Robert Jeffress - Choosing Humility Over Pride (Part 2)

January 28, 2026 | 27:29

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 2) | January 28, 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," 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."
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  • Some of the most successful people i know are humble.
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  • Their modesty always surprises me a bit because you'd think
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  • That those who reach the peak of their profession would deserve
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  • To swagger a bit.
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  • I mean, their success comes with bragging rights, don't
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  • You think?
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  • Well, today we're going to discover that success doesn't
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  • Entitle us to become proud and arrogant, far from it.
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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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  • ♪ it's not conservative or liberal; however they're ♪
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  • ♪ defined it's not about interpretation or the ♪
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  • ♪ judgment of the mind it's the opposite of politics ♪
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  • ♪ power or prestige it's about a simple message and whether ♪
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  • ♪ we believe, it's still the cross it's still the blood ♪
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  • ♪ of calvary that cleanses sins and sets the captives ♪
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  • ♪ free it's still the name, the name of jesus that has power ♪
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  • ♪ to save the lost, it's still the cross though some may ♪
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  • ♪ say it's man's religion or ancient history, the cross of ♪
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  • ♪ jesus still remains the price for sin that sets us ♪
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  • ♪ free it's still the cross, it's still the blood of ♪
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  • ♪ calvary that cleanses sins and sets the captives free ♪
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  • ♪ it's still the name ♪
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  • ♪ the name of jesus that has power ♪
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  • ♪ to save the lost ♪
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  • ♪ it's still the cross ♪
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  • ♪ thank god ♪
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  • ♪ it's still the cross ♪♪
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  • [congregation applauding]
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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."
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  • 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
  • 00:04:05.001 --> 00:04:07.403
  • Business, but having a family, a wife, children that serve the
  • 00:04:07.403 --> 00:04:10.840
  • Lord is much, much more difficult.
  • 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:12.875
  • And that's who we are. we're not about hobby lobby.
  • 00:04:12.875 --> 00:04:15.178
  • We're about mission, vision, and values, and it's all based on
  • 00:04:15.178 --> 00:04:18.281
  • God's word, and that's what we're excited about.
  • 00:04:18.281 --> 00:04:20.516
  • Bill high: no matter what stage of life you're in, "the legacy
  • 00:04:20.516 --> 00:04:23.219
  • Life" will help you understand how to apply god's word and set
  • 00:04:23.219 --> 00:04:27.757
  • In motion a great legacy.
  • 00:04:27.757 --> 00:04:30.693
  • 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
  • 00:04:37.333 --> 00:04:40.236
  • Your attitudes, change your life."
  • 00:04:40.236 --> 00:04:42.505
  • 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
  • 00:04:49.479 --> 00:04:53.216
  • And dvd and a set of attitude booster cards for
  • 00:04:53.216 --> 00:04:57.120
  • Your encouragement.
  • 00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:58.454
  • Thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
  • 00:04:58.454 --> 00:05:00.957
  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: jesus wasn't this casper, milquetoast guy who, you
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  • Know, walked around in sandals, chewing on bird seed, saying
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  • Nice things to people all the time.
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  • That wasn't jesus.
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  • He could be tough, really tough at times.
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  • But his harshest, his toughest words were spoken not to
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  • Murderers or adulterers, but it was to the religious hypocrites
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  • Of his day, the pharisees and the sadducees who had an
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  • Inflated view of their own righteousness and looked down
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  • Upon others with contempt.
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  • Probably the greatest illustration of the intolerance
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  • Of the religious hypocrites is found in one of the parables
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  • Jesus told, luke 18, verses 9 to 14.
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  • This shows how pride leads to a hatred of other people.
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  • Listen to this, luke 18, beginning with verse 9, "and
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  • Jesus also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in
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  • Themselves, that they were righteous, and viewed others
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  • With contempt."
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  • You know what "self-righteousness" means?
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  • It means looking to yourself for your own righteousness, your
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  • Right standing with god.
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  • It means believing you're good enough to get into heaven and
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  • Earn god's approval.
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  • So, jesus told a story to those who felt that way about
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  • Themselves, and whenever you feel like you're righteous by
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  • Your own good works, you're gonna naturally view other
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  • People with contempt.
