --> 00:13:28.163
  • Hear me this morning.
  • 00:13:28.163 --> 00:13:29.498
  • Do not confuse god's tolerance with god's mercy.
  • 00:13:29.498 --> 00:13:36.705
  • Don't confuse god's tolerance for sin with his mercy.
  • 00:13:36.705 --> 00:13:41.477
  • Don't think, because god hasn't punished you yet, he does not
  • 00:13:41.477 --> 00:13:45.447
  • Care about your sin.
  • 00:13:45.447 --> 00:13:46.815
  • The only reason he's delayed his discipline in your life is
  • 00:13:46.815 --> 00:13:50.753
  • To give you another chance to repent.
  • 00:13:50.753 --> 00:13:53.756
  • But there is a day god's mercy comes to an end.
  • 00:13:53.756 --> 00:13:57.693
  • There is a day there is no further opportunity to repent.
  • 00:13:57.693 --> 00:14:02.097
  • David was confusing god's mercy with god's tolerance for sin.
  • 00:14:02.097 --> 00:14:07.036
  • And yet, even though there was no visible sign of god's
  • 00:14:07.036 --> 00:14:11.106
  • Judgment or discipline, there was inner turmoil david
  • 00:14:11.106 --> 00:14:14.810
  • Was experiencing during that six months up to a year
  • 00:14:14.810 --> 00:14:18.047
  • That he refused to acknowledge his sin.
  • 00:14:18.047 --> 00:14:20.082
  • He writes about that period in psalm 32, verses 3 to 4.
  • 00:14:20.149 --> 00:14:23.953
  • He said, "when i kept silent about my sin, my body
  • 00:14:23.953 --> 00:14:27.790
  • Wasted away through my groanings all day long.
  • 00:14:27.790 --> 00:14:31.927
  • For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me; and my vitality
  • 00:14:31.994 --> 00:14:36.799
  • Was drained away as with the fever heat of summer."
  • 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:41.704
  • Will you notice, first of all, the physical effects of guilt.
  • 00:14:41.704 --> 00:14:46.075
  • Guilt actually affects our bodies physically.
  • 00:14:46.075 --> 00:14:49.611
  • He talks about, "my body wasting away.
  • 00:14:49.611 --> 00:14:52.381
  • My vitality being drained."
  • 00:14:52.381 --> 00:14:54.550
  • In his book, "head first: the biology of hope," norman cousins
  • 00:14:54.550 --> 00:14:58.988
  • Explains, "doctors recognize that awareness of wrongdoing
  • 00:14:58.988 --> 00:15:03.258
  • Often produces prolonged feelings of remorse
  • 00:15:03.258 --> 00:15:07.930
  • And self-condemnation that can actually have damaging effects
  • 00:15:07.930 --> 00:15:12.534
  • On the bodily systems and open our bodies to disease."
  • 00:15:12.534 --> 00:15:18.007
  • I remember reading about one of the engineers involved
  • 00:15:18.007 --> 00:15:22.578
  • In the space shuttle challenger disaster.
  • 00:15:22.578 --> 00:15:25.914
  • Remember the space shuttle that exploded shortly after takeoff
  • 00:15:25.914 --> 00:15:30.886
  • In january of 1986.
  • 00:15:30.886 --> 00:15:33.155
  • One of those engineers had actually sensed something
  • 00:15:33.155 --> 00:15:37.126
  • Was wrong and tried to have the mission aborted,
  • 00:15:37.126 --> 00:15:42.064
  • But nobody listened to him.
  • 00:15:42.064 --> 00:15:43.932
  • Nevertheless, he felt guilt for months and years afterwards.
  • 00:15:43.932 --> 00:15:47.936
  • He said, "i have headaches.
  • 00:15:47.936 --> 00:15:49.938
  • I cry.
  • 00:15:49.938 --> 00:15:51.306
  • I have bad dreams.
  • 00:15:51.306 --> 00:15:52.641
  • I go into a hypnotic trance almost daily."
  • 00:15:52.641 --> 00:15:56.311
  • That's just some of the physical effects that accompany guilt
  • 00:15:56.311 --> 00:15:59.948
  • We don't repent of, but there are emotional effects of guilt
  • 00:15:59.948 --> 00:16:03.685
  • As well.
