Robert Jeffress - The ABC's Of Spiritual Hygiene

May 1, 2025 | 27:29

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

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The ABC's Of Spiritual Hygiene | May 1, 2025
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
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  • Dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory," where the bible is the
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  • Centerpiece of our program every single day and for good reason.
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  • For one, we know that the spirit of god uses the word of god to
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  • Accomplish the will of god in our lives.
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  • But in order for that to happen, first, we have to read
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  • The bible.
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  • Today, i want to show you four ways to make god's word a part
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  • Of your everyday life.
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  • My message is titled "the abcs of spiritual hygiene" on today's
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  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: god never intended for the holy spirit to
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  • Be a mystery to believers.
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  • In fact, if you're a follower of jesus, then god's spirit is
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  • Dwelling inside of you, and he's waiting to unleash his
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  • Supernatural power in your life.
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  • In his bestselling book, "i want more," dr. robert jeffress
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  • Teaches what it means to be filled with the power of the
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  • Holy spirit.
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  • Looking to satisfy your spiritual cravings?
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  • Request the book "i want more" when you give a generous gift to
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  • "pathway to victory."
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  • Jeffress: you know, most of us talk a good game when it comes
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  • To the bible.
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  • We all say, "oh yes, the bible is important for our
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  • Spiritual growth."
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  • We are ready to argue with anybody who doubts the
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  • Inerrancy, the inspiration of the scripture.
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  • We're happy to fight about the bible, but the deep, dark, dirty
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  • Secret of christianity is that very few christians are actually
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  • Reading the bible.
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  • A charles spurgeon more than a half--a century and a half ago
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  • Who roared to his congregation, "ah, you know more about your
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  • Ledgers than you know about the bible.
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  • You know more about your day books than what god has written.
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  • Many of you will read a novel from beginning to end, and what
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  • Have you got?
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  • A mouth full of froth when you are finished, but you cannot
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  • Read the bible.
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  • That solid, lasting, substantial and satisfying food goes
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  • Uneaten, locked up in the cupboard of neglect."
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  • I believe it is that neglect of reading the bible that explains
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  • Why so few christians are experiencing the power of the
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  • Holy spirit in their lives.
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  • In our series on "unleashing the power of the holy spirit in your
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  • Everyday life," we've said that there are four channels, four
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  • Conduits through which god pours his power into our life.
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  • And the first of those channels is the word of god.
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  • Remember what we said?
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  • We said the spirit of god uses the word of god to unleash the
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  • Power of god to transform us into the image of god.
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  • Now i'm gonna assume this morning that most of you here
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  • Today realize you should be reading the bible more than you
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  • Are, okay?
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  • Can we all agree on that?
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  • We ought to be reading the bible more than we are.
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  • My purpose today is not to load on a heap of guilt to you
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  • Already buckling shoulders, okay?
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  • Instead, what i'd like to do today is give you some practical
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  • Ways that you can make god's word a part your everyday life.
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  • I'm calling today's message "the abcs of spiritual hygiene."
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  • If we're gonna get clean spiritually and become like
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  • Christ, we all agree god's word is essential.
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  • But how do we make god's word a part of our everyday life?
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  • Now take out your outline.
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  • I want you to write these abc's down.
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  • First of all, let's start with a: to give god's word the place
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  • In your life it deserves.
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  • First of all, the a stands for appreciate the uniqueness of
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  • The bible.
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  • You will never make god's word a part of your everyday life until
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  • You realize how unique and different this book is from any
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  • Other book.
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  • God's word is god's complete revelation of himself so that we
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  • Can know him and have a relationship with him.
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  • But even though you may believe that this bible is the word of
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  • God, to really be convinced that it's different from any other
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  • Book, there are two things you have to come to grips with.
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  • First of all, you have to believe in, write it down, the
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  • Trustworthiness of the bible.
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  • To really appreciate this book, you have to believe that it's
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  • True, that it's trustworthy.
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  • How do we know that this book really is god's letter to us,
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  • That it's different from any other book?
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  • Let me just give you this morning two evidences for the
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  • Trustworthiness of scripture.
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  • First of all, the unity of theme in the bible, the unity
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  • Of theme.
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  • There is no way to explain the unity of theme in the scripture.
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  • When the bible was written over centuries of time by dozens of
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  • Different writers, there's no way you can explain it except
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  • God is the author of this book.
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  • The unity of theme that you find in the bible.
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  • Secondly, a second evidence for the trustworthiness of scripture
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  • Is archaeology.
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  • Now again, i wish i had time to talk about all of the
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  • Archaeological evidence for the scriptures.
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  • I think we need to be careful to realize archaeology cannot, in
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  • And of itself, prove the trustworthiness of the bible.
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  • For archaeology to prove that the bible is true means that you
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  • Would have to find archaeological evidence for
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  • Every single event in the bible.