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  • So, he told the story, verse 10: "two men went up into the temple
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  • To pray, one was a pharisee; the other a tax gatherer.
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  • The pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself."
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  • I love that.
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  • He thought he was talking to god.
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  • His prayer didn't make it above the roof of the temple.
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  • He was really praying to himself.
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  • But this is what he said to god, "god, i thank thee that i'm not
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  • Like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like
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  • This tax gatherer over here.
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  • I fast twice a week. i pay tithes of all that i get."
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  • But notice verse 13, "but the tax gatherer, standing some
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  • Distance away," he felt so unholy and unworthy.
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  • He backed up as far as he could from the holy place.
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  • And he simply looked up and he said, "god, be merciful to me,
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  • The sinner."
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  • Look at what jesus says in verse 14, "but i tell you this, it is
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  • This man, the tax gatherer, who went down to his house justified
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  • Rather than the pharisee."
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  • There were gasp in the audience when jesus said that, "this man,
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  • The tax gatherer?
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  • You're telling me their sinner is the one who god is justified
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  • And not the religious person?"
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  • We can't believe that god, we can't accept that.
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  • But jesus added, "for everyone who exalts himself shall be
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  • Humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted."
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  • Pride, an inflated view of our own righteousness, leads to
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  • Intolerance toward others.
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  • And finally, fourth, the result of pride is an inability to
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  • Accept god's grace.
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  • This is perhaps the most damning of all of the consequences of
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  • Pride, an inability to accept god's grace.
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  • You know, in luke, chapter 18, verse 17, we find an intriguing
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  • Verse by jesus.
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  • He said, "truly, i say to you, whoever does not receive the
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  • Kingdom of god, like a child, shall not enter it at all."
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  • You know, i love so many things about first baptist dallas, but
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  • One of the things i love most is the great children's and student
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  • Ministry we have here.
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  • We don't just babysit kids here, we teach them the scriptures,
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  • And regularly, throughout any year, we give our children and
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  • Teenagers a chance to trust in christ as savior.
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  • One of those times we do it, is at vacation bible school
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  • Every summer.
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  • When i give the invitation for kids who want to trust in jesus
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  • To come forward.
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  • I mean, hundreds of them come sometimes, and, you know, every
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  • Now and then, there are a few adults standing at the back like
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  • This, kind of watching all of it, and you can kinda tell
  • 00:09:44.640 --> 00:09:48.344
  • They're not sure what they think about that.
  • 00:09:48.344 --> 00:09:51.147
  • They won't say it to me, but they'll say to some other
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  • People, "you know, i think the pastor made it too easy.
  • 00:09:53.282 --> 00:09:58.120
  • Do those children really know what they're doing?
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  • Don't they need to be older?"
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  • Well, we don't do it with the youngest children, but we do it
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  • When they're old enough.
  • 00:10:06.495 --> 00:10:07.830
  • But people say, "well, don't they need to be older before
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  • They can be saved?"
  • 00:10:10.032 --> 00:10:11.367
  • What did jesus say?
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  • He didn't say, "children need to become like adults in order to
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  • Enter the kingdom of god."
  • 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:18.407
  • He said, "adults need to become like children to enter the
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  • Kingdom of god."
  • 00:10:22.178 --> 00:10:23.879
  • There's a reason 80% of christians are saved before the
  • 00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:28.284
  • Age of 15.
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  • You know why that is?
  • 00:10:29.652 --> 00:10:30.986
  • It's a lot easier for a child to be saved than an adult.
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  • A child doesn't have all that baggage with him that keeps him
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  • Or her from entering in the kingdom of god.
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  • A child isn't filled with all this pride that makes it
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  • Difficult for him to acknowledge that he is a sinner, and that he
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  • Does need a savior.
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  • That's why we need to become like children, but when we are
  • 00:10:51.841 --> 00:10:54.777
  • Filled with pride, that pride is the baggage that keeps us from
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  • Being able to experience and accept god's grace.
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  • This is why god hates pride, not because of what it does to him,
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  • But because of what it does for us, ultimately robbing us of
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  • Eternal life.
