Robert Jeffress - Begin Your Second Act Now (Part 2)

January 14, 2025 | S25:E24

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

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Begin Your Second Act Now (Part 2) | January 14, 2025
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • [narrator] from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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  • Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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  • With dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Hi, i am robert jeffress,
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  • And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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  • All of us carry some measure of regret about the past,
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  • But sometimes the guilt becomes so overwhelming,
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  • It consumes every aspect of our lives.
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  • Is it possible to let go of the past
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  • And enjoy a fresh start in life?
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  • The answer is yes.
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  • And today, we're going to discover five important principles
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  • For knowing when your second act is about to begin.
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  • My message is titled begin your second act now
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  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ the fear of the lord ♪
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  • ♪ is the beginning of wisdom ♪
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  • ♪ life ♪
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  • ♪ hope ♪
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  • ♪ meaning and joy ♪
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  • ♪ the fear of the lord ♪
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  • ♪ is the beginning of wisdom ♪
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  • ♪ so let us worship ♪
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  • ♪ let us bow down ♪
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  • ♪ let us fear our god ♪
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  • ♪ to him belongs ♪
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  • ♪ eternal praise ♪
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  • ♪ glorious and righteous ♪
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  • ♪ are his works his ways ♪
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  • ♪ to him belongs ♪
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  • ♪ all reverent praise ♪
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  • ♪ faithful and just ♪
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  • ♪ are his works his ways ♪
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  • ♪ in the congregation ♪
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  • ♪ with your people ♪
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  • ♪ we remember your works ♪
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  • ♪ your works ♪
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  • ♪ to him belongs ♪
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  • ♪ all reverent praise ♪
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  • ♪ faithful and just ♪
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  • ♪ are his works his ways ♪
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  • ♪ so let us worship ♪
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  • ♪ let us bow down ♪
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  • ♪ so let us worship ♪
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  • ♪ let us bow down ♪
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  • ♪ so let us worship ♪
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  • ♪ let us bow down ♪
  • 00:03:26.095 --> 00:03:29.832
  • ♪ so let us worship ♪
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  • ♪ let us bow down ♪
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  • ♪ so let us worship ♪
  • 00:03:37.540 --> 00:03:41.711
  • ♪ let us bow down ♪
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  • ♪ so let us worship ♪
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  • ♪ let us bow down ♪
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  • ♪ let us fear our god ♪
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  • ♪ our god ♪
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  • [narrator] we all make mistakes
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  • Almost every hour of every day,
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  • But because of god's grace,
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  • Failure does not have to be fatal.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress has written a book
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  • Called "second chance, second act,"
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  • Featuring biblical insights,
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  • Trustworthy wisdom, and practical strategies
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  • For turning your messes into successes.
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  • Discover how god can transform your biggest mistake
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  • Into a new beginning.
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  • Request the bestselling book "second chance, second act"
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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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  • Now, obviously, any plans we make in our lives
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  • Are subject to the sovereignty of god.
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  • God has the final word about any plans we make,
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  • But that doesn't mean we should avoid making plans.
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  • Perhaps i'm speaking to some of you here,
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  • Some of you watching on "pathway to victory,"
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  • You're in that intermission in life,
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  • Maybe after a divorce
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  • Or after a termination from a job
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  • Or some other failure,
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  • And you're wondering, "okay,
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  • What should i be doing during this time?"
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  • One thing you ought to be doing
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  • Is developing your second-act script
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  • So that when god does raise the curtain
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  • And says the intermission is over,
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  • You know what you're supposed to do when that happens.
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  • We all need a second-act script, a plan for our future.
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  • I would suggest if you're interested in developing
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  • That kind of plan that the bible says we all ought to have,
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  • I want to suggest that you take a couple of hours
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  • And write out your plan.
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  • I've done this on several key occasions in my life
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  • When i was at a significant crossroads.
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  • Take out a legal pad and here are four important components
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  • Of developing your plan or what i call a second-act script.
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  • Number one, clarification of the problem.
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  • Clarification of the problem.
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  • Summarize in a word or a phrase
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  • The problem you are trying to remedy in your life.
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  • It might be divorce or financial insolvency,
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  • Wrong career choice,
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  • Termination from a job,
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  • But write down in a word or a phrase what the problem is.
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  • Secondly, visualization of the goal.
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  • In a sentence, write out what your desired
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  • Optimal situation would be
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  • For this particular problem you're facing
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  • Or dilemma that you're in.
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  • Now, for the purpose of this exercise,
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  • Let's say it's financial stress.
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  • So maybe you would say, "i would like to have enough money
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  • So i don't have to worry about finances in the future."
