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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Choosing Humility Over Pride (Part 1)

January 27, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Choosing Humility Over Pride (Part 1)
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 - Choosing Humility Over Pride (Part 1) | January 27, 2026
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: 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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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • Did you know that god hates pride more than any other sin?
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  • It's at the top of his list.
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  • Why do you think that is?
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  • Well, i believe it's because pride harms our soul.
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  • And today we're going to talk about the wisdom of pursuing a
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  • Humble spirit so we don't suffer the insidious damage caused
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  • By arrogance.
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  • My message is titled "choosing humility over pride" on today's
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  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: we all want to live a life of meaning and
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  • Significance, but we often dream too small.
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  • Jeffress: my friends david green, founder and ceo of hobby
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  • Lobby, and bill high, ceo of legacy stone, have written a
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  • Brand new book called "the legacy life."
  • 00:01:09.759 --> 00:01:12.662
  • Jeffress: you've said it in this book several times.
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  • Legacy is not what you leave behind, it's what you set in
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  • Motion for the future.
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  • Jeffress: this book will challenge you to point your life
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  • Heavenward and set in motion a legacy of eternal significance.
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  • David green: bill, i've found that it's much easier to run a
  • 00:01:28.912 --> 00:01:31.314
  • Business, but having a family, a wife, children that serve the
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  • Lord is much, much more difficult.
  • 00:01:34.751 --> 00:01:36.786
  • And that's who we are. we're not about hobby lobby.
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  • We're about mission, vision, and values, and it's all based on
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  • God's word, and that's what we're excited about.
  • 00:01:42.192 --> 00:01:44.427
  • Bill high: no matter what stage of life you're in, "the legacy
  • 00:01:44.427 --> 00:01:47.130
  • Life" will help you understand how to apply god's word and set
  • 00:01:47.130 --> 00:01:51.668
  • In motion a great legacy.
  • 00:01:51.668 --> 00:01:54.604
  • Announcer: request "the legacy life" when you give a generous
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  • Gift to "pathway to victory" or when you become a pathway
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  • Partner.
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  • You'll also receive the powerful book by dr. jeffress, "choose
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  • Your attitudes, change your life."
  • 00:02:04.147 --> 00:02:06.416
  • And when your ministry gift is $100 or more, we'll also send
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  • You the "choose your attitudes, change your life" personal and
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  • Group study guide, plus the complete teaching series on cd
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  • And dvd and a set of attitude booster cards for
  • 00:02:17.126 --> 00:02:21.030
  • Your encouragement.
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  • Thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: i love the story that former senator bill bradley
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  • Tells on himself.
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  • He had gone to an upscale restaurant for a dinner with his
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  • Wife and the waiter came by and served rolls, but there was
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  • No butter.
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  • So bradley said, "could we have some butter please?"
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  • And the waiter just slightly nodded affirming he had heard
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  • The request.
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  • Ten minutes passed, no butter.
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  • So bradley again, politely said, "could we please have
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  • Some butter?"
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  • Again, the waiter nodded.
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  • Ten minutes passed, no butter.
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  • Finally, bill bradley had had enough and he gave the waiter a
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  • Piece of his mind he really couldn't afford to lose.
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  • He said, "perhaps you don't know who i am.
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  • I'm a princeton graduate, a rhodes scholar.
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  • I played basketball for the new york knicks.
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  • I'm now a united states senator from new jersey.
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  • I'm a member of the senate subcommittee on debt relief.
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  • I'm also a member of the senate select committee
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  • On intelligence."
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  • The waiter responded, "perhaps you don't know who i am.
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  • I'm the guy in charge of the butter."
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  • You know, every now and then we need somebody like that to burst
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  • Our bubble, don't we?
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  • To bring us down to reality, to help us see ourselves as we
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  • Really are.
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  • And that's what we're going to talk about today.
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  • Today, we're going to continue our series, "choose your
  • 00:04:05.802 --> 00:04:09.005
  • Attitudes, change your life."
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  • We're looking at 11 essential biblical attitudes that we have
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  • To embrace if we're going to enjoy that abundant life that
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  • Jesus promised us.
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  • You know, one common circumstance we all face in life
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  • Is how are we going to respond to both our successes and
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  • Our failures?
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  • We can either respond with pride or we can respond with humility.
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  • And today we're going to talk about the importance of choosing
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  • Humility over pride.
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  • Now it might be helpful to, first of all, look briefly at
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  • What the bible says about both humility and pride.
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  • And for starters, let's give some definitions.
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  • What is pride?
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  • Very simply, pride is an attitude that causes us to
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  • Credit ourselves for our accomplishments and blame others
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  • For our failures.
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  • On the other hand, humility is an attitude that use both our
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  • Accomplishments and our failures from god's perspective.
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  • You know, over and over again, the bible warns against the
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  • Dangers of pride.
