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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Booting Up For Service

March 16, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Booting Up For Service
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#WordofGod #Satan #LoveofGod #Courage #TrustGod #LoveyourNeighbor #RobertJeffress

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Booting Up For Service | March 16, 2026
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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  • With dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • Every believer has been given a holy assignment, and it's not
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  • Reserved for pastors and missionaries.
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  • The privilege of sharing the gospel belongs to each one
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  • Of us.
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  • But how do we go about making god's business our business, and
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  • What does it take to share our faith in a way that truly
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  • Connects with other people?
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  • Today i'm going to share with you four essential components
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  • For building a gospel-centered life.
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  • My message is titled "booting up for service" on today's edition
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  • Of "pathway to victory."
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  • Announcer: whether you know it or not, you're in a battle.
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  • Satan has a strategy to attack your faith, disrupt your family,
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  • And derail your future, but god has given you everything you
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  • Need to fight back and win.
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  • In "the divine defense," dr. robert jeffress reveals six
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  • Practical strategies from ephesians chapter 6 to defeat
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  • Satan's destructive plan.
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  • When you put on the full armor of god, satan doesn't have
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  • A prayer.
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  • Request "the divine defense" when you give a generous
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  • Ministry gift to "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: one day, the famed evangelist d.l.
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  • Moody was on the streets of chicago and approached a
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  • Stranger and said, "sir, are you a christian?"
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  • The man growled and said, "mind your own business."
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  • Moody replied, "this is my business."
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  • D.l. moody was a shoe salesman
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  • By vocation, but he understood his
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  • Real assignment was sharing the gospel of jesus christ with as
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  • Many people as possible.
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  • You see, the duty, the privilege of sharing the gospel isn't
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  • Reserved for pastors or evangelists.
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  • It's the purpose of every believer in jesus christ, and
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  • That's what we've seen over the last few weeks.
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  • When you make god's business your business or, as paul said,
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  • When you put on the boots of the preparation of the gospel of
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  • Peace, when you do that, it gives you stability, it gives
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  • You direction, it gives you fulfillment in life.
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  • But we've also seen that making god's business your business can
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  • Be a strong solution to the problem of satan's attacks in
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  • Your life.
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  • And that's why in ephesians chapter 6 when paul gives us the
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  • Weapons we can use to thwart satan's plan to destroy our
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  • Life, he talks about the purpose of our life, the shoes of
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  • The gospel.
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  • How does making god's business your business help you defeat
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  • Satan's attack to destroy you?
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  • Well, it gives us an incentive to choose purity
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  • Over immorality.
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  • It helps us choose generosity over greed.
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  • It helps us choose discipline over aimlessness.
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  • "well, pastor, how do you exactly go about that?
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  • How can you make god's purpose, god's business your business?"
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  • And that's what we're gonna talk about for the few moments we
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  • Have today.
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  • If you're going to reorder your life, if you're truly going to
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  • Make god's purpose your purpose in life, there are four
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  • Important components to doing just that.
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  • First of all, write this down, you need to have a conviction of
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  • Other people's need for christ.
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  • You need to have a conviction of other people's need for christ.
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  • Before you build your whole life around spreading the gospel,
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  • Before you take the risk in talking to a non-christian about
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  • Their need for jesus, you have to be persuaded, convicted that
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  • Apart from jesus christ everyone is destined for an eternity in
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  • Hell separated from god.
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  • You know why most people don't share the gospel?
  • 00:04:06.369 --> 00:04:08.438
  • Because they're not really convinced of that truth.
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  • Deep down they don't believe there's only one way to escape
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  • The flames of hell.
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  • Some years ago the washington times did a story about my book
  • 00:04:18.114 --> 00:04:22.618
  • That had just been released; and i talked about seven of the most
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  • Politically-incorrect beliefs a christian can hold, and one of
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  • Those beliefs--one of the chapters in the book was "every
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  • Other religion is wrong."
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  • Well, people bristled to that and so the washington times
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  • Asked a famous rabbi from new york what he thought of my book,
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  • And he said,
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  • "dr. jeffress is doing his faith a profound disservice.
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  • The claim that there is only one way, that all others will go to
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  • Hell betrays christianity," the rabbi said.
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  • "his views are outmoded christianity that has been
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  • Disregarded by most of its believers."
  • 00:05:00.056 --> 00:05:04.227
  • Well, the good rabbi was right on one point.
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  • The idea that there's only one way to heaven is a belief that
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  • Has been disputed and rejected by the majority of
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  • Christians today.
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  • When i preached a sermon one time in our church on the error
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  • Of islam, a man wrote an angry letter to the editor of the
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  • Dallas morning news and the paper published the letter, and
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  • This is what the man said: "the first baptist church pastor's
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  • Comments about islam serve only to foster bigotry and hatred,
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  • Not understanding and tolerance.
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  • Anyone who thinks that islam is an evil religion does not
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  • Understand what islam is all about, and i'm speaking as a
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  • Lifelong christian and baptist.
