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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Abraham - A Most Unlikely Hero | May 15, 2025
- ♪ music ♪
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- [announcer 1] from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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- Of dallas, texas,
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- This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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- Hi, i am robert jeffress
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- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- Abraham stands out as one of the greatest heroes
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- In all of scripture not because of his perfect choices,
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- But because of his unwavering faith.
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- Today, we're beginning a brand new series
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- Called walking by faith.
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- In this first study,
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- We will examine how abraham chose to walk
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- Into unknown territory,
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- Trusting god for a new destination.
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- My message is titled abraham: a most unlikely hero
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ all the colors of the rainbow ♪
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- ♪ all the voices of the wind ♪
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- ♪ every dream that reaches out ♪
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- ♪ that reaches out to find where love begins ♪
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- ♪ every word of every story ♪
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- ♪ every star in every sky ♪
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- ♪ every corner of creation ♪
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- ♪ lives to testify ♪
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- ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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- ♪ i will testify to love ♪
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- ♪ i'll be a witness in the silences ♪
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- ♪ when words are not enough ♪
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- ♪ with every breath i take ♪
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- ♪ i will give thanks to god above ♪
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- ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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- ♪ i will testify to love ♪
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- ♪ from the mountains to the valleys, yes ♪
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- ♪ from the rivers to the sea ♪
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- ♪ oh oh ♪
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- ♪ oh, every hand that reaches out ♪
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- ♪ every hand that reaches out to offer peace ♪
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- ♪ hand that reaches out ♪
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- ♪ every simple act of mercy, oh ♪
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- ♪ and every step to kingdom come ♪
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- ♪ all the hope in every heart will ♪
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- ♪ speak what love has done ♪
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- ♪ oh oh ♪
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- ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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- ♪ i will testify to love ♪
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- ♪ i'll be a witness in the silences ♪
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- ♪ when words are not enough ♪
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- ♪ with every breath ♪
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- ♪ with every breath i take ♪
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- ♪ i will give thanks to god above ♪
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- ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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- ♪ i will testify to love ♪
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- ♪ oh oh ♪
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- ♪ yeah yeah yeah ♪
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- ♪ testify, testify for as long as i shall live ♪
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- ♪ testify, testify ♪
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- ♪ i just can't help but testify ♪
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- ♪ testify, testify ♪
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- ♪ corner of creation, testify ♪
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- ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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- ♪ testify, testify ♪
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- ♪ as long as i shall live, i'll testify ♪
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- ♪ with every breath i take ♪
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- ♪ i will give thanks to god above ♪
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- -♪ testify, testify ♪ -♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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- ♪ i will testify ♪
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- ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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- ♪ i will testify to love ♪
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- ♪ i'll be a witness in the silences ♪
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- ♪ when words are not enough ♪
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- ♪ with every breath i take ♪
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- ♪ i will give thanks to god above ♪
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- ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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- ♪ i will testify to love ♪
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- -♪ for as long as i shall live ♪ -♪ testify, testify ♪
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- ♪ i will testify to love ♪
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- -woo! -yes!
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- (congregation applauding)
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- [announcer] the bible is filled
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- With stories about heroes.
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- But abraham rises above the rest
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- As a true champion of faith.
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- In "walking by faith", dr. robert jeffress
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- Shares how to step forward in faith
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- Even when the future appears uncertain.
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- Your faith can thrive despite the challenges you face.
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- Request your copy of "walking by faith"
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- When you give a generous gift
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- To support the ministry of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ music ♪
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- A few years ago,
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- I read the book "true compass."
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- It was the autobiography
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- Of the late senator ted kennedy.
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- Reviewers of the book were surprised at the honesty
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- At which kennedy addressed
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- Some of the big issues in his life,
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- His battle with alcoholism,
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- His notorious philandering with other women,
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- And of course, the incident on that bridge
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- At chappaquiddick with mary jo kopechne.
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- The reviewer said that kennedy's candor
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- Gave credibility to his book.
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- You know, it's the same way with the bible
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- Of the many evidences for the inspiration,
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- The trustworthiness of the bible
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- Is the way the bible treats its heroes.
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- Instead of whitewashing their mistakes
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- And portraying them as saints,
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- The bible tells their whole story, defects and all.
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- And that's certainly true
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- For the character we're going to begin looking at today,
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- The man named abraham.
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- Although abraham is called the friend of god,
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- Even though he's the father of the jewish nation,
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- Even though he's used in the new testament
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- As the supreme example of faith,
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- He had tremendous character deficiencies
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- And made some tremendous mistakes in his life
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- That ought to be an encouragement to us.
