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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - A Checklist For Godliness

August 19, 2025 | S25 E396 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - A Checklist For Godliness
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#inActive #GodlyMan #GodlyWoman #Salvation #Lust #Flesh #Division #Success #Failure #Wisdom #Foolishness #Submission #Humble #Surrender

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - A Checklist For Godliness | August 19, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
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  • Dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:16.706 --> 00:00:19.075
  • Many christians have a distorted view of what it means to live
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  • A godly life.
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  • They think godliness is about what you don't do rather than
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  • What you do.
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  • But the bible gives us a much clearer picture of
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  • Authentic godliness.
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  • Today we're going to discover what it really means to be a
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  • Godly person, and i'll share a simple checklist that will help
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  • You evaluate your own spiritual growth.
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  • My message is titled "a checklist for godliness" on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:48.805 --> 00:00:54.978
  • Announcer: where there's genuine faith, there will always be
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  • Visible fruit.
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  • In his brand new book, "how to know if you're really saved,"
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  • Dr. robert jeffress helps you take stock of the evidence of
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  • Your faith, the spiritual fruit in your daily life.
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  • This outstanding verse by verse walk through the book of james
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  • Will help you cultivate the spiritual fruit that reflects
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  • Genuine faith.
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  • Request "how to know if you're really saved" when you give a
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  • Generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway
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  • To victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: years ago there was a popular television commercial
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  • For an antacid that some of you may remember.
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  • An off-screen announcer would ask people on the street this
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  • Penetrating question.
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  • How do you spell relief?
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  • Do you remember the answer?
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  • R-o-l-a-i-d-s, rolaids.
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  • Just imagine for a moment, some off-screen announcer would ask
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  • You as you were walking down the street, how do you spell, how do
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  • You define godliness?
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  • What does it really mean to be a godly person?
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  • What images come to mind?
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  • Do you imagine monks cloistered in a monastery somewhere or
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  • People wearing hair shirts?
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  • Let me probe your thinking just a little bit more by asking you
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  • Some questions.
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  • Can you be godly and prefer reading "sports illustrated"
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  • Instead of "christianity today"?
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  • Can you be a godly person and vote for a democrat or a
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  • Republican, based on your particular
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  • Political persuasions?
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  • Can you be godly and drink a glass of wine with your dinner
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  • Every evening?
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  • Can you be a godly person and choose to stay home on sunday
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  • Afternoon and watch a football game rather than go to
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  • Discipleship university?
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  • Now, i'm not suggesting a right or wrong answer to any of those
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  • Questions, but my real question is, where do you get your idea
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  • Of what it means to be godly?
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  • Well, today we're going to look at a simple checklist that
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  • James, the half brother of jesus, gives us for godliness.
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  • If you have your bibles, turn to james chapter 3.
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  • Remember, the theme of james is very simple.
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  • Genuine faith produces visible fruit.
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  • Wherever somebody is truly saved, they're always gonna have
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  • Some evidence of that salvation in their life, and james gives a
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  • Series of ways to know if you're bearing spiritual fruit in
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  • Your life.
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  • And in today's passage, he's going to give us a simple
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  • Checklist for godliness.
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  • He begins by asking a question in verse 13 of james 3.
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  • He says, "who among you is wise and understanding?"
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  • In other words, do you want to be thought of as a wise person,
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  • A person of great understanding?
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  • And you can almost hear the audience saying, yes, yes,
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  • James, that's what i really want.
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  • I want the status that comes from being considered a
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  • Wise person.
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  • Remember, this was the same audience we saw last time that
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  • Was clamoring to be teachers so that they could have the status
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  • And respect that they craved.
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  • So james kind of baits them a little bit.
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  • Do you want to be a person of great wisdom and understanding?
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  • And once he gets them hooked, he says then here's how to do it.
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  • "let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the
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  • Gentleness of wisdom."
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  • If you're really wise, it will show itself in your behavior.
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  • Now wait a minute, what's the relationship between wisdom
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  • And behavior?
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  • Simple answer, everything.
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  • You see, wisdom is not just the accumulation of knowledge.
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  • It's accumulating knowledge for a purpose.
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  • In job 28:28, scripture extends wisdom to go beyond the making
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  • Of garments and the construction of a tabernacle to the way we
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  • Live our life.
