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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Will Heaven Be The Same For Everyone? (Part 1) | February 23, 2026
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- ♪♪♪
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- Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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- Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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- With dr. robert jeffress.
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- Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- Many christians mistakenly believe that heaven
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- Will feel like a divine commune where everyone shares
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- The same blissful existence, but as we're about to discover,
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- The kind of heaven we experience in the next life
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- Will be largely determined by how we follow god's plan
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- In this life.
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- It all starts with making sure that we're storing up treasure
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- In the right place.
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- We're answering the question,
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- "will heaven be the same for everyone?"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- Announcer: when loss leaves you searching for hope, turn your
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- Eyes toward heaven.
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- In "encouragement from a place called heaven," dr. robert
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- Jeffress offers comfort drawn from god's promises about
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- Eternity, not the myths and misconceptions tv and movies
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- Tell us, but what scripture truly reveals.
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- Whether you're grieving a loved one, facing illness, or walking
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- Alongside someone in pain, this beautiful hardcover book
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- Provides the encouragement you need.
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- Request "encouragement from a place called heaven" when you
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- Give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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- Jeffress: jim marshall was the defensive lineman
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- For the minnesota vikings in the 1960s and '70s.
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- Although jim marshall was a super bowl champion, marshall
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- Is best known for the mistake he made on october 24, 1964.
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- In a game with the san francisco 49ers,
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- Jim marshall saw a fumble.
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- He picked up the football, and he began running
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- The length of the field.
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- His for--his minnesota vikings football team
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- Started running along with him along with him
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- Along the sidelines yelling for him to run the other way.
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- Marshall didn't realize he was running toward his own endzone.
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- Although marshall ended up having a fairly good game,
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- And even though the vikings won the game with the 49ers,
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- Marshall will always be remembered not for his success,
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- But for his mistake that day.
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- In fact, from that point on, the rest of his life,
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- He was always known as "wrong-way marshall."
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- What a title.
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- You know, making it to the endzone
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- Is the goal in a football game,
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- But making it to the right end zone is the goal of winning.
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- It's the same way in the christian life.
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- The fact is, if we have placed our faith in jesus christ,
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- We are all going to make it into the spiritual endzone--
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- Into heaven.
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- But some will make it there only after spending some time
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- Running in the wrong direction.
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- Some who make it into heaven will be celebrated by god
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- For the way they played the game.
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- Other christians will be evaluated by god for having
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- Done little to contribute to the success of the team.
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- As we continue our series, "a place called heaven,"
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- In which we're answering ten of the most common questions about
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- Heaven, today we're going to answer the intriguing question,
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- "will heaven be the same for every christian?"
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- The answer to that is no.
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- Not every christian will have the same experience in heaven,
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- And today we're gonna begin looking at the evaluation
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- That we are all going to face as christians.
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- Let's first of all establish the reality
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- Of the judgment of all christians.
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- You know, one thing the bible is very clear about is that
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- Everybody after death will be judged by god, hebrews 9:27
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- Says, "it is appointed unto every person once to die
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- And then the judgment."
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- We're all going to be judged, not just some people--all of us.
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- In 2 timothy 4:1, the apostle paul talked about the lord
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- Jesus christ who will judge both the living and the dead.
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- Everyone, both christians and non-christians,
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- Will be judged by god.
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- But we will not all be judged in a single judgment.
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- There is one judgment for non-christians.
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- That judgment is called the great white throne judgment.
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- It's described in revelation 20 verses 11 to 15.
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- The bible says, ladies and gentlemen, if you have not
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- Trusted in christ as your savior, if you have not turned
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- To him for the forgiveness of your sins, it doesn't matter
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- How good you are, you can't be good enough.
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- You can't be good enough.
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- None of us can be good enough.
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- That is the great white throne judgment.
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- But there is another judgment for those of us
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- Who are christians.
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- It is a judgment called "the judgment seat of christ."
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- It is a judgment that results not in condemnation, but in
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- God's commendation for the lives we have lived for christ.
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- And paul describes that judgment in 2 corinthians 5, verse 10.
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- He says, "for we must all appear before the judgment seat of
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- Christ, that each one of us may be recompensed--"
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- Rewarded "--for his deeds in the body,
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- According to what he has done, whether good or bad."