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  • That hasn't been done and that will not be done.
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  • However, the important thing to note is this, any archaeological
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  • Discovery that has ever been made has only confirmed the
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  • Trustworthiness of scripture.
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  • There is not one single archaeological find that has in
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  • Any way contradicted the truth of the bible.
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  • Through archaeology, we have confirmed things like the wall
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  • That was built around jericho, or remember in 1993, a monument
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  • Was discovered that had the inscription of king david being
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  • The king of israel.
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  • In 1961, the stone was discovered there, a tablet that
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  • Listed pontius pilate as being the roman prefect when jesus
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  • Christ was crucified.
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  • Before 1961, there was no external evidence for the
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  • Existence of pontius pilate.
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  • 1990, it was discovered the caiaphas stone that listed
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  • Caiaphas is the high priest when jesus lived and was crucified.
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  • Every single piece of archaeology has only confirmed
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  • The trustworthiness of the bible.
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  • What i'm saying to you is you will never make this bible
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  • Central in your life until you're first of all convinced of
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  • The trustworthiness of scripture, but secondly, you
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  • Have to be convinced of the completeness of the bible, the
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  • Completeness of the bible.
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  • In other words, how do i know for sure that this is god's
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  • Complete and final word to me?
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  • There are a lot of christians out there who view this book as
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  • A collection of old love letters.
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  • They think this book is filled with previous communication from
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  • God that is sweet and helpful, but it's old, it's irrelevant.
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  • And so, instead they're looking for fresh revelation from god.
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  • They want to hear a new word from god rather than what is
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  • Written in this book.
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  • So, the question is, is god giving new information, new
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  • Revelation about himself?
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  • Well, let's let the bible answer that question.
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  • Turn over to jude verse 3, jude is the next to the last book of
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  • The bible.
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  • If you're not careful, you can miss it real quickly because
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  • There's only one chapter in it.
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  • Look at jude verse 3, and let's settle this issue of new
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  • Revelation about god once and for all.
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  • Jude writes, "beloved, while i was making every effort to write
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  • You about our common salvation, i felt the necessity to write to
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  • You appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith, which
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  • Was once for all delivered to the saints."
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  • You ever hear people say, "well, we shouldn't fight about
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  • Doctrine, we shouldn't argue for the truth.
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  • We ought to be casper milquetoast, you know, when it
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  • Comes to the truth of the bible"?
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  • No, jude says, "we need to contend for, we need to fight
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  • For the faith, that body of doctrine, which was," notice
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  • This, "once for all delivered," past tense, "to the saints."
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  • Jude is saying, "everything, every truth you need to know
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  • About god has already been delivered to the saints and
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  • Deposited in the bible."
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  • There is no new truth or revelation or information about
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  • God that's being given.
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  • It has been once for all recorded and delivered to
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  • The saints.
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  • Peter said the same thing in 2 peter 1:3.
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  • Look at this, "seeing that god's divine power has granted to us
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  • Everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true
  • 00:09:38.567 --> 00:09:42.605
  • Knowledge of him who called us by his own glory
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  • And excellence."
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  • In other words, you have everything you need right now in
  • 00:09:46.542 --> 00:09:50.279
  • Order to live a godly life.
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  • You have everything you need to know everything about god you
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  • Need to know.
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  • Now i'm--am i saying that god doesn't lead christians today?
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  • Of course not.
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  • In previous series, we've talked about the different ways that
  • 00:10:01.590 --> 00:10:04.493
  • God leads christians today.
  • 00:10:04.493 --> 00:10:06.495
  • He leads christians through prayer, through the council of
  • 00:10:06.495 --> 00:10:09.198
  • Wise believers, through our own desires.
  • 00:10:09.198 --> 00:10:11.667
  • There are many ways that god leads us, but all of those ways
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  • Are subjective compared to the objective truth that is found
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  • In scripture.
  • 00:10:21.310 --> 00:10:23.279
  • Pastor bob russell tells a story about growing up in a church.
  • 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:26.382
  • He said when he was a little boy, a traveling evangelist came
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  • To preach.
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  • And this evangelist was very arrogant, boastful.
  • 00:10:30.920 --> 00:10:33.522
  • He used very little scripture in his preaching.
  • 00:10:33.522 --> 00:10:36.459
  • And at the end of the service, bob russell says he remembers
  • 00:10:36.459 --> 00:10:38.994
  • His mom going up to this evangelist and saying, "young
  • 00:10:38.994 --> 00:10:42.331
  • Man, when you preach, use lots of scripture because it's the
  • 00:10:42.331 --> 00:10:47.236
  • Only thing you can know is true."
  • 00:10:47.236 --> 00:10:50.706
  • See, everything else in life is subjective, but this book is
  • 00:10:50.706 --> 00:10:54.810
  • God's final revelation.