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  • Look at what the word of god says.
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  • "and to man god said, behold, the fear of the lord, that is
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  • Wisdom; and to depart from evil, that is understanding."
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  • Based on this idea of wisdom, somebody defined wisdom this
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  • Way, wisdom is the skill to live your life according to
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  • God's plan.
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  • It's following the plan, not just to build a tabernacle, it's
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  • The plan for your life.
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  • Wisdom is the skill, the determination to live life
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  • According to god's plan.
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  • Now, how do you know if you're doing that?
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  • Well, james gives us three enemies of godliness.
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  • First of all, he begins with envy.
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  • Look at verse 14.
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  • "if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart,
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  • Do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth."
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  • What does he mean, bitter jealousy?
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  • The greek word for jealousy is zelon.
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  • We get our word zealot from it.
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  • He says in verse 16, "where jealousy and selfish ambition
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  • Exist, there is disorder and every evil thing."
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  • People are envious, and they cause chaos in their pursuit of
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  • What they don't have.
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  • You see that in the business world.
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  • You see companies where employees are clamoring for the
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  • Boss's attention.
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  • They're always backbiting and slandering their fellow workers.
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  • That company will be filled with chaos and disorder.
  • 00:07:01.410 --> 00:07:05.181
  • You see the same thing in families, people desiring what
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  • They don't have, maybe the attention of their parents or
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  • Grandparents, and so they're backbiting and devouring
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  • One another.
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  • And that's why james says in verse 15 without apology, "this
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  • Wisdom is not that which comes down from above," this isn't a
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  • Heavenly kind of wisdom.
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  • Behavior that causes factions and divisions, especially among
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  • Believers, is earthly, it's natural, and it's demonic.
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  • You're doing satan's work when you allow your life to be
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  • Controlled by envy that results in divisions.
  • 00:07:46.656 --> 00:07:50.426
  • The wisdom that comes from above, james goes on to say, is,
  • 00:07:50.426 --> 00:07:54.030
  • "pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and
  • 00:07:54.030 --> 00:07:59.135
  • Good fruits."
  • 00:07:59.135 --> 00:08:01.270
  • But there's an underlying cause,
  • 00:08:01.270 --> 00:08:03.205
  • A more basic cause for envy, and that is lust.
  • 00:08:03.205 --> 00:08:08.377
  • Now remember, in the original language in the original text
  • 00:08:08.377 --> 00:08:12.615
  • There was no chapter division.
  • 00:08:12.615 --> 00:08:14.383
  • Those came later on.
  • 00:08:14.383 --> 00:08:16.319
  • They were added by editors, and so this conversation continues
  • 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:19.855
  • In chapter 4, verses 1 to 2.
  • 00:08:19.855 --> 00:08:23.025
  • Look at this, "what is the source of quarrels
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  • And conflicts among you?
  • 00:08:26.529 --> 00:08:28.598
  • Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
  • 00:08:28.598 --> 00:08:33.736
  • You lust and do not have; so you commit murder.
  • 00:08:33.736 --> 00:08:38.007
  • You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight
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  • And quarrel.
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  • You do not have because you do not ask."
  • 00:08:42.645 --> 00:08:46.582
  • What is lust?
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  • If you look it up in webster's, lust is defined as a craving.
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  • But in the bible, lust is more than just a craving
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  • For something.
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  • Lust is a craving for that which is outside of god's will for
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  • Our life.
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  • Lusting, craving for those things outside of god's will can
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  • Never be satisfied.
  • 00:09:08.304 --> 00:09:10.539
  • You know, one of the most vivid illustrations of the conquering
  • 00:09:10.539 --> 00:09:14.477
  • Power of lust is found in the story of samson in judges 14.
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  • Remember, samson was born of godly parents.
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  • He was set aside as a nazarite.
  • 00:09:23.786 --> 00:09:26.389
  • He became a judge of israel, but he was ultimately defeated
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  • Because of his lust.
  • 00:09:30.092 --> 00:09:31.427
  • In fact, in judges 14, verses 2 and 3, the very first words
  • 00:09:31.427 --> 00:09:36.832
  • Recorded that samson uttered were these.
  • 00:09:36.832 --> 00:09:39.935
  • "i saw a woman.
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  • Go get her for me, for she looks good to me."