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  • I've jotted down just a few of those references for you.
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  • Proverbs 16:5, "everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination
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  • To the lord; assuredly, he will not go unpunished."
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  • Or proverbs 16:18, "pride goes before destruction, and a
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  • Haughty spirit before stumbling."
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  • One more.
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  • James 4 verse 6. "god is opposed to the proud."
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  • If you wanna know how to get god on your bad side, just
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  • Be prideful.
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  • God is opposed to the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.
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  • In contrast to that, look at what the bible says about
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  • Humility, the value, the premium god places on humility.
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  • Proverbs 11 verse 2. "when pride comes, then comes dishonor: but
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  • With the humble there is wisdom."
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  • Proverbs 16 verse 19, "it is better to be of a humble spirit
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  • With the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud."
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  • One more.
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  • Matthew 23 verse 12, jesus said, "and whoever exalts himself
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  • Shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall
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  • Be exalted."
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  • Why does god emphasize the problem of pride so much?
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  • You know, we think humility or pride, those are kind of
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  • Secondary issues.
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  • They don't rank up there with the really big sins like murder
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  • And adultery and so forth.
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  • Isn't this kind of a secondary issue, pastor?
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  • Why in the world do you talk so much about pride and humility?
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  • You know, in proverbs chapter 6, god lists the seven things he
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  • Hates the most.
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  • Do you know what's at the top of the list?
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  • Pride?
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  • God hates pride more than any other sin?
  • 00:07:15.258 --> 00:07:21.030
  • Why is that?
  • 00:07:21.030 --> 00:07:22.765
  • Because of the effects of pride in our lives?
  • 00:07:22.765 --> 00:07:27.003
  • I wanna mention this morning four sins and they are in order,
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  • They are progressive that are the direct result of pride.
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  • First of all, the sin of ingratitude stems directly
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  • From pride.
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  • Ingratitude.
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  • When our oldest daughter julia was 2, she had a habit of taking
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  • Whatever presents were given to her at christmas or at her
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  • Birthday, and she would name those gifts according to who
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  • Gave them to her.
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  • And i remember we were down in austin visiting amy's parents
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  • Who are here today, by the way, sue and keith, and it was right
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  • After christmas and julia was going through her christmas
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  • Gifts and she held up a gift and she said, "grandma."
  • 00:08:08.377 --> 00:08:13.182
  • The only problem was grandma had not given her that
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  • Particular gift.
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  • She had given her a lot of gifts, but not that one.
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  • I was the one who had given her the gift.
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  • And i'm gonna have to tell you kind of ticked me off.
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  • I wanted her to know i was the one who gave her that gift.
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  • Why did i want her to know that?
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  • Because i wanted her to know how much i loved her.
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  • I'm the one who gave her the gift.
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  • And it's the same way with god.
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  • The reason god hates pride so much is it blinds us to the
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  • Great gifts he has given us.
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  • You see, in the individualistic culture we live in, especially
  • 00:08:48.618 --> 00:08:52.455
  • Here in america, we love these rags to riches stories.
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  • We love to think i am the master of my fate.
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  • I'm the captain of my soul.
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  • Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
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  • We wanna think that we are the ones responsible for the good
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  • Things in our life.
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  • But whenever we begin to think that we're responsible for the
  • 00:09:10.539 --> 00:09:14.176
  • Good things in our life, we should remember this very
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  • Penetrating question asked by the apostle paul.
  • 00:09:17.880 --> 00:09:21.083
  • It's found in 1 corinthians 4:7.
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  • Paul said, "for who regards you as superior?
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  • And what do you have that you did not receive?
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  • But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not
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  • Received it?"
  • 00:09:37.633 --> 00:09:39.368
  • Paul is basically saying, do an inventory of all the good things
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  • In your life and ask yourself where did these things
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  • Come from?
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  • You know, if we do that, we think about the good things in
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  • Our life, if we're truly humble, we come to the conclusion that
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  • Every good thing in life is the result of either what god or
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  • Other people have done for us.
  • 00:10:00.156 --> 00:10:02.725
  • What good thing in your life cannot ultimately be traced to
  • 00:10:02.725 --> 00:10:08.030
  • The generosity and goodness of god.
  • 00:10:08.030 --> 00:10:11.067
  • You say, well, my appearance.
  • 00:10:11.067 --> 00:10:14.370
  • My appearance is the result of eating right and working out.
  • 00:10:14.370 --> 00:10:17.573
  • I take good care of myself.
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  • That's why i look so fantastic.
  • 00:10:18.908 --> 00:10:22.044
  • Well, before you come to that conclusion, listen to what the
  • 00:10:22.044 --> 00:10:25.114
  • Psalmist said.
  • 00:10:25.114 --> 00:10:26.449
  • Psalm 139 verses 13 and 14.
  • 00:10:26.449 --> 00:10:28.384
  • "for thou didst form my inward parts.