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  • Listen to me this morning, if you have the spirit of god in
  • 00:10:56.278 --> 00:10:59.281
  • Your heart and the word of god in your hand, you have
  • 00:10:59.281 --> 00:11:03.085
  • Everything you need to experience the power of god in
  • 00:11:03.085 --> 00:11:06.088
  • Your life.
  • 00:11:06.088 --> 00:11:07.623
  • We have to be convinced of the trustworthiness of scripture and
  • 00:11:07.623 --> 00:11:12.962
  • The completeness of scripture if we're gonna make it central in
  • 00:11:12.962 --> 00:11:16.766
  • Our life.
  • 00:11:16.766 --> 00:11:18.100
  • Now, the b stands for this, be committed to reading the bible.
  • 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:22.705
  • If god's word is going to unleash god's power in your
  • 00:11:22.705 --> 00:11:26.175
  • Life, you have to be committed to reading the bible.
  • 00:11:26.175 --> 00:11:30.980
  • I came across a statistic this week i thought was fascinating.
  • 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:34.250
  • Did you know that 82% of americans say they believe the
  • 00:11:34.250 --> 00:11:38.587
  • Bible is the word of god?
  • 00:11:38.587 --> 00:11:39.989
  • Eighty-two percent of americans believe this book is the word of
  • 00:11:39.989 --> 00:11:44.326
  • God, and yet of those 82% who believe the bible is the word of
  • 00:11:44.326 --> 00:11:48.531
  • God, only half that number say they read the bible at least
  • 00:11:48.531 --> 00:11:53.302
  • Once a month.
  • 00:11:53.302 --> 00:11:54.937
  • And of the half that read the bible once a month, half of
  • 00:11:54.937 --> 00:11:58.140
  • Those could not name one of the four gospels or identify who
  • 00:11:58.140 --> 00:12:03.245
  • Delivered the sermon on the mount.
  • 00:12:03.245 --> 00:12:05.781
  • No wonder we're not experiencing the power of god in our life.
  • 00:12:05.781 --> 00:12:09.552
  • If we're going to experience god's power, we have to be
  • 00:12:09.552 --> 00:12:13.422
  • Committed to a regular intake of god's word.
  • 00:12:13.422 --> 00:12:18.227
  • And to do that, we need two things.
  • 00:12:18.227 --> 00:12:21.297
  • First of all, we need discipline.
  • 00:12:21.297 --> 00:12:24.233
  • If you're gonna make god's word a part of your everyday life, it
  • 00:12:24.233 --> 00:12:27.369
  • Requires discipline.
  • 00:12:27.369 --> 00:12:28.704
  • I've heard a lot of definitions of discipline, but here's
  • 00:12:28.704 --> 00:12:30.940
  • My favorite.
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  • Discipline is doing what you know you should do even when you
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  • Don't feel like doing it.
  • 00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:39.748
  • Discipline is doing what you know you should do even when you
  • 00:12:39.748 --> 00:12:43.919
  • Don't feel like doing it.
  • 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:45.788
  • Remember this, it is a lot easier to act yourself into a
  • 00:12:45.788 --> 00:12:50.659
  • Feeling than to feel yourself into an action.
  • 00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:54.597
  • If you wait until you feel like it to start reading the bible,
  • 00:12:54.597 --> 00:12:57.666
  • You can go longer than you can ever imagine without ever
  • 00:12:57.666 --> 00:13:00.703
  • Opening the bible.
  • 00:13:00.703 --> 00:13:02.438
  • Instead, if you will act yourself into the feeling, if
  • 00:13:02.438 --> 00:13:05.908
  • You'll just do it even when you don't feel like doing it, you'll
  • 00:13:05.908 --> 00:13:09.044
  • Find soon you realize how spiritually hungry you are.
  • 00:13:09.044 --> 00:13:13.215
  • In order to make god's word a part of our everyday life, we
  • 00:13:13.215 --> 00:13:16.452
  • Need discipline, but secondly, we need a plan.
  • 00:13:16.452 --> 00:13:19.755
  • We need a plan to make the bible a part of our everyday life.
  • 00:13:19.755 --> 00:13:22.925
  • Now there are all kinds of plans out there.
  • 00:13:22.925 --> 00:13:25.294
  • Some people like to read through the bible in a year.
  • 00:13:25.294 --> 00:13:27.930
  • Other people like the method that i use, and that is find a
  • 00:13:27.930 --> 00:13:31.433
  • Book of the new testament, pick a book and read it once a day,
  • 00:13:31.433 --> 00:13:35.304
  • Every day for the entire month.
  • 00:13:35.304 --> 00:13:37.706
  • By the way, did you know two thirds of the books of the
  • 00:13:37.706 --> 00:13:40.175
  • Old--of the new testament, two thirds of the books of the new
  • 00:13:40.175 --> 00:13:43.479
  • Testament can be read in 20 minutes or less.