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- If god can use abraham,
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- He can use anybody.
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- If you have your bibles,
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- I want you to turn to the beginning of abraham's story.
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- It's found at the end of genesis 11.
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- Today, we're beginning our study of abraham
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- Who was truly a most unlikely hero.
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- You see, the one quality
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- God admires, god desires
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- More than any other quality in our life is faith.
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- What is faith?
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- It's believing that god will do what he has promised to do
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- And acting accordingly,
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- Believing that god will do what he's promised to do
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- And acting accordingly.
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- Remember hebrews 11:6?
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- "without faith, it is impossible to please god,
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- For those who come to god must believe that he is
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- And that he's a rewarder
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- Of those who diligently follow after him."
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- The call of abraham,
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- It actually begins at the end of genesis 11.
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- We find that terah lived 70 years
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- And became the father of abram,
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- Nahor, and haran.
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- Now, terah was the father of abram.
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- Abram was born in the city of ur of the chaldees,
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- Center of the mesopotamian valley,
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- And that's where god's original call to abraham came.
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- Let's look at the setting,
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- First of all, of god's call to abraham.
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- The setting for the story is the city of ur
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- And a metropolitan city.
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- It might might be like new york or london today,
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- And it was known for many things.
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- It was a port city.
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- It sat at the edge of the persian gulf.
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- It was bordered by the euphrates river.
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- It had a population of 300,000.
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- Now notice the command.
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- "now the lord said to abram,
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- 'go forth from your country,
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- And from your relatives,
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- And from your father's house,
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- To the land that i will show you.'"
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- Now, this is the same call he had received 15 years earlier,
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- 15 years earlier living in ur of the chaldees.
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- God said, "abraham, i want you to do something.
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- I want you to leave your country."
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- Have you ever gone on a overseas trip
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- To a country you weren't familiar with?
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- And you know it's interesting to visit but it's difficult
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- Because you don't understand the language probably,
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- You don't understand the customs.
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- You deal in a different currency.
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- And as interesting as that trip is,
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- You can't wait to get home.
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- Just imagine being told that you have to go permanently
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- To a country you don't even know about.
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- You have to follow god to reach it
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- And you're totally unfamiliar with it.
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- That's what god said,
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- "i want you to leave the country you're familiar with."
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- He said, "not only do i want you
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- To separate yourself from your country,
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- But also from your relatives."
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- Leave behind your relatives,
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- Everybody you're related to.
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- F.b. meyer says,
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- "god's commands are not always accompanied by reason,
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- But god's commands are always accompanied
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- By a promise either spoken or unspoken,"
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- And we find that promise beginning in verse 2.
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- God has already said,
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- "i want you to go to a land that i will show you,"
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- Verse 2, "and i will make you a great nation
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- And i will bless you and make your name great
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- And so you shall be a blessing
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- And i will bless those who bless you.
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- And the one who curses you,
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- I will curse.
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- And in you, all the families of the earth,
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- Will be blessed."
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- These are probably the three most significant verses
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- In all the bible
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- Because they tell us god's plan,
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- Not just for abraham and his descendants
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- But for the entire world that in includes you and me.
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- We call this the abrahamic covenant.
- 00:10:45.968 --> 00:10:49.138
- And really, the rest of the bible from genesis 12:4
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- To revelation 22 is a story of god's fulfillment
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- Of this unconditional promise to abraham.
- 00:10:57.480 --> 00:11:00.549
- Now, god comes to abraham and he said,
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- "i know what you want, abraham.
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- You're like every other person.
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- You want security?
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- I'll give you security.
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- I'm going to give you a land
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- That will belong to you and your descendants forever."
- 00:11:12.094 --> 00:11:15.498
- And that was the first part of the abrahamic covenant,
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- The promise of a land.
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- He wasn't talking about heaven,
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- He was talking about a land here on earth.
- 00:11:21.370 --> 00:11:23.472
- In genesis 15, we find the borders of that land
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- That belong to abraham's descendants to israel.
- 00:11:28.644 --> 00:11:32.047
- Interestingly, that outline in genesis 15 describes land
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- That israel has never in history completely inhabited,
- 00:11:38.420 --> 00:11:41.657
- But it will one day.
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- In the millennium when god fulfills his promise
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- To believing israel,
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- All of this land unconditionally promised
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- That abraham will belong to believing israel.
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- You want security?