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  • Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb.
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  • I will give thanks to thee for i am fearfully and
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  • Wonderfully made."
  • 00:10:37.493 --> 00:10:38.894
  • Our appearance is the result of what god has given to us.
  • 00:10:38.894 --> 00:10:43.632
  • Other people say, well, my abilities.
  • 00:10:43.632 --> 00:10:45.534
  • I'm such a gifted person because i've worked so hard and i've
  • 00:10:45.534 --> 00:10:48.938
  • Practiced and i've studied.
  • 00:10:48.938 --> 00:10:50.673
  • That is why i'm such a gifted person.
  • 00:10:50.673 --> 00:10:52.875
  • Think again, james 1:17 says, "every good thing bestowed and
  • 00:10:52.875 --> 00:10:58.013
  • Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the
  • 00:10:58.013 --> 00:11:01.817
  • Father of lights with whom there is no variation or
  • 00:11:01.817 --> 00:11:05.554
  • Shifting shadow."
  • 00:11:05.554 --> 00:11:08.057
  • What about your children?
  • 00:11:08.057 --> 00:11:09.391
  • Oh, my children, they are so wonderful.
  • 00:11:09.391 --> 00:11:11.794
  • They are the result of great genes and tremendous
  • 00:11:11.794 --> 00:11:16.098
  • Child rearing.
  • 00:11:16.098 --> 00:11:17.433
  • That's why they are so fantastic.
  • 00:11:17.433 --> 00:11:19.935
  • The psalmist said in psalm 127 verse 3, "behold, children are a
  • 00:11:19.935 --> 00:11:24.573
  • Gift of the lord.
  • 00:11:24.573 --> 00:11:26.408
  • The fruit of the womb is a reward."
  • 00:11:26.408 --> 00:11:29.545
  • What about your possessions?
  • 00:11:29.545 --> 00:11:30.913
  • A lot of people think.
  • 00:11:30.913 --> 00:11:32.248
  • Well, the reason i'm so successful, the reason i've
  • 00:11:32.248 --> 00:11:34.150
  • Accumulated so much money.
  • 00:11:34.150 --> 00:11:35.785
  • The reason i enjoy a great lifestyle is because of my
  • 00:11:35.785 --> 00:11:39.355
  • Hard work.
  • 00:11:39.355 --> 00:11:42.158
  • Think again, deuteronomy 8:18 moses said, "but you shall
  • 00:11:42.158 --> 00:11:46.095
  • Remember that the lord your god, it is he who is giving you the
  • 00:11:46.095 --> 00:11:50.966
  • Power to make wealth."
  • 00:11:50.966 --> 00:11:53.869
  • Just think about it.
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  • The only reason you are alive and breathing right now is
  • 00:11:55.604 --> 00:12:00.843
  • Because god has kept you alive.
  • 00:12:00.843 --> 00:12:02.845
  • He has given you the breath of life.
  • 00:12:02.845 --> 00:12:05.748
  • And that's why paul said every good thing in your life is
  • 00:12:05.748 --> 00:12:09.051
  • Ultimately a gift from god.
  • 00:12:09.051 --> 00:12:12.254
  • Pride keeps us from seeing that.
  • 00:12:12.254 --> 00:12:13.889
  • Pride leads to ingratitude and ingratitude leads to a second
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  • Sin, and that is independence.
  • 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:21.630
  • You know, you may be asking yourself, is god so petty?
  • 00:12:21.630 --> 00:12:26.068
  • Is god so petty that he has to be thanked regularly by us?
  • 00:12:26.068 --> 00:12:30.105
  • Is he that insecure that he has to have us glorify him and
  • 00:12:30.105 --> 00:12:34.176
  • Always compliment him?
  • 00:12:34.176 --> 00:12:35.811
  • I mean, is something wrong with god?
  • 00:12:35.811 --> 00:12:38.848
  • No, not at all.
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  • We don't--the fact is, god doesn't need anything from us,
  • 00:12:41.450 --> 00:12:45.988
  • But we need everything from god.
  • 00:12:45.988 --> 00:12:49.592
  • You've heard people say, "well, you know, the reason god created
  • 00:12:49.592 --> 00:12:52.494
  • Us was god was sitting in heaven one day and he had spent
  • 00:12:52.494 --> 00:12:55.731
  • Billions of years up there by himself and he got lonely and
  • 00:12:55.731 --> 00:12:59.134
  • Said, i need somebody to have fellowship with."
  • 00:12:59.134 --> 00:13:01.270
  • Have you heard that before?
  • 00:13:01.270 --> 00:13:03.038
  • There's a theological term for that, hogwash.
  • 00:13:03.038 --> 00:13:08.711
  • God isn't lonely.
  • 00:13:08.711 --> 00:13:10.913
  • God doesn't need you.
  • 00:13:10.913 --> 00:13:12.748
  • He doesn't need me to be fulfilled.
