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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Art of Living Well | July 6, 2026
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- ♪♪♪
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- Male announcer: from the pulpit
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- Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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- This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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- Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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- And welcome again to "pathway to victory".
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- Success is a wonderful thing, but most of the time
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- We feel frustrated by our inability to achieve it.
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- Well, in solomon's ancient book of proverbs,
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- We find pearls of wisdom for success in every realm of life.
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- And over the next several weeks, we'll discuss
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- Some counterintuitive principles on topics
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- Like managing our finances, dealing with personal failure,
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- Controlling our temper, and more.
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- This new series is called, "the solomon secrets,"
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- And my message is titled,
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- "the art of living well," on today's edition
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- Of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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- Announcer: god wants you to experience his best in every
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- Area of life, and the wisdom to get there is found in his word.
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- In "the solomon's secrets," dr. robert jeffress draws on the
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- Life of the wisest and most successful man who ever lived to
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- Bring you ten life-changing principles from proverbs.
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- You'll discover practical biblical wisdom for your
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- Marriage, finances, your career, your purpose, and so much more.
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- Request "the solomon secrets" when you give a generous
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- Ministry gift to "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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- Jeffress: when i say the phrase, "living well,"
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- What images come to your mind?
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- For you, what does living well, living really well mean?
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- For some people, that phrase would conjure up images
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- Of weekend jaunts to paris and month-long vacations
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- In the caribbean or a garage filled with luxury automobiles,
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- Or a bulging portfolio of stocks and bonds,
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- So much money you'd never have to work again,
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- And you can tell your boss what you really think of him.
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- For many people, that would be living well.
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- Other people say, "well, no, when i think about living well,
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- I don't think about materialistic things.
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- I think about rising to the top of my company
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- That i'm working in, or i think about accumulating enough assets
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- So i could take off work for a year and work as a missionary
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- In a third world country.
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- To me, that's what living well would be.
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- Other people would say, "well, when i think about living well,
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- I don't think about vocational success of material success.
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- I think about relationships.
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- For me, living well means having two or three friends i can enjoy
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- And i know love me unconditionally.
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- Or living well for me means having a satisfying,
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- Fulfilling relationship with my mate and my children.
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- Regardless of how you define living well,
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- I have some good news and some bad news for you this morning.
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- Which would you like to hear first?
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- Well, let me tell you the bad news
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- And get that out of the way?
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- The bad news is you're probably not going to acquire
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- All of the material possessions,
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- Experience all the vocational success,
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- Enjoy all the relationship success
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- That you've ever dreamed of.
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- That's the bad news.
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- The good news is you can have more than you have right now.
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- You don't have to occupy the same rut you're existing in
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- For the rest of your life.
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- In fact, i want to make a money back guarantee to you
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- This morning, as we begin a brand-new series
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- That you can take to the bank, and here is the guarantee:
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- "if you discover and apply the 'ten secrets for success'
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- That we're going to talk
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- About over these next ten weeks, i absolutely promise you
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- That you will experience greater financial stability
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- Than you ever thought possible.
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- You'll enjoy more fulfilling relationships
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- Than you ever dreamed of.
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- You will realize more of your goals
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- Than you ever though possible in your life.
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- How can i make such a guarantee?
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- Because the principles for success we're going
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- To talk about in this series is not based on my wisdom
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- Or even on the collective wisdom of the ages.
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- These success secrets come straight from the word of god.
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- If you have your bibles this morning,
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- I want you to turn to the book of proverbs,
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- As we begin this brand-new series,
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- Entitled, "the solomon secrets:
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- Ten keys for extraordinary success in life."
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- God does want you to be successful.
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- Did you know that?
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- God wants you to be successful in every part of your life.
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- He wants you to experience success with your finances.
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- He wants you to experience success in your relationships,
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- In your works, and in your goals.
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- You say, "now, pastor, how do you know that?"
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- Because i read the bible.
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- Well, let me point you to a few places in scripture
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- Where god clearly says he wants you to experience success.
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- He wants you to experience prosperity.
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- Listen in the old testament to deuteronomy 29, verse 9.
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- God said, "so keep the words of this covenant to do them,
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- That you may," what?
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- "--prosper in all that you do."
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- Or joshua 1:8, "this book of the law shall not depart
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- From your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night,
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- So that you can be careful to do according to all that
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- Is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous,
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- And then you will have--"
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- There it is again, "success."
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- Or in psalm chapter 1, verse 3.
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- The psalmist is talking about the godly person,
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- And it says, "he will be like a tree firmly planted
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- By the streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season,
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- And its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does he,"
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- What?