  • 00:16:03.685 --> 00:16:05.054
  • It affects us emotionally.
  • 00:16:05.054 --> 00:16:06.388
  • One of the most common side effects of guilt is depression.
  • 00:16:06.388 --> 00:16:10.359
  • That's what david talks about when he says, "my groaning
  • 00:16:10.359 --> 00:16:14.763
  • All day long."
  • 00:16:14.763 --> 00:16:17.166
  • Most psychiatrists agree that there are certainly times
  • 00:16:17.166 --> 00:16:21.770
  • That our guilt and the resulting depression aren't justified.
  • 00:16:21.770 --> 00:16:25.908
  • Some psychiatrists talk about false guilt, and i think there's
  • 00:16:25.908 --> 00:16:30.712
  • Some legitimacy to that.
  • 00:16:30.712 --> 00:16:32.881
  • Many times, we have false guilt over standards we set that are
  • 00:16:32.881 --> 00:16:37.186
  • Not really found in scripture, unrealistic standards.
  • 00:16:37.186 --> 00:16:40.656
  • A salesman, for example, sets an unrealistically high quota for
  • 00:16:40.656 --> 00:16:44.693
  • Sales for a month and he doesn't need that quota and he feels
  • 00:16:44.693 --> 00:16:47.963
  • Guilty and he feels depressed over that.
  • 00:16:47.963 --> 00:16:50.766
  • Or a mother with several preschool children at home and
  • 00:16:50.766 --> 00:16:55.871
  • Feels guilty that her living room doesn't look like the cover
  • 00:16:55.871 --> 00:16:59.441
  • Of, "better homes and gardens," all the time.
  • 00:16:59.441 --> 00:17:01.810
  • Those are unrealistic standards that can cause guilt and
  • 00:17:01.810 --> 00:17:06.915
  • The accompanying depression.
  • 00:17:06.915 --> 00:17:08.917
  • But most of our guilt is real guilt, and christian
  • 00:17:08.917 --> 00:17:12.654
  • Psychiatrist, paul meier, and the late frank minirth write,
  • 00:17:12.654 --> 00:17:16.391
  • "in our experience as psychiatrists, when people have
  • 00:17:16.391 --> 00:17:19.828
  • Told us they feel guilty, it has usually been
  • 00:17:19.828 --> 00:17:23.332
  • Because they are guilty."
  • 00:17:23.332 --> 00:17:26.702
  • Isn't that interesting?
  • 00:17:26.702 --> 00:17:28.036
  • They feel guilty because they are guilty.
  • 00:17:28.036 --> 00:17:32.007
  • "and straightening out the wrong they are doing is sometimes all
  • 00:17:32.007 --> 00:17:35.844
  • That is needed to straighten out their feelings of depression."
  • 00:17:35.844 --> 00:17:40.582
  • And again, not all depression is the result of guilt.
  • 00:17:40.582 --> 00:17:44.853
  • There are chemical explanations for depression.
  • 00:17:44.853 --> 00:17:47.823
  • There are other issues related to depression.
  • 00:17:47.823 --> 00:17:50.759
  • But some depression, as david experienced, is the result
  • 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:55.030
  • Of unresolved guilt.
  • 00:17:55.030 --> 00:17:56.999
  • By the way, it's very important to note that depression over
  • 00:17:56.999 --> 00:18:02.504
  • Your sin is not the same as repentance from your sin.
  • 00:18:02.504 --> 00:18:09.011
  • You can feel horrible inside about something you've done,
  • 00:18:09.011 --> 00:18:13.048
  • That does not equate with depression.
  • 00:18:13.048 --> 00:18:16.451
  • Repentance is not just feeling sorry about your sin.
  • 00:18:16.451 --> 00:18:19.821
  • It's feeling sorry enough to change.
  • 00:18:19.821 --> 00:18:21.990
  • A lot of people aren't willing to go to that next step.
  • 00:18:21.990 --> 00:18:25.327
  • I'll never forget, in my first church,
  • 00:18:25.327 --> 00:18:29.064
  • Just this unforgettable story.