  • 00:09:42.371 --> 00:09:48.210
  • Even though god's law forbade his marriage to a philistine,
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  • Samson didn't care.
  • 00:09:53.182 --> 00:09:55.017
  • He was blinded, pardon the pun, by his own lust, and he actually
  • 00:09:55.017 --> 00:10:00.523
  • Ended up because of that having his own eyes gouged out, being
  • 00:10:00.523 --> 00:10:04.927
  • Condemned as a prisoner in a philistine jail, and being
  • 00:10:04.927 --> 00:10:08.764
  • Sentenced to be a grinder in the jail.
  • 00:10:08.764 --> 00:10:11.767
  • Somebody wrote about that, "lust the jailer binds, blinds, and
  • 00:10:11.767 --> 00:10:18.774
  • It grinds."
  • 00:10:18.774 --> 00:10:20.643
  • That's the power of lust.
  • 00:10:20.643 --> 00:10:22.812
  • I think probably solomon had samson in mind when he wrote
  • 00:10:22.812 --> 00:10:26.916
  • These words in proverbs 5:22 to 23.
  • 00:10:26.916 --> 00:10:30.686
  • "the wicked man is doomed by his own sins; they are ropes that
  • 00:10:30.686 --> 00:10:35.958
  • Catch and hold him.
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  • He shall die because he will not listen to the truth; he has let
  • 00:10:37.993 --> 00:10:42.098
  • Himself be led away into incredible folly."
  • 00:10:42.098 --> 00:10:47.670
  • If you're going to be a godly person, you need to eliminate
  • 00:10:47.670 --> 00:10:52.308
  • Envy that leads to factions and divisions.
  • 00:10:52.308 --> 00:10:56.245
  • You need to guard against lust, that insatiable thirst for those
  • 00:10:56.245 --> 00:11:01.150
  • Things that are outside of god's will.
  • 00:11:01.150 --> 00:11:04.019
  • But the bottom line cause of envy and lust have to do with
  • 00:11:04.019 --> 00:11:08.924
  • A worldly value system, a worldly value system.
  • 00:11:08.924 --> 00:11:13.662
  • Look at what he says in verses 2 to 4 of james 4.
  • 00:11:13.662 --> 00:11:17.032
  • "you lust and you do not have; so you commit murder.
  • 00:11:17.032 --> 00:11:20.870
  • You're envious and cannot obtain; so you fight
  • 00:11:20.870 --> 00:11:23.906
  • And quarrel.
  • 00:11:23.906 --> 00:11:25.274
  • You do not have because you do not ask.
  • 00:11:25.274 --> 00:11:27.743
  • You ask and you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong
  • 00:11:27.743 --> 00:11:31.714
  • Motives, so that you may spend what you request on
  • 00:11:31.714 --> 00:11:35.284
  • Your pleasures."
  • 00:11:35.284 --> 00:11:36.619
  • Now get this, verse 4, "you adulteresses, do you not know
  • 00:11:36.619 --> 00:11:42.258
  • That friendship with the world is hostility toward god?
  • 00:11:42.258 --> 00:11:46.595
  • Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes
  • 00:11:46.595 --> 00:11:50.366
  • Himself an enemy of god."
  • 00:11:50.366 --> 00:11:53.869
  • Now, when james is talking about the world, he's not talking
  • 00:11:53.869 --> 00:11:56.505
  • About location, planet earth.
  • 00:11:56.505 --> 00:11:59.208
  • He talks about the world system, a value system, if you adopt,
  • 00:11:59.208 --> 00:12:04.914
  • That you'll be completely at odds with god's plan and purpose
  • 00:12:04.914 --> 00:12:08.184
  • For your life.
  • 00:12:08.184 --> 00:12:09.852
  • Remember the billionaire john d. rockefeller was asked one time
  • 00:12:09.852 --> 00:12:13.722
  • How much money does a man need to be satisfied?
  • 00:12:13.722 --> 00:12:17.159
  • His answer, "just a little bit more."
  • 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:20.830
  • That's the way it is with everyone.
  • 00:12:20.830 --> 00:12:22.598
  • Jesus says just the opposite.
  • 00:12:22.598 --> 00:12:25.367
  • You obtain success not through money, but by pursuing the
  • 00:12:25.367 --> 00:12:28.804
  • Kingdom of god, matthew 6:33.