  • 00:13:43.479 --> 00:13:46.982
  • And if you know if you read the same book of the bible once a
  • 00:13:46.982 --> 00:13:50.552
  • Day for 30 days, by the end of that month, you'll know that
  • 00:13:50.552 --> 00:13:53.255
  • Book backwards and forwards.
  • 00:13:53.255 --> 00:13:55.090
  • And when you get to a longer book like matthew or romans,
  • 00:13:55.090 --> 00:13:57.793
  • Just divide it into thirds.
  • 00:13:57.793 --> 00:13:59.228
  • Read the first third one month, the second third the next month,
  • 00:13:59.228 --> 00:14:02.631
  • The last third the last month.
  • 00:14:02.631 --> 00:14:04.533
  • That's one way to make god's word a part of your
  • 00:14:04.533 --> 00:14:07.036
  • Everyday life.
  • 00:14:07.036 --> 00:14:08.504
  • But beyond whatever plan you choose, a plan for reading
  • 00:14:08.504 --> 00:14:12.441
  • Scripture needs to have these two components to it.
  • 00:14:12.441 --> 00:14:15.344
  • Write this down.
  • 00:14:15.344 --> 00:14:16.679
  • First of all, there used to be--there needs to be a specific
  • 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:18.547
  • Time that you devote to reading the bible, a specific time of
  • 00:14:18.547 --> 00:14:23.852
  • The day.
  • 00:14:23.852 --> 00:14:25.254
  • Now, some people like to read in the mornings.
  • 00:14:25.254 --> 00:14:27.690
  • That doesn't work for me.
  • 00:14:27.690 --> 00:14:29.391
  • When i get up in the morning, i'm ready to get going.
  • 00:14:29.391 --> 00:14:31.860
  • I don't want to sit down and try to read the bible because i find
  • 00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:36.165
  • Myself rushing through it so i can get on to do what i think is
  • 00:14:36.165 --> 00:14:38.534
  • Really important, you know.
  • 00:14:38.534 --> 00:14:40.169
  • We all can delude ourselves into thinking certain things
  • 00:14:40.169 --> 00:14:43.005
  • Are important.
  • 00:14:43.005 --> 00:14:44.373
  • So, i find myself that the best time to read the bible is at
  • 00:14:44.373 --> 00:14:47.009
  • Night before i go to bed.
  • 00:14:47.009 --> 00:14:48.644
  • I want the last thing i think about to be god's word.
  • 00:14:48.644 --> 00:14:51.880
  • The key is, whatever time works for you, devote a particular
  • 00:14:51.880 --> 00:14:55.651
  • Time to reading the scripture.
  • 00:14:55.651 --> 00:14:56.986
  • We need a specific time.
  • 00:14:56.986 --> 00:14:58.454
  • Secondly, a fresh translation, a fresh translation of scripture.
  • 00:14:58.454 --> 00:15:04.093
  • Have you ever heard the saying familiarity breeds contempt?
  • 00:15:04.093 --> 00:15:08.931
  • Familiarity also breeds boredom.
  • 00:15:08.931 --> 00:15:12.601
  • When you read the same thing over and over and over again,
  • 00:15:12.601 --> 00:15:16.939
  • You can become bored with it.
  • 00:15:16.939 --> 00:15:19.575
  • It can lose its punch.
  • 00:15:19.575 --> 00:15:21.510
  • Many times if i'm reading a passage of scripture from my
  • 00:15:21.510 --> 00:15:25.314
  • Regular bible, i'll read that scripture and then i'll look out
  • 00:15:25.314 --> 00:15:28.784
  • And i'll read a note i made about it and i'll look maybe at
  • 00:15:28.784 --> 00:15:32.087
  • A sermon that was delivered and i'll think about a pastor i
  • 00:15:32.087 --> 00:15:34.857
  • Liked or didn't like who delivered that message and all
  • 00:15:34.857 --> 00:15:37.426
  • Of a sudden i'm thinking about things i shouldn't be thinking
  • 00:15:37.426 --> 00:15:40.562
  • About instead of what god is trying to say to me.
  • 00:15:40.562 --> 00:15:43.065
  • A pastor friend gave me this suggestion.
  • 00:15:43.065 --> 00:15:44.767
  • He said, "at the first of the year, buy yourself a new
  • 00:15:44.767 --> 00:15:48.670
  • Translation of the bible for your devotional reading."
  • 00:15:48.670 --> 00:15:51.807
  • When you want god to really speak to you, find a
  • 00:15:51.807 --> 00:15:54.476
  • New translation.
  • 00:15:54.476 --> 00:15:55.811
  • If you're used to the king james bible, buy the new living
  • 00:15:55.811 --> 00:15:58.781
  • Translation of the bible for your devotional reading for that
  • 00:15:58.781 --> 00:16:01.150
  • Year, or the new international version or some
  • 00:16:01.150 --> 00:16:03.919
  • Different translation.