- 00:11:53.869 --> 00:11:55.538
- I'll give you a land.
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- You want solidarity?
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- You want to have a community, abraham, like nimrod did?
- 00:11:59.241 --> 00:12:02.711
- I'm going to give you a nation.
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- You're going to be the father of a great nation.
- 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:06.749
- Even though you're an old man
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- And you're married to a barren wife,
- 00:12:08.317 --> 00:12:10.119
- You're going to have not just one descendants,
- 00:12:10.119 --> 00:12:12.288
- You're going to have so many descendants, you can't count 'em.
- 00:12:12.288 --> 00:12:15.291
- Genesis 15 says,
- 00:12:15.291 --> 00:12:16.725
- "they will be like the grains of sand on the seashore.
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- They'll be like the stars in the heaven.
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- It will be impossible to count them."
- 00:12:21.964 --> 00:12:24.867
- "and those who bless you and your nation,
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- I will bless," god said, noticed that?
- 00:12:28.704 --> 00:12:31.073
- "i will bless those who bless you
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- And i will curse those who curse you."
- 00:12:33.375 --> 00:12:36.912
- And then thirdly, he said,
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- "plus, i'm going to give a blessing
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- To the entire world through you.
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- All the nations of the world will be blessed,"
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- And that is a reference, of course,
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- To the lord jesus christ.
- 00:12:48.490 --> 00:12:51.093
- What was abraham's response?
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- How did he respond to god's call?
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- He responded, first of all, with initial enthusiasm.
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- Genesis 11:31 says, "when this call came initially,
- 00:12:59.535 --> 00:13:03.505
- Abraham was 60.
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- They picked up
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- And off they went in search of this country
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- That god had promised them."
- 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:12.781
- Verse 8 of hebrews 11 says, "by faith, abraham,
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- When he was called, obeyed by going out to a place
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- Which he was to receive for an inheritance;
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- And he went out not knowing where he was going."
- 00:13:23.192 --> 00:13:27.763
- Dietrich bonhoeffer wrote,
- 00:13:27.763 --> 00:13:30.132
- "only he who believes obeys.
- 00:13:30.132 --> 00:13:33.235
- And only he who obeys truly believes."
- 00:13:34.069 --> 00:13:37.606
- There's an inseparable link
- 00:13:38.207 --> 00:13:40.042
- Between believing and obeying.
- 00:13:40.042 --> 00:13:43.245
- Abraham believed what god said
- 00:13:43.245 --> 00:13:45.915
- And he packed up his possessions
- 00:13:45.915 --> 00:13:48.050
- And off he went to this new land.
- 00:13:48.050 --> 00:13:50.586
- Now, the trip from ur where he was living
- 00:13:50.586 --> 00:13:54.390
- To haran was a relatively easy journey.
- 00:13:55.190 --> 00:13:58.794
- There was plenty of pasture along the way
- 00:13:58.794 --> 00:14:01.163
- To feed their livestock.
- 00:14:01.163 --> 00:14:02.898
- When they had arrived in haran,
- 00:14:02.898 --> 00:14:04.967
- The culture was very much like ur,
- 00:14:04.967 --> 00:14:06.869
- What they had been used to.
- 00:14:06.869 --> 00:14:08.270
- The language was the same,
- 00:14:08.270 --> 00:14:09.538
- The customs were the same.
- 00:14:09.538 --> 00:14:11.674
- And when they got to haran,
- 00:14:11.674 --> 00:14:13.676
- Terah's, the father of abram said,
- 00:14:13.676 --> 00:14:16.078
- "this is far enough, abram.
- 00:14:16.078 --> 00:14:17.980
- We've gone far enough.
- 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:19.281
- Now let's settle down here.
- 00:14:19.281 --> 00:14:21.884
- We've obeyed god enough."
- 00:14:21.884 --> 00:14:24.987
- You know, terah's like many parents,
- 00:14:25.788 --> 00:14:28.490
- Many parents want their children to be religious,
- 00:14:28.490 --> 00:14:30.993
- Just religious enough not to get on drugs
- 00:14:30.993 --> 00:14:34.730
- Or to have a baby out of wedlock.
- 00:14:35.464 --> 00:14:38.634
- They want just enough of god
- 00:14:38.634 --> 00:14:40.970
- To keep their children on the right track,
- 00:14:40.970 --> 00:14:42.638
- But they don't want their children
- 00:14:42.638 --> 00:14:44.006
- Becoming religious fanatics.