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- He said, christians, you too have a judgment
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- To face before god.
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- It's a different judgment.
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- It's the judgment seat of christ.
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- Now, what did paul mean when he talked about
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- The judgment seat of christ?
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- If you wanna get into paul's mind to understand what he
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- Meant, you need to turn over to acts chapter 18.
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- He spent eighteen months in the city of corinth, and you'll
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- Remember there in corinth he had a very productive ministry.
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- Many of the jewish people were coming to faith in christ.
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- Remember paul was a jew.
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- Jesus was a jew.
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- Paul, after he came to faith in christ, won many
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- Of the jewish people to christ there in corinth,
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- As well as the gentiles.
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- By the way, paul wasn't being paid to do his ministry there.
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- He was a layman in corinth.
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- His day job was making tents.
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- This is what he did in his off time, in his off hours.
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- Many were won to christ, but not everybody was happy with him.
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- Some were so incensed by what he was doing, especially
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- In winning jews to christ, that they arrested him
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- And they drug him before the roman governor
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- Of the province, a man named gallio.
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- And look what happened.
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- Verse 12: "but while gallio was proconsul of achaia, the jews
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- With one accord rose up against paul and brought him before the
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- Judgment seat--" underline that word, judgment seat.
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- "--saying, 'this man persuades men to worship god
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- Contrary to the law.'"
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- The word translated judgment seat
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- Is the word "bema" in greek.
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- Bema.
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- It refers to a raised platform on which the governor would sit.
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- Sometimes he would hand out rewards.
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- If somebody had been successful in an athletic event,
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- He would receive a reward.
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- Sometimes it was a place where justice was meted out.
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- It was a raised platform.
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- By the way, you can walk through the excavation of corinth right
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- Now--many of us have done it before--and they have discovered
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- This bema, this judgment seat.
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- It's been unearthed.
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- The same one that gallio sat upon and that the apostle paul
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- Stood in front of.
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- So the apostle paul is brought in in chains and he's looking at
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- Gallio seated on that raised platform, the judgment seat.
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- "but when paul was about to open his mouth, gallio said to
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- The jews, 'if it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime,
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- O jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you, but
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- If there are questions about words and names and
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- Your own law, look after it yourselves.
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- I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.'
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- And he drove them away from the judgment seat."
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- Gallio was saying, hey, this is a jewish dispute.
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- You all handle it.
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- I'm not interested in getting involved.
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- But you know, what was interesting is paul didn't know
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- What he was going to say.
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- Paul stood there realizing here is the man who has the power
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- To extinguish my life.
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- Ten years ago, i stood in that very spot where paul stood.
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- I looked at that judgment seat, and i thought to myself,
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- What is it that gave paul the courage to stand there undaunted
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- By the threats against him?
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- What made him so faithful and courageous?
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- As paul stood there and looked at that judge, gallio, i believe
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- He thought to himself, one day i'm going to stand in front of
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- Another judge on the judgment seat and i'm gonna have to give
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- An account to him for the way that i lived my life.
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- And i would much rather be found commended to him
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- Rather than to this human judge who has no power
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- Other than what god gives him.
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- Paul had that mindset--i'm gonna live my life to please
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- The true judge, because one day we must all appear
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- Before the judgment seat of christ.
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- Every one of us.
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- You know, we all have times in our life where
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- We rededicate our lives to god.
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- And i remember ten years ago standing in front of that,
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- Our group was kind of wandering around different places,
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- I stood there.
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- I was in the process of coming to this church
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- To be your pastor.
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- Some of you were on the trip with me.
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- As i stood there, i prayed, "lord, help me the rest of my
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- Life to have a bema mentality, to evaluate everything i do,
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- To give me the courage to stand for you knowing that someday
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- I'm going to give that account to you.
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- I wrote down in my journal, "the bema mentality,
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- Living with the judgment seat of christ in view."
- 00:10:55.544 --> 00:10:59.348
- That's exactly what paul had in mind here.
- 00:10:59.348 --> 00:11:02.318
- We must all appear before the judgment seat of christ,
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- And that affected his life until the day god called him home.
- 00:11:05.888 --> 00:11:09.191
- Now, let me make a distinction between the christian's
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- Judgment and the non-christian's judgment.
