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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Will Heaven Be The Same For Everyone? (Part 2A) | February 24, 2026
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- Male announcer: experience a journey that will refresh your
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- Spirit and renew your faith on the pathway to victory cruise to
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- Frontier towns of juneau, ketchikan, and skagway, you'll
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- Witness god's handiwork on full display.
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- Announcer: imagine standing on deck surrounded by towering
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- Powerful bible teaching from dr. jeffress.
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- Then enjoy spirit-lifting worship led by michael o'brien
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- And share plenty of laughter with dennis swanberg, america's
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- Minister of encouragement.
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- Jeffress: this is more than just a vacation.
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- 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.
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- ♪♪♪
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- Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist
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- Church 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,
- 00:01:15.598 --> 00:01:16.933
- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- As christians, we understand that good works can never earn
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- God's forgiveness, but that doesn't mean
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- Our good deeds are worthless.
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- In fact, the way we spend our life here on earth after we
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- Become a christian will greatly determine our rewards in heaven.
- 00:01:30.580 --> 00:01:35.518
- There's a day coming when god will judge the obedience of
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- Every believer, and the results of that judgment will have
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- Eternal implications.
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- We're answering the question,
- 00:01:44.561 --> 00:01:45.995
- "will heaven be the same for everyone?"
- 00:01:45.995 --> 00:01:48.264
- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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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.
- 00:02:11.321 --> 00:02:13.823
- Whether you're grieving a loved one, facing illness, or walking
- 00:02:13.823 --> 00:02:16.726
- 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: in our series, "a place called heaven"
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- We began addressing the question last time,
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- "will heaven be the same for everyone?"
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- And the answer, the surprising answer for many is,
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- No, it will not be the same for everyone.
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- While becoming a christian exempts us from the condemnation
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- Of god, and aren't we grateful for that?
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- It exempts us from god's condemnation.
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- Being a christian does not exempt us from god's
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- Evaluation of our life.
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- The fact is, every person non-christian and christian
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- Alike, will be judged by god.
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- The judgment for non-christians is the judgment,
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- The great white throne judgment.
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- Those who have not trusted in christ, whose names are not
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- Found written in the lamb's book of life, they are cast into the
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- Lake of fire, and tormented day and night forever and ever.
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- But those of us who are christians are going to stand
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- Before a different judgment.
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- It's an evaluation of our life.
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- It's called the judgment seat of christ.
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- In 2 corinthians 5:10, paul says, "for we must all appear
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- Before the judgment seat of christ, so that each one may be
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- Recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has
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- Done, whether good or bad."
- 00:03:54.457 --> 00:03:57.460
- That phrase judgment seat, bema, refers to a raised platform in
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- Which the governor or some other official would reward those who
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- Had done exceptionally well in games or some
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- Other type of contest.
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- One day we're going to stand before god's judgment, to
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- Receive rewards for what we have done.
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- Now, i've given you a sentence on your outline to help you
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- Understand the difference between the judgment for
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- Christians at the judgment seat of christ, and the judgment of
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- Non-christians at the great white throne 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 for the
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- Condemnation of unbelievers.
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- How will we be judged?
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- Well, paul says in 2 corinthians 5, we will be judged according
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- To what we have done.
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- This evaluation of our lives as christians is based
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- On our works.
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- What we've done.
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- Now, that confuses a lot of christians, because they say,
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- "well, wait a minute, i thought our good works don't matter."
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- Well, they don't matter before we're saved, but they matter
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- A great deal after we're saved.
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- And we made the distinction last time between our works
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- Before we become a christian.
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- Prior to our salvation, the best you and i can do
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- Is like a filthy rag to god.
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- Ephesians 2:8 and 9 makes it very clear, "it's by grace we
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- Are saved and that not of works lest anyone should boast."
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- Good works play absolutely no role in earning salvation.
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- However, our good works have a great value after our salvation.
- 00:05:38.494 --> 00:05:43.466
- Ephesians 2:10 says, "we are saved not by works,
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- But for good works."
- 00:05:48.137 --> 00:05:50.273
- Again, here's a sentence on your outline to write down.
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- "while our works are worthless in securing us a place in
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- Heaven, they are integral in determining our experience
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- In heaven."
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- Good works can earn you your place in heaven.
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- That's only by god's grace, by trusting christ.
- 00:06:07.356 --> 00:06:10.426
- But once you've done that, your good works matter in determining
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- The kind of experience you will have in heaven.
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- And that's what we're going to talk about today.
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- Let's first of all begin by looking at exactly what happens
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- At the judgment seat of christ.
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- Since you're gonna stand there one day, wouldn't you like to
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- Know exactly what's going to happen at that judgment?