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  • I want to have just enough money so i don't have to be
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  • Overly concerned about money in the future.
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  • By the way, did you know that's a biblical goal?
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  • That's a biblical goal.
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  • Solomon said in proverbs 30:8,
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  • "god give me neither poverty nor riches.
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  • Feed me with the food that is my portion."
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  • And he goes on to say, "don't give me too little
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  • Lest i steal or do something to dishonor your name,
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  • But don't give me too much either
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  • In case i feel like i have no dependence upon you.
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  • Give me just enough."
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  • So let's say that is your goal to have just enough.
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  • That leads to the third part of your second-act script,
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  • Identification of the obstacles.
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  • What is it that is keeping you from your optimal situation,
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  • Whatever it is that you've written down?
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  • Again, let's talk about financial stress.
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  • What's keeping you from that financial security
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  • You'd like to have?
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  • Maybe it's the fact that you don't have enough
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  • Monthly income.
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  • Either your income is too little
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  • Or your out goes is too much,
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  • But you have insufficient monthly cash flow.
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  • Or maybe it's the case that you have maxed out credit cards
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  • Or it's maybe the fact that you've failed
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  • To make sufficient provisions for your children's education
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  • Or for your retirement.
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  • That leads to the fourth step of your second-act script,
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  • The specification of steps of action.
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  • Now you know what the barriers are
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  • That are keeping you from your present to your future.
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  • Write down specific steps of action.
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  • Again, let's just say you're facing financial problems
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  • And you say, "you know, i just need more money every month."
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  • Well, here's some steps of action.
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  • Maybe you need to find a different job
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  • Or maybe you need to have a second job.
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  • Or maybe you could cut your expenses by,
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  • You know, lowering the thermostat
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  • Or finding a new cell phone provider who's cheaper.
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  • You can come up with an endless list of steps of action
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  • That become your plan, your next step of what you do
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  • To move you toward your goal.
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  • We all need a plan.
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  • We all need a second-act script.
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  • And that leads to step number four,
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  • And that is we have to learn how to travel in a fog.
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  • We need to learn how to travel in a fog.
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  • We used to live, when i was here the first time,
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  • Out by lake ray hubbard,
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  • And if you all live out in that area
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  • Near rockwall in the lake,
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  • You know, one of the early morning phenomenon
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  • Is a fog many times,
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  • And it makes it very difficult to drive
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  • In the early morning hours.
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  • You can't see very far in front of you.
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  • When we lived out there,
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  • Sometimes i would have an early seminary class
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  • That would start over at southwestern in fort worth
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  • At seven o'clock in the morning.
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  • So i'd have to leave at 5:15,
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  • And you know, driving in the fog was a challenge.
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  • You had to go slowly.
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  • You had to watch out for any traffic
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  • That might be coming up from behind and so forth.
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  • And i often thought, you know, how much easier it would be
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  • If there were no fog.
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  • You could go fast without any worries at all.
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  • You know, life is like that.
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  • Wouldn't it be great if we had 100% visibility in our lives?
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  • We could see clearly everything
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  • Between now and heaven that was awaiting us.
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  • God doesn't allow us to have that kind of vision.
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  • Usually, we have to travel with some uncertainty not knowing
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  • What is in front of us.
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  • We have to learn how to travel, move in our life
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  • With uncertainty ahead of us.
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  • Now to learn to travel in the fog in order to take
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  • That next step toward your second-act in life,
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  • There are three requirements for traveling in life
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  • With limited visibility.
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  • First of all, you have to have a need.
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  • I mean, there has to be a need in your life
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  • That actually compels you
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  • To start traveling even though you can't see
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  • Clearly in front of you.
  • 00:11:08.624 --> 00:11:10.092
  • Now, for me, you know, it would've been nice to wait
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  • Till 9 or 10 o'clock in the morning to leave,
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  • But i had a need to get into class,
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  • Or i had a need to go to work and make a living.
  • 00:11:16.732 --> 00:11:19.568
  • So that need compelled me to start moving forward
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  • With limited visibility.
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  • You know, to move forward in life with limited visibility,
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  • We have to develop a case of what i call holy discontent.
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  • We have to be so discontent
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  • With our present situation that we say, "you know what?
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  • It's time for me to start moving."
  • 00:11:41.257 --> 00:11:44.226
  • You all remember the cartoon character popeye?
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  • Remember popeye?
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  • Popeye, every episode was the same,
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  • It seemed like a pop eye.
  • 00:11:52.301 --> 00:11:54.236
  • You know, popeye would always reach that point
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  • When he was absolutely frustrated beyond description,
  • 00:11:56.705 --> 00:12:00.209
  • It was usually over losing his lovely girl olive oyl
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  • To brutus, remember?