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- The judgment seat of christ is for the commendation of
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- Believers, while the great white throne judgment is
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- For the condemnation of unbelievers.
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- The result of the judgment seat of christ
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- Will be eternal rewards.
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- The result of the great white throne judgment
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- Will be god's eternal punishment.
- 00:11:34.016 --> 00:11:37.052
- Now, here is what makes the judgment seat of christ
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- Different than the great white throne judgment.
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- Only those who are saved will be at the judgment seat of christ.
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- Those who have already been declared not guilty by god
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- Are the ones who stand at the judgment seat of christ.
- 00:11:51.534 --> 00:11:54.103
- Hear me on this: this judgment we're talking about is not
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- To determine whether somebody goes to heaven or hell.
- 00:11:57.506 --> 00:12:00.442
- If you're a christian, that has already been decided
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- By your faith in jesus.
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- If you wait until after you die to choose whether
- 00:12:05.247 --> 00:12:08.484
- You're gonna go to heaven or hell, you've waited too long.
- 00:12:08.484 --> 00:12:11.687
- That's a decision you make now by placing your faith
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- In jesus christ.
- 00:12:14.623 --> 00:12:16.659
- You see, ladies and gentlemen, the moment you trust in jesus
- 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:19.295
- As your savior, you are justified in the sight of god.
- 00:12:19.295 --> 00:12:24.934
- Romans 5:1 says, "therefore, having been justified by faith,
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- We have peace with god through our lord jesus christ.
- 00:12:29.438 --> 00:12:32.508
- That word "justified" means to declare to be righteous.
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- It doesn't matter how sinful you are, it doesn't matter
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- What you've done in your life, doesn't matter how much you
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- Have failed god, when you trust in jesus to be your savior,
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- He washes it all away and god declares
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- You not guilty before him.
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- You are justified. think of it this way.
- 00:12:53.896 --> 00:12:57.199
- Imagine you use a debit card to purchase something,
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- And that purchase overdraws your account.
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- Now, not only are you overdrawn,
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- But you have a penalty that you owe the bank.
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- And the only way to be right with the bank is to deposit
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- The amount of your overcharge
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- And your penalty to come back to even.
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- The only problem is, you're bankrupt.
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- You don't have any money to put in your account.
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- You're in a bad way with the bank.
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- The good news is, you've got a generous friend who offers
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- To deposit in your account the amount of money needed
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- To bring you back to the right level.
- 00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:34.536
- Now, in a way, that is the situation we all have with god.
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- The bible says we're all in a deficit position with god.
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- The bible says all have sinned and fallen short
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- Of the glory of god.
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- The bible says the wages of sin is death.
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- Every sin we commit against god only
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- Adds to the debt we owe god.
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- Every moment we have a wrong thought, every wrong action,
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- Every wrong motive--it just keeps ringing up
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- The debt we owe god.
- 00:13:59.795 --> 00:14:01.797
- Now listen, if we die while we're still in that spiritual
- 00:14:01.797 --> 00:14:05.768
- Deficit with god, we spend eternity separated from him
- 00:14:05.768 --> 00:14:09.772
- Trying to pay off the debt we owe him.
- 00:14:09.772 --> 00:14:12.608
- But god loves us so much, he sent his son jesus.
- 00:14:12.608 --> 00:14:16.779
- And even though we don't have any righteousness--we're
- 00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:19.214
- Spiritual bankrupt--jesus has ore than enough righteousness.
- 00:14:19.214 --> 00:14:22.685
- He's perfect.
- 00:14:22.685 --> 00:14:24.620
- And he says if you will trust in me to be your savior, if you
- 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:27.556
- Will believe that when i died on the cross, i paid your overdraft
- 00:14:27.556 --> 00:14:31.026
- For you, i paid the penalty for you--if you will trust in jesus,
- 00:14:31.026 --> 00:14:36.065
- The moment you do that, god fills up your spiritual bank
- 00:14:36.065 --> 00:14:39.201
- Account with the overflowing righteousness of his son.
- 00:14:39.201 --> 00:14:43.405
- When you become a christian, god no longer sees your sin.
- 00:14:43.405 --> 00:14:46.275
- He sees the righteousness of his son, jesus christ.