  • 00:11:14.029 --> 00:11:16.065
  • Now, look, pride is an attitude that credits us for our
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  • Successes and blames others for our failures.
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  • Humility is an attitude that causes us to view both of our
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  • Successes and failures from god's point of view.
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  • It helps us to see clearly the truth about ourselves.
  • 00:11:32.748 --> 00:11:37.153
  • Now, i admit, seeing clearly can be painful at times.
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  • I just thought of this this morning.
  • 00:11:42.792 --> 00:11:44.627
  • I thought about the story of the snake that went to the
  • 00:11:44.627 --> 00:11:47.763
  • Optometrist for a new pair of glasses.
  • 00:11:47.763 --> 00:11:50.866
  • The optometrist said, "i can't put glasses on you.
  • 00:11:50.866 --> 00:11:53.636
  • You don't have a nose or ears on which to hang them.
  • 00:11:53.636 --> 00:11:56.539
  • How about contacts?"
  • 00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:58.574
  • Snake said, "okay, i'll try the contacts."
  • 00:11:58.574 --> 00:12:00.643
  • So he fitted him for two contacts.
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  • He slithered out of the office.
  • 00:12:02.978 --> 00:12:05.014
  • About two weeks later, he came in for a checkup.
  • 00:12:05.014 --> 00:12:08.017
  • The optometrist said, "how are your contacts working out?
  • 00:12:08.017 --> 00:12:10.553
  • Can you see clearly?"
  • 00:12:10.553 --> 00:12:11.921
  • He said, "oh, yeah, i can see.
  • 00:12:11.921 --> 00:12:13.255
  • I've got 2020 vision, but i've been so depressed the last
  • 00:12:13.255 --> 00:12:15.858
  • Two weeks."
  • 00:12:15.858 --> 00:12:17.226
  • The optometrist said, "well, why have you been depressed?"
  • 00:12:17.226 --> 00:12:18.727
  • He said, "i discovered after all these years i've been living
  • 00:12:18.727 --> 00:12:22.131
  • With a water hose."
  • 00:12:22.131 --> 00:12:27.303
  • Oh, i'm sorry, i couldn't help myself.
  • 00:12:27.303 --> 00:12:32.942
  • Clear vision can be painful, that is the point of that story.
  • 00:12:32.942 --> 00:12:37.880
  • But that's what humility is, seeing yourself and others as
  • 00:12:37.880 --> 00:12:41.817
  • God sees them.
  • 00:12:41.817 --> 00:12:44.653
  • How do you know what genuine humility looks like in the
  • 00:12:44.653 --> 00:12:48.724
  • Closing minutes today, let me just share with you four
  • 00:12:48.724 --> 00:12:51.293
  • Characteristics of genuine humility.
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  • Number one: humility is willing to credit others for
  • 00:12:53.762 --> 00:12:58.234
  • Our successes.
  • 00:12:58.234 --> 00:13:00.169
  • Remember 1 corinthians 4:7, "what is it that you did
  • 00:13:00.169 --> 00:13:03.639
  • Not receive?
  • 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:04.974
  • But if you did not receive it, why do you boast as if you
  • 00:13:04.974 --> 00:13:07.743
  • Didn't receive it?"
  • 00:13:07.743 --> 00:13:09.912
  • I mean, a truly humble person doesn't have problems
  • 00:13:09.912 --> 00:13:15.050
  • Acknowledging that good things have come into his life from
  • 00:13:15.050 --> 00:13:18.087
  • Other people, and he doesn't have problems acknowledging the
  • 00:13:18.087 --> 00:13:21.223
  • Contributions others have made.
  • 00:13:21.223 --> 00:13:24.226
  • You know, i'll never forget the first time i went into
  • 00:13:24.226 --> 00:13:27.496
  • The oval office.
  • 00:13:27.496 --> 00:13:28.864
  • It was when ronald reagan was president, but it was much
  • 00:13:28.864 --> 00:13:33.269
  • Different back then because amy and i went at midnight one
  • 00:13:33.269 --> 00:13:37.539
  • Night, with a small little group that was taking a tour, and
  • 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:41.810
  • Reagan wasn't in the white--in the oval office, he was
  • 00:13:41.810 --> 00:13:45.381
  • Upstairs asleep.