  • 00:18:29.064 --> 00:18:30.966
  • A man came to tell me he was married and he was having
  • 00:18:30.966 --> 00:18:36.104
  • An affair with a single girl and she became pregnant as a result
  • 00:18:36.104 --> 00:18:41.443
  • Of the affair.
  • 00:18:41.443 --> 00:18:42.811
  • And the man was telling me that he had a life threatening
  • 00:18:42.811 --> 00:18:45.280
  • Disease that he was fearful was passed on to the baby
  • 00:18:45.280 --> 00:18:48.417
  • And to the baby's mother.
  • 00:18:48.417 --> 00:18:50.118
  • And not only that, his girlfriend had now just left him
  • 00:18:50.118 --> 00:18:53.322
  • And married another man.
  • 00:18:53.322 --> 00:18:54.656
  • I mean, his life was a mess.
  • 00:18:54.656 --> 00:18:57.492
  • And i asked him what changes he was willing to make in his life.
  • 00:18:57.492 --> 00:19:01.496
  • He said, "none."
  • 00:19:01.496 --> 00:19:03.065
  • He wasn't thinking about any changes.
  • 00:19:03.065 --> 00:19:05.234
  • He was devastated, he was sorry about his circumstances,
  • 00:19:05.234 --> 00:19:10.072
  • But he wasn't sorry enough to change.
  • 00:19:10.072 --> 00:19:12.374
  • That that's exactly what the apostle paul is talking about
  • 00:19:12.374 --> 00:19:15.844
  • In that passage we read a few moments ago, 2 corinthians 7,
  • 00:19:15.844 --> 00:19:19.314
  • Verse 10.
  • 00:19:19.314 --> 00:19:20.682
  • He said, "for the sorrow that is according to the will of god
  • 00:19:20.682 --> 00:19:24.686
  • Produces a repentance without regret."
  • 00:19:24.686 --> 00:19:28.056
  • When you're involved in sin, god sends sorrow into your life
  • 00:19:28.056 --> 00:19:33.595
  • In order to lead you to repentance.
  • 00:19:33.595 --> 00:19:37.232
  • And when you make that change, that repentance in your life,
  • 00:19:37.232 --> 00:19:41.470
  • It leads to a life of no regrets.
  • 00:19:41.470 --> 00:19:44.840
  • That's how you know if the conviction you feel
  • 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:48.043
  • Is coming from god.
  • 00:19:48.043 --> 00:19:49.711
  • God's conviction always leads you to make a change that leads
  • 00:19:49.711 --> 00:19:52.948
  • To a regret free life.
  • 00:19:52.948 --> 00:19:54.750
  • But there is another kind of sorrow of the world
  • 00:19:54.750 --> 00:19:58.754
  • That produces death.
  • 00:19:58.754 --> 00:20:00.489
  • Do you know people like that?
  • 00:20:00.489 --> 00:20:01.823
  • They wallow in their circumstances.
  • 00:20:01.823 --> 00:20:04.326
  • They feel terrible about their circumstances,
  • 00:20:04.326 --> 00:20:06.895
  • But they never make the changes.
  • 00:20:06.895 --> 00:20:09.264
  • Yes, some of the emotional effects of guilt result
  • 00:20:09.264 --> 00:20:13.168
  • In depression.
  • 00:20:13.168 --> 00:20:14.536
  • Another common side effect of guilt is anxiety.
  • 00:20:14.536 --> 00:20:19.007
  • We talk about that in our message, "choosing faith
  • 00:20:19.007 --> 00:20:22.110
  • Over worry."
  • 00:20:22.110 --> 00:20:23.945
  • For six months to a year, david experienced fear that one day
  • 00:20:23.945 --> 00:20:30.385
  • He would open the "jerusalem times" and right there
  • 00:20:30.385 --> 00:20:33.055
  • On the front page would be the exposé of his guilt.
  • 00:20:33.055 --> 00:20:37.025
  • He was scared to death that was going to happen.
  • 00:20:37.025 --> 00:20:40.862
  • And then one morning he got up and, on a day that began
  • 00:20:40.862 --> 00:20:45.434
  • Like any other day, something was about to change.