- 00:14:44.006 --> 00:14:46.141
- They don't want them listening to god too closely
- 00:14:46.141 --> 00:14:49.278
- Because if they do, they might do something radical.
- 00:14:49.278 --> 00:14:52.748
- That was terah.
- 00:14:52.748 --> 00:14:54.149
- He wanted abraham to obey god just enough.
- 00:14:54.149 --> 00:14:58.420
- And so , that initial enthusiasm
- 00:14:58.420 --> 00:15:01.457
- Led to prolonged disobedience on the part of abraham.
- 00:15:01.457 --> 00:15:05.828
- In genesis 11:31, "terah took abram his son,
- 00:15:05.828 --> 00:15:10.265
- And lot the son of haran,
- 00:15:10.265 --> 00:15:11.734
- And his grandson,
- 00:15:11.734 --> 00:15:12.768
- And sarai his daughter-in-law.
- 00:15:12.768 --> 00:15:14.470
- They went out together from ur of the chaldeans
- 00:15:14.470 --> 00:15:17.439
- In order to enter the land of canaan;
- 00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:20.042
- And they went as far as haran,
- 00:15:20.042 --> 00:15:21.977
- And they settled there."
- 00:15:21.977 --> 00:15:26.081
- We know from scholars
- 00:15:26.582 --> 00:15:27.883
- That abraham probably spent 15 years in haran.
- 00:15:27.883 --> 00:15:32.154
- How did he rationalize that?
- 00:15:32.755 --> 00:15:35.491
- Perhaps as he looked back on his original call, he thought,
- 00:15:35.491 --> 00:15:39.328
- "well, maybe, that wasn't god's voice i heard."
- 00:15:39.328 --> 00:15:43.165
- Or "maybe, i didn't understand it correctly."
- 00:15:43.165 --> 00:15:46.602
- Or "even though maybe god told me that years ago,
- 00:15:46.602 --> 00:15:49.538
- I'm too old now to make any significant changes in my life."
- 00:15:49.538 --> 00:15:54.877
- What is it that caused abraham to settle?
- 00:15:55.744 --> 00:15:59.148
- In a word, it was his father, terah.
- 00:15:59.948 --> 00:16:02.651
- Terah is the one who encouraged him to stay
- 00:16:02.651 --> 00:16:06.288
- And it would take the death of terah
- 00:16:06.288 --> 00:16:08.457
- For abraham to hear the voice of god.
- 00:16:08.457 --> 00:16:10.993
- It would take abraham experience a deep loss in his life,
- 00:16:10.993 --> 00:16:15.497
- Taking away his father whom he obviously admired.
- 00:16:15.497 --> 00:16:19.334
- He would have to take his dad away before he could obey god.
- 00:16:19.334 --> 00:16:23.572
- Genesis 11:32 says,
- 00:16:23.572 --> 00:16:25.774
- "the days of terah were 205 years,
- 00:16:25.774 --> 00:16:29.144
- And terah died in haran."
- 00:16:29.144 --> 00:16:31.380
- Unless you think i'm reading too much in this,
- 00:16:31.380 --> 00:16:33.682
- Listen to what stephen said in acts 7:4.
- 00:16:33.682 --> 00:16:36.385
- "then after terah died,
- 00:16:36.385 --> 00:16:38.587
- He left the land of the chaldeans,
- 00:16:39.354 --> 00:16:41.123
- And settled in haran.
- 00:16:41.123 --> 00:16:42.524
- From there, after his father died,
- 00:16:42.524 --> 00:16:44.726
- God had him moved to this country
- 00:16:44.726 --> 00:16:47.996
- In which you are now living."
- 00:16:48.630 --> 00:16:50.232
- It was after terah died that god had abraham to move,
- 00:16:50.232 --> 00:16:55.571
- And that led to the third period of time,
- 00:16:56.472 --> 00:16:58.273
- Abraham's ultimate obedience.
- 00:16:58.273 --> 00:17:01.310
- Again, the call of god came in verses 1 to 3 of genesis 12
- 00:17:01.310 --> 00:17:05.447
- And look at verse 4.
- 00:17:05.447 --> 00:17:07.282
- "so abram went forth as the lord had spoken to him
- 00:17:07.282 --> 00:17:11.153
- And lot went with him.