  • 00:13:12.748 --> 00:13:14.984
  • He is totally self-sufficient, but we need god.
  • 00:13:14.984 --> 00:13:19.188
  • Saint augustine said, "there is a god shaped vacuum in every
  • 00:13:19.188 --> 00:13:23.525
  • Human heart that only christ can fill."
  • 00:13:23.525 --> 00:13:27.229
  • God knows that we need him and that's why he makes every effort
  • 00:13:27.229 --> 00:13:32.334
  • Had to have a relationship with us so that he can meet our
  • 00:13:32.334 --> 00:13:36.105
  • Greatest need of all.
  • 00:13:36.105 --> 00:13:38.073
  • Now, think about this.
  • 00:13:38.073 --> 00:13:39.408
  • If you were a parent trying to get the attention of a wayward
  • 00:13:39.408 --> 00:13:42.811
  • Child, how would you do it?
  • 00:13:42.811 --> 00:13:45.247
  • How would you try to communicate that you love your child?
  • 00:13:45.247 --> 00:13:48.817
  • One way you would do it is by showering great gifts, giving
  • 00:13:48.817 --> 00:13:53.489
  • Good gifts to your children to show your love for them.
  • 00:13:53.489 --> 00:13:56.892
  • That's what jesus said in matthew 7 verse 11.
  • 00:13:56.892 --> 00:13:59.395
  • "if you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your
  • 00:13:59.395 --> 00:14:03.499
  • Children, how much more shall your father who is in heaven
  • 00:14:03.499 --> 00:14:07.736
  • Give what is good to those who ask him!"
  • 00:14:07.736 --> 00:14:11.340
  • The book of romans paul said, it is the grace of god, the
  • 00:14:11.340 --> 00:14:15.077
  • Goodness of god that leads us to repentance.
  • 00:14:15.077 --> 00:14:20.115
  • But when we don't recognize that these good gifts are from god,
  • 00:14:20.115 --> 00:14:24.687
  • When we don't express gratitude, we are prone to live apart from
  • 00:14:24.687 --> 00:14:29.291
  • God, to go our own way.
  • 00:14:29.291 --> 00:14:32.428
  • And that's exactly what happened to lucifer.
  • 00:14:32.428 --> 00:14:35.631
  • His ingratitude for the good things god had done in creating
  • 00:14:35.631 --> 00:14:39.635
  • Him as the head of the angels, led to an independent spirit
  • 00:14:39.635 --> 00:14:44.406
  • And rebellion.
  • 00:14:44.406 --> 00:14:45.741
  • God said this to lucifer, ezekiel 28:15 and 17, "you were
  • 00:14:45.741 --> 00:14:50.412
  • Blameless in your ways from the day you were created until
  • 00:14:50.412 --> 00:14:54.416
  • Unrighteousness was found in you."
  • 00:14:54.416 --> 00:14:56.685
  • Now listen to this, verse 17, "your heart was lifted up
  • 00:14:56.685 --> 00:15:01.323
  • Because of your beauty: you corrupted your wisdom by reason
  • 00:15:01.323 --> 00:15:06.028
  • Of your splendor."
  • 00:15:06.028 --> 00:15:08.831
  • Lucifer in heaven one day started looking in a mirror
  • 00:15:08.831 --> 00:15:12.468
  • Said, "hey, i'm pretty impressive.
  • 00:15:12.468 --> 00:15:14.837
  • I'm pretty good looking.
  • 00:15:14.837 --> 00:15:17.072
  • I'm pretty wise."
  • 00:15:17.072 --> 00:15:19.975
  • Satan forgot he was a creature instead of the creator.
  • 00:15:19.975 --> 00:15:25.647
  • And that pride in his heart led to independence to a rebellion.
  • 00:15:25.647 --> 00:15:30.519
  • And that rebellion is described in isaiah 14 verses 13 and 14.
  • 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:34.623
  • God said, "lucifer, you said, in your heart, i will ascend
  • 00:15:34.623 --> 00:15:38.927
  • To heaven.
  • 00:15:38.927 --> 00:15:40.262
  • I will raise my throne above the stars of god.
  • 00:15:40.262 --> 00:15:42.031
  • I will sit on the mount of the assembly.
  • 00:15:42.031 --> 00:15:43.966
  • I will ascend to the heights of the clouds.
  • 00:15:43.966 --> 00:15:46.201
  • I will make myself like the most high god."
  • 00:15:46.201 --> 00:15:50.906
  • That is always what happens when we fail to show appreciation
  • 00:15:50.906 --> 00:15:54.610
  • To god.
  • 00:15:54.610 --> 00:15:56.111
  • That ingratitude leads to an independence from god.
  • 00:15:56.111 --> 00:16:00.883
  • That independence from god leads to a third sin and that is
  • 00:16:00.883 --> 00:16:05.387
  • Intolerance of others.