  • 00:20:45.434 --> 00:20:49.805
  • He went into the palace, asked his secretary for the schedule,
  • 00:20:49.805 --> 00:20:53.608
  • The daily schedule, and he saw, oh, the prophet nathan is coming
  • 00:20:53.608 --> 00:20:57.179
  • To see you today.
  • 00:20:57.179 --> 00:20:58.780
  • Fine, he liked nathan.
  • 00:20:58.780 --> 00:21:00.549
  • He always liked a good sermon.
  • 00:21:00.549 --> 00:21:02.417
  • So he welcomed nathan in to see him.
  • 00:21:02.417 --> 00:21:04.186
  • "nathan, what is going on?"
  • 00:21:04.186 --> 00:21:06.521
  • Nathan said, "oh, king.
  • 00:21:06.521 --> 00:21:08.523
  • I came to inform you of something terrible that is
  • 00:21:08.523 --> 00:21:11.827
  • Going on in your kingdom."
  • 00:21:11.827 --> 00:21:14.196
  • David said, "well, what is that?"
  • 00:21:14.196 --> 00:21:15.997
  • He said, "well, there is this very poor man living
  • 00:21:15.997 --> 00:21:19.301
  • Here in jerusalem.
  • 00:21:19.301 --> 00:21:20.969
  • He is so poor that he had only one ewe, one little lamb,
  • 00:21:20.969 --> 00:21:25.040
  • In his possession.
  • 00:21:25.040 --> 00:21:26.408
  • And then a wealthy man came and he stole that one lamb that
  • 00:21:26.408 --> 00:21:31.413
  • That poor man had."
  • 00:21:31.413 --> 00:21:32.914
  • David stood up.
  • 00:21:32.914 --> 00:21:34.249
  • He was outraged.
  • 00:21:34.249 --> 00:21:35.617
  • He said, "i cannot have this going on in my kingdom.
  • 00:21:35.617 --> 00:21:38.320
  • I demand to know who is that man who did such a thing?"
  • 00:21:38.320 --> 00:21:42.924
  • Nathan pointed his bony finger in the face of david and said,
  • 00:21:42.924 --> 00:21:47.629
  • "you are the man," and immediately david knew
  • 00:21:47.629 --> 00:21:55.003
  • Everyone knew.
  • 00:21:55.003 --> 00:21:56.805
  • And listen to what nathan went on to say, 2 samuel chapter 12.
  • 00:21:56.805 --> 00:22:01.743
  • "thus says the lord god of israel, 'it is i who anointed
  • 00:22:01.743 --> 00:22:05.814
  • You, david, as king over israel and it is i who delivered you
  • 00:22:05.814 --> 00:22:09.551
  • From the hand of saul.'
  • 00:22:09.551 --> 00:22:11.319
  • Thus says the lord, 'behold, i will raise up evil against you
  • 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:15.924
  • From your own household; ...
  • 00:22:15.924 --> 00:22:17.659
  • Indeed you did it secretly, but i will do this thing before
  • 00:22:17.659 --> 00:22:22.197
  • All israel, and under the sun.'"
  • 00:22:22.197 --> 00:22:26.868
  • There are, finally, spiritual effects to guilt.
  • 00:22:26.868 --> 00:22:29.404
  • Not just physical, not just emotional, depression, anxiety,
  • 00:22:29.404 --> 00:22:33.275
  • But there are spiritual effects of guilt.
  • 00:22:33.275 --> 00:22:36.211
  • He says in psalm 32, verse 4, "for day and night, god,
  • 00:22:36.211 --> 00:22:39.881
  • Your hand was heavy upon me."
  • 00:22:39.881 --> 00:22:44.820
  • Jeffress: if you feel an emotional distance
  • 00:22:48.790 --> 00:22:50.859
  • From your creator, it isn't god who has moved away.
  • 00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:55.063
  • He's never left your side.
  • 00:22:55.063 --> 00:22:57.332
  • And my hope is that today's teaching from god's word will
  • 00:22:57.332 --> 00:23:00.368
  • Cause you to move closer to him.
  • 00:23:00.368 --> 00:23:03.371
  • Now, in closing, i wanna share a note i received from
  • 00:23:03.371 --> 00:23:05.941
  • Ron in missouri.