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- Well, to explain what happens at the judgment seat of christ,
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- Paul uses three analogies.
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- The first analogy is the trustee analogy, and it's found in
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- Romans chapter 14.
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- Take your bibles and turn to romans chapter 14.
- 00:06:48.064 --> 00:06:52.735
- Paul is writing to christians in rome.
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- They were busy judging one another,
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- There were divisions in the roman church,
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- And paul said, "quit your judging of one another."
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- He says in verse 10, "but why do you judge your brother?
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- Or why again, do you regard your brother with contempt?"
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- You are not to judge another.
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- When he says, "don't judge your brother," he was talking about
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- Christians who were pronouncing judgments about behavior the
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- Bible didn't even address.
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- Christians were judging each other about what they ate
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- Or what they drank or about whether they kept
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- The sabbath days or not.
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- And paul said quit judging people.
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- Let everybody be convinced in his own heart
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- About that, because every one of us--
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- Look at verse 10--will stand before the judgment
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- Seat of god.
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- One day you and i are gonna answer to god,
- 00:07:43.352 --> 00:07:45.087
- Not to one another for these areas the bible doesn't address.
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- Verse 11, "for it is written 'as i live,' says the lord,
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- 'every knee shall bow to me
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- And every tongue shall give praise to god.'"
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- That's a quotation from isaiah 45.
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- Did you know everybody who's ever lived is one day going
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- To bow before jesus christ?
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- Some will bow before him at the great white throne judgment.
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- They will acknowledge him as judge, and it will be
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- Too late for them.
- 00:08:11.547 --> 00:08:13.282
- But others who have received god's grace,
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- We, too, will reaffirm that jesus christ is lord.
- 00:08:15.585 --> 00:08:19.121
- And then the conclusion, verse 12, "so then each one of us,"
- 00:08:19.121 --> 00:08:23.426
- As christians, "shall give an account of himself to god."
- 00:08:23.426 --> 00:08:27.630
- Now, there's that trustee analogy.
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- That word "give an account" is a word that referred
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- To a financial manager.
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- You know, if you want to, you can entrust your assets to a
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- Manager who will oversee them and invest them on your behalf.
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- Now, he doesn't own the assets, you do.
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- He has a responsibility, a trust agreement to maximize
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- Your assets for good.
- 00:08:51.654 --> 00:08:54.023
- That is the responsibility of the trustee.
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- He doesn't own anything.
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- He's simply a manager of what's been entrusted to him.
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- And as we saw a few weeks ago, you and i,
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- We don't own anything.
- 00:09:04.333 --> 00:09:06.102
- We're simply managers.
- 00:09:06.102 --> 00:09:08.371
- We don't own our money, god does.
- 00:09:08.371 --> 00:09:11.574
- We don't own our lives, we don't even determine how long
- 00:09:11.574 --> 00:09:14.610
- Our lives are, god does.
- 00:09:14.610 --> 00:09:16.812
- He's just entrusted to us a certain amount of treasure and
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- Time and opportunities and gifts, and our responsibility
- 00:09:20.249 --> 00:09:23.886
- With what he's entrusted to us-- listen to this--
- 00:09:23.886 --> 00:09:26.822
- Is to further his agenda, not our agenda.
- 00:09:26.822 --> 00:09:29.692
- And although we have a lot of latitude in what we do with our
- 00:09:29.692 --> 00:09:32.561
- Money, and our time, and our talent, one day we will give an
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- Account to god for what we've done with those things
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- We've managed.
- 00:09:38.601 --> 00:09:40.469
- Just as the trustee gives an account to the owner
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- Of what he's done.
- 00:09:43.906 --> 00:09:45.574
- And that's the allusion here.
- 00:09:45.574 --> 00:09:46.909
- Now, what's interesting is in this trust agreement, as
- 00:09:46.909 --> 00:09:51.614
- Trustees, we only will give an account to the owner, god,
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- Of what he's entrusted to us,
- 00:09:56.252 --> 00:09:58.287
- Not to what he's entrusted other people.
- 00:09:58.287 --> 00:10:02.091
- You know, when i stand before god, my judgment at the judgment
- 00:10:02.091 --> 00:10:05.728
- Seat of christ is gonna be very personal and individualized.
- 00:10:05.728 --> 00:10:09.065
- God is not gonna judge me according to the same standard
- 00:10:09.065 --> 00:10:12.435
- He judges billy graham.
- 00:10:12.435 --> 00:10:14.770
- God has given to dr. graham certain gifts and certain
- 00:10:14.770 --> 00:10:18.641
- Opportunities that are unique to him.