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  • As for jeffress' comments about islam being, quote, 'a false
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  • Religion built upon a false book written by a false prophet,' i
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  • Say so what?
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  • Being an american and living in the usa means that we tolerate
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  • All religions and respect freedom of choice in
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  • Religious matters."
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  • This man, this so-called christian is not unusual in
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  • His beliefs.
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  • A pew research poll revealed that 57% of christians reject
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  • The idea that there is only one way to heaven.
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  • You have to have a conviction of people's need for the gospel.
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  • Secondly, a gospel-centered life is one that has confidence in
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  • God's power to save.
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  • There has to be a confidence in god's power to save.
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  • When you really are convinced that there's no other way for
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  • Salvation and that you are sharing a person's only hope,
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  • You'll be imbued with a whole kind of new courage and
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  • Enthusiasm for sharing the gospel.
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  • You'll have the courage of a firefighter who breaks down a
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  • Front door and goes into a burning building in order to
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  • Rescue those who are perishing.
  • 00:07:01.544 --> 00:07:04.647
  • I remember when i was in high school our associate pastor at
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  • This church was dr. jimmy draper, and dr. draper still
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  • Lives in the area.
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  • He still listens to our service.
  • 00:07:14.624 --> 00:07:16.359
  • But i remember he wrote a book and preached a sermon entitled
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  • "say neighbor--your house is on fire!"
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  • And he used this analogy that if you were walking by a neighbor's
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  • House and you saw the house was engulfed in flames you wouldn't
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  • Just walk by without doing anything.
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  • You wouldn't go to the front door and politely knock or ring
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  • The doorbell to see if anybody was home.
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  • You would bang on that door.
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  • You would yell as loudly as you can.
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  • You would tear down the door if you had to in order to
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  • Rescue somebody.
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  • It produces an urgency when you see a neighbor's house is
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  • On fire.
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  • Now, that was a great analogy as to how we ought to feel about
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  • Those who are lost without christ; but there's one way in
  • 00:07:54.630 --> 00:07:57.733
  • Which the analogy doesn't work, and it's this.
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  • The fact is it doesn't matter how loudly you yell, how
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  • Persistent you are, how persuasive you are in talking to
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  • A nonbeliever.
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  • You can't take somebody who is spiritually asleep and make them
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  • Spiritually awake.
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  • You can't resurrect a spiritually-dead person and make
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  • Them spiritually alive just by your words and your persuasion
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  • And your insistence.
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  • No.
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  • Jesus said in john 6:44, "no man can come to me unless the father
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  • Who sent me draws him."
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  • Yes, we can be persuasive, we can be committed and dedicated,
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  • But apart from the working of god nobody can be saved.
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  • The father has to draw someone to himself.
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  • God is going to save some people.
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  • We don't know who they are; but god is going to save some
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  • People, and he's gonna use you and me to be the instrument that
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  • Brings about their salvation.
  • 00:08:55.791 --> 00:08:58.094
  • The fact is we need to be convinced of god's ability to
  • 00:08:58.094 --> 00:09:02.365
  • Save somebody if we're going to make the gospel the center of
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  • Our life.
  • 00:09:05.735 --> 00:09:07.069
  • Thirdly, there needs to be a consideration of a person's
  • 00:09:07.069 --> 00:09:10.039
  • Level of interest.
  • 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:11.641
  • If we're gonna put on these boots of spreading the gospel
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  • And we wanna be effective in doing it, we need to take
  • 00:09:15.211 --> 00:09:19.882
  • Consideration of the person's level of interest that we're
  • 00:09:19.882 --> 00:09:23.686
  • Talking to.
  • 00:09:23.686 --> 00:09:25.054
  • You know, a number of evangelical organizations like
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  • Evangelism explosion that do such a great job in training
  • 00:09:28.257 --> 00:09:31.661
  • People in evangelism, they are moving from what we used to call
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  • Confrontational evangelism to relational evangelism.
  • 00:09:36.232 --> 00:09:41.871
  • What is relational evangelism?
  • 00:09:41.871 --> 00:09:43.973
  • It's evangelism that seeks not just to engage in presentation
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  • But communication.
  • 00:09:48.778 --> 00:09:50.346
  • You know there's a difference between presentation
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  • And communication.
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  • You can be talking, but nobody can be listening at the
  • 00:09:54.150 --> 00:09:57.153
  • Same time.
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  • Instead, michael simpson says in his book "permission evangelism"
  • 00:09:58.788 --> 00:10:02.591
  • We ought to adopt the best tactics of a good salesman.
  • 00:10:02.591 --> 00:10:06.228
  • A good salesman carefully crafts every communication to ensure
  • 00:10:06.228 --> 00:10:11.000
  • That there's another communication later.
  • 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.769
  • Simpson says it this way: "every communication must be crafted
  • 00:10:13.769 --> 00:10:18.207
  • With the goal of ensuring it's not the last communication.
  • 00:10:18.207 --> 00:10:22.578
  • The best way to do this is to make sure the customer knows
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  • That he is in charge of choosing how much information
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  • He receives.