  • 00:16:05.387 --> 00:16:07.723
  • An intolerance for others.
  • 00:16:07.723 --> 00:16:09.091
  • You know, you look through the teaching of jesus, he spoke
  • 00:16:09.091 --> 00:16:12.561
  • Pretty harshly at times.
  • 00:16:12.561 --> 00:16:14.863
  • You know, jesus wasn't this casper milk toast guy who, you
  • 00:16:14.863 --> 00:16:18.700
  • Know, walked around in sandals, chewing on bird seed saying nice
  • 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:24.706
  • Things to people all the time.
  • 00:16:24.706 --> 00:16:26.909
  • That wasn't jesus.
  • 00:16:26.909 --> 00:16:28.277
  • He could be tough, really tough at times, but his harshest, his
  • 00:16:28.277 --> 00:16:32.981
  • Toughest words were spoken not to murderers or adulterers, but
  • 00:16:32.981 --> 00:16:39.488
  • It was to the religious hypocrites of his day.
  • 00:16:39.488 --> 00:16:43.025
  • The pharisees and the sadducees who had an inflated view of
  • 00:16:43.025 --> 00:16:47.529
  • Their own righteousness and looked down upon others
  • 00:16:47.529 --> 00:16:51.733
  • With contempt.
  • 00:16:51.733 --> 00:16:53.368
  • Matthew 23 verse 13, jesus said, "but woe to you scribes and
  • 00:16:53.368 --> 00:16:58.474
  • Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of god
  • 00:16:58.474 --> 00:17:01.977
  • For men, for you do not enter in yourselves nor do you allow
  • 00:17:01.977 --> 00:17:07.382
  • Those who are entering to go in."
  • 00:17:07.382 --> 00:17:10.686
  • Probably the greatest illustration of the intolerance
  • 00:17:10.686 --> 00:17:14.490
  • Of the religious hypocrites is found in one of the parables
  • 00:17:14.490 --> 00:17:17.860
  • Jesus told, luke 18 verses 9 to 14.
  • 00:17:17.860 --> 00:17:21.263
  • This shows how pride leads to a hatred of other people.
  • 00:17:21.263 --> 00:17:25.467
  • Listen to this.
  • 00:17:25.467 --> 00:17:26.802
  • Luke 18 beginning with verse 9, "and jesus also told this
  • 00:17:26.802 --> 00:17:29.872
  • Parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they
  • 00:17:29.872 --> 00:17:35.677
  • Were righteous, and viewed others with contempt."
  • 00:17:35.677 --> 00:17:38.881
  • You know what self righteousness means?
  • 00:17:38.881 --> 00:17:41.450
  • It means looking to yourself for your own righteousness, your
  • 00:17:41.450 --> 00:17:46.221
  • Right standing with god.
  • 00:17:46.221 --> 00:17:47.789
  • It means believing you're good enough to get into heaven and
  • 00:17:47.789 --> 00:17:50.959
  • Earn god's approval.
  • 00:17:50.959 --> 00:17:52.327
  • So jesus told a story to those who felt that way
  • 00:17:52.327 --> 00:17:55.164
  • About themselves.
  • 00:17:55.164 --> 00:17:56.565
  • And whenever you feel like you're righteous by your own
  • 00:17:56.565 --> 00:17:59.601
  • Good works, you're gonna naturally view other people
  • 00:17:59.601 --> 00:18:02.971
  • With contempt.
  • 00:18:02.971 --> 00:18:04.339
  • So he told the story, verse 10, "two men went up into the temple
  • 00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:08.410
  • To pray, one was a pharisee, the other a tax gatherer."
  • 00:18:08.410 --> 00:18:15.717
  • There was no more hated group in israel than tax gatherers,
  • 00:18:15.717 --> 00:18:21.623
  • Tax collectors.
  • 00:18:21.623 --> 00:18:23.525
  • After 2000 years, some things never change.
  • 00:18:23.525 --> 00:18:26.328
  • Do they?
  • 00:18:26.328 --> 00:18:27.696
  • As april 15th approaches.
  • 00:18:27.696 --> 00:18:30.232
  • Well, they hated these tax gatherers.
  • 00:18:30.232 --> 00:18:32.301
  • Two men went up to pray.
  • 00:18:32.301 --> 00:18:33.635
  • One was a religious leader, the other was an irs agent.
  • 00:18:33.635 --> 00:18:37.739
  • Verse 11, "the pharisee stood and was praying thus
  • 00:18:37.739 --> 00:18:42.578
  • To himself."
  • 00:18:42.578 --> 00:18:43.912
  • I love that.
  • 00:18:43.912 --> 00:18:45.247
  • He thought he was talking to god.
  • 00:18:45.247 --> 00:18:46.615
  • His prayer didn't make it above the roof of the temple.
  • 00:18:46.615 --> 00:18:48.750
  • He was really praying to himself.