- 00:10:18.641 --> 00:10:21.577
- He's not gonna say to me, "you know, oh, why didn't you preach
- 00:10:21.577 --> 00:10:25.815
- More faithfully in that stadium filled with 100,000 people?"
- 00:10:25.815 --> 00:10:29.485
- Well, i never had that opportunity, dr. graham did.
- 00:10:29.485 --> 00:10:32.855
- And so he's gonna give dr. graham a different judgment
- 00:10:32.855 --> 00:10:35.558
- Than he judges me.
- 00:10:35.558 --> 00:10:36.959
- He's gonna judge you according to a different standard than
- 00:10:36.959 --> 00:10:39.195
- That which he judges me.
- 00:10:39.195 --> 00:10:41.030
- The judgment seat of christ is gonna be a very personalized,
- 00:10:41.030 --> 00:10:44.467
- Individualized judgment according to what has been
- 00:10:44.467 --> 00:10:48.104
- Entrusted to us.
- 00:10:48.104 --> 00:10:50.072
- That is the trustee analogy.
- 00:10:50.072 --> 00:10:52.675
- Secondly, he uses the construction analogy to describe
- 00:10:52.675 --> 00:10:56.746
- The bema, the judgment seat.
- 00:10:56.746 --> 00:10:58.781
- Turn over to 1 corinthians 3.
- 00:10:58.781 --> 00:11:00.649
- We read that passage just a few moments ago.
- 00:11:00.649 --> 00:11:03.519
- Now, to be clear, in 1 corinthians 3,
- 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:06.822
- Paul specifically is talking about building a ministry,
- 00:11:06.822 --> 00:11:11.260
- About the kind of ministry he had versus other apostles.
- 00:11:11.260 --> 00:11:15.731
- But he extrapolates from the ministry example to include
- 00:11:15.731 --> 00:11:19.568
- Every christian's life.
- 00:11:19.568 --> 00:11:21.137
- Notice what he says here, "according to the grace of god,"
- 00:11:21.137 --> 00:11:24.774
- Verse 10, "which was given to me, as a wise master builder,
- 00:11:24.774 --> 00:11:29.345
- I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it.
- 00:11:29.345 --> 00:11:33.115
- But let each man be careful how he builds upon it.
- 00:11:33.115 --> 00:11:36.452
- For no man can lay a foundation other than that which is laid,
- 00:11:36.452 --> 00:11:41.257
- Which is jesus christ."
- 00:11:41.257 --> 00:11:43.392
- Paul is inviting you to think about your life like a house
- 00:11:43.392 --> 00:11:47.696
- That's being constructed.
- 00:11:47.696 --> 00:11:49.565
- Now, every christian has the same foundation for his house.
- 00:11:49.565 --> 00:11:53.502
- Your life is like a house that you construct.
- 00:11:53.502 --> 00:11:56.772
- You have the same foundation as every other christian, and that
- 00:11:56.772 --> 00:11:59.508
- Is that foundation is the unchangeable jesus christ.
- 00:11:59.508 --> 00:12:04.914
- We're all saved if we've trusted in christ.
- 00:12:04.914 --> 00:12:07.950
- Jesus is our foundation, but we have a choice of what kind of
- 00:12:07.950 --> 00:12:12.855
- House, that is, what kind of life we build on the foundation
- 00:12:12.855 --> 00:12:17.226
- Of our salvation, and the choice of what kind of house we build
- 00:12:17.226 --> 00:12:21.263
- Depends upon the kind of building material we choose.
- 00:12:21.263 --> 00:12:24.366
- Look at verse 12, "now if any man builds upon the foundation
- 00:12:24.366 --> 00:12:28.170
- With gold, silver, precious stones or wood, hay, and straw."
- 00:12:28.170 --> 00:12:35.277
- You can build your life according to what building
- 00:12:35.277 --> 00:12:38.147
- Materials you choose.
- 00:12:38.147 --> 00:12:39.982
- But notice one day, the kind of life you have built is gonna be
- 00:12:39.982 --> 00:12:43.953
- Tested by the fire of god's judgment.
- 00:12:43.953 --> 00:12:46.288
- Verse 13, "each man's work will become evident; for the day
- 00:12:46.288 --> 00:12:50.793
- Will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire
- 00:12:50.793 --> 00:12:54.663
- Itself will reveal the quality of each man's work."
- 00:12:54.663 --> 00:13:00.603
- Would you notice the two criteria god is gonna use
- 00:13:00.603 --> 00:13:03.706
- To judge the kind of life you and i have built?
- 00:13:03.706 --> 00:13:08.010
- Number one, the significance of our life.
- 00:13:08.010 --> 00:13:11.380
- The significance or the durability of our works.