  • 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:05.387
  • It's a way to make god's word fresh in your life.
  • 00:16:05.387 --> 00:16:09.158
  • Now, when i talk about commit yourself to reading the bible
  • 00:16:09.158 --> 00:16:12.928
  • Every day, i know what some of you are thinking.
  • 00:16:12.928 --> 00:16:16.432
  • You're thinking, "you know, pastor, that's easy for you to
  • 00:16:16.432 --> 00:16:19.334
  • Say because you're paid to read the bible, but if you had a real
  • 00:16:19.334 --> 00:16:22.771
  • Job like we do, you know, you wouldn't find that easy to find
  • 00:16:22.771 --> 00:16:26.675
  • Time to read the bible."
  • 00:16:26.675 --> 00:16:28.644
  • I understand that sentiment.
  • 00:16:28.644 --> 00:16:30.846
  • But gordon gilkey has a great illustration of why we all have
  • 00:16:30.846 --> 00:16:35.250
  • Time to do whatever we need to do.
  • 00:16:35.250 --> 00:16:37.786
  • He said, "most people imagine their lives like this:
  • 00:16:37.786 --> 00:16:40.556
  • They imagine themselves standing in a circle and they imagine all
  • 00:16:40.556 --> 00:16:45.160
  • Of these problems and challenges and people are rushing at them
  • 00:16:45.160 --> 00:16:48.964
  • At one time while they stand in the middle of a circle."
  • 00:16:48.964 --> 00:16:52.434
  • But he said, "that's really not a good picture of what our lives
  • 00:16:52.434 --> 00:16:55.170
  • Are like."
  • 00:16:55.170 --> 00:16:56.538
  • Instead, he said, "imagine an hourglass on your desk.
  • 00:16:56.538 --> 00:17:00.008
  • There's a bulb at the top with sand in it, there's a bulb at
  • 00:17:00.008 --> 00:17:02.978
  • The bottom to collect the sand, and there's a thin tube
  • 00:17:02.978 --> 00:17:06.014
  • Connecting the two bulbs.
  • 00:17:06.014 --> 00:17:08.050
  • And that sand comes through that thin tube one grain at a time."
  • 00:17:08.050 --> 00:17:15.224
  • He said, "your life is composed of moments, and those moments
  • 00:17:15.224 --> 00:17:18.961
  • Don't come to you all at once, they come one moment at a time,
  • 00:17:18.961 --> 00:17:24.199
  • And you get to choose what to do with those moments."
  • 00:17:24.199 --> 00:17:28.437
  • The bible says, "if we're going to make a wise use of our life,
  • 00:17:28.437 --> 00:17:32.608
  • We need to invest that--those moments in the things that
  • 00:17:32.608 --> 00:17:35.844
  • Will last."
  • 00:17:35.844 --> 00:17:37.212
  • You can choose to make the bible a part of your everyday life.
  • 00:17:37.212 --> 00:17:41.416
  • Be committed to reading the bible.
  • 00:17:41.416 --> 00:17:44.019
  • The c, number three, stands for concentrate on smaller sections
  • 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:48.824
  • Of the bible.
  • 00:17:48.824 --> 00:17:50.192
  • Concentrate on smaller sections of the bible.
  • 00:17:50.192 --> 00:17:53.295
  • A lady approached her pastor one day and said, "preacher, i want
  • 00:17:53.295 --> 00:17:56.665
  • You to know i have been through the bible 50 times in my life."
  • 00:17:56.665 --> 00:18:01.303
  • The preacher looked at her and said, "lady, the issue is not
  • 00:18:01.303 --> 00:18:04.106
  • How many times have you been through the bible, but how many
  • 00:18:04.106 --> 00:18:06.808
  • Times has the bible been through you?"
  • 00:18:06.808 --> 00:18:10.245
  • See, that's why i have a problem with these read through the
  • 00:18:10.245 --> 00:18:12.314
  • Bible in a year programs.
  • 00:18:12.314 --> 00:18:13.682
  • I do it occasionally, but i mean, let's face it, don't you
  • 00:18:13.682 --> 00:18:17.352
  • Find yourself a lot of times just trying to rush through it
  • 00:18:17.352 --> 00:18:19.555
  • So you can say, "i did my assignment for today"?
  • 00:18:19.555 --> 00:18:22.424
  • I tell people, "the bible took 1500 years to write, why do we
  • 00:18:22.424 --> 00:18:25.627
  • Feel like we have to go through it in a year?"
  • 00:18:25.627 --> 00:18:28.030
  • I mean, isn't it better to concentrate on smaller sections
  • 00:18:28.030 --> 00:18:31.099
  • Of the bible so that god's word can truly speak to you?
  • 00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:35.103
  • Years ago, madame guyon wrote, "if you read the bible
  • 00:18:35.103 --> 00:18:38.874
  • Quickly, it will benefit you little.