  • 00:18:48.750 --> 00:18:51.019
  • But this is what he said to god.
  • 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.621
  • "god, i thank thee that i'm not like other people; swindlers,
  • 00:18:52.621 --> 00:18:58.327
  • Unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax gatherer over here.
  • 00:18:58.327 --> 00:19:03.632
  • I fast twice a week.
  • 00:19:03.632 --> 00:19:05.534
  • I pay tithes of all that i get."
  • 00:19:05.534 --> 00:19:07.035
  • You know, this religious leader sounds a whole lot like some
  • 00:19:07.035 --> 00:19:11.873
  • Religious leaders i know right now.
  • 00:19:11.873 --> 00:19:15.010
  • Thank god i'm not like that guy over there.
  • 00:19:15.010 --> 00:19:19.348
  • He's an adulterer.
  • 00:19:19.348 --> 00:19:20.983
  • He's a crook.
  • 00:19:20.983 --> 00:19:22.351
  • He's a liar.
  • 00:19:22.351 --> 00:19:23.685
  • If only he could be more like me.
  • 00:19:23.685 --> 00:19:27.556
  • God hates that attitude.
  • 00:19:27.556 --> 00:19:30.092
  • Absolutely hates it.
  • 00:19:30.092 --> 00:19:31.693
  • But notice verse 13, "but the tax gatherer, standing some
  • 00:19:31.693 --> 00:19:37.099
  • Distance away," he felt so unholy and unworthy.
  • 00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:42.070
  • He backed up as far as he could from the holy place and he
  • 00:19:42.070 --> 00:19:46.975
  • Simply looked up and he said, "god, be merciful."
  • 00:19:46.975 --> 00:19:52.547
  • That word merciful is literally the word mercy seated.
  • 00:19:52.547 --> 00:19:58.086
  • God be mercy seated to me.
  • 00:19:58.086 --> 00:20:01.189
  • You remember the mercy seat that was in the holy of holies?
  • 00:20:01.189 --> 00:20:04.393
  • The ark of the covenant had the ten commandments.
  • 00:20:04.393 --> 00:20:07.863
  • There was a gold lid on it.
  • 00:20:07.863 --> 00:20:09.731
  • God was thought to dwell above that mercy seat between the
  • 00:20:09.731 --> 00:20:13.902
  • Cherubim and 359 days a year, the picture was god looking down
  • 00:20:13.902 --> 00:20:22.010
  • On the law that his people had broken.
  • 00:20:22.010 --> 00:20:23.879
  • It was a place of judgment.
  • 00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:26.214
  • But once a year, the high priest would come in with the blood of
  • 00:20:26.214 --> 00:20:29.584
  • An innocent animal and he would sprinkle it on top of that mercy
  • 00:20:29.584 --> 00:20:33.388
  • Seat, cover it so that when god looked down, he no longer saw
  • 00:20:33.388 --> 00:20:38.026
  • The sins of his people deserving eternal death, he saw the blood
  • 00:20:38.026 --> 00:20:42.698
  • That covered that broken law.
  • 00:20:42.698 --> 00:20:45.434
  • And of course, that was a picture of what jesus, the lamb
  • 00:20:45.434 --> 00:20:49.104
  • Of god would do for us one day when he would offer his blood as
  • 00:20:49.104 --> 00:20:53.542
  • A covering for our sin.
  • 00:20:53.542 --> 00:20:57.112
  • That's what the tax gatherer was saying.
  • 00:20:57.112 --> 00:20:59.781
  • "god, i can't save myself, my only hope is that you show mercy
  • 00:20:59.781 --> 00:21:04.853
  • And grace that you pay the penalty for my sin."
  • 00:21:04.853 --> 00:21:09.291
  • Two men with two very different kinds of prayers.
  • 00:21:09.291 --> 00:21:12.594
  • Look at what jesus says in verse 14, "but i tell you this, it is
  • 00:21:12.594 --> 00:21:16.932
  • This man, the tax gatherer who went down to his house justified
  • 00:21:16.932 --> 00:21:24.339
  • Rather than the pharisee."
  • 00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:26.975
  • There were gasp in the audience when jesus said that this man,
  • 00:21:26.975 --> 00:21:30.479
  • The tax guy, you're telling me they're sinner, is the one who
  • 00:21:30.479 --> 00:21:35.183
  • God is justified and not the religious person.
  • 00:21:35.183 --> 00:21:38.086
  • We can't believe that god, we can't accept that.
  • 00:21:38.086 --> 00:21:41.289
  • But jesus added, "for everyone who exalts himself shall be
  • 00:21:41.289 --> 00:21:45.694
  • Humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted."
  • 00:21:45.694 --> 00:21:52.367
  • Pride, an inflated view of our own righteousness leads to
  • 00:21:52.367 --> 00:21:58.807
  • Intolerance toward others.