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  • And i mean, he would become so upset,
  • 00:12:06.348 --> 00:12:09.919
  • He would say, remember, "that's all i can stand.
  • 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:13.589
  • I can't stands no more."
  • 00:12:13.589 --> 00:12:15.925
  • And with that, he would grab his can of spinach,
  • 00:12:15.925 --> 00:12:18.227
  • Rip it open, gulp it down, his biceps would start to bulge.
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  • He was ready for his second-act in life.
  • 00:12:21.597 --> 00:12:24.700
  • Remember that, popeye.
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  • You know, we all have a popeye moment in life
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  • When we say, "that's all i can stand
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  • And i can't stands no more."
  • 00:12:34.043 --> 00:12:36.812
  • "i can't stand being in this dead end job any longer."
  • 00:12:36.812 --> 00:12:41.717
  • "i can't stand living alone any longer."
  • 00:12:41.717 --> 00:12:45.654
  • "i can't stand having a mediocre relationship with god."
  • 00:12:45.654 --> 00:12:50.159
  • "that's all i can stand and i can't stand no more."
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  • It's that need that propels us forward
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  • And that leads to the second step for traveling in the fog,
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  • And that means movement.
  • 00:12:59.768 --> 00:13:01.503
  • I mean, once we've had our popeye moment,
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  • As one writer calls it, we need to start moving.
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  • We just don't sit and stew over our discontent.
  • 00:13:06.575 --> 00:13:09.445
  • We need to start moving.
  • 00:13:09.445 --> 00:13:11.480
  • And if we can't see clearly ahead of us,
  • 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:13.415
  • It means just taking that first step,
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  • Moving slowly but moving.
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  • You know, one writer observes
  • 00:13:18.954 --> 00:13:20.456
  • That when you look at the early church,
  • 00:13:20.456 --> 00:13:21.991
  • You look at the apostles,
  • 00:13:21.991 --> 00:13:23.626
  • Often, they didn't do everything correctly.
  • 00:13:23.626 --> 00:13:26.328
  • They didn't have 100% visibility,
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  • But they were moved to action anyway.
  • 00:13:29.031 --> 00:13:31.734
  • Jesus had said, "go.
  • 00:13:31.734 --> 00:13:34.069
  • Go into all the world and make disciples."
  • 00:13:34.069 --> 00:13:37.306
  • One writer says it this way,
  • 00:13:37.306 --> 00:13:39.275
  • "the early church didn't get everything right.
  • 00:13:39.275 --> 00:13:42.144
  • The early communities were far from perfect.
  • 00:13:42.144 --> 00:13:45.147
  • No one, not even the apostles, had a perfect understanding.
  • 00:13:45.147 --> 00:13:49.251
  • Many of us want a map,
  • 00:13:49.251 --> 00:13:50.953
  • But instead god gives us a compass.
  • 00:13:50.953 --> 00:13:55.090
  • We are not given a detailed outline
  • 00:13:55.090 --> 00:13:57.092
  • Of how we should live each day.
  • 00:13:57.092 --> 00:13:59.595
  • We are given a due north,
  • 00:13:59.595 --> 00:14:01.263
  • A direction we should be moving toward.
  • 00:14:01.263 --> 00:14:03.999
  • On this journey, one thing becomes certain,
  • 00:14:03.999 --> 00:14:06.936
  • When you move forward on what you know,
  • 00:14:06.936 --> 00:14:11.106
  • Things become clearer.
  • 00:14:11.607 --> 00:14:13.609
  • When you refuse to act, what you don't know paralyzes you."
  • 00:14:13.609 --> 00:14:19.014
  • Folks, that's worth the price of the sermon right there.
  • 00:14:20.149 --> 00:14:23.052
  • If you'll take that first step,
  • 00:14:23.052 --> 00:14:25.187
  • You'll find that second step becomes easier.
  • 00:14:25.187 --> 00:14:27.957
  • And then the third step, and then the fourth step.
  • 00:14:27.957 --> 00:14:30.726
  • There's got to be movement.
  • 00:14:30.726 --> 00:14:33.295
  • And the third ingredient of traveling
  • 00:14:33.295 --> 00:14:35.998
  • With limited visibility is faith.
  • 00:14:35.998 --> 00:14:39.101
  • You know, even though we can't see with 100% visibility,
  • 00:14:39.101 --> 00:14:42.805
  • God sees everything clearly.
  • 00:14:42.805 --> 00:14:45.441
  • He knows what is ahead of us,
  • 00:14:45.441 --> 00:14:47.543
  • And that just as he leads us to take that first step,
  • 00:14:47.543 --> 00:14:50.379
  • He will continue to lead us to our future.