  • 00:10:29.785 --> 00:10:31.187
  • He must know you will honor his choice at the level of his
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  • Willingness to engage.
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  • Otherwise, he'll feel pressured and threatened and trust will
  • 00:10:37.026 --> 00:10:40.463
  • Be broken.
  • 00:10:40.463 --> 00:10:41.831
  • The goal of permission evangelism is to get them to
  • 00:10:41.831 --> 00:10:45.768
  • Give you more and more permission over time until they
  • 00:10:45.768 --> 00:10:50.005
  • Say, 'i do.'"
  • 00:10:50.005 --> 00:10:52.708
  • I was talking with several people about this this week and
  • 00:10:52.708 --> 00:10:56.712
  • They rightly pointed out there's sometimes you need
  • 00:10:56.712 --> 00:10:59.348
  • Confrontational evangelism, there's sometimes there's not
  • 00:10:59.348 --> 00:11:02.418
  • Gonna be a second conversation.
  • 00:11:02.418 --> 00:11:04.053
  • I've had experiences like that on an airplane, talking to
  • 00:11:04.053 --> 00:11:06.956
  • Somebody, realize i'd never see this person again.
  • 00:11:06.956 --> 00:11:10.192
  • I tried not to dump it on them, but i gave them my best,
  • 00:11:10.192 --> 00:11:13.229
  • Everything i had to say about the gospel.
  • 00:11:13.229 --> 00:11:16.065
  • I've been sitting at the deathbed of somebody who was
  • 00:11:16.065 --> 00:11:20.102
  • About to go into eternity.
  • 00:11:20.102 --> 00:11:21.504
  • It was my last chance to talk to them.
  • 00:11:21.504 --> 00:11:23.606
  • I shared everything i could about the gospel.
  • 00:11:23.606 --> 00:11:27.042
  • But most of the people we interactive, our friends, our
  • 00:11:27.042 --> 00:11:30.412
  • Family members, our co-workers, we're gonna see them over and
  • 00:11:30.412 --> 00:11:33.949
  • Over again.
  • 00:11:33.949 --> 00:11:35.284
  • And if we really wanna communicate the gospel, we'll
  • 00:11:35.284 --> 00:11:38.287
  • Take into consideration their level of interest.
  • 00:11:38.287 --> 00:11:41.423
  • And then fourthly, if you're going to be gospel-centered,
  • 00:11:41.423 --> 00:11:44.460
  • There has to be a comprehension of the message.
  • 00:11:44.460 --> 00:11:47.830
  • This is the most important thing i could say today.
  • 00:11:47.830 --> 00:11:50.966
  • If we're going to be effective communicators of the gospel,
  • 00:11:50.966 --> 00:11:54.670
  • We've got to know what the message is.
  • 00:11:54.670 --> 00:11:57.540
  • You know, paul compares us to soldiers--christian soldiers,
  • 00:11:57.540 --> 00:12:01.210
  • But he uses another metaphor to describe our assignment.
  • 00:12:01.210 --> 00:12:05.047
  • It's found in 2 corinthians 5, verse 20.
  • 00:12:05.047 --> 00:12:07.750
  • "therefore, we are ambassadors for christ, as though god were
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  • Making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of christ, be
  • 00:12:12.922 --> 00:12:16.759
  • Reconciled to god."
  • 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:18.727
  • Now, in paul's day, an ambassador had the job of
  • 00:12:18.727 --> 00:12:22.164
  • Representing the king or the emperor's message to whomever
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  • The ambassador was talking.
  • 00:12:25.401 --> 00:12:27.770
  • Today we still have ambassadors, don't we?
  • 00:12:27.770 --> 00:12:30.673
  • The ambassador's job is not to formulate policy but to
  • 00:12:30.673 --> 00:12:35.578
  • Represent the policy of the government or, in our case,
  • 00:12:35.578 --> 00:12:38.881
  • The president.
  • 00:12:38.881 --> 00:12:41.150
  • Mike huckabee is a great friend of mine and of this church, and
  • 00:12:41.150 --> 00:12:45.421
  • He is our ambassador to israel.
  • 00:12:45.421 --> 00:12:48.824
  • And before mike left for israel, we had a great talk together.
  • 00:12:48.824 --> 00:12:52.595
  • But, you know, during our talk, never once did he say, "oh,
  • 00:12:52.595 --> 00:12:55.097
  • Robert, pray for me that i can solve this mess in gaza."
  • 00:12:55.097 --> 00:13:00.469
  • He never said, "pray for me that we'll know how to deal
  • 00:13:00.469 --> 00:13:03.439
  • With hamas.
  • 00:13:03.439 --> 00:13:05.074
  • Pray for me that i'll have wisdom in what i tell the
  • 00:13:05.074 --> 00:13:08.277
  • Israelis they can do and they can't do."
  • 00:13:08.277 --> 00:13:10.779
  • He never asked me to do that.
  • 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:12.581
  • Why?