  • 00:12:28.804 --> 00:12:32.174
  • You obtain love not by getting, but by giving, john 15:15.
  • 00:12:32.174 --> 00:12:38.681
  • God says we obtained status not by position, but by becoming a
  • 00:12:38.681 --> 00:12:44.220
  • Servant, matthew 20, verse 26.
  • 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:47.122
  • The apostle john said it this way.
  • 00:12:47.122 --> 00:12:49.425
  • "do not love the world," the world system, "do not love the
  • 00:12:49.425 --> 00:12:54.396
  • World system or the things that are in the world.
  • 00:12:54.396 --> 00:12:57.700
  • If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not
  • 00:12:57.700 --> 00:13:01.503
  • In him.
  • 00:13:01.503 --> 00:13:02.838
  • For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust
  • 00:13:02.838 --> 00:13:07.009
  • Of the eyes, the boastful pride of life, is not from the father,
  • 00:13:07.009 --> 00:13:12.181
  • It comes from the world.
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  • And the world is passing away, and also it lusts; but he who
  • 00:13:14.049 --> 00:13:18.921
  • Does the will of god shall abide forever."
  • 00:13:18.921 --> 00:13:24.260
  • Well, james, you've given us a checklist for godliness.
  • 00:13:24.260 --> 00:13:27.763
  • How do we develop this kind of godliness in our life?
  • 00:13:27.763 --> 00:13:32.868
  • Well, james doesn't leave us hanging, because beginning in
  • 00:13:32.868 --> 00:13:35.204
  • Verse 7 of chapter 4, he gives us three simple commands to
  • 00:13:35.204 --> 00:13:40.276
  • Develop the godly life that honors god.
  • 00:13:40.276 --> 00:13:43.913
  • First of all, he says, "submit therefore to god."
  • 00:13:43.913 --> 00:13:47.616
  • Verse 7, "submit therefore to god."
  • 00:13:47.616 --> 00:13:51.153
  • What does that mean?
  • 00:13:51.153 --> 00:13:52.655
  • He's not talking about some mystical experience, he's not
  • 00:13:52.655 --> 00:13:55.524
  • Talking about some second blessing of the holy spirit.
  • 00:13:55.524 --> 00:13:59.194
  • He clarifies what he means in the next sentence.
  • 00:13:59.194 --> 00:14:01.864
  • "resist the devil and he will flee from you."
  • 00:14:01.864 --> 00:14:06.835
  • If you're going to submit to god, you say no to the devil,
  • 00:14:06.835 --> 00:14:10.639
  • You resist the devil.
  • 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:13.108
  • How do we do that?
  • 00:14:13.108 --> 00:14:14.476
  • Number one, place your life on god's spiritual altar daily.
  • 00:14:14.476 --> 00:14:21.116
  • Remember paul's words in romans 12:1.
  • 00:14:21.116 --> 00:14:23.852
  • "therefore i urge you, my brethren, by the mercies of god,
  • 00:14:23.852 --> 00:14:27.556
  • To present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice,
  • 00:14:27.556 --> 00:14:31.794
  • Acceptable to god, which is your spiritual service of worship."
  • 00:14:31.794 --> 00:14:36.832
  • The james jewish audience understood a lot about
  • 00:14:36.832 --> 00:14:39.835
  • Dead sacrifices.
  • 00:14:39.835 --> 00:14:41.737
  • The whole jewish religion was based on offering dead
  • 00:14:41.737 --> 00:14:45.307
  • Animal sacrifices.
  • 00:14:45.307 --> 00:14:47.876
  • But james said what god really wants is not a dead
  • 00:14:47.876 --> 00:14:51.046
  • Animal sacrifice.
  • 00:14:51.046 --> 00:14:52.381
  • Christ has already been the sacrifice.
  • 00:14:52.381 --> 00:14:54.683
  • He's looking for a living sacrifice.
  • 00:14:54.683 --> 00:14:57.619
  • He's looking for you to offer your bodies, not that are dead,
  • 00:14:57.619 --> 00:15:01.523
  • But that are alive, to service to god.
  • 00:15:01.523 --> 00:15:05.194
  • And every day we ought to wake up with the realization that we
  • 00:15:05.194 --> 00:15:09.164
  • Are here to serve god.