- 00:13:11.380 --> 00:13:16.151
- For example, if you spend your time and talents and treasures
- 00:13:16.151 --> 00:13:19.989
- Here on earth pursuing power and profits and
- 00:13:19.989 --> 00:13:23.759
- Self-glorification, that's like building a house of wood
- 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:28.764
- Or hay or straw.
- 00:13:28.764 --> 00:13:31.600
- I'm not talking about building a life that's built on evil,
- 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:35.504
- I'm just talking about a worthless life,
- 00:13:35.504 --> 00:13:37.973
- A life that is centered around your own agenda, profits,
- 00:13:37.973 --> 00:13:42.411
- Power, or pleasure.
- 00:13:42.411 --> 00:13:44.880
- What happens at the judgment if your life is built
- 00:13:44.880 --> 00:13:48.050
- With those things?
- 00:13:48.050 --> 00:13:50.085
- It's not like the story of the three pigs where jesus will huff
- 00:13:50.085 --> 00:13:53.889
- And puff and blow your house down, instead,
- 00:13:53.889 --> 00:13:57.226
- He just sets a match to it, burns it up.
- 00:13:57.226 --> 00:14:01.196
- That's what he's saying here.
- 00:14:01.196 --> 00:14:03.032
- "nothing will last.
- 00:14:03.032 --> 00:14:05.100
- It will be consumed with fire."
- 00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:08.404
- On the other hand, you can build your life
- 00:14:08.404 --> 00:14:10.739
- With more durable materials.
- 00:14:10.739 --> 00:14:13.309
- Gold, silver, precious stones.
- 00:14:13.309 --> 00:14:16.645
- A life that is built around glorifying god, making him look
- 00:14:16.645 --> 00:14:20.849
- Good no matter what your daily responsibilities are.
- 00:14:20.849 --> 00:14:24.186
- A life built around sharing christ with as many people
- 00:14:24.186 --> 00:14:27.156
- As possible.
- 00:14:27.156 --> 00:14:29.124
- A life built around giving up some temporary pleasures
- 00:14:29.124 --> 00:14:33.629
- And perks in this life to invest your money in god's kingdom.
- 00:14:33.629 --> 00:14:38.000
- Those things really matter to god.
- 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:40.102
- They make a difference, it's a life built with gold, silver,
- 00:14:40.102 --> 00:14:43.806
- And precious stones.
- 00:14:43.806 --> 00:14:45.808
- Verse 14, "if any man's work which he has built upon it
- 00:14:45.808 --> 00:14:49.178
- Remains, he shall receive a reward."
- 00:14:49.178 --> 00:14:52.748
- But notice verse 15, "if any man's work is burned up,"
- 00:14:52.748 --> 00:14:56.385
- That is evaluated to be worthless.
- 00:14:56.385 --> 00:15:00.255
- "if any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss;
- 00:15:00.255 --> 00:15:04.059
- But he himself will be saved, though as by fire."
- 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:08.530
- That's probably a saying like we would have today.
- 00:15:08.530 --> 00:15:13.135
- He will be saved by the skin of his teeth.
- 00:15:13.135 --> 00:15:16.038
- Have you ever heard that before?
- 00:15:16.038 --> 00:15:17.840
- He'll make it to heaven.
- 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:19.408
- If you're truly a christian and your life is judged to be
- 00:15:19.408 --> 00:15:22.711
- Worthless, you'll still get into heaven, but you'll smell of
- 00:15:22.711 --> 00:15:26.582
- Smoke, you'll just barely make it there though as by fire.
- 00:15:26.582 --> 00:15:30.319
- That's what he's talking of here, by the skin of your teeth.
- 00:15:30.319 --> 00:15:32.788
- So the first criterion of judgment will be the
- 00:15:32.788 --> 00:15:35.724
- Significance of our works.
- 00:15:35.724 --> 00:15:37.459
- The second judgment will be according to the motives
- 00:15:37.459 --> 00:15:40.796
- Of our works.
- 00:15:40.796 --> 00:15:42.364
- Sometimes why we do what we do is as important as what we do.
- 00:15:42.364 --> 00:15:46.402
- In 1 corinthians 4:5, paul says, "therefore do not go on passing
- 00:15:46.402 --> 00:15:50.739
- Judgment before the time, but wait until the lord comes who
- 00:15:50.739 --> 00:15:54.510
- Will bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and
- 00:15:54.510 --> 00:15:59.048
- Disclose the motives of men's hearts, and then each man's
- 00:15:59.048 --> 00:16:02.718
- Praise will come to him from god."
- 00:16:02.718 --> 00:16:06.755
- God cares about our motives.