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- Prospers. you starting to get the picture?
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- Prosper, prosper, prosper, success.
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- In the new testament, 3 john, for example,
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- Verse 2, listen to what john the apostle said.
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- 3 john verse 2, he was talking to his friend, gaius,
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- And he said, "beloved, i pray that in all respects you may--"
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- There it is.
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- "--prosper and be in good health,
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- Just as your soul prospers."
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- Jesus said in john 10:10, "for i have come
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- That they might have life, and have it more abundantly."
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- Eternal life is not just a quantity of life;
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- It is a quality of life that comes to those who follow
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- God's principles for living.
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- And that brings me to a definition
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- Of what i mean by living well.
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- I want you to write this down on your outlines.
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- Don't just stare at me. write this down.
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- What do we mean by living well?
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- Well, living well means experiencing god's best
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- For every area of my life.
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- Living well is experiencing god's best for every area
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- Of my life.
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- When our girls were little, we decided to get them a pet
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- Hamster, you know, to teach them responsibility and how to take
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- Care of an animal.
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- So, i went out, and we went to the pet store one afternoon, and
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- We came home with the pet hamster.
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- His name was tiptoe, and tiptoe came with a lot of extra living
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- Expenses that you had to buy at the pet store.
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- You know, the cage and all the stuff that went with it.
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- So, i came home, and i assembled the cage, and then put the
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- Little wheel for tiptoe to run around on, and then put the
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- Feeding trough in there, and then the water dispenser on the
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- Side, and so forth.
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- Let tiptoe loose, and he was so excited, he, you know, spun
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- Around on the wheel for a while, and then he went over to the
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- Food trough, and then he came over to the water dispenser.
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- And there was a little plastic container with a spout on the
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- End of it, and had a button on the end of the spout.
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- And all tiptoe had to do was put his tongue up against that
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- Button, and the water would release.
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- Well, tiptoe didn't know that.
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- So he started looking at that water spout, and he put his
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- Mouth around it, and that didn't work.
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- And then he licked the side of the water
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- Dispenser, that didn't work.
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- Forgetting i didn't speak hamster speak, i started
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- Yelling at tiptoe.
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- Said, "you stupid hamster, you know, just just push the button.
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- Push the button."
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- All tiptoe did was run and hide under the pine shavings,
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- You know?
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- See, for a lack of instruction, tiptoe was in danger of
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- Perishing.
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- He didn't know how to work that water spout.
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- In the same way today, there are people who are perishing in
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- Relationships, in their finances, in their careers, in
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- Every area of their life because they haven't learned the secret
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- For living well.
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- And that secret in a word is the word wisdom, wisdom.
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- Wisdom is the key that unlocks the door to experiencing
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- God's best in every area of our life.
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- You know what the word "wisdom" literally means?
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- It comes from an old testament word or hebrew word, "chochma,"
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- And literally it refers to a skill.
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- Wisdom is a skill.
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- Just like tiptoe had to have a skill in order to receive his
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- Needed water, we need skill in order to learn how to live life.
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- In fact, it's interesting, when you look at that word "chochma,"
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- Wisdom in the old testament, it originally referred
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- To the skill that the weavers had to weave the garments
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- For the old testament high priest aaron.
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- In fact, in exodus chapter 28, verse 3, we find these words:
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- "and you shall speak to all the skillful persons,
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- Whom i've endowed with a spirit of wisdom,
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- That they may make aaron's garments to consecrate him,
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- And that he may minister as a priest to me."
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- God said to these weavers, "now i want aaron's garments,
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- His high priestly garments, to follow this precise pattern."
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- And the reason that was so important was, aaron
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- Was a representative of jesus christ, the true high priest,
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- Who was going to come.
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- So, god had some very elaborate and detailed patterns that
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- These weavers had to follow, and their ability to follow
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- God's pattern was called wisdom.
- 00:10:27.249 --> 00:10:30.886
- Notice a couple of truths here.
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- First of all, jot this down.
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- Wisdom is opposite our natural inclinations.
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- The skill that god offers us for every area of our life
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- Is often opposite our natural inclinations.
- 00:10:41.497 --> 00:10:47.236
- Haddon robinson tells the story of one time working
- 00:10:47.236 --> 00:10:50.005
- On his garage door one saturday morning,
- 00:10:50.005 --> 00:10:52.374
- And he was trying to loosen a screw.
- 00:10:52.374 --> 00:10:54.110
- So, he was turning the screw counterclockwise.