  • 00:15:09.164 --> 00:15:11.467
  • Our bodies are instruments by which we do the will of god.
  • 00:15:11.467 --> 00:15:16.105
  • Now, here's the problem with living sacrifices.
  • 00:15:16.105 --> 00:15:20.242
  • They have a way of crawling off the altar from time to time.
  • 00:15:20.242 --> 00:15:24.847
  • So every day, sometimes every hour of every day, we have to
  • 00:15:24.847 --> 00:15:29.351
  • Climb back up on that altar and remind ourselves we're here to
  • 00:15:29.351 --> 00:15:33.856
  • Fulfill god's purpose.
  • 00:15:33.856 --> 00:15:35.924
  • Place yourself on god's spiritual altar.
  • 00:15:35.924 --> 00:15:38.994
  • Another way we resist the devil is by fleeing
  • 00:15:38.994 --> 00:15:41.730
  • Tempting situations.
  • 00:15:41.730 --> 00:15:44.066
  • Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is run.
  • 00:15:44.066 --> 00:15:48.103
  • That was true for joseph.
  • 00:15:48.103 --> 00:15:49.838
  • Remember when ms. potiphar started putting the moves
  • 00:15:49.838 --> 00:15:52.608
  • On him?
  • 00:15:52.608 --> 00:15:53.976
  • He felt those hot hebrew hormones raging inside of him.
  • 00:15:53.976 --> 00:15:57.846
  • He didn't stay and have a prayer meeting with ms. potiphar.
  • 00:15:57.846 --> 00:16:00.983
  • He ran as quickly as he could, leaving a portion of his garment
  • 00:16:00.983 --> 00:16:04.820
  • In her hand.
  • 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:06.155
  • Flee tempting situations.
  • 00:16:06.155 --> 00:16:08.557
  • Thirdly, visualizing the consequences of our sin.
  • 00:16:08.557 --> 00:16:12.694
  • Satan wants to deceive you.
  • 00:16:12.694 --> 00:16:15.330
  • He wants to paint a rosy picture of everything that's going to be
  • 00:16:15.330 --> 00:16:19.134
  • Yours if you will just submit to him.
  • 00:16:19.134 --> 00:16:22.604
  • That's what he did with jesus in the wilderness.
  • 00:16:22.604 --> 00:16:25.340
  • But we need to see through that fog of lies and understand there
  • 00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:30.012
  • Are real painful consequences for disobedience.
  • 00:16:30.012 --> 00:16:33.849
  • That's what moses did in hebrews 11, verses 24 to 26, we find
  • 00:16:33.849 --> 00:16:39.121
  • These words.
  • 00:16:39.121 --> 00:16:40.489
  • "by faith moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called
  • 00:16:40.489 --> 00:16:44.660
  • The son of pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill
  • 00:16:44.660 --> 00:16:49.131
  • Treatment with the people of god than to enjoy the passing
  • 00:16:49.131 --> 00:16:54.336
  • Pleasures of sin.
  • 00:16:54.336 --> 00:16:56.338
  • For he considered the reproach of christ greater riches than
  • 00:16:56.338 --> 00:17:00.242
  • The treasures of egypt; for he was looking to the reward."
  • 00:17:00.242 --> 00:17:04.480
  • There came a time in moses's life when he had to choose.
  • 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:08.250
  • Was he gonna stay in pharaoh's house or was he going to
  • 00:17:08.250 --> 00:17:11.553
  • Identify with god's people?
  • 00:17:11.553 --> 00:17:14.456
  • He knew that identifying with god's people would cause some
  • 00:17:14.456 --> 00:17:18.127
  • Short-term pain, but it was short-term pain that would lead
  • 00:17:18.127 --> 00:17:21.997
  • To long-term gain.
  • 00:17:21.997 --> 00:17:24.166
  • He looked at the big picture, and he did the calculation in
  • 00:17:24.166 --> 00:17:27.603
  • His mind, and he said, "you know, a little bit of pain is
  • 00:17:27.603 --> 00:17:30.806
  • Okay, because it's going to lead to a greater reward."