- 00:16:06.755 --> 00:16:09.324
- You know, if you give money to god's work in order to be able
- 00:16:09.324 --> 00:16:12.361
- To brag to others how much you're giving, that doesn't
- 00:16:12.361 --> 00:16:15.397
- Count for gold, it counts as wood.
- 00:16:15.397 --> 00:16:18.267
- If you are diligent in sharing your faith with other people so
- 00:16:18.267 --> 00:16:22.337
- That you can brag about how many people are in the kingdom
- 00:16:22.337 --> 00:16:25.140
- Because of you, that's not silver, that's hay.
- 00:16:25.140 --> 00:16:29.478
- Our motives really do matter before god.
- 00:16:29.478 --> 00:16:32.648
- Proverbs 16:2 says, "all the ways of a man are clean in his
- 00:16:32.648 --> 00:16:36.118
- Own sight, but the lord weighs the motives."
- 00:16:36.118 --> 00:16:40.222
- Now, some of you might ask, "well, pastor isn't living your
- 00:16:40.222 --> 00:16:43.992
- Life in order to earn rewards, isn't that kind of
- 00:16:43.992 --> 00:16:47.362
- A selfish motive?
- 00:16:47.362 --> 00:16:49.498
- Isn't that self-centered?"
- 00:16:49.498 --> 00:16:50.933
- "i wanna earn all these rewards so i can have a better spot in
- 00:16:50.933 --> 00:16:53.102
- Heaven than other people, that sounds pretty selfish to me."
- 00:16:53.102 --> 00:16:56.305
- Look, selfishness somebody said, is trying to achieve
- 00:16:56.305 --> 00:17:04.012
- At somebody else's expense.
- 00:17:04.012 --> 00:17:06.782
- Selfishness is trying to gain more at somebody else's expense.
- 00:17:06.782 --> 00:17:11.687
- But did you know it's possible to gain more at god's expense,
- 00:17:11.687 --> 00:17:15.190
- Because god does not have a finite amount of resources
- 00:17:15.190 --> 00:17:18.460
- That if you take some from him, he has less.
- 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:20.796
- He has an inexhaustible supply of riches.
- 00:17:20.796 --> 00:17:23.732
- When he rewards you, his net worth
- 00:17:23.732 --> 00:17:26.835
- Is not diminished one iota.
- 00:17:26.835 --> 00:17:30.472
- In fact, when you think about it, working for rewards
- 00:17:30.472 --> 00:17:34.910
- Is really a sign of what god values most in our life,
- 00:17:34.910 --> 00:17:38.647
- And that is faith.
- 00:17:38.647 --> 00:17:40.582
- Think for example about abraham.
- 00:17:40.582 --> 00:17:43.018
- Why is it that abraham was willing to uproot his family and
- 00:17:43.018 --> 00:17:46.155
- Travel to a land he didn't even know where he was going to?
- 00:17:46.155 --> 00:17:49.424
- What was his motive in leaving everybody and everything
- 00:17:49.424 --> 00:17:52.027
- Familiar behind him?
- 00:17:52.027 --> 00:17:53.962
- Verse 10 of hebrews 11 says, "abraham was looking
- 00:17:53.962 --> 00:17:57.466
- For the city which has foundations,
- 00:17:57.466 --> 00:18:00.369
- Whose architect and builder is god."
- 00:18:00.369 --> 00:18:03.372
- He did it for heaven.
- 00:18:03.372 --> 00:18:05.440
- He obeyed god because of the rewards
- 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:07.943
- That awaited him in heaven.
- 00:18:07.943 --> 00:18:09.745
- Or think about moses.
- 00:18:09.745 --> 00:18:11.380
- Moses voluntarily surrendered the perks of living in pharaoh's
- 00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:14.917
- Household to identify with god's people, the israelites.
- 00:18:14.917 --> 00:18:18.987
- Why was he willing to give up those privileges out of his
- 00:18:18.987 --> 00:18:22.724
- Dedication to god alone?
- 00:18:22.724 --> 00:18:24.960
- Partly, but not completely.
- 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.795
- Verse 25 of hebrews 11 says, "moses, choosing rather to
- 00:18:26.795 --> 00:18:31.166
- Endure ill-treatment with the people of god than to enjoy
- 00:18:31.166 --> 00:18:35.037
- The passing pleasures of sin, considering," verse 26,
- 00:18:35.037 --> 00:18:39.942
- "the reproach of christ, greater riches than the treasures
- 00:18:39.942 --> 00:18:44.913
- Of egypt," for he was looking to the what?
- 00:18:44.913 --> 00:18:48.617
- To the reward.
- 00:18:48.617 --> 00:18:50.819
- Verse 26, that word considering, "moses considered the reproach
- 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:54.756
- Of christ greater than the rewards of egypt."