  • 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:54.149
  • You know, i think of a great illustration
  • 00:14:54.149 --> 00:14:56.318
  • Of that truth is moses and the israelites.
  • 00:14:56.318 --> 00:15:00.522
  • Remember the weather vane in moses' life
  • 00:15:00.522 --> 00:15:03.025
  • That signaled that it was finally time for him
  • 00:15:03.025 --> 00:15:05.461
  • To realize his dream of being the leader of the exodus
  • 00:15:05.461 --> 00:15:08.597
  • And taking the people out of egypt to the promised land?
  • 00:15:08.597 --> 00:15:11.367
  • For moses, that weather vane that changed
  • 00:15:11.367 --> 00:15:14.937
  • Was the attitude of pharaoh.
  • 00:15:14.937 --> 00:15:17.439
  • After those 10 plagues, pharaoh had had enough,
  • 00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:20.142
  • He said, "go and get out of here as quickly as you can."
  • 00:15:20.142 --> 00:15:24.179
  • Moses didn't say, "well, let me pray about that
  • 00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:26.048
  • A longer and see."
  • 00:15:26.048 --> 00:15:27.583
  • No, he knew that was god's way of saying
  • 00:15:27.583 --> 00:15:30.552
  • It is time to move forward.
  • 00:15:30.552 --> 00:15:31.987
  • So he told his people in a short amount of time,
  • 00:15:31.987 --> 00:15:34.857
  • "you know, throw your tunics in a suitcase,
  • 00:15:34.857 --> 00:15:37.026
  • Strap your sandals on.
  • 00:15:37.026 --> 00:15:38.327
  • We are headed out of here."
  • 00:15:38.327 --> 00:15:40.562
  • By the way, i bet you never thought of this.
  • 00:15:40.562 --> 00:15:44.633
  • Moving millions of people out of egypt to the promised land,
  • 00:15:45.834 --> 00:15:49.238
  • Moses wouldn't have been ready to do that
  • 00:15:49.238 --> 00:15:51.740
  • If he had not developed a second-act script,
  • 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:55.277
  • If he had not formulated a plan and thought about it,
  • 00:15:55.277 --> 00:15:58.313
  • "how am i going to move these people when the time comes?"
  • 00:15:58.313 --> 00:16:01.350
  • He had planned it very, very carefully.
  • 00:16:01.350 --> 00:16:04.586
  • And so they left egypt
  • 00:16:04.586 --> 00:16:06.422
  • And they were headed toward their future.
  • 00:16:06.422 --> 00:16:08.490
  • But there was one obstacle that stood between israel
  • 00:16:08.490 --> 00:16:11.994
  • And our promised future.
  • 00:16:11.994 --> 00:16:13.962
  • It was called the red sea.
  • 00:16:13.962 --> 00:16:17.132
  • Think about it.
  • 00:16:17.499 --> 00:16:18.767
  • Here the israelites had been told to leave.
  • 00:16:18.767 --> 00:16:21.103
  • They had the egyptians in hot pursuit behind them,
  • 00:16:21.103 --> 00:16:23.972
  • And now they face this wall of water,
  • 00:16:23.972 --> 00:16:26.308
  • This massive body of water, the red sea, in front of them.
  • 00:16:26.308 --> 00:16:29.745
  • Basically, they have two choices:
  • 00:16:29.745 --> 00:16:32.181
  • Be slaughtered by the egyptians from behind
  • 00:16:32.181 --> 00:16:35.784
  • Or to drown by the water in front of them.
  • 00:16:35.784 --> 00:16:38.921
  • Talk about a difficult dilemma.
  • 00:16:38.921 --> 00:16:41.457
  • And the people cried out to god.
  • 00:16:41.457 --> 00:16:43.025
  • They said, "god, why have you put us in this predicament?
  • 00:16:43.025 --> 00:16:46.095
  • Why would you let us die like this?"
  • 00:16:46.095 --> 00:16:48.397
  • Remember what god said, exodus 14:15?
  • 00:16:48.397 --> 00:16:51.733
  • Then the lord said to moses, "why are you crying out to me?
  • 00:16:51.733 --> 00:16:57.039
  • Tell the sons of israel to move forward."
  • 00:16:57.906 --> 00:17:03.579
  • Forward?
  • 00:17:03.812 --> 00:17:05.314
  • Was god directionally challenged?
  • 00:17:05.314 --> 00:17:07.649
  • Move forward, that meant moving into the red sea,
  • 00:17:07.649 --> 00:17:10.752
  • That meant certain death.
  • 00:17:10.752 --> 00:17:13.589
  • What was he talking about?