- 00:10:54.110 --> 00:10:57.079
- As he turned it counterclockwise,
- 00:10:57.079 --> 00:10:58.581
- However, the screw tightened instead of being loosened.
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- He got frustrated.
- 00:11:02.251 --> 00:11:03.586
- A neighbor came over to help him,
- 00:11:03.586 --> 00:11:05.054
- And he said, "well, haddon, don't you realize that
- 00:11:05.054 --> 00:11:07.156
- That's a left-threaded screw?
- 00:11:07.156 --> 00:11:08.958
- It's a reverse screw.
- 00:11:08.958 --> 00:11:10.493
- It goes opposite the direction you would think."
- 00:11:10.493 --> 00:11:13.629
- Haddon said, "i've spent 50 years learning how to work
- 00:11:13.629 --> 00:11:16.732
- A screw, and now somebody goes and changes the rules."
- 00:11:16.732 --> 00:11:20.870
- And yet he says the bible is just like that.
- 00:11:20.870 --> 00:11:23.572
- The bible is kind of a reverse screw.
- 00:11:23.572 --> 00:11:25.841
- Its wisdom is often opposite our natural inclinations.
- 00:11:25.841 --> 00:11:30.780
- Second truth about wisdom: not only is wisdom opposite our
- 00:11:30.780 --> 00:11:34.483
- Natural inclination, but notice that wisdom requires effort.
- 00:11:34.483 --> 00:11:40.189
- Since this skill doesn't come naturally to us,
- 00:11:40.189 --> 00:11:43.392
- Since it goes opposite our natural inclinations,
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- We have to search for it.
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- It doesn't come naturally.
- 00:11:48.097 --> 00:11:50.566
- Many years ago, i visited the billy graham museum
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- At wheaton college.
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- And while i was walking through the library there,
- 00:11:55.538 --> 00:11:58.140
- There was a display case, and in that display case
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- There was a bible, an old worn bible that had been given
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- To albert einstein.
- 00:12:05.314 --> 00:12:07.616
- And on the flyleaf of that bible,
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- I read these words.
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- In fact, i jotted them down,
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- They made such an impression on me.
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- The word said, "straws on the surface flow,
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- But he who would search for pearls must dive below."
- 00:12:20.095 --> 00:12:25.901
- Whoever gave this bible to einstein was simply saying,
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- You know, as great of an intellect as you are,
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- Albert, you cannot discover god's truth with just
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- A surface study of the bible.
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- It requires going deep in order to appropriate
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- The truth of god's word.
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- That's the truth about wisdom.
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- The bible says acquiring wisdom is like going on a treasure hunt
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- For great riches.
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- For example, jot down proverbs 2, verses 4 to 5.
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- The writer says, "if you seek her," that is wisdom,
- 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:54.263
- "as silver, and search for her as hidden treasures,
- 00:12:54.263 --> 00:12:57.733
- Then you will discover the fear of the lord,
- 00:12:57.733 --> 00:13:00.836
- And discover the knowledge of god."
- 00:13:00.836 --> 00:13:03.939
- Turn over one page to proverbs 3, verses 13 to 15.
- 00:13:03.939 --> 00:13:07.509
- "how blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
- 00:13:07.509 --> 00:13:10.913
- And the man who gains understanding.
- 00:13:10.913 --> 00:13:13.382
- For its profit is better than the profit of silver,
- 00:13:13.382 --> 00:13:16.151
- And its gain more than fine gold.
- 00:13:16.151 --> 00:13:19.021
- Wisdom is more precious than jewels;
- 00:13:19.021 --> 00:13:21.390
- And nothing you desire compares with her."
- 00:13:21.390 --> 00:13:25.594
- You may say, "well, robert, you've convinced me.
- 00:13:25.594 --> 00:13:27.830
- I realize god's wisdom is valuable.
- 00:13:27.830 --> 00:13:29.899
- I realize i need to search for it,
- 00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:31.834
- But where do i go to find god's wisdom??
- 00:13:31.834 --> 00:13:35.271
- Thousands of years ago, the wisest, the wealthiest,
- 00:13:35.271 --> 00:13:38.474
- The most powerful man in the world,
- 00:13:38.474 --> 00:13:41.110
- A man named solomon, collected some pithy
- 00:13:41.110 --> 00:13:44.146
- And practical truths in a book we call proverbs today.
- 00:13:44.146 --> 00:13:48.117
- And in this book, you follow the wisdom,
- 00:13:48.117 --> 00:13:50.653
- And you find the skill necessary for successfully living in life.