- 00:18:54.756 --> 00:18:57.326
- That word consider is a mathematic term.
- 00:18:57.326 --> 00:19:00.929
- It means to calculate, to calculate.
- 00:19:00.929 --> 00:19:04.233
- In other words, as moses was weighing what decision he was
- 00:19:04.233 --> 00:19:07.002
- Gonna make, he did the math in his head.
- 00:19:07.002 --> 00:19:10.239
- He said, "okay, the choice is temporary pleasure in pharaoh's
- 00:19:10.239 --> 00:19:14.977
- Household or eternal riches in heaven.
- 00:19:14.977 --> 00:19:18.013
- Hey, i think i'll choose the latter."
- 00:19:18.013 --> 00:19:20.215
- The eternal riches are better than temporary pleasure.
- 00:19:20.215 --> 00:19:23.118
- He did the math.
- 00:19:23.118 --> 00:19:24.553
- He calculated the rewards in heaven was
- 00:19:24.553 --> 00:19:28.323
- What was worth living for.
- 00:19:28.323 --> 00:19:30.626
- That wasn't a selfish motive.
- 00:19:30.626 --> 00:19:33.061
- You know, when you give up temporary money, pleasure,
- 00:19:33.061 --> 00:19:38.066
- Pursuits in this life in order to earn rewards,
- 00:19:38.066 --> 00:19:41.670
- That's the essence of what faith is.
- 00:19:41.670 --> 00:19:44.473
- "god, i believe what you've said, i believe you reward those
- 00:19:44.473 --> 00:19:48.844
- Who diligently follow after you."
- 00:19:48.844 --> 00:19:52.581
- Now, the third analogy here is the race analogy.
- 00:19:52.581 --> 00:19:56.184
- It's found in 1 corinthians 9 verses 24 to 27.
- 00:19:56.184 --> 00:19:59.988
- Just look at verses 24 and 25.
- 00:19:59.988 --> 00:20:04.559
- "do you not know that those who run in a race all run,
- 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:08.397
- But only one receives the prize?
- 00:20:08.397 --> 00:20:11.033
- Run in such a way that you may win.
- 00:20:11.033 --> 00:20:13.969
- Everyone who competes in the games exercises
- 00:20:13.969 --> 00:20:17.539
- Self-control in all things.
- 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:20.309
- They then do it to receive a perishable wreath,
- 00:20:20.309 --> 00:20:23.745
- But we an imperishable.
- 00:20:23.745 --> 00:20:26.581
- Therefore i run in such a way; as not without aim."
- 00:20:26.581 --> 00:20:30.619
- Now, the readers in corinth understood what paul
- 00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:33.188
- Was talking about here.
- 00:20:33.188 --> 00:20:34.690
- This was an allusion to the isthmian games that were held in
- 00:20:34.690 --> 00:20:38.660
- Corinth every two years.
- 00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:41.663
- Now, you had the olympic games that were held in athens,
- 00:20:41.663 --> 00:20:44.232
- But the isthmian games were held every two years in athens.
- 00:20:44.232 --> 00:20:48.904
- It was a multitude of different contests, wrestling, boxing,
- 00:20:48.904 --> 00:20:53.275
- Foot races, but paul here talks about the foot race.
- 00:20:53.275 --> 00:20:57.112
- And he says, "you know, if you're gonna win this game,
- 00:20:57.112 --> 00:21:00.282
- You've gotta run in such a way as to win."
- 00:21:00.282 --> 00:21:02.984
- And then he makes the allusion to the fact that those who run
- 00:21:02.984 --> 00:21:05.554
- A foot race in this world, they do it to receive
- 00:21:05.554 --> 00:21:08.757
- A perishable wreath.
- 00:21:08.757 --> 00:21:11.026
- Now, if you won in the olympics in athens, you got what?
- 00:21:11.026 --> 00:21:14.096
- You know what the reward was?
- 00:21:14.096 --> 00:21:16.031
- Gold.
- 00:21:16.031 --> 00:21:17.699
- I mean, you got the gold medals, gold coins, that was the award
- 00:21:17.699 --> 00:21:23.505
- At athens.
- 00:21:23.505 --> 00:21:25.140
- But at isthmian, they were kinda budget conscious there.
- 00:21:25.140 --> 00:21:28.643
- So you didn't get gold.
- 00:21:28.643 --> 00:21:30.312
- Instead, when you walked up the bema,
- 00:21:30.312 --> 00:21:32.681
- The judgment seat, the governor would place around your neck
- 00:21:32.681 --> 00:21:36.451
- A wreath made of parsley or wild celery.
- 00:21:36.451 --> 00:21:41.857
- A little step down from athens, okay?