- 00:14:46.275 --> 00:14:49.812
- And that's what it means to be justified,
- 00:14:49.812 --> 00:14:52.448
- To be in a right relationship with god.
- 00:14:52.448 --> 00:14:55.718
- And what does the bible say?
- 00:14:55.718 --> 00:14:57.186
- Romans 8:1, "there is therefore now no condemnation for those
- 00:14:57.186 --> 00:15:02.091
- Who are in christ jesus."
- 00:15:02.091 --> 00:15:04.059
- If you are a christian had been forgiven by god, you never have
- 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:07.730
- To worry that one day god's going to condemn you,
- 00:15:07.730 --> 00:15:10.599
- For there is therefore now no condemnation for those
- 00:15:10.599 --> 00:15:14.303
- Who are in jesus christ.
- 00:15:14.303 --> 00:15:16.171
- Isn't that a great truth?
- 00:15:16.171 --> 00:15:18.707
- Now listen, god's justification exempts us from god's
- 00:15:18.707 --> 00:15:24.646
- Condemnation, but it doesn't exempt us from god's evaluation
- 00:15:24.646 --> 00:15:29.918
- Of our life.
- 00:15:29.918 --> 00:15:31.620
- When you become a christian, you don't ever have to worry
- 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:34.723
- About god's condemnation, but you still need to be mindful
- 00:15:34.723 --> 00:15:38.327
- Of his evaluation of his life.
- 00:15:38.327 --> 00:15:41.697
- That's why 2 corinthians5:10 says, "for we christians
- 00:15:41.697 --> 00:15:44.633
- Must all appear before this judgment of christ."
- 00:15:44.633 --> 00:15:48.437
- I checked the greek on it this week, by the way.
- 00:15:48.437 --> 00:15:50.939
- I looked up that word "all" in the greek language.
- 00:15:50.939 --> 00:15:53.876
- You know what the word "all" means?
- 00:15:53.876 --> 00:15:56.345
- All. that's what it means, all.
- 00:15:56.345 --> 00:15:59.848
- Every one of us is going to stand before
- 00:15:59.848 --> 00:16:02.618
- The judgment seat of christ, no exceptions.
- 00:16:02.618 --> 00:16:04.953
- And that's why paul writes in verse 9 before verse 10,
- 00:16:04.953 --> 00:16:08.624
- "therefore we have as our ambition, whether at home or
- 00:16:08.624 --> 00:16:13.195
- Absent, to be pleasing to him."
- 00:16:13.195 --> 00:16:15.697
- Paul said knowing that we're gonna stand before
- 00:16:15.697 --> 00:16:18.100
- That evaluation, we oughta have as our one aim in life
- 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:21.770
- To be pleasing to god.
- 00:16:21.770 --> 00:16:24.206
- Now, when does this judgment take place?
- 00:16:24.206 --> 00:16:27.142
- It doesn't happen the moment we die.
- 00:16:27.142 --> 00:16:29.878
- Although the bible doesn't tell us exactly the moment it
- 00:16:29.878 --> 00:16:32.815
- Happens, i believe it happens at the rapture of the church,
- 00:16:32.815 --> 00:16:37.619
- At the beginning of the tribulation on earth.
- 00:16:37.619 --> 00:16:41.023
- I have two reasons for saying that.
- 00:16:41.023 --> 00:16:43.092
- First of all, revelation 4 verse 10, the bible says before the
- 00:16:43.092 --> 00:16:48.097
- Tribulation begins, after the rapture, there's a picture of
- 00:16:48.097 --> 00:16:51.366
- The twenty-four elders in heaven wearing
- 00:16:51.366 --> 00:16:54.403
- Their crowns praising god.
- 00:16:54.403 --> 00:16:56.171
- Now, the 24 elders represent the church--that is you and i.
- 00:16:56.171 --> 00:17:01.343
- So, apparently the church has already been rewarded
- 00:17:01.343 --> 00:17:03.912
- At the beginning of the tribulation.
- 00:17:03.912 --> 00:17:05.848
- The second reason is revelation 19 verse 8.
- 00:17:05.848 --> 00:17:08.851
- You know, the bible says at the end of the tribulation on earth,
- 00:17:08.851 --> 00:17:11.854
- That the great battle of armageddon, suddenly
- 00:17:11.854 --> 00:17:14.022
- The skies will part, christ appears, and we are with him.