  • 00:13:12.581 --> 00:13:13.916
  • He knows his job is not to formulate middle eastern policy.
  • 00:13:13.916 --> 00:13:17.720
  • If he tried to formulate policy, he knows he'd be on the next
  • 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:20.923
  • Plane back to the united states discharged from his service.
  • 00:13:20.923 --> 00:13:25.094
  • His job is to represent the president's policy to the nation
  • 00:13:25.094 --> 00:13:30.132
  • Of israel, and that is our job as well.
  • 00:13:30.132 --> 00:13:34.603
  • We are god's ambassadors.
  • 00:13:34.603 --> 00:13:36.772
  • Our job is not to formulate the gospel message.
  • 00:13:36.772 --> 00:13:40.342
  • We're not to talk about what we wish jesus had said instead of
  • 00:13:40.342 --> 00:13:44.113
  • What he actually said.
  • 00:13:44.113 --> 00:13:45.748
  • It's not our job to come up with a plan of salvation.
  • 00:13:45.748 --> 00:13:48.550
  • Our job as an ambassador is to represent clearly and faithfully
  • 00:13:48.550 --> 00:13:53.722
  • The message of the king of kings.
  • 00:13:53.722 --> 00:13:56.492
  • We have to understand what the message is.
  • 00:13:56.492 --> 00:13:59.361
  • Now, in these last remaining moments, i'm going to help you
  • 00:13:59.361 --> 00:14:02.865
  • Understand the message.
  • 00:14:02.865 --> 00:14:04.199
  • I'm going to give you the outline of a gospel presentation
  • 00:14:04.199 --> 00:14:07.736
  • You can use to share with your children, your grandchildren,
  • 00:14:07.736 --> 00:14:11.941
  • Family members, friends, or anybody you come in contact with
  • 00:14:11.941 --> 00:14:16.345
  • Who is interested in knowing christ as savior; and you'll
  • 00:14:16.345 --> 00:14:19.648
  • Notice there are four essentials to god's message of salvation.
  • 00:14:19.648 --> 00:14:24.887
  • And with each of those points, i'm giving you a scripture verse
  • 00:14:24.887 --> 00:14:29.525
  • Because in the end it's god's word, not my word, that
  • 00:14:29.525 --> 00:14:33.429
  • Saves somebody.
  • 00:14:33.429 --> 00:14:34.863
  • We need to use god's word as our authority, but each outline
  • 00:14:34.863 --> 00:14:38.867
  • Point also has an illustration.
  • 00:14:38.867 --> 00:14:41.203
  • We need to use illustrations.
  • 00:14:41.203 --> 00:14:42.871
  • Jesus used them.
  • 00:14:42.871 --> 00:14:44.206
  • The bible used them to help bring light to truth that seems
  • 00:14:44.206 --> 00:14:47.710
  • Abstract sometimes.
  • 00:14:47.710 --> 00:14:49.645
  • What do we need to know to articulate the gospel?
  • 00:14:49.645 --> 00:14:52.214
  • First of all, everyone has sinned.
  • 00:14:52.214 --> 00:14:55.684
  • Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fallen short of the
  • 00:14:55.684 --> 00:15:01.090
  • Glory of god."
  • 00:15:01.090 --> 00:15:02.524
  • What is sin?
  • 00:15:02.524 --> 00:15:03.859
  • It's disobedience to god's rules, god's laws; and the bible
  • 00:15:03.859 --> 00:15:07.262
  • Says we have all sinned.
  • 00:15:07.262 --> 00:15:09.131
  • We've all fallen short.
  • 00:15:09.131 --> 00:15:10.466
  • Now, some people have fallen more short than others, some
  • 00:15:10.466 --> 00:15:13.602
  • People are bigger sinners than others, but in the end it really
  • 00:15:13.602 --> 00:15:16.972
  • Doesn't matter, does it?
  • 00:15:16.972 --> 00:15:18.340
  • We've all sinned.
  • 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:20.109
  • And i used this illustration with somebody.
  • 00:15:20.109 --> 00:15:22.044
  • I said imagine three people are standing on the beach in malibu
  • 00:15:22.044 --> 00:15:27.249
  • And in a moment of insanity they decide to swim to hawaii.
  • 00:15:27.249 --> 00:15:31.653
  • So they jump into the waters and they begin swimming.
  • 00:15:31.653 --> 00:15:35.190
  • One person makes it 50 yards and he sinks.
  • 00:15:35.190 --> 00:15:39.328
  • He drowns.
  • 00:15:39.328 --> 00:15:40.662
  • The second person is able to go further.
  • 00:15:40.662 --> 00:15:42.431
  • He's able to go 500 yards and then he sinks.
  • 00:15:42.431 --> 00:15:46.001
  • The third person keeps going and going and going and going,
  • 00:15:46.001 --> 00:15:49.471
  • 2,554 miles.
  • 00:15:49.471 --> 00:15:52.875
  • He's within 1 mile when he sees the shores of waikiki and then
  • 00:15:52.875 --> 00:15:58.514
  • He sinks and dies.