- 00:13:50.653 --> 00:13:55.824
- Now, i call this hidden treasure,
- 00:13:55.824 --> 00:13:58.961
- Because it's not available to everyone.
- 00:13:58.961 --> 00:14:00.863
- It goes against our natural inclination.
- 00:14:00.863 --> 00:14:03.866
- What we're gonna look at over the next 10 weeks
- 00:14:03.866 --> 00:14:05.834
- Are 10 pieces not of common sense,
- 00:14:05.834 --> 00:14:08.637
- But of uncommon sense that promise extraordinary success.
- 00:14:08.637 --> 00:14:14.677
- Let me close today by sharing with you three important
- 00:14:14.677 --> 00:14:17.513
- Principles about living well,
- 00:14:17.513 --> 00:14:20.182
- Because that's what proverbs is about.
- 00:14:20.182 --> 00:14:21.717
- It's about how to live well, how to experience god's best
- 00:14:21.717 --> 00:14:24.653
- In every area of your life.
- 00:14:24.653 --> 00:14:27.656
- Principle number one:
- 00:14:27.656 --> 00:14:29.158
- "the measure of living well is not money."
- 00:14:29.158 --> 00:14:34.830
- The measure of living well is not money.
- 00:14:34.830 --> 00:14:38.500
- That's true.
- 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:40.135
- The book of proverbs has a lot to say about money.
- 00:14:40.135 --> 00:14:43.372
- But even though the book of proverbs has a lot to say
- 00:14:43.372 --> 00:14:45.307
- About money, life is more than just about earning,
- 00:14:45.307 --> 00:14:49.778
- Saving, and investing money.
- 00:14:49.778 --> 00:14:52.681
- Second truth about living well:
- 00:14:52.681 --> 00:14:54.950
- "living well does not exempt us from problems in life."
- 00:14:54.950 --> 00:14:59.021
- When i talk about living well, being prosperous,
- 00:14:59.021 --> 00:15:01.457
- Being successful,
- 00:15:01.457 --> 00:15:03.258
- I'm not talking about being exempt from problems.
- 00:15:03.258 --> 00:15:05.794
- I have people ask me all the time,
- 00:15:05.794 --> 00:15:07.629
- "pastor, why do we, as christians,
- 00:15:07.629 --> 00:15:10.466
- Go through problems and suffering in this life?"
- 00:15:10.466 --> 00:15:13.936
- And, you know, behind that question is the assumption
- 00:15:13.936 --> 00:15:16.138
- That somehow becoming a christian is like
- 00:15:16.138 --> 00:15:19.808
- Kind of a get out of jail free card,
- 00:15:19.808 --> 00:15:21.944
- That it exempts you from any suffering in life.
- 00:15:21.944 --> 00:15:25.047
- That's just not true.
- 00:15:25.047 --> 00:15:27.449
- We all know, and we've seen in other series that god's plan
- 00:15:27.449 --> 00:15:30.219
- For you and me, as a christian,
- 00:15:30.219 --> 00:15:31.887
- Is that we go through difficult times.
- 00:15:31.887 --> 00:15:34.089
- It is in those difficulties, those times of suffering
- 00:15:34.089 --> 00:15:36.458
- That we learn more about god that our faith is strengthened.
- 00:15:36.458 --> 00:15:40.462
- Remember hebrews 5:8 that talks about the lord jesus christ.
- 00:15:40.462 --> 00:15:43.399
- It says, "even though he was the son of god,
- 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:48.270
- He learned obedience by the things that he suffered."
- 00:15:48.270 --> 00:15:53.409
- You know, if god's plan for his own son even
- 00:15:53.409 --> 00:15:55.878
- Included difficulty, suffering, why are you and i surprised
- 00:15:55.878 --> 00:16:00.082
- When suffering comes into our life?
- 00:16:00.082 --> 00:16:02.618
- No, being a christian, living well does not mean
- 00:16:02.618 --> 00:16:06.221
- An exemption from problems.
- 00:16:06.221 --> 00:16:07.656
- In fact, did you know that becoming a christian probably
- 00:16:07.656 --> 00:16:10.793
- Intensifies your problems you're going to have in this world?
- 00:16:10.793 --> 00:16:13.829
- It doesn't take them away.
- 00:16:13.829 --> 00:16:15.330
- It intensifies them, at least in the short term.
- 00:16:15.330 --> 00:16:18.534
- The quaker philosopher, elton trueblood, wrote,
- 00:16:18.534 --> 00:16:21.370
- "in many areas of the gospel,
- 00:16:21.370 --> 00:16:23.572
- Instead of taking away people's burdens,
- 00:16:23.572 --> 00:16:25.941
- The gospel actually adds to them."