- 00:17:14.022 --> 00:17:17.292
- And notice what verse 8 says, "and it was given to her--"
- 00:17:17.292 --> 00:17:20.329
- That is the church "--to clothe herself in fine linen,
- 00:17:20.329 --> 00:17:24.666
- Bright and clean, for the fine linen is the righteous
- 00:17:24.666 --> 00:17:28.871
- Acts of the saints."
- 00:17:28.871 --> 00:17:31.073
- Apparently, by this time we have been judged.
- 00:17:31.073 --> 00:17:34.276
- We have received our rewards.
- 00:17:34.276 --> 00:17:36.912
- It's described as bright linen but it is tied to
- 00:17:36.912 --> 00:17:40.115
- Our righteous acts after we became a christian.
- 00:17:40.115 --> 00:17:44.186
- And that leads to an important distinction of the importance
- 00:17:44.186 --> 00:17:48.023
- Of good works in a christian's life.
- 00:17:48.023 --> 00:17:51.360
- Do our works really matter to god?
- 00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:54.263
- Some people say yes, some people say no.
- 00:17:54.263 --> 00:17:57.499
- We've got to distinguish between the value of our works before
- 00:17:57.499 --> 00:18:01.436
- We're saved, and the value of our works after we're saved.
- 00:18:01.436 --> 00:18:06.975
- What are the value of our good works to god
- 00:18:06.975 --> 00:18:09.178
- Before we become a christian?
- 00:18:09.178 --> 00:18:11.180
- Zero. zilch.
- 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:13.582
- Nada.
- 00:18:13.582 --> 00:18:15.817
- Isaiah said our righteousness, the best we can do before god,
- 00:18:15.817 --> 00:18:19.855
- Is like a filthy rag to god.
- 00:18:19.855 --> 00:18:22.791
- Our works are worthless to god.
- 00:18:22.791 --> 00:18:25.160
- That's why ephesians 2: 8 and 9 says, "for by grace
- 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:28.664
- You have been saved through faith, and that
- 00:18:28.664 --> 00:18:31.099
- Not of yourselves. it is a gift of god, not as works,
- 00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:34.102
- That no one should boast."
- 00:18:34.102 --> 00:18:36.772
- God doesn't allow us to work for our salvation.
- 00:18:36.772 --> 00:18:40.175
- If he allows us to work for our salvation, then salvation is
- 00:18:40.175 --> 00:18:43.445
- Something he owes us.
- 00:18:43.445 --> 00:18:45.247
- And god refuses to owe any man or woman anything.
- 00:18:45.247 --> 00:18:48.016
- No, salvation is simply a measure of god's grace to us.
- 00:18:48.016 --> 00:18:53.422
- Our value of our good works before we're saved is nothing.
- 00:18:53.422 --> 00:18:57.392
- We cannot earn our salvation.
- 00:18:57.392 --> 00:18:59.161
- However, there are--there is value to our works
- 00:18:59.161 --> 00:19:02.331
- After our salvation.
- 00:19:02.331 --> 00:19:04.666
- I want you to write down this phrase.
- 00:19:04.666 --> 00:19:06.168
- I have it on your outline.
- 00:19:06.168 --> 00:19:07.970
- "while our works are worthless in securing us
- 00:19:07.970 --> 00:19:12.140
- A place in heaven, they are integral in determining
- 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:15.544
- Our experience in heaven."
- 00:19:15.544 --> 00:19:17.613
- Lemme say it again, "while our works are worthless in securing
- 00:19:17.613 --> 00:19:21.049
- A place in heaven, they are integral in determining
- 00:19:21.049 --> 00:19:23.785
- Our experience in our heaven."
- 00:19:23.785 --> 00:19:26.388
- We're not saved by good works, but look at ephesians 2:10, "for
- 00:19:26.388 --> 00:19:30.892
- We are his workmanship, created in christ jesus for good works,
- 00:19:30.892 --> 00:19:35.464
- Which god prepared beforehand that we should work--
- 00:19:35.464 --> 00:19:38.667
- Walk in them."