  • 00:15:58.514 --> 00:16:01.183
  • Now, the question is, who made it to hawaii?
  • 00:16:01.183 --> 00:16:04.520
  • The second person swam further than the first one, the third
  • 00:16:04.520 --> 00:16:07.322
  • One did better than the second one, but none of them made it.
  • 00:16:07.322 --> 00:16:10.959
  • So does it really matter?
  • 00:16:10.959 --> 00:16:12.895
  • In the same way, we all have fallen short.
  • 00:16:12.895 --> 00:16:16.065
  • Some have fallen more short than others, but that's not
  • 00:16:16.065 --> 00:16:18.534
  • The issue.
  • 00:16:18.534 --> 00:16:19.902
  • We've all come short of the glory of god.
  • 00:16:19.902 --> 00:16:22.571
  • Everyone has sinned.
  • 00:16:22.571 --> 00:16:23.939
  • Secondly, we deserve to be punished for our sins.
  • 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:27.976
  • Romans 6:23 says the wages, the payment of our sin is death.
  • 00:16:27.976 --> 00:16:34.249
  • A wage is something you earn, you deserve; and the bible says
  • 00:16:34.249 --> 00:16:38.821
  • Because of our sin we have earned eternal death.
  • 00:16:38.821 --> 00:16:43.225
  • Not just physical death, but the death the bible talks about is
  • 00:16:43.225 --> 00:16:46.795
  • An eternal separation from god.
  • 00:16:46.795 --> 00:16:50.566
  • We all deserve to be punished by god.
  • 00:16:50.566 --> 00:16:54.169
  • When you steal something, you may suffer incarceration; when
  • 00:16:54.169 --> 00:16:59.541
  • You kill somebody, you may suffer the electric chair; but
  • 00:16:59.541 --> 00:17:02.911
  • The punishment we deserve is much worse than any of that.
  • 00:17:02.911 --> 00:17:05.948
  • We deserve to be eternally separated from god.
  • 00:17:05.948 --> 00:17:09.918
  • The third point is this.
  • 00:17:09.918 --> 00:17:12.321
  • Christ has died for our sins.
  • 00:17:12.321 --> 00:17:15.257
  • That's the heart of the gospel.
  • 00:17:15.257 --> 00:17:17.059
  • Romans 5:8, "but god demonstrated his love toward us,
  • 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:20.863
  • In that while we were yet sinners, he sent christ to die
  • 00:17:20.863 --> 00:17:25.134
  • For us."
  • 00:17:25.134 --> 00:17:26.502
  • Jesus willingly took the punishment for our sins.
  • 00:17:26.502 --> 00:17:30.205
  • When he died on the cross, he wasn't paying for his sins but
  • 00:17:30.205 --> 00:17:34.409
  • For our sins.
  • 00:17:34.409 --> 00:17:35.777
  • And sometimes i'll use this illustration.
  • 00:17:35.777 --> 00:17:38.280
  • A teenage girl was arrested for speeding.
  • 00:17:38.280 --> 00:17:42.618
  • She was brought before the court.
  • 00:17:42.618 --> 00:17:44.453
  • The judge fined her $200.
  • 00:17:44.453 --> 00:17:46.688
  • She didn't have the $200 and was about to be hauled off to jail
  • 00:17:46.688 --> 00:17:50.292
  • For 30 days.
  • 00:17:50.292 --> 00:17:52.161
  • The judge did something very unusual.
  • 00:17:52.161 --> 00:17:54.062
  • He stood up.
  • 00:17:54.062 --> 00:17:55.397
  • He took off his judicial robe.
  • 00:17:55.397 --> 00:17:56.932
  • He came down, reached into his wallet, took the $200 out, and
  • 00:17:56.932 --> 00:18:01.570
  • Paid the bailiff himself.
  • 00:18:01.570 --> 00:18:03.939
  • Now, why would he do that?
  • 00:18:03.939 --> 00:18:06.141
  • Because the man not only was the judge, he happened to be the
  • 00:18:06.141 --> 00:18:09.244
  • Girl's father.
  • 00:18:09.244 --> 00:18:11.280
  • Now, that's exactly what god has done for us.
  • 00:18:11.280 --> 00:18:14.149
  • The bible says god is both the just and the justifier.
  • 00:18:14.149 --> 00:18:18.921
  • God is just.
  • 00:18:18.921 --> 00:18:20.255
  • Means he cannot overlook sin.
  • 00:18:20.255 --> 00:18:22.391
  • Exodus 34:7 says, "i cannot leave the guilty unpunished."
  • 00:18:22.391 --> 00:18:26.862
  • Habakkuk the prophet said god's eyes are too pure to look
  • 00:18:26.862 --> 00:18:30.465
  • At evil.
  • 00:18:30.465 --> 00:18:31.800
  • God can't sweep sin under the sin.
  • 00:18:31.800 --> 00:18:34.403
  • God's holy nature demands that somebody has to pay for our sin.