  • 00:13:45.381 --> 00:13:47.249
  • But i remember a little plaque that was on his desk.
  • 00:13:47.249 --> 00:13:51.120
  • I wrote it down after i got back to the hotel because it made
  • 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:54.123
  • Such an impression on me.
  • 00:13:54.123 --> 00:13:55.457
  • He had a little plaque he kept on his desk the eight years he
  • 00:13:55.457 --> 00:13:58.160
  • Was president, that said, "there is no limit to what a man can
  • 00:13:58.160 --> 00:14:03.332
  • Do, or where he can go, if he doesn't mind who gets
  • 00:14:03.332 --> 00:14:08.671
  • The credit."
  • 00:14:08.671 --> 00:14:11.941
  • In fact, that made such an impression on me when we were
  • 00:14:11.941 --> 00:14:14.276
  • Last year at the reagan library, they had a replica of that
  • 00:14:14.276 --> 00:14:17.179
  • Plaque and i bought it, and put it on my desk as a reminder that
  • 00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:22.117
  • Humility means not caring who gets the credit.
  • 00:14:22.117 --> 00:14:26.388
  • Let me change that saying a little bit, "there's no limit to
  • 00:14:26.388 --> 00:14:28.991
  • What a church can do and what it can accomplish if it's not hung
  • 00:14:28.991 --> 00:14:32.861
  • Up on who gets the credit."
  • 00:14:32.861 --> 00:14:35.564
  • Truly, a humble spirit means willing to credit others for
  • 00:14:35.564 --> 00:14:40.836
  • Our successes.
  • 00:14:40.836 --> 00:14:42.171
  • Number two: humility generates genuine interest in
  • 00:14:42.171 --> 00:14:46.809
  • Other people.
  • 00:14:46.809 --> 00:14:48.344
  • You know, a truly humble person sees people as opportunities to
  • 00:14:48.344 --> 00:14:53.682
  • Meet needs, rather than opportunities to be used.
  • 00:14:53.682 --> 00:14:58.887
  • You know, i think about jesus, in matthew 20:28, when he gave
  • 00:14:58.887 --> 00:15:02.424
  • His purpose statement, his reason for living, for coming
  • 00:15:02.424 --> 00:15:05.661
  • To earth.
  • 00:15:05.661 --> 00:15:07.029
  • He said, "for the son of man did not come to be served, but to
  • 00:15:07.029 --> 00:15:11.300
  • Serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
  • 00:15:11.300 --> 00:15:15.104
  • You know, we've read that so many times, i think we've lost
  • 00:15:15.104 --> 00:15:18.674
  • The majesty of that verse.
  • 00:15:18.674 --> 00:15:20.642
  • I mean, it is an unbelievable thought when you think that
  • 00:15:20.642 --> 00:15:24.513
  • Jesus christ, co-equal with god, the father, the one who created
  • 00:15:24.513 --> 00:15:29.585
  • Everything we see, according to colossians 1, that jesus was
  • 00:15:29.585 --> 00:15:33.822
  • Willing to leave heaven, give up the perks and privileges of
  • 00:15:33.822 --> 00:15:37.593
  • Being the co-equal to god, the father.
  • 00:15:37.593 --> 00:15:40.562
  • He came to earth for one reason, not to meet his need, but to
  • 00:15:40.562 --> 00:15:46.869
  • Meet your greatest need, my greatest need, the need
  • 00:15:46.869 --> 00:15:51.306
  • For salvation.
  • 00:15:51.306 --> 00:15:52.641
  • That is unbelievable to think he was willing to do that.
  • 00:15:52.641 --> 00:15:58.047
  • And that's why jesus said in matthew 20, verse 26, if we're
  • 00:15:58.047 --> 00:16:01.950
  • Really his followers, we're gonna have that same attitude,
  • 00:16:01.950 --> 00:16:05.154
  • "whoever wishes to become great among you shall be
  • 00:16:05.154 --> 00:16:09.324
  • Your servant."
  • 00:16:09.324 --> 00:16:12.294
  • You know, that's hard to take in today's culture.