- 00:19:38.667 --> 00:19:41.169
- Listen to me this morning, before we are saved, the only
- 00:19:41.169 --> 00:19:44.740
- Value of our works is our works are sufficient to condemn us
- 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:48.510
- Before god.
- 00:19:48.510 --> 00:19:50.545
- But after we are saved, our good works are sufficient
- 00:19:50.545 --> 00:19:53.181
- To commend us to god.
- 00:19:53.181 --> 00:19:55.784
- You know, when i think about god's evaluation of our lives, i
- 00:19:55.784 --> 00:19:59.921
- Think about a very embarrassing evaluation i had some years ago
- 00:19:59.921 --> 00:20:05.394
- When i lived in wichita falls.
- 00:20:05.394 --> 00:20:07.029
- I used to come to dallas once a year for a physical at a clinic
- 00:20:07.029 --> 00:20:10.632
- Here in town, and part of that physical involved me
- 00:20:10.632 --> 00:20:14.936
- Standing in my birthday suit before the physician,
- 00:20:14.936 --> 00:20:18.740
- The physician's assistant.
- 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:20.609
- As i stood there, he'd take this little torture device and start
- 00:20:20.609 --> 00:20:24.379
- Pinching various parts of my arms and appendages to try to
- 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:28.350
- Measure my body fat.
- 00:20:28.350 --> 00:20:30.852
- And that was humiliating.
- 00:20:30.852 --> 00:20:32.988
- And you know, i stood there and suddenly i was filled with
- 00:20:32.988 --> 00:20:35.824
- Regrets because every chocolate chip cookie
- 00:20:35.824 --> 00:20:38.126
- I'd ever eaten was on display.
- 00:20:38.126 --> 00:20:40.896
- I regretted every time i had rolled over in bed instead of
- 00:20:40.896 --> 00:20:44.299
- Getting on the treadmill in the morning.
- 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:46.335
- I regretted those midnight trips to the freezer to get
- 00:20:46.335 --> 00:20:48.970
- The haagen daz ice cream.
- 00:20:48.970 --> 00:20:50.906
- Everything i had done was on view to that doctor.
- 00:20:50.906 --> 00:20:55.477
- But even the worst part was putting back on my clothes and
- 00:20:55.477 --> 00:20:58.847
- Sitting down for the evaluation.
- 00:20:58.847 --> 00:21:01.450
- Happened every year.
- 00:21:01.450 --> 00:21:03.285
- He'd bring in this folder and it said now we're gonna
- 00:21:03.285 --> 00:21:05.153
- Talk about your health.
- 00:21:05.153 --> 00:21:06.888
- And he would always start on a positive note.
- 00:21:06.888 --> 00:21:08.523
- He would commend me for the good things i was doing--my exercise,
- 00:21:08.523 --> 00:21:11.860
- The bran flakes that i gagged on every morning.
- 00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:14.396
- You know i--those--you know, there were some good things.
- 00:21:14.396 --> 00:21:17.399
- And then his smile would turn to a frown and he would talk about,
- 00:21:17.399 --> 00:21:20.702
- You know, you need to shave off some points
- 00:21:20.702 --> 00:21:22.471
- Off that cholesterol.
- 00:21:22.471 --> 00:21:24.539
- That blood pressure isn't exactly where we would like it.
- 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:27.075
- He would give a critique, an evaluation of my life.
- 00:21:27.075 --> 00:21:30.345
- Now, that's what the judgment seat of christ is going to be.
- 00:21:30.345 --> 00:21:32.981
- It's gonna be an honest evaluation of everything we've
- 00:21:32.981 --> 00:21:36.284
- Done, whether it is good, lasting, eternal, or worthless.
- 00:21:36.284 --> 00:21:41.823
- Luke 8:17, jesus said: "for nothing is hidden that shall not
- 00:21:41.823 --> 00:21:46.328
- Become evident, nor anything secret that shall not be known
- 00:21:46.328 --> 00:21:51.066
- And will come to light."
- 00:21:51.066 --> 00:21:54.169
- Of course, that raises a lot of questions.
- 00:21:54.169 --> 00:21:57.372
- Is god more interested in what i do, or why i do what i do?
- 00:21:57.372 --> 00:22:02.210
- What do these rewards actually mean for me in eternity?