  • 00:17:13.589 --> 00:17:15.724
  • Of course, you know the rest of the story.
  • 00:17:15.724 --> 00:17:17.659
  • They moved forward.
  • 00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:18.794
  • God miraculously part of the red sea.
  • 00:17:18.794 --> 00:17:21.363
  • The israelites went through safely,
  • 00:17:21.363 --> 00:17:23.165
  • And once the final israelite had made it through,
  • 00:17:23.165 --> 00:17:25.534
  • God closed the red sea and all the egyptians were drowned.
  • 00:17:25.534 --> 00:17:29.972
  • What a story, and that would make a good movie.
  • 00:17:29.972 --> 00:17:33.108
  • Somebody ought do that sometime.
  • 00:17:33.108 --> 00:17:35.711
  • You know, there's one hero in this story though,
  • 00:17:36.712 --> 00:17:39.014
  • Who gets absolutely no credit.
  • 00:17:39.014 --> 00:17:42.117
  • And it wasn't moses by the way.
  • 00:17:42.117 --> 00:17:44.286
  • Moses was a good guy,
  • 00:17:44.286 --> 00:17:45.821
  • But he was over on the side with his arms outstretched.
  • 00:17:45.821 --> 00:17:48.390
  • He weren't in any real danger.
  • 00:17:48.390 --> 00:17:50.159
  • You know the unsung hero in that story?
  • 00:17:50.159 --> 00:17:52.961
  • It was the first israelite in line,
  • 00:17:52.961 --> 00:17:56.198
  • The first one in line who had to obey
  • 00:17:56.965 --> 00:17:59.601
  • When god said, "go forward."
  • 00:17:59.601 --> 00:18:01.336
  • Can you imagine the faith that took?
  • 00:18:01.336 --> 00:18:03.805
  • I mean, to step out onto that soggy ground
  • 00:18:03.805 --> 00:18:06.942
  • That had just moments earlier
  • 00:18:06.942 --> 00:18:08.544
  • Been the bottom of the red sea,
  • 00:18:08.544 --> 00:18:11.113
  • To see those massive walls of water on either side,
  • 00:18:11.113 --> 00:18:14.516
  • And god said, "go forward."
  • 00:18:14.516 --> 00:18:16.485
  • And if i had been that guy, i probably said,
  • 00:18:16.485 --> 00:18:18.854
  • "now, is that really god speaking to me, telling me that?"
  • 00:18:18.854 --> 00:18:22.624
  • Or "god, i know you want me to go forward,
  • 00:18:22.624 --> 00:18:25.327
  • But do you mind sending me another sign?
  • 00:18:25.327 --> 00:18:27.462
  • This is a good one, but i'd like another sign."
  • 00:18:27.462 --> 00:18:30.399
  • No, that first israelite didn't do that.
  • 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:33.969
  • You know why?
  • 00:18:33.969 --> 00:18:35.470
  • He had had his popeye moment.
  • 00:18:36.104 --> 00:18:38.807
  • He had been in slavery in egypt,
  • 00:18:39.441 --> 00:18:41.143
  • And he said, "that's all i can stand.
  • 00:18:41.143 --> 00:18:43.679
  • I can't stands no more.
  • 00:18:43.679 --> 00:18:46.148
  • I'm ready to get out of here.
  • 00:18:46.148 --> 00:18:47.549
  • I'm ready to move toward that future god has for me.
  • 00:18:47.549 --> 00:18:50.619
  • And i believe that the same god who miraculously
  • 00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:53.922
  • Has led me to this point in my life is going to take care of me
  • 00:18:53.922 --> 00:18:58.727
  • Until i get to the other side."
  • 00:18:58.727 --> 00:19:01.063
  • We have to have faith if we're going to move forward
  • 00:19:02.130 --> 00:19:05.901
  • Toward our second act in life.
  • 00:19:05.901 --> 00:19:08.303
  • That leads to the final principle
  • 00:19:08.303 --> 00:19:10.339
  • For knowing when it's time to begin your second act.
  • 00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:14.309
  • Appreciate the importance of now.
  • 00:19:14.309 --> 00:19:18.347
  • The tv interviewer barbara walters was once asked,
  • 00:19:19.348 --> 00:19:22.017
  • "what is your greatest lesson you've ever learned in life?"
  • 00:19:22.017 --> 00:19:25.120
  • Her response, "the greatest lesson i've learned in life is,
  • 00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:28.890
  • In life, there are no dress rehearsals."
  • 00:19:28.890 --> 00:19:32.995
  • This is all that there is in this life anyway.
  • 00:19:33.895 --> 00:19:36.398
  • There are no do-overs in life.