  • 00:18:34.403 --> 00:18:39.107
  • But the good news of the gospel is god in heaven, even though he
  • 00:18:39.107 --> 00:18:44.313
  • Was god, he took off his heavenly robe and he came to
  • 00:18:44.313 --> 00:18:47.716
  • Earth in the form of jesus christ and he made the payment
  • 00:18:47.716 --> 00:18:51.420
  • For our sins.
  • 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:53.121
  • Christ died for our sins.
  • 00:18:53.121 --> 00:18:56.258
  • Fourth, and this is so important, we must receive god's
  • 00:18:56.258 --> 00:19:00.729
  • Gift of forgiveness.
  • 00:19:00.729 --> 00:19:02.598
  • When somebody says to you, "well, if christ died on the
  • 00:19:02.598 --> 00:19:05.500
  • Cross for my sins, that's all i need to do, right?
  • 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:08.470
  • He did it.
  • 00:19:08.470 --> 00:19:09.838
  • He's taken care of it."
  • 00:19:09.838 --> 00:19:11.173
  • Why isn't everybody saved if jesus died for everybody?
  • 00:19:11.173 --> 00:19:14.543
  • Here's the simple reason.
  • 00:19:14.543 --> 00:19:16.144
  • A gift is not a gift unless it's personally received.
  • 00:19:16.144 --> 00:19:21.383
  • John 1:12 says as many as received jesus, to those he gave
  • 00:19:21.383 --> 00:19:27.155
  • The power to become the children of god, even to those who
  • 00:19:27.155 --> 00:19:30.459
  • Believe on his name.
  • 00:19:30.459 --> 00:19:32.561
  • Sometimes i use this illustration.
  • 00:19:32.561 --> 00:19:34.496
  • A few years ago oprah winfrey had a television program, which
  • 00:19:34.496 --> 00:19:38.567
  • At the end of the program she had 250 members in the
  • 00:19:38.567 --> 00:19:41.436
  • Studio audience.
  • 00:19:41.436 --> 00:19:43.038
  • She gave each one of them a brand new automobile.
  • 00:19:43.038 --> 00:19:46.775
  • I mean, imagine their surprise.
  • 00:19:46.775 --> 00:19:48.443
  • They came to watch a tv show.
  • 00:19:48.443 --> 00:19:50.112
  • They ended up with a new car.
  • 00:19:50.112 --> 00:19:51.680
  • They were ecstatic until they discovered they had to pay
  • 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:55.250
  • Income tax on it.
  • 00:19:55.250 --> 00:19:57.286
  • The average tax bill was $7,500 for each audience member, but
  • 00:19:57.286 --> 00:20:02.758
  • Some of the audience members didn't have $7,500.
  • 00:20:02.758 --> 00:20:07.696
  • But, you know, the irs understands this truth; that
  • 00:20:07.696 --> 00:20:11.266
  • Unless you receive a gift, it's not a gift.
  • 00:20:11.266 --> 00:20:14.703
  • A gift has to be received to be a gift.
  • 00:20:14.703 --> 00:20:18.540
  • There are some audience members that refused the gift.
  • 00:20:18.540 --> 00:20:22.577
  • It's only those who accepted the gift who received the gift, and
  • 00:20:22.577 --> 00:20:26.882
  • The same is true with salvation.
  • 00:20:26.882 --> 00:20:29.318
  • There has to be a time that we acknowledge to god our desire to
  • 00:20:29.318 --> 00:20:33.989
  • Receive salvation in order to be saved.
  • 00:20:33.989 --> 00:20:38.627
  • You know, there are a lot of things i love about being the
  • 00:20:38.627 --> 00:20:41.997
  • Pastor of first baptist church dallas.
  • 00:20:41.997 --> 00:20:45.267
  • I love preaching, i love meeting with our staff, i love
  • 00:20:45.267 --> 00:20:48.637
  • Strategizing about the future, but none of those things
  • 00:20:48.637 --> 00:20:52.974
  • Compares to the joy that comes from being an instrument god
  • 00:20:52.974 --> 00:20:58.080
  • Uses to lead people from spiritual death to
  • 00:20:58.080 --> 00:21:01.850
  • Spiritual life.
  • 00:21:01.850 --> 00:21:03.185
  • There is no joy like seeing somebody come to faith in
  • 00:21:03.185 --> 00:21:07.389
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:21:07.389 --> 00:21:09.091
  • And, folks, that's not a joy that's reserved for pastors or
  • 00:21:09.091 --> 00:21:13.161
  • Missionaries or evangelists; that is a joy god wants every
  • 00:21:13.161 --> 00:21:17.466
  • One of us to experience, to make god's business, god's purpose
  • 00:21:17.466 --> 00:21:22.771
  • Your business.
  • 00:21:22.771 --> 00:21:25.140
  • J. campbell white has said it beautifully.
  • 00:21:25.140 --> 00:21:28.643
  • "most people are not satisfied with the permanent output of
  • 00:21:28.643 --> 00:21:32.614
  • Their lives.