  • 00:23:05.941 --> 00:23:07.642
  • He wrote, "the moral decay in america has become overwhelming.
  • 00:23:07.642 --> 00:23:12.080
  • Thank you for all you're doing to awaken our beloved country
  • 00:23:12.080 --> 00:23:15.717
  • To the truth."
  • 00:23:15.717 --> 00:23:17.085
  • And then ron told me how he and his wife were using
  • 00:23:17.085 --> 00:23:19.721
  • Our materials in their church to push back against the tide
  • 00:23:19.721 --> 00:23:23.758
  • Of evil in america.
  • 00:23:23.758 --> 00:23:25.460
  • This is such an encouragement to me, ron.
  • 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:28.096
  • And to those of you who faithfully support
  • 00:23:28.096 --> 00:23:30.332
  • "pathway to victory," thank you as well.
  • 00:23:30.332 --> 00:23:33.101
  • As we band together as partners in ministry, we are truly
  • 00:23:33.101 --> 00:23:37.072
  • Piercing the darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:37.072 --> 00:23:40.575
  • Now, stay right there.
  • 00:23:40.575 --> 00:23:41.977
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
  • 00:23:41.977 --> 00:23:44.346
  • In just a moment.
  • 00:23:44.346 --> 00:23:45.714
  • Announcer: we all want to live a life of meaning and
  • 00:23:46.848 --> 00:23:48.884
  • Significance, but we often dream too small.
  • 00:23:48.884 --> 00:23:52.454
  • Jeffress: my friends david green, founder and ceo of hobby
  • 00:23:52.454 --> 00:23:55.724
  • Lobby, and bill high, ceo of legacy stone, have written a
  • 00:23:55.724 --> 00:24:00.428
  • Brand new book called "the legacy life."
  • 00:24:00.428 --> 00:24:03.331
  • Jeffress: you've said it in this book several times.
  • 00:24:03.331 --> 00:24:06.601
  • Legacy is not what you leave behind, it's what you set in
  • 00:24:06.601 --> 00:24:10.138
  • Motion for the future.
  • 00:24:10.138 --> 00:24:11.873
  • Jeffress: this book will challenge you to point your life
  • 00:24:11.873 --> 00:24:14.309
  • Heavenward and set in motion a legacy of eternal significance.
  • 00:24:14.309 --> 00:24:19.581
  • David green: bill, i've found that it's much easier to run a
  • 00:24:19.581 --> 00:24:21.983
  • Business, but having a family, a wife, children that serve the
  • 00:24:21.983 --> 00:24:25.420
  • Lord is much, much more difficult.
  • 00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:27.455
  • And that's who we are. we're not about hobby lobby.
  • 00:24:27.455 --> 00:24:29.758
  • We're about mission, vision, and values, and it's all based on
  • 00:24:29.758 --> 00:24:32.861
  • God's word, and that's what we're excited about.
  • 00:24:32.861 --> 00:24:35.096
  • Bill high: no matter what stage of life you're in, "the legacy
  • 00:24:35.096 --> 00:24:37.799
  • Life" will help you understand how to apply god's word and set
  • 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:42.337
  • In motion a great legacy.
  • 00:24:42.337 --> 00:24:45.273
  • Announcer: request "the legacy life" when you give a generous
  • 00:24:45.273 --> 00:24:47.876
  • Gift to "pathway to victory" or when you become a pathway
  • 00:24:47.876 --> 00:24:50.579
  • Partner.
  • 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:51.913
  • You'll also receive the powerful book by dr. jeffress, "choose
  • 00:24:51.913 --> 00:24:54.816
  • Your attitudes, change your life."
  • 00:24:54.816 --> 00:24:57.085
  • And when your ministry gift is $100 or more, we'll also send
  • 00:24:57.085 --> 00:25:00.655
  • You the "choose your attitudes, change your life" personal and
  • 00:25:00.655 --> 00:25:04.059
  • Group study guide, plus the complete teaching series on cd
  • 00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:07.796
  • And dvd and a set of attitude booster cards for
  • 00:25:07.796 --> 00:25:11.700
  • Your encouragement.