  • 00:18:38.874 --> 00:18:41.843
  • You will be like a bee that merely skims the surface of
  • 00:18:41.843 --> 00:18:44.880
  • A flower.
  • 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:46.215
  • Instead, in this new way of reading with prayer, you must
  • 00:18:46.215 --> 00:18:50.319
  • Become as the bee who penetrates into the depth of the flower.
  • 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:55.023
  • You plunge deeply within to remove its deepest nectar."
  • 00:18:55.023 --> 00:19:01.863
  • And that leads to d, determined to listen and follow
  • 00:19:01.863 --> 00:19:06.635
  • God's commands.
  • 00:19:06.635 --> 00:19:08.036
  • Determined to listen and follow god's commands.
  • 00:19:08.036 --> 00:19:11.373
  • When madame guyon talks about extracting the nectar from the
  • 00:19:11.373 --> 00:19:15.310
  • Truth of god's word, what is she talking about?
  • 00:19:15.310 --> 00:19:18.113
  • That nectar is the timeless principles you find in scripture
  • 00:19:18.113 --> 00:19:22.484
  • That apply to your life.
  • 00:19:22.484 --> 00:19:24.219
  • Remember, the purpose of reading the bible is not information,
  • 00:19:24.219 --> 00:19:28.590
  • It's transformation.
  • 00:19:28.590 --> 00:19:30.425
  • It's to make you like jesus christ.
  • 00:19:30.425 --> 00:19:32.761
  • And so, when we read the bible, we ought to always read it with
  • 00:19:32.761 --> 00:19:35.597
  • A view toward application.
  • 00:19:35.597 --> 00:19:38.200
  • How does this passage apply to my life?
  • 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:41.536
  • Now, some people try to short circuit that process.
  • 00:19:41.536 --> 00:19:45.407
  • They'll try to immediately look at a bible verse and say, "okay,
  • 00:19:45.407 --> 00:19:49.878
  • What's that saying to me?
  • 00:19:49.878 --> 00:19:51.246
  • What do i need to do?"
  • 00:19:51.246 --> 00:19:52.614
  • I wrote a story about a man who's trying to decide which
  • 00:19:52.614 --> 00:19:55.350
  • Branch of the service to enlist in--the army, the air force--
  • 00:19:55.350 --> 00:19:58.954
  • Which branch he was gonna enlist in.
  • 00:19:58.954 --> 00:20:01.356
  • And so, he thumbed through the bible and he came to psalm
  • 00:20:01.356 --> 00:20:04.026
  • 107:23, "they that go down to the sea in ships,
  • 00:20:04.026 --> 00:20:08.664
  • That do business in great waters."
  • 00:20:08.664 --> 00:20:10.766
  • He said, "ah-ha, god wants me to enlist in the navy.
  • 00:20:10.766 --> 00:20:13.335
  • There it is right there in the scripture."
  • 00:20:13.335 --> 00:20:15.504
  • Well, obviously that's not the purpose of psalm 107 to tell us
  • 00:20:15.504 --> 00:20:19.408
  • What branch of the service to enlist.
  • 00:20:19.408 --> 00:20:21.877
  • When you pull back and read the complete psalm, it's talking
  • 00:20:21.877 --> 00:20:25.414
  • About the goodness, the power of god.
  • 00:20:25.414 --> 00:20:28.083
  • God's goodness is poured upon everybody in the world,
  • 00:20:28.083 --> 00:20:32.421
  • Including those who go down to the sea and do their business in
  • 00:20:32.421 --> 00:20:35.357
  • The waters.
  • 00:20:35.357 --> 00:20:36.725
  • That's the purpose of psalm 107.
  • 00:20:36.725 --> 00:20:39.161
  • If we're gonna read the bible correctly, when we finish
  • 00:20:39.161 --> 00:20:42.197
  • Reading the passage, we ought to ask ourselves, "what does this
  • 00:20:42.197 --> 00:20:45.334
  • Passage first of all teach us about god or ourselves?
  • 00:20:45.334 --> 00:20:49.805
  • What are the timeless truths?"
  • 00:20:49.805 --> 00:20:52.207
  • And then after we discover that timeless truth about god, we
  • 00:20:52.207 --> 00:20:56.345
  • Ought to ask the next question, "what am i going to do
  • 00:20:56.345 --> 00:20:59.581
  • Differently as a result of this truth that i've discovered?"
  • 00:20:59.581 --> 00:21:03.819
  • Let me illustrate that for you.
  • 00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:05.187
  • We read just a few moments ago, ephesians chapter 5, "husbands
  • 00:21:05.187 --> 00:21:09.224
  • Love your wives as christ loved the church and gave himself
  • 00:21:09.224 --> 00:21:14.429
  • For it."