- 00:17:11.153 --> 00:17:12.955
- No abram was 75 years old
- 00:17:12.955 --> 00:17:15.757
- When he departed from haran,
- 00:17:15.757 --> 00:17:17.759
- And he took sarai his wife
- 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:19.828
- And lot and all their possessions which they accumulated
- 00:17:19.828 --> 00:17:23.198
- And the people they had acquired in haran,
- 00:17:23.198 --> 00:17:25.601
- And they set out for the land of canaan,"
- 00:17:25.601 --> 00:17:28.403
- That's israel, what is israel today.
- 00:17:28.403 --> 00:17:30.272
- "they set out for the land of canaan;
- 00:17:30.272 --> 00:17:32.341
- Thus they came to the land of canaan."
- 00:17:32.341 --> 00:17:35.444
- Now remember i said the first part of that journey
- 00:17:35.444 --> 00:17:38.147
- From ur to haran was relatively easy?
- 00:17:38.147 --> 00:17:41.683
- The journey from haran to canaan was difficult.
- 00:17:42.618 --> 00:17:46.188
- It was 400 miles of desert.
- 00:17:46.188 --> 00:17:48.757
- Josephus, the historian tells us that on the way to canaan,
- 00:17:49.958 --> 00:17:53.428
- They came to what is now the city of damascus.
- 00:17:53.428 --> 00:17:55.864
- There was an oasis there,
- 00:17:55.864 --> 00:17:57.666
- But abraham refused to stop.
- 00:17:57.666 --> 00:17:59.968
- He didn't want to be tempted
- 00:17:59.968 --> 00:18:01.570
- To make the same mistake he had made
- 00:18:01.570 --> 00:18:03.472
- When he settled in haran.
- 00:18:03.472 --> 00:18:05.307
- And finally verse 8,
- 00:18:05.307 --> 00:18:06.708
- After that 400-mile journey, look what happens.
- 00:18:06.708 --> 00:18:09.444
- "then he, abram, proceeded from there
- 00:18:09.444 --> 00:18:12.214
- To the mountain on the east of bethel,
- 00:18:12.214 --> 00:18:15.150
- And pitched his tent,
- 00:18:15.150 --> 00:18:17.186
- With bethel on the west and ai on the east;
- 00:18:17.186 --> 00:18:21.123
- And there he built an altar to the lord
- 00:18:21.123 --> 00:18:23.892
- And called upon the name of the lord."
- 00:18:23.892 --> 00:18:27.396
- From this point on, abraham had a consistent,
- 00:18:28.363 --> 00:18:32.534
- Not spotless, but a consistent obedience to god,
- 00:18:32.534 --> 00:18:36.438
- Even though he lived in the middle of a cultural cesspool
- 00:18:36.438 --> 00:18:40.609
- With the canaanites.
- 00:18:40.609 --> 00:18:42.578
- What is it that kept abraham's faith intact
- 00:18:42.578 --> 00:18:45.113
- And his obedience on track
- 00:18:45.113 --> 00:18:47.783
- During the rest of the time he spent in canaan?
- 00:18:47.783 --> 00:18:51.386
- Again, the biographer f.b. meyer
- 00:18:51.386 --> 00:18:53.455
- Points to two words in verse 8
- 00:18:53.455 --> 00:18:55.891
- That explain abraham's consistent obedience to god
- 00:18:55.891 --> 00:19:00.629
- From this point on.
- 00:19:00.629 --> 00:19:02.130
- First of all, a tent.
- 00:19:02.130 --> 00:19:04.166
- Verse 8 says that he pitched his tent.
- 00:19:04.166 --> 00:19:07.369
- Now think about this,
- 00:19:07.369 --> 00:19:08.804
- Even though god had promised this land to abraham,
- 00:19:08.804 --> 00:19:11.073
- Even though abraham was a wealthy, wealthy man,
- 00:19:11.073 --> 00:19:13.875
- From this point, from age 75 till he died at age 175,
- 00:19:13.875 --> 00:19:18.647
- He never lived in anything except a flimsy, flimsy tent.
- 00:19:19.781 --> 00:19:23.085
- He never built a house.
- 00:19:23.085 --> 00:19:24.653
- He never bought a piece of real estate
- 00:19:24.653 --> 00:19:26.421
- Except one on which to bury his wife.
- 00:19:26.421 --> 00:19:29.858
- He lived as an alien, why?
- 00:19:29.858 --> 00:19:33.929
- Because he wanted to be ready
- 00:19:34.563 --> 00:19:36.231
- To hear and obey the voice of god
- 00:19:36.231 --> 00:19:38.367
- In case god told him to move again.
- 00:19:38.367 --> 00:19:40.902
- He lived as an alien in this world.