- 00:22:02.210 --> 00:22:05.080
- When you say heaven's not gonna be the same for everybody,
- 00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:07.449
- What's gonna be the difference?
- 00:22:07.449 --> 00:22:09.684
- And if i don't win rewards in heaven, am i going
- 00:22:09.684 --> 00:22:13.321
- To spend the rest of my life regretting the way
- 00:22:13.321 --> 00:22:15.891
- I invested my life here on earth?
- 00:22:15.891 --> 00:22:18.994
- Those are great questions, and we're gonna answer them
- 00:22:18.994 --> 00:22:21.596
- And more as we continue talking about our judgment before god
- 00:22:21.596 --> 00:22:26.701
- At the great judgment seat of christ.
- 00:22:26.701 --> 00:22:30.338
- Jeffress: there's much more we need to cover on today's topic.
- 00:22:34.543 --> 00:22:37.446
- As we're learning, heaven won't be the same for everyone.
- 00:22:37.446 --> 00:22:40.949
- And tragically, some will never step through
- 00:22:40.949 --> 00:22:43.151
- The gates of heaven at all.
- 00:22:43.151 --> 00:22:44.953
- Heaven is reserved for only those who trust in jesus
- 00:22:44.953 --> 00:22:48.356
- To be their savior.
- 00:22:48.356 --> 00:22:50.091
- Now, before we go today, i wanna share this powerful note i
- 00:22:50.091 --> 00:22:53.361
- Received from a friend in texas who wrote: "pastor jeffress,
- 00:22:53.361 --> 00:22:57.299
- Your teaching helped me through a very difficult time.
- 00:22:57.299 --> 00:23:00.068
- After 33 years of marriage, i found myself divorced--
- 00:23:00.068 --> 00:23:03.905
- Needing to forgive my ex-spouse for years of abuse.
- 00:23:03.905 --> 00:23:07.876
- Thank you for helping me find power and victory
- 00:23:07.876 --> 00:23:10.579
- In jesus christ."
- 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:12.347
- Isn't that great?
- 00:23:12.347 --> 00:23:13.982
- This thank you note also belongs to our ministry partners
- 00:23:13.982 --> 00:23:17.118
- Who help us provide these programs.
- 00:23:17.118 --> 00:23:19.554
- Together, we are piercing the darkness
- 00:23:19.554 --> 00:23:22.657
- With the light of god's word.
- 00:23:22.657 --> 00:23:24.626
- Now, stay right there.
- 00:23:24.626 --> 00:23:25.961
- I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
- 00:23:25.961 --> 00:23:29.698
- Announcer: whether you're mourning someone you love or
- 00:23:31.433 --> 00:23:33.468
- Facing your own difficult season, grief can feel
- 00:23:33.468 --> 00:23:36.638
- Overwhelming.
- 00:23:36.638 --> 00:23:37.973
- But the bible tells us not to be discouraged, because this life
- 00:23:37.973 --> 00:23:41.409
- Is not the end.
- 00:23:41.409 --> 00:23:42.744
- Dr. robert jeffress wants to help lift your eyes from earth's
- 00:23:42.744 --> 00:23:46.047
- Sorrows to heaven's certainty with "encouragement from a place
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- Called heaven."
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- This beautifully-designed book combines inspiring scripture,
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- Stunning photography, and powerful biblical truths you can
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- Keep close during difficult times.
- 00:23:57.492 --> 00:24:00.128
- Jeffress: the greatest hope we have is the promise of heaven.
- 00:24:00.128 --> 00:24:03.665
- In this book of encouragement, i wanna remind you what awaits us
- 00:24:03.665 --> 00:24:06.868
- After this life is over, not the myths and misconceptions tv and
- 00:24:06.868 --> 00:24:11.573
- Movies tell us about, but what god's word has promised.
- 00:24:11.573 --> 00:24:15.810
- Announcer: this padded hardcover book makes a thoughtful gift for
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- Anyone navigating grief, chronic illness, or stressful
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- Circumstances.
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- Request your copy of "encouragement from a place
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- Called heaven" when you give a generous gift to "pathway to
- 00:24:25.921 --> 00:24:28.390
- Victory."
- 00:24:28.390 --> 00:24:29.724
- And when your gift is $75 or more, we'll also send you dr.