  • 00:19:36.398 --> 00:19:39.601
  • There are no dress rehearsals.
  • 00:19:39.601 --> 00:19:41.169
  • The time for our second act is now.
  • 00:19:41.169 --> 00:19:44.306
  • A scholar, bible scholar, once did a survey
  • 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:47.843
  • Of the most important words in the bible,
  • 00:19:47.843 --> 00:19:51.079
  • The saddest word in the bible,
  • 00:19:51.713 --> 00:19:54.116
  • The happiest word in the bible.
  • 00:19:54.116 --> 00:19:56.652
  • But one of the chapters he did was the most dangerous
  • 00:19:56.652 --> 00:20:00.355
  • Word in the bible.
  • 00:20:00.355 --> 00:20:02.357
  • Do you know what the most dangerous word in the bible is?
  • 00:20:02.357 --> 00:20:05.861
  • It's the word tomorrow.
  • 00:20:05.861 --> 00:20:08.664
  • "tomorrow," he concluded, "is a thief that robs dreamers
  • 00:20:09.798 --> 00:20:13.135
  • Of their dreams and the gifted of great accomplishments."
  • 00:20:13.135 --> 00:20:18.407
  • The great pastor charles haddon spurgeon agreed,
  • 00:20:19.341 --> 00:20:21.009
  • Writing, "tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.
  • 00:20:21.009 --> 00:20:25.180
  • Alas, tomorrow never comes.
  • 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:27.582
  • It is on no calendar except the almanac of fools."
  • 00:20:27.582 --> 00:20:32.921
  • You know, i've often thought it ironic
  • 00:20:33.755 --> 00:20:35.457
  • That we who are human beings,
  • 00:20:35.457 --> 00:20:37.025
  • Who are nothing more than vapors that appear
  • 00:20:37.025 --> 00:20:38.894
  • In this little world,
  • 00:20:38.894 --> 00:20:40.329
  • In this world for a little while and then vanish,
  • 00:20:40.329 --> 00:20:42.030
  • We who are human beings, we treat time as if
  • 00:20:42.030 --> 00:20:46.101
  • It is limitless.
  • 00:20:46.101 --> 00:20:48.470
  • And yet the god who is from everlasting to everlasting,
  • 00:20:48.470 --> 00:20:52.741
  • He says, "no, time is not limitless.
  • 00:20:52.741 --> 00:20:55.310
  • It is valuable."
  • 00:20:55.310 --> 00:20:57.479
  • For us who are finite human beings,
  • 00:20:57.479 --> 00:20:59.214
  • You know, the opportune time to begin something is tomorrow.
  • 00:20:59.214 --> 00:21:03.118
  • But god says, "the opportune time
  • 00:21:03.118 --> 00:21:06.021
  • To begin something is today."
  • 00:21:06.021 --> 00:21:08.957
  • Over and over again in scripture,
  • 00:21:09.725 --> 00:21:11.293
  • You see the importance of today.
  • 00:21:11.293 --> 00:21:14.262
  • Psalm 118:24, "this is the day the lord has made,"
  • 00:21:14.262 --> 00:21:19.634
  • Or hebrews 3:13, "but encourage one another day after day,
  • 00:21:20.769 --> 00:21:25.707
  • For as long it is still called today."
  • 00:21:25.707 --> 00:21:29.544
  • Or hebrews 4:7, "today, if you hear god's voice."
  • 00:21:29.544 --> 00:21:35.717
  • Has some significant weather vane changed in your life?
  • 00:21:36.818 --> 00:21:41.089
  • Are the winds starting to blow another direction?
  • 00:21:41.089 --> 00:21:43.091
  • Is something signifying that god is ready for you
  • 00:21:43.091 --> 00:21:46.161
  • To begin your second act now?
  • 00:21:46.161 --> 00:21:49.398
  • If so, stop waiting.
  • 00:21:49.398 --> 00:21:51.600
  • Stop postponing.
  • 00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:53.301
  • Stop saying, "well, once the mortgage is paid off,"
  • 00:21:53.301 --> 00:21:57.105
  • Or "once the kids are gone,"
  • 00:21:57.105 --> 00:21:59.374
  • Or "once the future is certain
  • 00:21:59.374 --> 00:22:00.876
  • And i have perfect visibility,
  • 00:22:00.876 --> 00:22:02.711
  • Then i will take that first step."
  • 00:22:02.711 --> 00:22:05.781
  • No.
  • 00:22:05.781 --> 00:22:07.082
  • God has not given us any guarantee of tomorrow,
  • 00:22:07.082 --> 00:22:10.252
  • Not in this life anyway.