  • 00:17:30.806 --> 00:17:35.644
  • Before you give in to lust, view the consequences, what it's
  • 00:17:35.644 --> 00:17:40.883
  • Really going to cost you in your relationships, in your family,
  • 00:17:40.883 --> 00:17:46.054
  • Perhaps in your business, in your own relationship with god.
  • 00:17:46.054 --> 00:17:49.725
  • Visualize those consequences of sin.
  • 00:17:49.725 --> 00:17:52.728
  • And fourthly, we resist satan by meditating on god's word.
  • 00:17:52.728 --> 00:17:57.699
  • "your word," psalm 119:11 says, "your word have i treasured in
  • 00:17:57.699 --> 00:18:02.337
  • My heart, that i might not sin against god."
  • 00:18:02.337 --> 00:18:06.341
  • How do you develop godliness?
  • 00:18:06.341 --> 00:18:07.776
  • You submit to god.
  • 00:18:07.776 --> 00:18:09.311
  • Secondly, draw near to god.
  • 00:18:09.311 --> 00:18:11.613
  • Look at verse 8.
  • 00:18:11.613 --> 00:18:12.948
  • "draw near to god and he will draw near to you."
  • 00:18:12.948 --> 00:18:16.818
  • As a christian, we've been forgiven.
  • 00:18:16.818 --> 00:18:20.589
  • Positionally, we have god's eternal love.
  • 00:18:20.589 --> 00:18:25.160
  • But even though we're christians, we get dirty every
  • 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:27.930
  • Day by living in this world.
  • 00:18:27.930 --> 00:18:30.832
  • We get contaminated, and we have to wash off the dirt.
  • 00:18:30.832 --> 00:18:34.603
  • How do we do it?
  • 00:18:34.603 --> 00:18:36.271
  • We do it, again, through god's word.
  • 00:18:36.271 --> 00:18:38.874
  • Go back to psalm 119, verse 11.
  • 00:18:38.874 --> 00:18:41.210
  • We all memorize that verse, but we forget verse 9 that leads
  • 00:18:41.210 --> 00:18:45.347
  • To it.
  • 00:18:45.347 --> 00:18:46.715
  • The psalmist said, "how can a young man keep his way pure?
  • 00:18:46.715 --> 00:18:50.786
  • By keeping it according to your word.
  • 00:18:50.786 --> 00:18:54.089
  • Your word have i treasured in my heart, that i might not sin
  • 00:18:54.089 --> 00:18:58.460
  • Against you."
  • 00:18:58.460 --> 00:19:00.028
  • Submit yourself to god, draw near to god, and the third key
  • 00:19:00.028 --> 00:19:03.832
  • To godliness is humble yourself before god.
  • 00:19:03.832 --> 00:19:07.703
  • Look at verse 10, "humble yourselves in the presence of
  • 00:19:07.703 --> 00:19:11.607
  • The lord, and he will exalt you."
  • 00:19:11.607 --> 00:19:14.977
  • You know what it means to humble yourself before god?
  • 00:19:14.977 --> 00:19:17.246
  • It means to say to god, "god, you're god, and i'm not.
  • 00:19:17.246 --> 00:19:24.186
  • You're holy, and i'm not.
  • 00:19:24.186 --> 00:19:28.090
  • You're all knowing, and i'm not.
  • 00:19:28.090 --> 00:19:32.294
  • You're omnipotent, all powerful, and i'm not."
  • 00:19:32.294 --> 00:19:36.798
  • And when we get that straight in our minds, that god is god and
  • 00:19:36.798 --> 00:19:42.437
  • We're not, it leads to that conclusion jesus came to in the
  • 00:19:42.437 --> 00:19:47.676
  • Garden when he said, "not my will, but your will be done."
  • 00:19:47.676 --> 00:19:55.183
  • That's the essence of what it means to humble yourself
  • 00:19:55.183 --> 00:19:59.054
  • Before god.
  • 00:19:59.054 --> 00:20:02.257
  • In another context, a few months ago we talked about
  • 00:20:02.257 --> 00:20:05.394
  • King tutankhamen, the boy king.
  • 00:20:05.394 --> 00:20:09.965
  • Ascended the throne at age 9, died at age 18,
  • 00:20:09.965 --> 00:20:15.971
  • And yet for centuries after his death archaeologists around the
  • 00:20:15.971 --> 00:20:22.244
  • World looked for the treasure of king tutankhamen that would be
  • 00:20:22.244 --> 00:20:26.581
  • Found at his burial site.