- 00:16:25.941 --> 00:16:28.677
- Occasionally, we talk of our christianity as something
- 00:16:28.677 --> 00:16:31.447
- That solves problems, and there's a sense
- 00:16:31.447 --> 00:16:34.116
- In which it does.
- 00:16:34.116 --> 00:16:35.784
- Long before it does so, however, it increases both the number
- 00:16:35.784 --> 00:16:38.954
- And the intensity of the problems.
- 00:16:38.954 --> 00:16:43.659
- One thing i love about the bible is how true it is.
- 00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:46.228
- It doesn't try to gloss over hard truth.
- 00:16:46.228 --> 00:16:48.730
- Jesus said in john 16, verse 33,
- 00:16:48.730 --> 00:16:51.667
- "in this world you will have tribulation."
- 00:16:51.667 --> 00:16:55.871
- You're gonna have problems.
- 00:16:55.871 --> 00:16:58.207
- But then he went on to say, "be of good cheer,
- 00:16:58.207 --> 00:17:00.109
- For i have overcome the world."
- 00:17:00.109 --> 00:17:03.445
- Living well doesn't exempt us from problems.
- 00:17:03.445 --> 00:17:06.014
- Thirdly, "the purpose of living well is to glorify god."
- 00:17:06.014 --> 00:17:11.086
- The purpose of living well is to glorify god.
- 00:17:11.086 --> 00:17:13.755
- What is god's overriding purpose in the world today?
- 00:17:13.755 --> 00:17:17.659
- Do you know god has one ultimate purpose?
- 00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:20.129
- It's to bring glory to himself.
- 00:17:20.129 --> 00:17:22.698
- It's to cause men and women, boys and girls,
- 00:17:22.698 --> 00:17:24.666
- Angels and demons, all to fall down and say
- 00:17:24.666 --> 00:17:27.402
- That he alone is worthy of worship.
- 00:17:27.402 --> 00:17:30.873
- In romans chapter 11, verse 36, paul writes,
- 00:17:30.873 --> 00:17:33.609
- "for from him and through him and to him are all things.
- 00:17:33.609 --> 00:17:38.647
- To him be the glory forever.
- 00:17:38.647 --> 00:17:41.750
- Amen."
- 00:17:41.750 --> 00:17:43.352
- What does this great theological statement mean to us?
- 00:17:43.352 --> 00:17:48.257
- What does it mean to say the purpose of god,
- 00:17:48.257 --> 00:17:51.326
- Or god's purpose is to bring glory to himself,
- 00:17:51.326 --> 00:17:52.794
- How does that relate to living well?
- 00:17:52.794 --> 00:17:54.663
- Listen to me.
- 00:17:54.663 --> 00:17:56.131
- The reason god wants you and me to live well,
- 00:17:56.131 --> 00:18:00.602
- Experience his best for every area of our life,
- 00:18:00.602 --> 00:18:03.972
- Is so that other people, looking at our lives,
- 00:18:03.972 --> 00:18:06.208
- Will be motivated to become god followers, as well.
- 00:18:06.208 --> 00:18:11.246
- And that's exactly what god said to the israelites.
- 00:18:11.246 --> 00:18:13.949
- God said in the old testament,
- 00:18:13.949 --> 00:18:15.317
- "i'm giving you these prescriptions for living.
- 00:18:15.317 --> 00:18:18.120
- My reason for doing so is that the other nations of the world,
- 00:18:18.120 --> 00:18:21.356
- When they look at you and see you following me,
- 00:18:21.356 --> 00:18:24.126
- They will say, not what a great people you are,
- 00:18:24.126 --> 00:18:26.995
- But what a great god they serve."
- 00:18:26.995 --> 00:18:29.998
- Listen to deuteronomy 4, verses 5 to 7.
- 00:18:29.998 --> 00:18:32.434
- Moses said, "see, i have taught you statutes and judgments just
- 00:18:32.434 --> 00:18:36.738
- As the lord my god commanded me, that you should thus in the land
- 00:18:36.738 --> 00:18:40.509
- When you were entering in the land to possess it.
- 00:18:40.509 --> 00:18:42.978
- So keep and do them, that is these commandments,
- 00:18:42.978 --> 00:18:45.647
- For that is your wisdom and your understanding
- 00:18:45.647 --> 00:18:47.916
- In the sight of the peoples who will hear
- 00:18:47.916 --> 00:18:50.219
- All these statutes and say,
- 00:18:50.219 --> 00:18:52.487
- 'surely this great nation is wise and understanding.