  • 00:21:32.614 --> 00:21:33.949
  • Nothing can wholly satisfy the life of christ within his
  • 00:21:33.949 --> 00:21:37.552
  • Followers except the adoption of god's purpose toward the world
  • 00:21:37.552 --> 00:21:42.591
  • He came to redeem.
  • 00:21:42.591 --> 00:21:44.526
  • Fame, pleasure, and riches are but husks and ashes in contrast
  • 00:21:44.526 --> 00:21:51.099
  • With the boundless and abiding joy of working with god for the
  • 00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:55.170
  • Fulfillment of his eternal plans.
  • 00:21:55.170 --> 00:21:58.206
  • The people who are putting everything into christ
  • 00:21:58.206 --> 00:22:01.943
  • Undertakings are getting out of it life's sweetest and most
  • 00:22:01.943 --> 00:22:07.149
  • Priceless reward."
  • 00:22:07.149 --> 00:22:10.552
  • Today, god is not only commanding you; he is inviting
  • 00:22:10.552 --> 00:22:15.891
  • You to experience that joy, that satisfaction that comes from
  • 00:22:15.891 --> 00:22:21.963
  • Making god's business your business.
  • 00:22:21.963 --> 00:22:25.500
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:22:25.834 --> 00:22:31.473
  • Jeffress: making god's business your business is the key to
  • 00:22:31.473 --> 00:22:34.876
  • Finding true purpose and fulfillment in life, and i hope
  • 00:22:34.876 --> 00:22:38.480
  • Today's message has equipped you to share the gospel with
  • 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:41.450
  • Confidence and compassion.
  • 00:22:41.450 --> 00:22:44.119
  • Well, at "pathway to victory," we're committed to proclaiming
  • 00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:46.788
  • The life-changing truth of jesus christ to people all across
  • 00:22:46.788 --> 00:22:50.625
  • America and around the world.
  • 00:22:50.625 --> 00:22:52.861
  • Every day through television, radio, and digital streaming,
  • 00:22:52.861 --> 00:22:56.565
  • We're reaching men and women who desperately need to hear the
  • 00:22:56.565 --> 00:22:59.634
  • Gospel, and it's all made possible because of faithful
  • 00:22:59.634 --> 00:23:02.804
  • Friends like you who give generously to support
  • 00:23:02.804 --> 00:23:05.707
  • This ministry.
  • 00:23:05.707 --> 00:23:07.108
  • Your partnership enables us to take the message of salvation
  • 00:23:07.108 --> 00:23:10.779
  • Into homes, cars, and workplaces, reaching people who
  • 00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:14.683
  • Might never step foot inside a church.
  • 00:23:14.683 --> 00:23:17.953
  • We don't take that responsibility lightly.
  • 00:23:17.953 --> 00:23:20.722
  • So thank you to our pathway partners and everyone who gives
  • 00:23:20.722 --> 00:23:24.960
  • To "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:26.661
  • Together, we are piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:23:26.661 --> 00:23:30.131
  • God's word.
  • 00:23:30.131 --> 00:23:31.466
  • Now, please stay right there.
  • 00:23:31.466 --> 00:23:32.834
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:23:32.834 --> 00:23:37.339
  • Announcer: that recurring temptation you can't shake, the
  • 00:23:37.405 --> 00:23:40.208
  • Doubts that creep in during your darkest moments, the tension in
  • 00:23:40.208 --> 00:23:43.645
  • Your closest relationships; these aren't random struggles,
  • 00:23:43.645 --> 00:23:47.215
  • These are part of a strategic attack on your faith, your
  • 00:23:47.215 --> 00:23:50.118
  • Family, and your future.
  • 00:23:50.118 --> 00:23:51.753
  • Jeffress: satan has a personalized plan to discourage,
  • 00:23:51.753 --> 00:23:55.290
  • Deceive, and derail you, but you don't have to live in defeat.
  • 00:23:55.290 --> 00:23:59.961
  • God has given you access to the same power that raised jesus
  • 00:23:59.961 --> 00:24:03.565
  • From the dead.
  • 00:24:03.565 --> 00:24:04.900
  • In my bestselling book "the divine defense," i'll show you
  • 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:08.103
  • How to put on the full armor of god and use six biblical
  • 00:24:08.103 --> 00:24:11.907
  • Strategies to defeat satan's plan to destroy your life.
  • 00:24:11.907 --> 00:24:16.578
  • Announcer: request "the divine defense" when you give a
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  • Generous gift to "pathway to victory" or when you become a
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  • Pathway partner.
  • 00:24:21.683 --> 00:24:23.051
  • And when your gift is $100 or more, we'll send you the
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  • Complete resource set, including the study guide, "suit up: the
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  • Armor of god for kids," and the teaching series on both cd
  • 00:24:29.925 --> 00:24:33.662
  • And dvd.
  • 00:24:33.662 --> 00:24:34.996
  • Jeffress: your mind is the devil's battlefield on which he
  • 00:24:34.996 --> 00:24:39.267
  • Is warring against everything important to you.