  • 00:20:26.581 --> 00:20:29.251
  • One of those men was named howard carter.
  • 00:20:29.251 --> 00:20:31.586
  • For six years of his life he would claw through the hot
  • 00:20:31.586 --> 00:20:36.358
  • Egyptian sand, trying to find that elusive treasure.
  • 00:20:36.358 --> 00:20:42.464
  • One day in 1922 his mouth dropped when he discovered the
  • 00:20:42.464 --> 00:20:47.869
  • Treasure of king tut.
  • 00:20:47.869 --> 00:20:49.705
  • He would spend the next ten years of his life cataloging
  • 00:20:49.705 --> 00:20:53.241
  • Over 5,000 objects of great value.
  • 00:20:53.241 --> 00:20:58.880
  • There's another king, a very wealthy king who went on another
  • 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:03.585
  • Kind of search, and he found something more valuable than the
  • 00:21:03.585 --> 00:21:07.556
  • Treasure of king tut.
  • 00:21:07.556 --> 00:21:09.858
  • He discovered wisdom.
  • 00:21:09.858 --> 00:21:12.894
  • Remember what solomon said about wisdom, the value of it,
  • 00:21:12.894 --> 00:21:15.831
  • In proverbs 2?
  • 00:21:15.831 --> 00:21:17.165
  • "my son, if you will receive my words and treasure my
  • 00:21:17.165 --> 00:21:20.635
  • Commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom,
  • 00:21:20.635 --> 00:21:24.673
  • Incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry
  • 00:21:24.673 --> 00:21:28.744
  • For discernment, lift up your voices for understanding; if you
  • 00:21:28.744 --> 00:21:33.915
  • Seek wisdom as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures;
  • 00:21:33.915 --> 00:21:40.655
  • Then you will discern the fear of the lord and discover the
  • 00:21:40.655 --> 00:21:45.660
  • Knowledge of god."
  • 00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:47.996
  • Listen to me.
  • 00:21:47.996 --> 00:21:49.898
  • Wisdom, the desire, the determination, the skill to live
  • 00:21:49.898 --> 00:21:56.037
  • Your life according to god's plan for you, is the treasure
  • 00:21:56.037 --> 00:22:00.842
  • Map that will lead you to everything you truly want in
  • 00:22:00.842 --> 00:22:06.681
  • Your family, in your friendships, in your career, and
  • 00:22:06.681 --> 00:22:12.587
  • Most of all, in your relationship to god.
  • 00:22:12.587 --> 00:22:17.592
  • Jeffress: godliness isn't about following a list of
  • 00:22:21.630 --> 00:22:24.232
  • Man-made rules.
  • 00:22:24.232 --> 00:22:25.634
  • It's about submitting to god's plan for your life.
  • 00:22:25.634 --> 00:22:29.304
  • And when you do that, you'll discover the wisdom and peace
  • 00:22:29.304 --> 00:22:32.908
  • That only come from above.
  • 00:22:32.908 --> 00:22:35.744
  • In closing, i want to share a note i received from larry
  • 00:22:35.744 --> 00:22:38.713
  • In minnesota.
  • 00:22:38.713 --> 00:22:40.248
  • Larry wrote, "i watch 'pathway to victory' on tv and find your
  • 00:22:40.248 --> 00:22:44.719
  • Teachings to be spot on to feed the spiritual hunger that is
  • 00:22:44.719 --> 00:22:49.057
  • Inside of me.
  • 00:22:49.057 --> 00:22:50.392
  • Your teachings are clearly based on the bible, and you deliver
  • 00:22:50.392 --> 00:22:54.129
  • Them from the heart.
  • 00:22:54.129 --> 00:22:55.730
  • 'pathway to victory' has touched me, and i thank you."
  • 00:22:55.730 --> 00:22:59.968
  • Well, thank you, larry, for those encouraging words.
  • 00:22:59.968 --> 00:23:03.305
  • And friends, larry's testimony is possible because of people
  • 00:23:03.305 --> 00:23:07.209
  • Like you who faithfully support "pathway to victory."
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  • Your generosity allows us to reach viewers like larry with
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  • The uncompromising truth of god's word.