- 00:18:52.487 --> 00:18:55.791
- For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it
- 00:18:55.791 --> 00:19:01.263
- As the lord our god whenever we call on him?'"
- 00:19:01.263 --> 00:19:07.369
- The lord god was saying to the israelites,
- 00:19:07.369 --> 00:19:09.371
- "when you follow my commandments, my statutes,
- 00:19:09.371 --> 00:19:11.473
- People are going to want to know about the god you serve,
- 00:19:11.473 --> 00:19:15.577
- The god who can bless you in such an extraordinary way."
- 00:19:15.577 --> 00:19:19.815
- The same thing is true for us.
- 00:19:19.815 --> 00:19:22.384
- You know, when we follow god's wisdom for living,
- 00:19:22.384 --> 00:19:25.053
- As found in the bible, it's really a win-win situation
- 00:19:25.053 --> 00:19:28.323
- When you think about it.
- 00:19:28.323 --> 00:19:30.225
- We get the benefits, and god gets the glory.
- 00:19:30.225 --> 00:19:34.663
- The ultimate purpose of living well is to glorify god.
- 00:19:34.663 --> 00:19:37.966
- John piper said, "god is most glorified in us
- 00:19:37.966 --> 00:19:44.373
- When we are most satisfied in him."
- 00:19:44.373 --> 00:19:49.077
- A few years ago, a missouri physician named gary hamlin
- 00:19:49.077 --> 00:19:53.749
- Became what he called a self-professed fool for christ.
- 00:19:53.749 --> 00:20:00.555
- On that april fool's day a few years ago,
- 00:20:00.555 --> 00:20:02.858
- Gary hamlin said that he was gonna start living
- 00:20:02.858 --> 00:20:05.594
- In a different way.
- 00:20:05.594 --> 00:20:07.129
- For the first 40 years of his life,
- 00:20:07.129 --> 00:20:09.031
- He said he had been living for himself,
- 00:20:09.031 --> 00:20:10.832
- But now that 40 years had passed,
- 00:20:10.832 --> 00:20:12.768
- He decided he was gonna start living for christ,
- 00:20:12.768 --> 00:20:15.070
- And that meant that he was gonna start doing some things
- 00:20:15.070 --> 00:20:17.205
- That seemed to be foolish to other people.
- 00:20:17.205 --> 00:20:19.975
- For example, he was gonna invest a large amount of money
- 00:20:19.975 --> 00:20:22.144
- In building a homeless shelter for troubled teenagers.
- 00:20:22.144 --> 00:20:26.415
- He said he was gonna start donating his services
- 00:20:26.415 --> 00:20:28.617
- As a physician to a battered women's facility.
- 00:20:28.617 --> 00:20:32.487
- He said that he was making a plan over the next 10 years
- 00:20:32.487 --> 00:20:34.823
- To work himself out of a job so that he would no longer
- 00:20:34.823 --> 00:20:37.659
- Work for pay, but he would be able
- 00:20:37.659 --> 00:20:39.428
- To devote himself as a missionary in haiti.
- 00:20:39.428 --> 00:20:43.598
- What happened as a result of making what many people
- 00:20:43.598 --> 00:20:46.835
- Thought was a foolish decision, hamlin said,
- 00:20:46.835 --> 00:20:50.172
- "as a result of that decision to do just the opposite
- 00:20:50.172 --> 00:20:53.342
- Of what people expected me to, materialism has lost its value.
- 00:20:53.342 --> 00:20:58.680
- Before i went on my first mission trip to haiti,
- 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:00.949
- I carried a lot of fears in my life: a fear of dying,
- 00:21:00.949 --> 00:21:04.753
- Fear of financial hardship.
- 00:21:04.753 --> 00:21:06.955
- But after a while, the fears began to dissipate.
- 00:21:06.955 --> 00:21:10.125
- God was weaning me from the world's attractions.
- 00:21:10.125 --> 00:21:13.495
- He was showing me his vision for my life:
- 00:21:13.495 --> 00:21:16.531
- To be a fool for him every day, but realize how very rich i am.
- 00:21:16.531 --> 00:21:22.070
- You see, gary hamlin discovered the secret about living well.
- 00:21:23.872 --> 00:21:27.876
- He realized that living well was more than
- 00:21:27.876 --> 00:21:30.112
- Just about his own immediate satisfaction.
- 00:21:30.112 --> 00:21:32.013
- It was following and living out god's plan for his life.