- 00:19:40.902 --> 00:19:43.639
- Hebrews 11 verse 9 and 10 says this,
- 00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:46.508
- "by faith, abraham lived as an alien in the land of promise,
- 00:19:46.508 --> 00:19:50.812
- As in a foreign land,
- 00:19:50.812 --> 00:19:52.447
- Dwelling in tents with isaac and jacob,
- 00:19:52.447 --> 00:19:55.083
- Fellow heirs of the same promise;
- 00:19:55.083 --> 00:19:57.486
- For he was looking for the city which has foundations
- 00:19:57.486 --> 00:20:01.556
- Whose architect and builder is god."
- 00:20:01.556 --> 00:20:04.893
- Even though abraham lived in this world,
- 00:20:05.761 --> 00:20:08.563
- He was not of this world.
- 00:20:08.563 --> 00:20:10.532
- He was looking for a better country with a better reward.
- 00:20:10.532 --> 00:20:13.902
- And because of that,
- 00:20:13.902 --> 00:20:15.270
- This world had little appeal to him.
- 00:20:15.270 --> 00:20:18.106
- What is the focus of your life right now?
- 00:20:18.106 --> 00:20:22.044
- Is it this world or is it the next world?
- 00:20:22.044 --> 00:20:25.747
- Can you honestly say as the gospel hymn writer said?
- 00:20:26.815 --> 00:20:29.718
- "this world is not my home.
- 00:20:29.718 --> 00:20:32.321
- I'm just passing through."
- 00:20:32.888 --> 00:20:35.290
- That was abraham.
- 00:20:35.290 --> 00:20:37.059
- But you know, interestingly,
- 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:38.460
- You may remember abraham had a brother named nahor.
- 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:42.798
- He built a city in genesis 24.
- 00:20:42.798 --> 00:20:45.600
- In the world's eyes, he was terah's successful son.
- 00:20:46.635 --> 00:20:50.472
- Why do they remember abraham?
- 00:20:50.472 --> 00:20:52.641
- Because he had another world focus for his life.
- 00:20:52.641 --> 00:20:57.012
- What kingdom are you building?
- 00:20:57.646 --> 00:20:59.314
- Are you building your kingdom?
- 00:20:59.314 --> 00:21:01.316
- Are you building god's kingdom?
- 00:21:01.316 --> 00:21:03.385
- It's so easy for us to become focused on this world,
- 00:21:03.385 --> 00:21:05.987
- Building our business, building our reputation,
- 00:21:05.987 --> 00:21:08.290
- Building our family,
- 00:21:08.290 --> 00:21:09.958
- And those are all important.
- 00:21:09.958 --> 00:21:11.360
- But in the final analysis,
- 00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:14.096
- As one scholar said,
- 00:21:14.096 --> 00:21:15.497
- "they're like dandelion seeds scattered in the wind.
- 00:21:15.497 --> 00:21:19.034
- They dissipate very, very quickly."
- 00:21:19.034 --> 00:21:21.737
- It's what's done for god's kingdom that ultimately counts.
- 00:21:21.737 --> 00:21:25.774
- Abraham pitched his tent.
- 00:21:25.774 --> 00:21:28.243
- He was an alien in this world.
- 00:21:28.877 --> 00:21:30.245
- And the second key word in this passage,
- 00:21:30.245 --> 00:21:32.981
- Chapter 12, verse 8, is an altar.
- 00:21:32.981 --> 00:21:36.284
- He built an altar when he got to canaan.
- 00:21:36.284 --> 00:21:39.221
- Did you know for those 15 years he was in haran,
- 00:21:39.221 --> 00:21:42.924
- He never once built an altar?
- 00:21:42.924 --> 00:21:44.393
- No record of it.
- 00:21:44.393 --> 00:21:45.827
- He never once worshiped god.
- 00:21:45.827 --> 00:21:48.296
- It's easy to see why when you're living in disobedience,
- 00:21:48.296 --> 00:21:51.400
- Disobedience pushes you
- 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:53.068
- Further and further away from god.
- 00:21:53.068 --> 00:21:56.304
- But when he finally heard the voice of god again,
- 00:21:56.304 --> 00:21:59.207
- He knew he had to build an altar
- 00:21:59.207 --> 00:22:01.843
- In order to commune regularly with god.
- 00:22:01.843 --> 00:22:05.213
- Even though he was a wealthy man,
- 00:22:05.213 --> 00:22:06.848
- Even though he lived in a moral cesspool in canan,
- 00:22:06.848 --> 00:22:09.851
- He was able to keep his obedience intact
- 00:22:09.851 --> 00:22:12.521
- Because he regularly communicated with god.
