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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Choosing Repentance Over Guilt (Part 1) | January 9, 2026
- ♪♪♪
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- Male announcer: from the pulpit of the
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- First baptist church of dallas, texas,
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- This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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- Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress,
- 00:00:14.704 --> 00:00:16.039
- And welcome again to "pathway to victory".
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- Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned
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- And fall short of the glory of god."
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- And because of our sinful nature,
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- It's not a matter of if we're going to mess up,
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- But only when we're going to mess up.
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- So, whenever we experience moments of failure,
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- We have a choice to make.
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- Are we going to deny our roles or will we fess up and repent?
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- You'll never regret coming clean with god.
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- My message is titled, "choosing repentance over guilt,"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
- 00:00:52.175 --> 00:00:57.814
- Male announcer: each day, millions of lost people are
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- Searching for hope and truth.
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- Through "pathway to victory," god's word is reaching into
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- Homes across america and around the world, but there are still
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- So many who haven't heard the saving message of jesus christ.
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- You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
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- You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries who are
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- Sharing the gospel through television and radio.
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- Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide with the
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- Life-changing power of the cross.
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- ♪♪♪
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- Jeffress: the internal revenue service received
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- An anonymous envelope.
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- Inside the envelope was a note and ten $1000 bills.
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- The note read, "dear sirs, for several months i've been unable
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- To sleep due to the guilt i felt over cheating on my income tax
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- Last year.
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- Enclosed, you will find $10,000.
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- If i still can't sleep, i'll send you the rest
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- Of what i owe you."
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- You know, in our series, "choose your attitudes,
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- Change your life," we're saying that an attitude is our response
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- To the circumstances of life.
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- We can't choose our circumstances, but we can choose
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- How we respond to those circumstances.
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- You know, sometimes we try to cover over our failure,
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- Our failure to meet god's standard.
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- Sometimes we rationalize it.
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- Sometimes we did what this guy did and make a half hearted
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- Attempt at restitution.
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- But one of the biggest decisions we have to make in life is,
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- Are we going to deny our failure or are we going to choose
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- To repent of our failure?
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- And that's what we're going to talk about today.
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- We're going to talk about choosing repentance over guilt.
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- That choice not only affects our life right now, but it affects
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- Our eternal destiny.
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- Now, you know, when we talk about repentance,
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- People sometimes have a funny idea of what repentance means.
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- They picture some scraggly street preacher
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- Out on the sidewalk with a sandwich board saying,
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- "repent, the end of the world is at hand."
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- 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"
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- To the door in wittenberg, the very first of those theses
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- Was this, "when our lord and master jesus christ
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- Said, 'repent,' he willed that the entire life
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- Of believers be one of repentance."
- 00:03:51.054 --> 00:03:55.858
- Repentance is not just a one time action to receive
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- Salvation, it is the lifestyle, it is the attitude,
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- 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
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- An emotion.
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- 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
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- Repentance means.
- 00:04:23.186 --> 00:04:24.954
- The word repentance in greek is metanoeó.
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- Two words, two root words.
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- Meta, change.
- 00:04:32.095 --> 00:04:33.896
- Noeó, the mind.
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- Metanoeó, a change of mind.
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- That's literally what it means to repent, to have a change
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- Of mind.
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- For a christian, repentance, and write this down, is a change
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- 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.
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- 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
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- 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
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- On a one way street.
- 00:05:21.444 --> 00:05:23.246
- At that moment, you have a decision to make.
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- You can decide that "i'm right and they're wrong and i'm gonna
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- Stay and go in the direction i'm going" or you can acknowledge
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- 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.
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- You have to do more than acknowledge it.
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- You actually have to do what?
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- Turn around.
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- Turn around.
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- Repentance and turning around are inseparably linked
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- With one another.
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- A change of mind that leads to a change of direction.
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- If you don't believe that, listen to god's word
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- 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
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- No pleasure in the death of the wicked; but i desire
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- That the wicked turn from his evil ways and live.
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- Turn, turn from your wickedness, for why will you die?
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- For the good works of a righteous man will not save him
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- If he turns to sin; and the sins of an evil man will not destroy
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- 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?
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- What is the result of not repenting of our sin?
- 00:06:54.470 --> 00:06:59.375
- In a word, guilt.
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- 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,
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- 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
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- Found in 2 samuel chapters 11 to 12.
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- You remember the story.
- 00:07:30.206 --> 00:07:31.774
- David was, by far, the most successful king
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- In israel's history.
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- He had reached the zenith of his power.
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- The nation had never been more successful in conquering
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- Its enemies.
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- 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
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- Of that for a few moments of passion with somebody else's
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- 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
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- 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
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- You the "choose your attitudes, change your life" personal and
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- And dvd and a set of attitude booster cards for
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- 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
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- Pathway to victory family june 13-20, 2026.
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- America's minister of encouragement;
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- All while exploring frontier towns like juneau,
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- Skagway, and ketchikan.
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- Jeffress: there's something powerful about connecting with
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- God and fellow believers in the majesty
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- Of his untamed wilderness.
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- From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles,
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- These moments in god's creation will deepen your
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- Faith in powerful ways.
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- Announcer: join us for a spiritual journey through some
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- Of creation's most spectacular displays.
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