- 00:24:29.724 --> 00:24:33.361
- Jeffress's best-selling book "a place called heaven" along with
- 00:24:33.361 --> 00:24:37.165
- The complete "a place called heaven" teaching series on both
- 00:24:37.165 --> 00:24:40.068
- Cd and dvd.
- 00:24:40.068 --> 00:24:41.803
- Jeffress: it's not gonna be very long till we go to that place
- 00:24:41.803 --> 00:24:43.638
- Called heaven.
- 00:24:43.638 --> 00:24:44.973
- But knowing that our future is secure ought to be a motivation
- 00:24:44.973 --> 00:24:49.210
- For us to live the most effective lives for god that we
- 00:24:49.210 --> 00:24:52.914
- Can right now.
- 00:24:52.914 --> 00:24:54.416
- Announcer: your generosity empowers this ministry to pierce
- 00:24:54.416 --> 00:24:57.252
- The darkness with the light of god's word.
- 00:24:57.252 --> 00:24:59.888
- Jeffress: our life here on earth is an investment.
- 00:25:03.091 --> 00:25:05.760
- We invest our time, our resources, and our talents,
- 00:25:05.760 --> 00:25:09.497
- And at the end of it all, we have to answer to god.
- 00:25:09.497 --> 00:25:12.834
- Did we make personal investments in the right things,
- 00:25:12.834 --> 00:25:16.204
- Or did we squander our resources away?
- 00:25:16.204 --> 00:25:19.474
- Well, i realize that today's discussion may have raised more
- 00:25:19.474 --> 00:25:23.178
- Questions than answers about our future in heaven, so next time,
- 00:25:23.178 --> 00:25:27.349
- We'll go into deeper detail of the judgment seat of christ
- 00:25:27.349 --> 00:25:31.620
- To learn how our performance will be scrutinized.
- 00:25:31.620 --> 00:25:35.023
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
- 00:25:35.023 --> 00:25:37.559
- In our series, "a place called heaven."
- 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:40.662
- Jeffress: while our works are worthless in securing us
- 00:25:41.963 --> 00:25:45.834
- A place in heaven, they are integral in determining
- 00:25:45.834 --> 00:25:49.671
- Our experience in heaven.
- 00:25:49.671 --> 00:25:52.707
- Good works can't earn you your place in heaven.
- 00:25:52.707 --> 00:25:55.777
- That's only by god's grace, by trusting christ.
- 00:25:55.777 --> 00:25:58.480
- But once you've done that, your good works matter in determining
- 00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:02.851
- The kind of experience you will have in heaven.
- 00:26:02.851 --> 00:26:06.554
- Male announcer: set your dvr and join us next time
- 00:26:06.621 --> 00:26:08.957
- For the next part of the message,
- 00:26:08.957 --> 00:26:10.892
- "will heaven be the same for everyone?"
- 00:26:10.892 --> 00:26:13.395
- Here on "pathway to victory."
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- Announcer: experience a journey that will refresh your spirit
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- And renew your faith on the pathway to victory cruise to
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- Alaska, june 13-20, 2026.
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- Jeffress: sail aboard holland america's luxurious koningsdam
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- Frontier towns of juneau, ketchikan, and skagway, you'll
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- Witness god's handiwork on full display.
- 00:26:42.123 --> 00:26:45.593
- Announcer: imagine standing on deck surrounded by towering
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- Glaciers and snowcapped mountains while enjoying
- 00:26:48.229 --> 00:26:50.832
- Powerful bible teaching from dr. jeffress.
- 00:26:50.832 --> 00:26:53.668
- Then enjoy spirit-lifting worship led by michael o'brien
- 00:26:53.668 --> 00:26:57.405
- And share plenty of laughter with dennis swanberg, america's
- 00:26:57.405 --> 00:27:00.608
- Minister of encouragement.
- 00:27:00.608 --> 00:27:02.377
- Jeffress: this is more than just a vacation.
- 00:27:02.377 --> 00:27:04.512
- It's a sacred pause to reconnect with the lord.
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- Announcer: to reserve your cabin on the 2026 pathway to victory
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- Cruise to alaska, call ... or visit ptv.org.
- 00:27:10.785 --> 00:27:10.785