  • 00:21:14.429 --> 00:21:15.964
  • The timeless truth in that passage is we are to love our
  • 00:21:15.964 --> 00:21:19.468
  • Wives with the same sacrificial love with which christ loves us.
  • 00:21:19.468 --> 00:21:26.274
  • Now, that's the truth, but if we stop short there, we haven't
  • 00:21:26.274 --> 00:21:29.878
  • Really allowed the bible to do its transforming work.
  • 00:21:29.878 --> 00:21:33.081
  • We ought to ask ourselves the question, then after that,
  • 00:21:33.081 --> 00:21:35.183
  • "okay, given that truth, what am i going to do differently
  • 00:21:35.183 --> 00:21:40.222
  • Because of that truth?
  • 00:21:40.222 --> 00:21:41.857
  • How am i going to love my wife in a selfless sacrificial way?
  • 00:21:41.857 --> 00:21:47.763
  • What am i gonna do differently?"
  • 00:21:47.763 --> 00:21:49.097
  • Maybe it means that i offered to take the kids to school in the
  • 00:21:49.097 --> 00:21:52.467
  • Morning so my wife can sleep a little later or maybe i offer to
  • 00:21:52.467 --> 00:21:56.938
  • Take her out to dinner several times during the week so she
  • 00:21:56.938 --> 00:21:59.474
  • Doesn't have to prepare a meal.
  • 00:21:59.474 --> 00:22:02.077
  • Maybe it means that i make the ultimate sacrifice, spend
  • 00:22:02.077 --> 00:22:07.182
  • Saturday at the mall with her instead of watching a game
  • 00:22:07.182 --> 00:22:09.484
  • On television.
  • 00:22:09.484 --> 00:22:13.221
  • See, that's really the purpose of scripture, not information
  • 00:22:13.221 --> 00:22:17.426
  • But transformation.
  • 00:22:17.426 --> 00:22:18.927
  • What am i going to do differently because of the truth
  • 00:22:18.927 --> 00:22:22.097
  • Of god's word?
  • 00:22:22.097 --> 00:22:23.965
  • Author john stott writes--i don't want you to miss this--"if
  • 00:22:23.965 --> 00:22:27.669
  • We come to the scriptures with our minds made up, expecting to
  • 00:22:27.669 --> 00:22:32.140
  • Hear from it only an echo of our own thoughts and never the
  • 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:36.311
  • Thunderclap of god's thoughts.
  • 00:22:36.311 --> 00:22:38.713
  • Then indeed god will not speak to us and we shall only be
  • 00:22:38.713 --> 00:22:42.117
  • Confirmed in our own prejudices."
  • 00:22:42.117 --> 00:22:44.119
  • Now get this, "we must allow the word of god to confront us, to
  • 00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:49.224
  • Disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to
  • 00:22:49.224 --> 00:22:54.563
  • Overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior."
  • 00:22:54.563 --> 00:23:01.703
  • Overthrowing our patterns of thought and behavior--
  • 00:23:01.703 --> 00:23:07.375
  • That's the radical transformation god wants in
  • 00:23:07.375 --> 00:23:09.678
  • Your life.
  • 00:23:09.678 --> 00:23:11.213
  • The spirit of god using the word of god to transform you into the
  • 00:23:11.213 --> 00:23:16.418
  • Image of god.
  • 00:23:16.418 --> 00:23:18.386
  • That's the washing of the water with the word.
  • 00:23:18.386 --> 00:23:24.192
  • Jeffress: it doesn't do us any good to merely soak up
  • 00:23:28.296 --> 00:23:31.600
  • Information about the scripture.
  • 00:23:31.600 --> 00:23:33.502
  • We need to let the spirit of god use the word of god to bring
  • 00:23:33.502 --> 00:23:38.373
  • Transformation into our lives.
  • 00:23:38.373 --> 00:23:41.142
  • Recently, rachel wrote to us to share how the bible teaching she
  • 00:23:41.142 --> 00:23:44.613
  • Hears on "pathway to victory" is making a very real difference in
  • 00:23:44.613 --> 00:23:48.817
  • Her own life.
  • 00:23:48.817 --> 00:23:50.252
  • Rachel is a 20 year old christian woman living in
  • 00:23:50.252 --> 00:23:53.622
  • Indonesia, home to the world's largest muslim population.
  • 00:23:53.622 --> 00:23:58.393
  • Every day, rachel feels more and more hate, aggression, and
  • 00:23:58.393 --> 00:24:02.564
  • Terror from the radical zealots surrounding her.
  • 00:24:02.564 --> 00:24:05.867
  • But recently, she started watching "pathway to victory,"
  • 00:24:05.867 --> 00:24:09.371
  • And the messages are reminding her to be hopeful and remain
  • 00:24:09.371 --> 00:24:13.408
  • Faithful in these troubling times.