  • 00:22:10.252 --> 00:22:11.987
  • The only thing he has promised is today.
  • 00:22:11.987 --> 00:22:16.324
  • I saw a sign one time on a businessman's office.
  • 00:22:16.324 --> 00:22:19.928
  • I've remembered it for years.
  • 00:22:19.928 --> 00:22:21.196
  • It said, "20 years from now,
  • 00:22:21.196 --> 00:22:25.700
  • What will you regret that you didn't do today?"
  • 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:30.539
  • 20 years from now, what will you regret
  • 00:22:31.373 --> 00:22:33.608
  • That you didn't do today?
  • 00:22:33.608 --> 00:22:36.411
  • You know, i imagine most of you here this morning
  • 00:22:36.411 --> 00:22:39.281
  • Already know the answer to that question.
  • 00:22:39.281 --> 00:22:41.917
  • Why 20 years from now be filled with regret?
  • 00:22:42.851 --> 00:22:46.955
  • Why not go ahead and take that first step you know
  • 00:22:46.955 --> 00:22:50.492
  • That god is leading you to take?
  • 00:22:50.492 --> 00:22:53.528
  • "today, if you hear my voice."
  • 00:22:53.528 --> 00:22:58.467
  • The lights are dimming, the orchestra is tuning up,
  • 00:22:59.501 --> 00:23:03.705
  • The divine director is giving you the cue.
  • 00:23:03.705 --> 00:23:07.776
  • The time for your second act is now.
  • 00:23:07.776 --> 00:23:16.318
  • Is god stirring in your heart
  • 00:23:16.952 --> 00:23:18.520
  • To make some changes in your life?
  • 00:23:18.520 --> 00:23:20.822
  • It's certainly no mistake that you're listening
  • 00:23:20.822 --> 00:23:23.024
  • To "pathway to victory" right now
  • 00:23:23.024 --> 00:23:25.360
  • Because your best life is still ahead
  • 00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:28.063
  • When you're willing to take your first steps toward god.
  • 00:23:28.063 --> 00:23:31.833
  • In closing, i'd like to encourage those of you
  • 00:23:31.833 --> 00:23:34.002
  • Who financially support the growing ministry
  • 00:23:34.002 --> 00:23:37.072
  • Of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:37.072 --> 00:23:38.840
  • Because of your giving, we were able to expand
  • 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:41.409
  • Our ministry in recent months.
  • 00:23:41.409 --> 00:23:43.578
  • As a result, we reached somebody that i'll call bob.
  • 00:23:43.578 --> 00:23:47.148
  • Bob wrote and said he was one of 10 children
  • 00:23:47.148 --> 00:23:49.818
  • Given up for adoption.
  • 00:23:49.818 --> 00:23:51.553
  • Until the age of 18, bob spent his entire life
  • 00:23:51.553 --> 00:23:55.123
  • Angry with his mother.
  • 00:23:55.123 --> 00:23:56.858
  • That is until he heard the "pathway to victory" message
  • 00:23:56.858 --> 00:24:00.262
  • About the power of forgiveness,
  • 00:24:00.262 --> 00:24:02.731
  • That program changed bob's life,
  • 00:24:02.731 --> 00:24:05.200
  • And he said he's forever grateful to god for that message.
  • 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:09.504
  • That's how partnering with "pathway to victory"
  • 00:24:09.504 --> 00:24:11.773
  • Pierces the darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:24:11.773 --> 00:24:15.410
  • Thank you so much for your continued financial support.
  • 00:24:15.410 --> 00:24:19.481
  • God is using your gifts to liberate people
  • 00:24:19.481 --> 00:24:22.117
  • Who desperately need a second chance in life.
  • 00:24:22.117 --> 00:24:25.854
  • Now, stay right there.
  • 00:24:25.854 --> 00:24:27.122
  • I'll be back with more in just a moment.
  • 00:24:27.122 --> 00:24:31.426
  • [narrator] all of us carry some measure
  • 00:24:32.260 --> 00:24:33.762
  • Of regret about the past.
  • 00:24:33.762 --> 00:24:35.497
  • Thankfully, no mistake is too big for god to forgive.
  • 00:24:35.497 --> 00:24:39.167
  • In his bestselling book, "second chance, second act,"
  • 00:24:39.167 --> 00:24:42.137
  • Dr. robert jeffress shares how god
  • 00:24:42.137 --> 00:24:44.139
  • Can turn your biggest mess into your greatest success.
  • 00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:48.043
  • In my book, "second chance, second act,"
  • 00:24:48.043 --> 00:24:50.579
  • You'll discover five biblical strategies
  • 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:53.715
  • For turning your messes into successes.