- 00:21:41.857 --> 00:21:44.426
- Now, everybody was honored to receive that wreath, but you
- 00:21:44.426 --> 00:21:47.796
- Could only wear it for a day or two before it began to wilt,
- 00:21:47.796 --> 00:21:50.966
- You know, and you had to throw it away, started to smell.
- 00:21:50.966 --> 00:21:53.235
- Nobody wanted to wear that after a week.
- 00:21:53.235 --> 00:21:56.037
- And that's what paul was talking about here.
- 00:21:56.037 --> 00:21:58.039
- Those who win these foot races, they do it
- 00:21:58.039 --> 00:22:00.275
- For a perishable wreath.
- 00:22:00.275 --> 00:22:02.277
- We do it for an award that is imperishable.
- 00:22:02.277 --> 00:22:07.315
- You know, if you're gonna win a foot race, couple of things
- 00:22:07.315 --> 00:22:10.085
- You have to do.
- 00:22:10.085 --> 00:22:11.420
- First of all, you have to start when the official sounds
- 00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:13.688
- The firing gun.
- 00:22:13.688 --> 00:22:15.257
- Secondly, you have to stay in the course that has been
- 00:22:15.257 --> 00:22:17.859
- Designed for you, but most importantly, you have to keep
- 00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:20.862
- Your eye on the finish line.
- 00:22:20.862 --> 00:22:23.432
- You can't get distracted.
- 00:22:23.432 --> 00:22:25.233
- Many of you know the name of john landy.
- 00:22:25.233 --> 00:22:27.469
- He was the australian runner who competed with roger bannister
- 00:22:27.469 --> 00:22:31.840
- To see who could break for the first time,
- 00:22:31.840 --> 00:22:34.476
- The four minute mile barrier.
- 00:22:34.476 --> 00:22:36.912
- Of course, we know that bannister did that
- 00:22:36.912 --> 00:22:38.780
- On may 6, 1954.
- 00:22:38.780 --> 00:22:41.917
- A few months later, landy was ready for another contest with
- 00:22:41.917 --> 00:22:45.420
- Bannister to see if he could beat him.
- 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:47.789
- And he started outta the gate at a blistering pace.
- 00:22:47.789 --> 00:22:51.326
- Everybody thought landy was going to win.
- 00:22:51.326 --> 00:22:53.528
- As he came around the final loop, however,
- 00:22:53.528 --> 00:22:56.465
- He was running toward the finish line,
- 00:22:56.465 --> 00:22:58.467
- He looked over his left shoulder to see
- 00:22:58.467 --> 00:23:00.368
- If he could see bannister.
- 00:23:00.368 --> 00:23:02.304
- He was nowhere to be seen because he was passing him
- 00:23:02.304 --> 00:23:05.574
- On the right-hand side.
- 00:23:05.574 --> 00:23:07.943
- Roger bannister won once again.
- 00:23:07.943 --> 00:23:11.513
- You know, the greatest threat to a runner is becoming distracted,
- 00:23:11.513 --> 00:23:16.785
- Not keeping your eye on the finish line.
- 00:23:16.785 --> 00:23:20.856
- And what paul is saying here is, "i don't run without aim.
- 00:23:20.856 --> 00:23:24.659
- I keep my mind on the finish line."
- 00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:28.029
- You know, it's so easy for those of us who are christians to be
- 00:23:28.029 --> 00:23:31.833
- Distracted, to forget why we're here.
- 00:23:31.833 --> 00:23:36.872
- Jeffress: throughout this teaching series, we've kept our
- 00:23:41.009 --> 00:23:43.044
- Eyes fixed on the finish line, learning to prepare
- 00:23:43.044 --> 00:23:46.314
- For our eternal home.
- 00:23:46.314 --> 00:23:48.383
- And there's much more teaching to come on this topic,
- 00:23:48.383 --> 00:23:51.453
- So be sure to join us again next time.
- 00:23:51.453 --> 00:23:54.389
- Well, i'm pleased to tell you that this has been another
- 00:23:54.389 --> 00:23:56.791
- Record setting season of growth for "pathway to victory."
- 00:23:56.791 --> 00:24:00.629
- In fact, we've recently expanded our television coverage into
- 00:24:00.629 --> 00:24:04.299
- 50 new cities, including boston, cleveland, detroit, minneapolis,
- 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:08.970
- St. paul, seattle, anchorage, and las vegas.
- 00:24:08.970 --> 00:24:13.008
- Our goal through all this growth is not to lift up the name of
- 00:24:13.008 --> 00:24:15.977
- "pathway to victory," but to bring biblical hope
- 00:24:15.977 --> 00:24:19.281
- And truth to a world that desperately needs it.