- 00:21:32.013 --> 00:21:36.184
- And because he learned that, he's experiencing satisfaction
- 00:21:36.184 --> 00:21:39.821
- In this life, but also he'll experience
- 00:21:39.821 --> 00:21:42.257
- Eternal dividends in the next life.
- 00:21:42.257 --> 00:21:46.561
- So, let me point out something to you.
- 00:21:46.561 --> 00:21:48.730
- Would gary hamlin have been free to discover god's purpose
- 00:21:48.730 --> 00:21:52.734
- For his life?
- 00:21:52.734 --> 00:21:54.069
- Would he have been free to live well if he was in so much debt
- 00:21:54.069 --> 00:21:58.173
- That he could never walk away from his job?
- 00:21:58.173 --> 00:22:01.743
- Would he be free to live well if he had lost his christian
- 00:22:01.743 --> 00:22:04.112
- Witness because of infidelity in his marriage relationship?
- 00:22:04.112 --> 00:22:08.617
- Would he have been free to live well,
- 00:22:08.617 --> 00:22:10.786
- If he didn't know how to set short-term goals
- 00:22:10.786 --> 00:22:13.722
- So he'd accomplish his long-term goal of being
- 00:22:13.722 --> 00:22:15.957
- A full-time missionary?
- 00:22:15.957 --> 00:22:18.794
- What i'm saying to you is that to live well,
- 00:22:18.794 --> 00:22:20.695
- To experience god's best in your life,
- 00:22:20.695 --> 00:22:24.533
- There's some skills for living you have to learn,
- 00:22:24.533 --> 00:22:28.603
- Nuggets of uncommon wisdom that are found
- 00:22:28.603 --> 00:22:31.339
- In the book of proverbs.
- 00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:33.442
- And over these next 10 weeks, we're going to discover
- 00:22:33.442 --> 00:22:36.445
- Ten of those success secrets, so that you can truly live well.
- 00:22:36.445 --> 00:22:41.349
- And let me remind you again, when you live well,
- 00:22:41.349 --> 00:22:45.520
- When you appropriate god's wisdom for every part
- 00:22:45.520 --> 00:22:48.924
- Of your life, it is a win-win situation.
- 00:22:48.924 --> 00:22:53.028
- You get the benefits; god gets the glory.
- 00:22:53.028 --> 00:22:56.631
- ♪♪♪
- 00:22:56.631 --> 00:23:01.770
- Jeffress: in my estimation, that's a wonderful arrangement.
- 00:23:01.770 --> 00:23:04.339
- We get the benefits, while god gets the glory.
- 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:07.776
- Well, we're off to a great start in our new series called,
- 00:23:07.776 --> 00:23:10.612
- "the solomon secrets."
- 00:23:10.612 --> 00:23:12.280
- I hope today's overview has whet your appetite
- 00:23:12.280 --> 00:23:14.683
- For this very practical study in the book of proverbs,
- 00:23:14.683 --> 00:23:18.553
- And i hope its piqued your curiosity,
- 00:23:18.553 --> 00:23:20.822
- So that you'll devote some personal time to getting
- 00:23:20.822 --> 00:23:23.725
- Better acquainted with the proverbs.
- 00:23:23.725 --> 00:23:26.561
- In closing, i'd like to share a note from a grateful friend
- 00:23:26.561 --> 00:23:29.664
- Named martha.
- 00:23:29.664 --> 00:23:31.433
- Martha wrote, "pastor jeffress, i recently lost my parents
- 00:23:31.433 --> 00:23:34.870
- Within a span of five months.
- 00:23:34.870 --> 00:23:37.472
- I've been overwhelmed with all that goes along
- 00:23:37.472 --> 00:23:39.808
- With the loss of my parents, and hearing 'pathway to victory'
- 00:23:39.808 --> 00:23:43.311
- Has helped me keep my focus on god.
- 00:23:43.311 --> 00:23:46.181
- It confirms my hope in jesus and encourages me to keep moving!
- 00:23:46.181 --> 00:23:51.086
- Thank you!"
- 00:23:51.086 --> 00:23:52.787
- Well, thank you, martha, for that encouraging word.
- 00:23:52.787 --> 00:23:55.423
- And, friends, it's your faithful support of "pathway to victory"
- 00:23:55.423 --> 00:23:58.660
- That is truly making an eternal impact on untold numbers
- 00:23:58.660 --> 00:24:02.898
- Of listeners just like martha, who depend upon this program
- 00:24:02.898 --> 00:24:06.368
- For their daily spiritual input, and your gifts are what make
- 00:24:06.368 --> 00:24:11.273
- This program possible.