  • 00:21:58.807 --> 00:22:01.443
  • And finally, fourth, the result of pride is an inability to
  • 00:22:01.443 --> 00:22:06.548
  • Accept god's grace.
  • 00:22:06.548 --> 00:22:07.983
  • This is perhaps the most damning of all of the consequences of
  • 00:22:07.983 --> 00:22:11.953
  • Pride, an inability to accept god's grace.
  • 00:22:11.953 --> 00:22:15.390
  • You know, in luke chapter 18 verse 17, we find an intriguing
  • 00:22:15.390 --> 00:22:18.994
  • Verse by jesus.
  • 00:22:18.994 --> 00:22:20.429
  • He said, "truly i say to you, whoever does not receive the
  • 00:22:20.429 --> 00:22:25.167
  • Kingdom of god like a child shall not enter it at all."
  • 00:22:25.167 --> 00:22:31.907
  • You know, i love so many things about first baptist dallas.
  • 00:22:31.907 --> 00:22:34.876
  • But one of the things i love most is the great children's and
  • 00:22:34.876 --> 00:22:38.480
  • Student ministry we have here.
  • 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:41.550
  • We don't just babysit kids here.
  • 00:22:41.550 --> 00:22:43.685
  • We teach them the scriptures and regularly throughout any year,
  • 00:22:43.685 --> 00:22:47.389
  • We give our children and teenagers a chance to trust in
  • 00:22:47.389 --> 00:22:50.926
  • Christ as savior.
  • 00:22:50.926 --> 00:22:52.427
  • One of those times we do it is at vacation bible school
  • 00:22:52.427 --> 00:22:55.597
  • Every summer.
  • 00:22:55.597 --> 00:22:56.965
  • We'll have maybe 2000 kids here and every thursday i'll stand up
  • 00:22:56.965 --> 00:23:00.435
  • And give a gospel presentation to the children explaining how
  • 00:23:00.435 --> 00:23:03.905
  • They can be saved.
  • 00:23:03.905 --> 00:23:05.240
  • And when i give the invitation for kids who want to trust in
  • 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:08.143
  • Jesus to come forward, i mean, hundreds of them come sometimes.
  • 00:23:08.143 --> 00:23:13.648
  • And, you know, every now and then there are a few adults
  • 00:23:13.648 --> 00:23:15.951
  • Standing at the back like this kind of watching all of it.
  • 00:23:15.951 --> 00:23:19.955
  • And you can kind of tell they're not sure what they think
  • 00:23:19.955 --> 00:23:22.257
  • About that.
  • 00:23:22.257 --> 00:23:23.758
  • They won't say it to me, but they'll say to some other
  • 00:23:23.758 --> 00:23:25.894
  • People, "you know, i think the pastor made it too easy.
  • 00:23:25.894 --> 00:23:30.732
  • Do those children really know what they're doing?
  • 00:23:30.732 --> 00:23:33.835
  • Don't they need to be older?"
  • 00:23:33.835 --> 00:23:36.204
  • Well, we don't do it with the youngest children, but we do it
  • 00:23:36.204 --> 00:23:39.107
  • When they're old enough to.
  • 00:23:39.107 --> 00:23:40.442
  • But people say, "well, don't they need to be older before
  • 00:23:40.442 --> 00:23:42.644
  • They can be saved?"
  • 00:23:42.644 --> 00:23:43.979
  • What did jesus say?
  • 00:23:43.979 --> 00:23:45.313
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:45.313 --> 00:23:50.952
  • Jeffress: well as we conclude today's broadcast, i wanna share
  • 00:23:50.952 --> 00:23:53.822
  • This encouraging note i received from someone who uses our
  • 00:23:53.822 --> 00:23:57.459
  • "pathway to victory daily devotional."
  • 00:23:57.459 --> 00:24:00.362
  • Harry wrote, "i am writing to let you know how much your daily
  • 00:24:00.362 --> 00:24:04.566
  • Devotional has been working in my life.
  • 00:24:04.566 --> 00:24:07.235
  • I absolutely love how it is written.
  • 00:24:07.235 --> 00:24:10.138
  • It's like i'm hearing you speak when i read it each day.
  • 00:24:10.138 --> 00:24:13.942
  • I love that each devotional builds on the previous
  • 00:24:13.942 --> 00:24:16.978
  • Day's entry.
  • 00:24:16.978 --> 00:24:18.346
  • God bless you."
  • 00:24:18.346 --> 00:24:19.881
  • Well, thank you harry for that word of encouragement.
  • 00:24:19.881 --> 00:24:22.551
  • I'm so glad that the daily devotional has been a source of
  • 00:24:22.551 --> 00:24:25.754
  • Blessing in your life.