- 00:22:12.521 --> 00:22:17.426
- Do you have an altar?
- 00:22:17.926 --> 00:22:20.195
- What is the condition of your altar?
- 00:22:20.195 --> 00:22:23.331
- Are you meeting regularly with god?
- 00:22:23.331 --> 00:22:26.568
- You know, i imagine there are some of you here today,
- 00:22:27.669 --> 00:22:29.604
- Some of you watching this program,
- 00:22:29.604 --> 00:22:32.541
- As you review your life,
- 00:22:32.541 --> 00:22:34.910
- There's a lot of disappointment.
- 00:22:35.544 --> 00:22:38.013
- Maybe you haven't fulfilled the goals
- 00:22:38.013 --> 00:22:40.282
- You or perhaps other people had for you,
- 00:22:40.282 --> 00:22:44.319
- And yet deep down you may know why.
- 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:47.722
- You can look back to a period in your life,
- 00:22:47.722 --> 00:22:49.958
- A time in your life,
- 00:22:49.958 --> 00:22:51.726
- When you didn't obey god's command
- 00:22:51.726 --> 00:22:54.596
- Or you only obeyed it half-heartedly.
- 00:22:54.596 --> 00:22:58.834
- You know why.
- 00:22:59.201 --> 00:22:59.935
- You know the point,
- 00:22:59.935 --> 00:23:00.869
- You got off track with god.
- 00:23:00.869 --> 00:23:03.205
- Let me remind you of something.
- 00:23:03.205 --> 00:23:05.574
- The point of departure
- 00:23:05.574 --> 00:23:06.908
- Is usually the point of return back to god.
- 00:23:06.908 --> 00:23:10.846
- If the story of abraham tells us anything,
- 00:23:10.846 --> 00:23:13.048
- It tells us this.
- 00:23:13.048 --> 00:23:15.217
- It doesn't matter how old you are,
- 00:23:15.217 --> 00:23:16.852
- It doesn't matter how far you've drifted away from god,
- 00:23:16.852 --> 00:23:19.788
- You can come back.
- 00:23:19.788 --> 00:23:21.590
- The story of abraham is a invitation
- 00:23:22.357 --> 00:23:26.094
- To come back to the altar of god,
- 00:23:26.094 --> 00:23:29.498
- Meet with god,
- 00:23:29.498 --> 00:23:31.266
- Listen to his voice,
- 00:23:31.733 --> 00:23:34.135
- Obey his command.
- 00:23:34.135 --> 00:23:35.804
- That's how you become a friend of god.
- 00:23:36.638 --> 00:23:40.242
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:40.242 --> 00:23:46.114
- You can become a friend of god today.
- 00:23:46.114 --> 00:23:48.016
- God is waiting with open arms to receive you.
- 00:23:48.016 --> 00:23:51.820
- Well, every time i watch the news
- 00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:53.622
- Or read the latest headlines,
- 00:23:53.622 --> 00:23:55.323
- I'm reminded that our nation and world
- 00:23:55.323 --> 00:23:57.659
- Seem to be spinning out of control.
- 00:23:57.659 --> 00:24:00.462
- People have lost their confidence in human leadership
- 00:24:00.462 --> 00:24:03.598
- And they're becoming distracted by every whim of this world.
- 00:24:03.598 --> 00:24:07.235
- But here's the good news,
- 00:24:07.235 --> 00:24:08.970
- Jesus christ is our only hope.
- 00:24:08.970 --> 00:24:11.806
- And every day on "pathway to victory",
- 00:24:11.806 --> 00:24:13.575
- We're blanketing the globe with clear
- 00:24:13.575 --> 00:24:16.444
- And hope-filled bible teaching.
- 00:24:16.444 --> 00:24:18.747
- With all the chaos in our world,
- 00:24:18.747 --> 00:24:20.949
- Our ministry together has never been more important
- 00:24:20.949 --> 00:24:24.219
- Than it is right now.
- 00:24:24.219 --> 00:24:26.087
- So thank you for your continued support
- 00:24:26.087 --> 00:24:28.557
- Of "pathway to victory."
- 00:24:28.557 --> 00:24:30.358
- Now stay right there.
- 00:24:30.358 --> 00:24:31.660
- I'll be back with a final encouraging word
- 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:34.296
- In just a moment.