  • 00:16:12.294 --> 00:16:15.497
  • Books like, you know, "looking out for number one" or "winning
  • 00:16:15.497 --> 00:16:23.305
  • Through intimidation," that's kind of the spirit of our age,
  • 00:16:23.305 --> 00:16:26.675
  • See people as opportunities to use, to help you get where you
  • 00:16:26.675 --> 00:16:31.180
  • Wanna go.
  • 00:16:31.180 --> 00:16:32.514
  • But no, jesus said a true disciple is one who views other
  • 00:16:32.514 --> 00:16:36.251
  • People as opportunities to demonstrate service.
  • 00:16:36.251 --> 00:16:39.988
  • Have you ever been in this situation before?
  • 00:16:39.988 --> 00:16:42.558
  • You've been at some gathering a party or something?
  • 00:16:42.558 --> 00:16:45.461
  • And people are standing around mingling, and there's somebody
  • 00:16:45.461 --> 00:16:48.530
  • Who's talking to you, but they're looking past you over
  • 00:16:48.530 --> 00:16:52.367
  • Your shoulder, looking around to see if there's anybody more
  • 00:16:52.367 --> 00:16:54.970
  • Important they ought to be talking to.
  • 00:16:54.970 --> 00:16:57.005
  • Have you ever had that happen to you before?
  • 00:16:57.005 --> 00:16:59.541
  • You know, you're not somebody they're really interested in,
  • 00:16:59.541 --> 00:17:02.578
  • You're just a placeholder till somebody more interesting
  • 00:17:02.578 --> 00:17:05.614
  • Comes along.
  • 00:17:05.614 --> 00:17:07.783
  • That's the opposite of humility.
  • 00:17:07.783 --> 00:17:12.020
  • You know, when i look back, i think of two great christian
  • 00:17:12.020 --> 00:17:15.691
  • Leaders i've known.
  • 00:17:15.691 --> 00:17:17.526
  • One was the late cliff barrows, who was the song leader for
  • 00:17:17.526 --> 00:17:22.364
  • Billy graham for so many years.
  • 00:17:22.364 --> 00:17:24.600
  • The other is charles stanley, who's the great pastor of first
  • 00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:27.436
  • Baptist atlanta.
  • 00:17:27.436 --> 00:17:28.804
  • The reason i think of those two men is they're the very same in
  • 00:17:28.804 --> 00:17:31.807
  • This way, whenever they talk to you, they look you straight in
  • 00:17:31.807 --> 00:17:35.744
  • The eye, they are locked in on you.
  • 00:17:35.744 --> 00:17:38.647
  • The president of the united states could walk by and their
  • 00:17:38.647 --> 00:17:41.283
  • Eyes wouldn't move at all.
  • 00:17:41.283 --> 00:17:43.152
  • They're not only listening, they're asking questions about
  • 00:17:43.152 --> 00:17:45.921
  • You, and what's going on in your life, and your ministry and
  • 00:17:45.921 --> 00:17:49.458
  • Your family.
  • 00:17:49.458 --> 00:17:50.826
  • It's not fake.
  • 00:17:50.826 --> 00:17:52.161
  • They don't have anything to gain from that.
  • 00:17:52.161 --> 00:17:53.529
  • It's because they genuinely understand what it means to
  • 00:17:53.529 --> 00:17:56.698
  • Be humble.
  • 00:17:56.698 --> 00:17:58.066
  • That's what genuine humility does, it demonstrates an
  • 00:17:58.066 --> 00:18:01.570
  • Interest in other people.
  • 00:18:01.570 --> 00:18:03.739
  • A third quality of humility is humility resists the need to
  • 00:18:03.739 --> 00:18:08.043
  • Always be right.
  • 00:18:08.043 --> 00:18:10.112
  • Resists the need to always be right.
  • 00:18:10.112 --> 00:18:13.615
  • Chuck swindoll tells a story about this scandinavian couple
  • 00:18:13.615 --> 00:18:17.653
  • Sven and holda, who had been married for 50 years.
  • 00:18:17.653 --> 00:18:22.524
  • They were dedicated christians.
  • 00:18:22.524 --> 00:18:24.293
  • Sven taught in sunday school.
  • 00:18:24.293 --> 00:18:26.562
  • Holda sang in the church choir.