- 00:24:11.273 --> 00:24:13.875
- Now, please, stay right there.
- 00:24:13.875 --> 00:24:15.377
- I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
- 00:24:15.377 --> 00:24:18.580
- Announcer: all around us, people are struggling in their
- 00:24:20.015 --> 00:24:22.017
- Finances, their marriages, and their careers,
- 00:24:22.017 --> 00:24:24.719
- Not because they don't want to live well, but because no one
- 00:24:24.719 --> 00:24:27.556
- Has given them the wisdom to do it.
- 00:24:27.556 --> 00:24:29.758
- That wisdom is found in god's word, and it's exactly what
- 00:24:29.758 --> 00:24:33.094
- Dr. robert jeffress unpacks in his best selling book,
- 00:24:33.094 --> 00:24:36.031
- "the solomon secrets."
- 00:24:36.031 --> 00:24:37.699
- In this practical biblical guide, you'll discover
- 00:24:37.699 --> 00:24:40.435
- Ten principles from the book of proverbs for success in every
- 00:24:40.435 --> 00:24:43.471
- Area of your life.
- 00:24:43.471 --> 00:24:45.173
- Jeffress: solomon had more wealth and opportunity than
- 00:24:45.173 --> 00:24:47.409
- Anyone of his era.
- 00:24:47.409 --> 00:24:49.311
- And he discovered that real success only comes when you
- 00:24:49.311 --> 00:24:52.914
- Build your life on the wisdom god provides.
- 00:24:52.914 --> 00:24:56.251
- In my book, "the solomon secrets," i'll show you how to
- 00:24:56.251 --> 00:24:59.454
- Apply that wisdom to your marriage, your parenting,
- 00:24:59.454 --> 00:25:02.691
- Your career, your finances, and so much more.
- 00:25:02.691 --> 00:25:06.294
- Announcer: request your copy of "the solomon secrets" when you
- 00:25:06.294 --> 00:25:08.597
- Give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
- 00:25:08.597 --> 00:25:11.299
- And when your ministry gift is $75 or more, we'll also send you
- 00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:15.170
- The complete "solomon secrets" teaching series on dvd video and
- 00:25:15.170 --> 00:25:18.974
- Mp3 format audio disc.
- 00:25:18.974 --> 00:25:21.009
- Jeffress: god wants you and me to be prosperous, successful.
- 00:25:21.009 --> 00:25:26.081
- The key is defining what god means when he uses the word
- 00:25:26.081 --> 00:25:30.752
- Prosperous and success.
- 00:25:30.752 --> 00:25:33.121
- Announcer: thank you for partnering
- 00:25:33.121 --> 00:25:34.456
- With "pathway to victory."
- 00:25:34.456 --> 00:25:35.790
- Your generosity puts god's word in front of people at the exact
- 00:25:35.790 --> 00:25:38.727
- Moment they need it most, bringing life-changing hope of
- 00:25:38.727 --> 00:25:41.863
- The gospel to a world that's searching for truth.
- 00:25:41.863 --> 00:25:44.766
- Together, we're piercing the darkness
- 00:25:44.766 --> 00:25:46.735
- With the light of god's word.
- 00:25:46.735 --> 00:25:49.871
- Jeffress: we're just getting started in this series called,
- 00:25:51.506 --> 00:25:53.842
- "the solomon secrets."
- 00:25:53.842 --> 00:25:55.877
- In this opening message, i've given you a quick survey
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- Of relevant topics we'll cover over the next few weeks
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- On "pathway to victory."
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- And i hope you'll continue to open the book of proverbs
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- To discover biblical insights for success in life.
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- Next time, we're going to look at the first
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- Of "the solomon secrets" to succeed more, fail more.
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- And if you want to know what i'm talking about,
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- Then you'll have to tune in next time.
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- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
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- On "pathway to victory."
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- Jeffress: thomas edison once said,
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- "most of life's failures are people who didn't realize
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- How close they were to success before they gave up."
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- And, of course, what thomas edison
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- Was talking about was this quality of persistence.
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- Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time
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- For the message, "to succeed more, fail more,"
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- Here on "pathway to victory."
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- Announcer: what if your next vacation changed the way you
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- Read your bible forever?
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- Jeffress: join me for nine nights sailing the mediterranean
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- With every detail taken care of.
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- When you stand where paul stood, your bible comes alive in ways
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- It never has before.
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- Announcer: sail with us on the "pathway to victory" journeys of
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- Paul cruise, may 2027.
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- The early bird discount ends july 31, so act now.
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- Call ... or visit ptv.org.
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