  • 00:24:25.754 --> 00:24:27.656
  • And to those of you who support this ministry, thank you for
  • 00:24:27.656 --> 00:24:30.892
  • Making it possible for us to reach friends like harry and so
  • 00:24:30.892 --> 00:24:34.296
  • Many others around the world.
  • 00:24:34.296 --> 00:24:36.631
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:24:36.631 --> 00:24:37.966
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:37.966 --> 00:24:41.069
  • Male announcer: each day, millions of lost people are
  • 00:24:43.004 --> 00:24:45.307
  • Searching for hope and truth.
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  • Through "pathway to victory," god's word is reaching into
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  • Homes across america and around the world, but there are still
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  • So many who haven't heard the saving message of jesus christ.
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  • You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
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  • You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries who are
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  • Sharing the gospel through television and radio.
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  • Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide with the
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  • Life-changing power of the cross.
  • 00:25:10.231 --> 00:25:12.767
  • Jeffress: one of the reasons that god hates pride more than
  • 00:25:15.403 --> 00:25:18.406
  • Any other sin is because he knows the damage it causes in
  • 00:25:18.406 --> 00:25:22.611
  • Our lives.
  • 00:25:22.611 --> 00:25:23.945
  • And i hope this message today reinforces your desire to choose
  • 00:25:23.945 --> 00:25:28.316
  • Humility over pride.
  • 00:25:28.316 --> 00:25:30.585
  • Some of the most successful people i know are humble.
  • 00:25:30.585 --> 00:25:33.822
  • Their modesty always surprises me a little bit because, well,
  • 00:25:33.822 --> 00:25:37.292
  • You'd think they'd want to swagger a little.
  • 00:25:37.292 --> 00:25:40.095
  • After all, success comes with bragging rights, don't
  • 00:25:40.095 --> 00:25:43.231
  • You think?
  • 00:25:43.231 --> 00:25:44.566
  • Well, far from it.
  • 00:25:44.566 --> 00:25:45.934
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:45.934 --> 00:25:48.436
  • Series, "choose your attitudes, change your life."
  • 00:25:48.436 --> 00:25:52.874
  • Jeffress: you know, we tend to go to one of two extremes when
  • 00:25:52.941 --> 00:25:55.944
  • We try to evaluate ourselves.
  • 00:25:55.944 --> 00:25:57.912
  • One extreme is i'm so wonderful, how could god in the world ever
  • 00:25:57.912 --> 00:26:01.349
  • Get along without me?
  • 00:26:01.349 --> 00:26:03.451
  • The other extreme is i'm nothing but a worm.
  • 00:26:03.451 --> 00:26:06.287
  • I can't do anything.
  • 00:26:06.287 --> 00:26:07.989
  • Neither is a right proper assessment.
  • 00:26:07.989 --> 00:26:12.160
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time.
  • 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:14.529
  • For part two of the message,
  • 00:26:14.529 --> 00:26:16.364
  • "choosing humility over pride"
  • 00:26:16.364 --> 00:26:18.466
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:18.466 --> 00:26:20.035
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:20.035 --> 00:26:24.773
  • Announcer: experience a journey that will refresh your spirit
  • 00:26:24.773 --> 00:26:27.742
  • And renew your faith on the pathway to victory cruise to
  • 00:26:27.742 --> 00:26:30.979
  • Alaska, june 13-20, 2026.
  • 00:26:30.979 --> 00:26:34.582
  • Jeffress: sail aboard holland america's luxurious koningsdam
  • 00:26:34.582 --> 00:26:37.719
  • Through british columbia's beautiful inside passage.
  • 00:26:37.719 --> 00:26:41.523
  • From the pristine waters of glacier bay to the charming
  • 00:26:41.523 --> 00:26:44.926
  • Frontier towns of juneau, ketchikan, and skagway, you'll
  • 00:26:44.926 --> 00:26:49.197
  • Witness god's handiwork on full display.
  • 00:26:49.197 --> 00:26:52.667
  • Announcer: imagine standing on deck surrounded by towering
  • 00:26:52.667 --> 00:26:55.303
  • Glaciers and snowcapped mountains while enjoying
  • 00:26:55.303 --> 00:26:57.906
  • Powerful bible teaching from dr. jeffress.
  • 00:26:57.906 --> 00:27:00.742
  • Then enjoy spirit-lifting worship led by michael o'brien
  • 00:27:00.742 --> 00:27:04.479
  • And share plenty of laughter with dennis swanberg, america's
  • 00:27:04.479 --> 00:27:07.682
  • Minister of encouragement.
  • 00:27:07.682 --> 00:27:09.451
  • Jeffress: this is more than just a vacation.
  • 00:27:09.451 --> 00:27:11.586
  • It's a sacred pause to reconnect with the lord.
  • 00:27:11.586 --> 00:27:15.090
  • Announcer: to reserve your cabin on the 2026 pathway to victory
  • 00:27:15.090 --> 00:27:17.859
  • Cruise to alaska, call ... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:17.859