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  • Together we're making an eternal difference in the lives of
  • 00:23:18.687 --> 00:23:21.957
  • People who are hungry for biblical truth.
  • 00:23:21.957 --> 00:23:25.460
  • Now, stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
  • 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:28.463
  • Victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:23:28.463 --> 00:23:33.034
  • Announcer: every believer wants to see clear evidence of their
  • 00:23:33.034 --> 00:23:35.937
  • Spiritual growth and discover the fruit that god is producing
  • 00:23:35.937 --> 00:23:39.508
  • In their lives.
  • 00:23:39.508 --> 00:23:40.842
  • Dr. robert jeffress shows you exactly how to recognize that
  • 00:23:40.842 --> 00:23:44.379
  • Fruit in his brand new book, "how to know if you're
  • 00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:47.315
  • Really saved."
  • 00:23:47.315 --> 00:23:48.650
  • Jeffress: the book of james teaches us that the christian
  • 00:23:48.650 --> 00:23:50.919
  • Life is about more than just knowing god's word.
  • 00:23:50.919 --> 00:23:54.523
  • It's about living it out.
  • 00:23:54.523 --> 00:23:56.124
  • In my new book, "how to know if you're really saved," i'll walk
  • 00:23:56.124 --> 00:23:59.394
  • You through what it truly means to be a doer of the word,
  • 00:23:59.394 --> 00:24:03.198
  • Showing you how to respond to trials, control your speech,
  • 00:24:03.198 --> 00:24:06.968
  • Endure hardships, resist temptation, and so much more.
  • 00:24:06.968 --> 00:24:12.007
  • Announcer: this outstanding 232-page book will help you
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  • Examine the evidence of your faith and see the spiritual
  • 00:24:14.976 --> 00:24:18.346
  • Fruit that should be growing in your daily life.
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  • Request your copy of "how to know if you're really saved"
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  • When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway
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  • To victory" or when you become
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  • Complete message series on both cd and dvd.
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  • Jeffress: if you are truly saved, there's
  • 00:24:42.070 --> 00:24:44.439
  • Gonna be evidence of it.
  • 00:24:44.439 --> 00:24:45.907
  • There's some tests that you need to apply to your life.
  • 00:24:45.907 --> 00:24:50.045
  • Announcer: thank you for your generous support of
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  • "pathway to victory."
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  • Your partnership helps us bring bold, biblical, and practical
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  • Teaching into homes across the nation and around the world.
  • 00:24:56.952 --> 00:25:00.355
  • Jeffress: true godliness comes from developing the wisdom and
  • 00:25:03.625 --> 00:25:07.228
  • Skill to live our lives according to god's plan.
  • 00:25:07.228 --> 00:25:10.932
  • When we submit to god, draw near to him, and humble ourselves
  • 00:25:10.932 --> 00:25:15.370
  • Before him, we discover the true treasure of wisdom.
  • 00:25:15.370 --> 00:25:20.408
  • Well, humbling ourselves before god requires us to acknowledge
  • 00:25:20.408 --> 00:25:24.779
  • A fundamental truth.
  • 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:26.514
  • He's god, and we're not.
  • 00:25:26.514 --> 00:25:29.150
  • And next time we'll explore what that truth really means for our
  • 00:25:29.150 --> 00:25:32.754
  • Everyday lives.
  • 00:25:32.754 --> 00:25:34.356
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:34.356 --> 00:25:36.925
  • Series, "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:25:36.925 --> 00:25:41.863
  • Jeffress: god, i realize you're god and i'm not.
  • 00:25:41.863 --> 00:25:47.435
  • Now, that means more than just intellectually agreeing that
  • 00:25:47.435 --> 00:25:51.239
  • You're not god.
  • 00:25:51.239 --> 00:25:53.008
  • If you really understand that you and i are not god, we will
  • 00:25:53.008 --> 00:25:57.812
  • Refrain from two specific actions that try--attempt to
  • 00:25:57.812 --> 00:26:04.319
  • Usurp god's power and authority.
  • 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:07.589
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join
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  • Us next time for the message
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  • "he's god... and you're not!"
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  • Here on "pathway to victory."
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  • Announcer: experience the beauty of alaska with the pathway to
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  • Victory family, june 13 through 20, 2026.
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