- 00:24:19.281 --> 00:24:22.918
- So, please keep up the good work so that we can continue
- 00:24:22.918 --> 00:24:26.521
- To pierce the darkness with the light of god's word.
- 00:24:26.521 --> 00:24:30.425
- Now stay right there i'll be back with one final word
- 00:24:30.425 --> 00:24:33.528
- In just a moment.
- 00:24:33.528 --> 00:24:34.896
- Announcer: whether you're mourning someone you love or
- 00:24:36.932 --> 00:24:38.967
- Facing your own difficult season, grief can feel
- 00:24:38.967 --> 00:24:42.137
- Overwhelming.
- 00:24:42.137 --> 00:24:43.471
- But the bible tells us not to be discouraged, because this life
- 00:24:43.471 --> 00:24:46.908
- Is not the end.
- 00:24:46.908 --> 00:24:48.243
- Dr. robert jeffress wants to help lift your eyes from earth's
- 00:24:48.243 --> 00:24:51.546
- Sorrows to heaven's certainty with "encouragement from a place
- 00:24:51.546 --> 00:24:55.183
- 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
- 00:24:59.588 --> 00:25:02.991
- Keep close during difficult times.
- 00:25:02.991 --> 00:25:05.627
- Jeffress: the greatest hope we have is the promise of heaven.
- 00:25:05.627 --> 00:25:09.164
- In this book of encouragement, i wanna remind you what awaits us
- 00:25:09.164 --> 00:25:12.367
- After this life is over, not the myths and misconceptions tv and
- 00:25:12.367 --> 00:25:17.072
- Movies tell us about, but what god's word has promised.
- 00:25:17.072 --> 00:25:21.309
- 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.
- 00:25:27.248 --> 00:25:28.817
- Request your copy of "encouragement from a place
- 00:25:28.817 --> 00:25:31.419
- Called heaven" when you give a generous gift to "pathway to
- 00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:33.888
- Victory."
- 00:25:33.888 --> 00:25:35.223
- And when your gift is $75 or more, we'll also send you dr.
- 00:25:35.223 --> 00:25:38.860
- Jeffress's best-selling book "a place called heaven" along with
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- The complete "a place called heaven" teaching series on both
- 00:25:42.664 --> 00:25:45.567
- Cd and dvd.
- 00:25:45.567 --> 00:25:47.302
- Jeffress: it's not gonna be very long till we go to that place
- 00:25:47.302 --> 00:25:49.137
- Called heaven.
- 00:25:49.137 --> 00:25:50.472
- But knowing that our future is secure ought to be a motivation
- 00:25:50.472 --> 00:25:54.709
- For us to live the most effective lives for god that we
- 00:25:54.709 --> 00:25:58.413
- Can right now.
- 00:25:58.413 --> 00:25:59.914
- Announcer: your generosity empowers this ministry to pierce
- 00:25:59.914 --> 00:26:02.751
- The darkness with the light of god's word.
- 00:26:02.751 --> 00:26:05.387
- Jeffress: good works won't get us into heaven,
- 00:26:08.523 --> 00:26:11.459
- But they will greatly affect our experience in heaven.
- 00:26:11.459 --> 00:26:15.430
- We'll all be blessed in our eternal home,
- 00:26:15.430 --> 00:26:17.699
- But we won't be blessed equally.
- 00:26:17.699 --> 00:26:20.068
- And next time, we're going to look at the eternal consequences
- 00:26:20.068 --> 00:26:23.304
- Of our actions here on earth.
- 00:26:23.304 --> 00:26:25.507
- Some christians will receive rewards.
- 00:26:25.507 --> 00:26:28.810
- We'll cover the five crowns listed throughout the new
- 00:26:28.810 --> 00:26:31.680
- Testament that represent those rewards, and some christians
- 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:36.251
- Unfortunately will experience regrets.
- 00:26:36.251 --> 00:26:39.788
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
- 00:26:39.788 --> 00:26:42.157
- In our series, "a place called heaven."
- 00:26:42.157 --> 00:26:45.226
- Jeffress: if we can get that excited about what a parent or
- 00:26:46.428 --> 00:26:49.064
- An employer says to us, think about what it's gonna be like if
- 00:26:49.064 --> 00:26:53.435
- We were to stand before god at the judgment seat and see
- 00:26:53.435 --> 00:26:57.706
- A smile across the face of jesus saying, "well done.
- 00:26:57.706 --> 00:27:03.244
- Well done, good and faithful servant."
- 00:27:03.244 --> 00:27:08.917
- Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time
- 00:27:08.983 --> 00:27:11.419
- For the final part of the message,
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- "will heaven be the same for everyone?"
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- Here on "pathway to victory."
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