  • 00:24:39.267 --> 00:24:44.439
  • It is a battle that seeks to destroy your faith, your family,
  • 00:24:44.439 --> 00:24:49.110
  • And your future.
  • 00:24:49.110 --> 00:24:50.478
  • Announcer: thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:50.478 --> 00:24:53.214
  • Your generous ministry gift helps us broadcast biblical
  • 00:24:53.214 --> 00:24:56.117
  • Truth on television, radio, and online, equipping believers like
  • 00:24:56.117 --> 00:25:00.288
  • You to stand firm and live victoriously.
  • 00:25:00.288 --> 00:25:03.391
  • Together, we're piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:25:03.391 --> 00:25:06.261
  • God's word.
  • 00:25:06.261 --> 00:25:09.331
  • Jeffress: sharing the gospel isn't reserved for pastors
  • 00:25:09.331 --> 00:25:12.100
  • And missionaries.
  • 00:25:12.100 --> 00:25:13.468
  • It's the privilege and responsibility of
  • 00:25:13.468 --> 00:25:16.371
  • Every believer.
  • 00:25:16.371 --> 00:25:17.739
  • And when we make god's business our business, we experience a
  • 00:25:17.739 --> 00:25:21.443
  • Joy and fulfillment that nothing else can provide.
  • 00:25:21.443 --> 00:25:25.213
  • Well, god has called us to do more than just survive
  • 00:25:25.213 --> 00:25:28.483
  • Satan's attacks.
  • 00:25:28.483 --> 00:25:29.851
  • He actually is inviting us to join him in overthrowing the
  • 00:25:29.851 --> 00:25:33.822
  • Kingdom of darkness.
  • 00:25:33.822 --> 00:25:35.457
  • And next time, i'm going to show you how to move from the
  • 00:25:35.457 --> 00:25:38.259
  • Defensive christianity to offensive christianity and how
  • 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:42.864
  • The shield of faith allows us to keep advancing in god's plan for
  • 00:25:42.864 --> 00:25:47.302
  • Our lives.
  • 00:25:47.302 --> 00:25:48.670
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:48.670 --> 00:25:51.039
  • Series "the divine defense."
  • 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:54.609
  • Jeffress: you know, when a soldier hears the bullets
  • 00:25:54.676 --> 00:25:57.078
  • Buzzing over his head or the bombs bursting around him, his
  • 00:25:57.078 --> 00:26:01.583
  • Natural instinct is to drop to the ground, protect himself.
  • 00:26:01.583 --> 00:26:05.320
  • And that's a good thing.
  • 00:26:05.320 --> 00:26:07.355
  • But if the soldier is going to actually be successful in his
  • 00:26:07.355 --> 00:26:10.358
  • Mission, there comes a time he has to stand up, shake off the
  • 00:26:10.358 --> 00:26:13.995
  • Dust, and actually move forward to the goal.
  • 00:26:13.995 --> 00:26:17.932
  • Surviving is not enough.
  • 00:26:17.932 --> 00:26:21.069
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message
  • 00:26:21.069 --> 00:26:24.172
  • "storming the gates of hell" here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:24.172 --> 00:26:27.809
  • Announcer: alaska is unlike any other place on earth, and this
  • 00:26:30.211 --> 00:26:34.249
  • Is your chance to witness god's masterpiece and america's
  • 00:26:34.249 --> 00:26:37.719
  • Priceless treasure june 13 through 20, 2026.
  • 00:26:37.719 --> 00:26:41.656
  • Jeffress: you know, i can hardly wait to show you alaska.
  • 00:26:41.723 --> 00:26:44.926
  • I've been there before.
  • 00:26:44.926 --> 00:26:46.261
  • And every time i witness those massive glaciers and towering
  • 00:26:46.261 --> 00:26:50.031
  • Mountains, i'm reminded of how incredibly creative our god is.
  • 00:26:50.031 --> 00:26:54.903
  • Announcer: picture this: waking up to snow-capped peaks outside
  • 00:26:54.903 --> 00:26:58.273
  • Your window, then heading to your refreshing breakfast
  • 00:26:58.273 --> 00:27:01.409
  • Knowing that all your meals are prepared for you.
  • 00:27:01.409 --> 00:27:03.945
  • The world-class service means that you can truly relax.
  • 00:27:03.945 --> 00:27:07.248
  • Jeffress: we'll explore charming villages together; we'll stroll
  • 00:27:07.315 --> 00:27:10.518
  • Alongside the still waters of the mountain stream; and yes,
  • 00:27:10.518 --> 00:27:14.456
  • We'll see god's artistry at every turn.
  • 00:27:14.456 --> 00:27:18.026
  • Announcer: reserve your spot on the 2026 pathway to victory
  • 00:27:18.026 --> 00:27:21.796
  • Cruise to alaska by calling ...
  • 00:27:21.796 --> 00:27:26.935
  • Or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:26.935 --> 00:27:28.970