  • 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:13.034
  • Thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
  • 00:25:13.034 --> 00:25:15.537
  • Jeffress: when we fail, it's not enough to shrug
  • 00:25:18.373 --> 00:25:20.475
  • Our shoulders and say, "it's all right.
  • 00:25:20.475 --> 00:25:22.944
  • Everyone makes mistakes."
  • 00:25:22.944 --> 00:25:25.046
  • That's when guilt begins to eat away at our soul.
  • 00:25:25.046 --> 00:25:28.516
  • God's design for repentance has a wonderful function and that's
  • 00:25:28.516 --> 00:25:32.520
  • To make his children completely free of guilt and shame.
  • 00:25:32.520 --> 00:25:36.891
  • Well, there's much more teaching i wanna share with you
  • 00:25:36.891 --> 00:25:39.427
  • On this pressing topic, and next time we'll revisit the bible,
  • 00:25:39.427 --> 00:25:43.098
  • Our final authority, to see more about what god's word says
  • 00:25:43.098 --> 00:25:47.035
  • About choosing repentance over guilt.
  • 00:25:47.035 --> 00:25:50.705
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
  • 00:25:50.772 --> 00:25:52.941
  • In our series, "choose your attitudes, change your life."
  • 00:25:52.941 --> 00:25:56.611
  • Jeffress: if god has forgiven me,
  • 00:25:57.679 --> 00:25:59.881
  • Why am i still going through the breakup of a marriage,
  • 00:25:59.881 --> 00:26:02.917
  • The loss of a child, or business?
  • 00:26:02.917 --> 00:26:05.754
  • Listen, when god forgives us, he removes
  • 00:26:05.754 --> 00:26:08.857
  • The eternal consequences of our sin, not necessarily
  • 00:26:08.857 --> 00:26:13.461
  • The temporary consequences.
  • 00:26:13.461 --> 00:26:15.330
  • Announcer: set your dvr
  • 00:26:16.031 --> 00:26:17.365
  • And join us next time
  • 00:26:17.365 --> 00:26:18.700
  • For part two of the message,
  • 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:20.035
  • "choosing repentance over guilt,"
  • 00:26:20.035 --> 00:26:22.170
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:22.170 --> 00:26:24.139
  • Announcer: experience the beauty of alaska with the
  • 00:26:28.243 --> 00:26:30.545
  • Pathway to victory family june 13-20, 2026.
  • 00:26:30.545 --> 00:26:35.517
  • Sail through the calm waters of the legendary inside passage
  • 00:26:35.517 --> 00:26:38.920
  • With dr. robert jeffress aboard holland america's
  • 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:41.389
  • Magnificent koningsdam.
  • 00:26:41.389 --> 00:26:43.625
  • Be inspired by award-winning musician michael o'brien's
  • 00:26:43.625 --> 00:26:46.528
  • Powerful worship; share laughter with dennis swanberg,
  • 00:26:46.528 --> 00:26:49.898
  • America's minister of encouragement;
  • 00:26:49.898 --> 00:26:52.200
  • All while exploring frontier towns like juneau,
  • 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:55.103
  • Skagway, and ketchikan.
  • 00:26:55.103 --> 00:26:57.105
  • Jeffress: there's something powerful about connecting with
  • 00:26:57.105 --> 00:26:59.374
  • God and fellow believers in the majesty
  • 00:26:59.374 --> 00:27:02.377
  • Of his untamed wilderness.
  • 00:27:02.377 --> 00:27:04.546
  • From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles,
  • 00:27:04.546 --> 00:27:07.682
  • These moments in god's creation will deepen your
  • 00:27:07.682 --> 00:27:10.285
  • Faith in powerful ways.
  • 00:27:10.285 --> 00:27:12.454
  • Announcer: join us for a spiritual journey through some
  • 00:27:12.454 --> 00:27:14.622
  • Of creation's most spectacular displays.
  • 00:27:14.622 --> 00:27:17.759
  • Don't wait, our best cabins are going fast.
  • 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:20.261
  • Secure your alaska adventure now.
  • 00:27:20.261 --> 00:27:22.530
  • Call ... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:22.530 --> 00:27:22.530