- 00:24:34.296 --> 00:24:36.064
- [announcer 2] in the midst of our chaotic world
- 00:24:36.064 --> 00:24:38.433
- And the personal problems that we face,
- 00:24:38.433 --> 00:24:40.702
- Is it possible to find peace and contentment?
- 00:24:40.702 --> 00:24:43.772
- Abraham did and so can you.
- 00:24:43.772 --> 00:24:46.341
- In "walking by faith", dr. robert jeffress
- 00:24:46.341 --> 00:24:48.910
- Shows you how to make courageous decisions,
- 00:24:48.910 --> 00:24:51.446
- Ones that are far outside your comfort zone.
- 00:24:51.446 --> 00:24:54.516
- In doing so, god will prove faithful.
- 00:24:54.516 --> 00:24:57.485
- Abraham was far from perfect.
- 00:24:57.485 --> 00:24:59.354
- He made mistakes including some really big ones,
- 00:24:59.354 --> 00:25:02.557
- But through it all, he walked with god in faith,
- 00:25:02.557 --> 00:25:05.694
- And you can too.
- 00:25:05.694 --> 00:25:07.262
- [announcer 2] in this dynamic book, dr. jeffress explains
- 00:25:07.262 --> 00:25:09.931
- How to walk by faith in a faithless world
- 00:25:09.931 --> 00:25:13.435
- Squarely founded on the wisdom
- 00:25:13.435 --> 00:25:15.236
- Gained from the story of abraham.
- 00:25:15.236 --> 00:25:17.706
- Request your copy of "walking by faith"
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- 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:34.456
- Along with the personal and group study guidebook.
- 00:25:34.456 --> 00:25:37.692
- If the story of abraham tells us anything,
- 00:25:37.692 --> 00:25:39.894
- It tells us this.
- 00:25:39.894 --> 00:25:41.329
- It doesn't matter how old you are,
- 00:25:41.329 --> 00:25:42.864
- It doesn't matter how far you've drifted away from god,
- 00:25:42.864 --> 00:25:45.767
- You can come back.
- 00:25:45.767 --> 00:25:47.135
- [announcer 2] your gift today is important
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- 00:25:52.674 --> 00:25:54.843
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- 00:25:54.843 --> 00:25:57.445
- To fulfill his mandate,
- 00:25:57.445 --> 00:25:59.247
- To pierce the darkness with the light of his word.
- 00:25:59.247 --> 00:26:02.384
- Thank you for investing in this important gospel work.
- 00:26:02.384 --> 00:26:07.389
- Abraham's story teaches us that it's never too late
- 00:26:08.390 --> 00:26:11.526
- To meet god at the altar.
- 00:26:11.526 --> 00:26:13.828
- It's never too late to start doing the right thing.
- 00:26:13.828 --> 00:26:17.399
- And i hope that inspires you to take your next steps
- 00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:20.568
- Down your pathway to victory.
- 00:26:20.568 --> 00:26:23.538
- Well, the bible names abraham as a standout man of faith
- 00:26:23.538 --> 00:26:27.542
- And for good reason,
- 00:26:27.542 --> 00:26:29.044
- But no hero is without flaws.
- 00:26:29.044 --> 00:26:31.746
- Still, god chose to use abraham.
- 00:26:31.746 --> 00:26:33.915
- And next time, we'll learn an important lesson
- 00:26:33.915 --> 00:26:36.718
- About trusting god
- 00:26:36.718 --> 00:26:38.453
- From one of abraham's biggest blunders.
- 00:26:38.453 --> 00:26:41.189
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
- 00:26:41.189 --> 00:26:43.491
- In our series, walking by faith.
- 00:26:43.491 --> 00:26:47.162
- We have a dark side we hope nobody ever sees.
- 00:26:48.096 --> 00:26:52.233
- Unfortunately, that dark side in each of us
- 00:26:53.134 --> 00:26:56.771
- Is eventually exposed.
- 00:26:56.771 --> 00:26:58.373
- And the greatest catalyst for that exposure
- 00:26:58.373 --> 00:27:01.876
- Is an unexpected disaster in our life,
- 00:27:01.876 --> 00:27:05.613
- At least that's the way it was for abraham.
- 00:27:05.613 --> 00:27:08.650
- [announcer] set your dvr and join us next time
- 00:27:08.650 --> 00:27:11.186
- For the message: when godly people do ungodly things
- 00:27:11.186 --> 00:27:15.323
- Here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:27:15.323 --> 00:27:17.525
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:27:17.525 --> 00:27:17.525