  • 00:24:53.715 --> 00:24:56.952
  • You'll learn to overcome the guilt, suffering,
  • 00:24:56.952 --> 00:24:59.454
  • And regret of your past mistakes,
  • 00:24:59.454 --> 00:25:01.756
  • And you'll read stories from scripture that prove
  • 00:25:01.756 --> 00:25:04.492
  • Beyond a shadow of a doubt that god is in the business
  • 00:25:04.492 --> 00:25:08.196
  • Of second chances.
  • 00:25:08.196 --> 00:25:10.131
  • [narrator] a copy of the book,
  • 00:25:10.131 --> 00:25:11.433
  • "second chance, second act" is yours today
  • 00:25:11.433 --> 00:25:13.168
  • When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:25:13.168 --> 00:25:16.304
  • And when your gift is $75 or more,
  • 00:25:16.304 --> 00:25:19.207
  • You'll also receive all eight of the original
  • 00:25:19.207 --> 00:25:21.676
  • Unabridged messages from the "second chance, second act"
  • 00:25:21.676 --> 00:25:24.779
  • Teaching series on dvd and mp3 format audio disc.
  • 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:28.750
  • Ladies and gentlemen, i don't care what failure
  • 00:25:28.750 --> 00:25:31.853
  • You have experienced.
  • 00:25:31.853 --> 00:25:33.822
  • Your failure, your sin doesn't have to be
  • 00:25:33.822 --> 00:25:36.324
  • The final word about your life story.
  • 00:25:36.324 --> 00:25:39.094
  • That's what redemption is all about.
  • 00:25:39.094 --> 00:25:42.263
  • [narrator] together through the ministry
  • 00:25:42.263 --> 00:25:43.598
  • Of "pathway to victory,"
  • 00:25:43.598 --> 00:25:45.233
  • We are sharing the timeless wisdom
  • 00:25:45.233 --> 00:25:46.935
  • And truth of god's word with the world in need,
  • 00:25:46.935 --> 00:25:50.105
  • And your support makes it possible.
  • 00:25:50.105 --> 00:25:52.240
  • Thank you for partnering with us to share the gospel
  • 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:55.043
  • And change lives through the bold proclamation of scripture.
  • 00:25:55.043 --> 00:26:00.982
  • Perhaps today, you find yourself languishing
  • 00:26:01.883 --> 00:26:04.552
  • Through an intermission in life
  • 00:26:04.552 --> 00:26:06.721
  • And you're waiting for your second act to begin.
  • 00:26:06.721 --> 00:26:10.058
  • I can't tell you exactly when that time will come,
  • 00:26:10.058 --> 00:26:12.994
  • But i hope you'll use this waiting period
  • 00:26:12.994 --> 00:26:15.697
  • To write your second-act script
  • 00:26:15.697 --> 00:26:18.066
  • And learn to travel in the fog.
  • 00:26:18.066 --> 00:26:20.535
  • And if god is telling you that your second act
  • 00:26:20.535 --> 00:26:23.371
  • Is ready to begin, the best time to start is right now.
  • 00:26:23.371 --> 00:26:28.710
  • Well, god gives most people 70 or 80 years
  • 00:26:29.611 --> 00:26:31.613
  • On the theatrical stage of life,
  • 00:26:31.613 --> 00:26:34.149
  • But our story extends much farther than that.
  • 00:26:34.149 --> 00:26:37.519
  • And next time, i want to help you understand
  • 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:40.055
  • How your life fits into the larger drama
  • 00:26:40.055 --> 00:26:43.124
  • That has been going on since the beginning of time.
  • 00:26:43.124 --> 00:26:46.227
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
  • 00:26:46.227 --> 00:26:49.264
  • On "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:49.264 --> 00:26:51.933
  • We are all in a theater.
  • 00:26:52.434 --> 00:26:54.069
  • We are on life's stage.
  • 00:26:54.069 --> 00:26:56.805
  • What i'm saying to you is, ladies and gentlemen,
  • 00:26:56.805 --> 00:26:58.640
  • You'll never be able to understand the whole of your life,
  • 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:02.644
  • Including your failures,
  • 00:27:02.644 --> 00:27:04.813
  • Until you understand that your life story
  • 00:27:04.813 --> 00:27:07.916
  • Is part of a larger epic drama
  • 00:27:07.916 --> 00:27:11.486
  • That has been going on since the beginning of time.
  • 00:27:11.486 --> 00:27:14.422
  • [narrator] set your dvr and join us next time
  • 00:27:14.422 --> 00:27:16.658
  • For the message prepare for the grand finale
  • 00:27:16.658 --> 00:27:19.661
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:19.661 --> 00:27:19.661