  • 00:24:13.408 --> 00:24:16.044
  • Rachel wrote, "thank you, dr. jeffress, and all who stand
  • 00:24:16.044 --> 00:24:19.915
  • For truth!
  • 00:24:19.915 --> 00:24:21.249
  • The world needs to hear bible teaching more than ever before."
  • 00:24:21.249 --> 00:24:25.654
  • Well, thank you, rachel, for sharing your word
  • 00:24:25.654 --> 00:24:28.323
  • Of encouragement.
  • 00:24:28.323 --> 00:24:29.925
  • And friends, if you're a financial supporter of "pathway
  • 00:24:29.925 --> 00:24:33.161
  • To victory," rachel's expression of gratitude really belongs to
  • 00:24:33.161 --> 00:24:37.365
  • You as well.
  • 00:24:37.365 --> 00:24:38.867
  • You're the one who's making it possible to broadcast the gospel
  • 00:24:38.867 --> 00:24:42.671
  • Of jesus christ, not only here in america but in hundreds of
  • 00:24:42.671 --> 00:24:47.008
  • Countries around the world.
  • 00:24:47.008 --> 00:24:49.110
  • Now, stay right there.
  • 00:24:49.110 --> 00:24:50.478
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:50.478 --> 00:24:54.883
  • Announcer: the bible promises that when we put our
  • 00:24:54.950 --> 00:24:57.018
  • Faith in jesus christ, our lives will be changed from the
  • 00:24:57.018 --> 00:25:00.855
  • Inside out.
  • 00:25:00.855 --> 00:25:02.223
  • And yet many christians feel discouraged and defeated in
  • 00:25:02.223 --> 00:25:04.593
  • Their daily walk.
  • 00:25:04.593 --> 00:25:05.927
  • Jeffress: if you're longing for something more in your
  • 00:25:05.927 --> 00:25:08.096
  • Relationship with god, you're not alone.
  • 00:25:08.096 --> 00:25:10.532
  • At one time, i felt dissatisfied and powerless to change it, but
  • 00:25:10.532 --> 00:25:15.070
  • By god's grace i discovered how to deploy the power of the holy
  • 00:25:15.070 --> 00:25:19.307
  • Spirit in my life.
  • 00:25:19.307 --> 00:25:20.976
  • And today, i wanna help you discover that as well in my best
  • 00:25:20.976 --> 00:25:25.013
  • Selling book, "i want more."
  • 00:25:25.013 --> 00:25:27.849
  • Announcer: the book "i want more" was written to help you
  • 00:25:27.849 --> 00:25:30.418
  • Build spiritual strength as you pursue a fresh way to unleash
  • 00:25:30.418 --> 00:25:34.055
  • God's supernatural power in every area of your life.
  • 00:25:34.055 --> 00:25:37.826
  • You're invited to request a copy of "i want more" when you give a
  • 00:25:37.826 --> 00:25:41.162
  • Generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway to victory"
  • 00:25:41.162 --> 00:25:44.399
  • Or when you become a pathway partner.
  • 00:25:44.399 --> 00:25:46.735
  • And when you give $75 or more, we'll also send you the complete
  • 00:25:46.735 --> 00:25:50.905
  • "unleashed" teaching series on dvd and audio disc.
  • 00:25:50.905 --> 00:25:54.676
  • Jeffress: god has granted to you everything you need to lead a
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  • Fulfilling existence while here on earth.
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  • Everything he has given you is all wrapped up in the holy
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  • Spirit of god.
  • 00:26:06.554 --> 00:26:08.556
  • Announcer: your generous giving will help us encourage
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  • And equip viewers like you with biblical truth and hope.
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  • Thank you so much for your support as we continue to impact
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  • You, your family, and our nation with the transforming truth of
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  • God's word.
  • 00:26:21.770 --> 00:26:24.372
  • Jeffress: is god's word an integral part of your daily
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  • Life, or does your bible sit neglected in a corner of your
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  • Room waiting for next sunday to be picked up again?
  • 00:26:31.246 --> 00:26:35.316
  • If you want to experience the holy spirit's power, you must
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  • Start by reading god's word and allowing the truth to transform
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  • Your life.
  • 00:26:43.558 --> 00:26:45.026
  • That's the first channel by which god pours the power of his
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  • Spirit into our lives.
  • 00:26:48.596 --> 00:26:50.799
  • And next time, we'll begin looking at conduit number
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  • Two, prayer.
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  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next on
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  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:01.743
  • Jeffress: indeed, as you look at both the old and the new
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  • Testament, you'll discover that it was through prayer over and
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  • Over again we see the power of god demonstrated.
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  • And i imagine most of us here today could also give a personal
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  • Testimony of how god's power was unleashed in our life
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  • Through prayer.
  • 00:27:17.926 --> 00:27:19.627
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the
  • 00:27:19.627 --> 00:27:22.030
  • Message, "the power of faith kneeling" here on "pathway
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  • To victory."
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