  • 00:18:26.562 --> 00:18:28.931
  • They were wonderful christians, except for one thing, they
  • 00:18:28.931 --> 00:18:31.867
  • Couldn't get along with one another.
  • 00:18:31.867 --> 00:18:34.203
  • They just fought like cats and dogs throughout their marriage.
  • 00:18:34.203 --> 00:18:38.473
  • They both felt badly about it, and they would pray together
  • 00:18:38.473 --> 00:18:41.877
  • Every night, and then they'd start fighting again.
  • 00:18:41.877 --> 00:18:44.746
  • So, one night after their prayer time, holda said to her husband
  • 00:18:44.746 --> 00:18:50.052
  • Sven, "sven, i think i have the answer to our
  • 00:18:50.052 --> 00:18:55.224
  • Difficult situation.
  • 00:18:55.224 --> 00:18:58.060
  • I think we should both pray that the lord would call one of
  • 00:18:58.060 --> 00:19:02.664
  • Us home.
  • 00:19:02.664 --> 00:19:07.502
  • Then i can go and live with my sister."
  • 00:19:07.502 --> 00:19:14.309
  • That's pride, the inability to even fathom the possibility that
  • 00:19:14.309 --> 00:19:20.082
  • You might be wrong instead of the other person.
  • 00:19:20.082 --> 00:19:24.319
  • You know, whenever you are in an argument with a child, or
  • 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:28.357
  • A parent, or a friend, or maybe, an employer, do you really
  • 00:19:28.357 --> 00:19:32.527
  • Listen to what the other person is saying?
  • 00:19:32.527 --> 00:19:34.496
  • Or, you so busy formulating your next sentence, your next
  • 00:19:34.496 --> 00:19:38.300
  • Argument, that you never really hear them out?
  • 00:19:38.300 --> 00:19:42.504
  • There was an old preacher one time who was speaking to a group
  • 00:19:42.504 --> 00:19:45.407
  • Of younger ministers about tips for the ministry, and he said,
  • 00:19:45.407 --> 00:19:49.544
  • "men, i've learned to eat crow every way you could prepare it,
  • 00:19:49.544 --> 00:19:53.915
  • Baked, broiled, fried and roasted; and i don't care how
  • 00:19:53.915 --> 00:19:57.619
  • You eat it, it never tastes good."
  • 00:19:57.619 --> 00:20:01.056
  • But crow is an item on the menu of those who are truly humble.
  • 00:20:01.056 --> 00:20:06.128
  • They don't mind admitting they were wrong.
  • 00:20:06.128 --> 00:20:08.230
  • 1 peter 5:5 and 6, "you younger men, likewise, be subject to
  • 00:20:08.230 --> 00:20:13.001
  • Your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility
  • 00:20:13.001 --> 00:20:16.905
  • Toward one another, for god is opposed to the proud, but he
  • 00:20:16.905 --> 00:20:20.909
  • Gives grace to the humble.
  • 00:20:20.909 --> 00:20:22.711
  • Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of god,
  • 00:20:22.711 --> 00:20:26.915
  • That he may exalt you at the proper time."
  • 00:20:26.915 --> 00:20:30.652
  • Finally, humility views life's accomplishments and failures
  • 00:20:30.652 --> 00:20:37.259
  • From god's perspective.
  • 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.827
  • You know, we tend to go to one of two extremes when we try to
  • 00:20:38.827 --> 00:20:42.264
  • Evaluate ourselves.
  • 00:20:42.264 --> 00:20:43.832
  • One extreme is i'm so wonderful.
  • 00:20:43.832 --> 00:20:45.834
  • How could god and the world ever get along without me?
  • 00:20:45.834 --> 00:20:49.371
  • The other extreme is i'm nothing but a worm.
  • 00:20:49.371 --> 00:20:52.140
  • I can't do anything.
  • 00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:53.809
  • Neither is a right, proper assessment.
  • 00:20:53.809 --> 00:20:57.779
  • For those who tend to think too highly of themselves, paul has
  • 00:20:57.779 --> 00:21:01.350
  • A sobering word in romans 12:3.
  • 00:21:01.350 --> 00:21:04.019
  • He says, "for through the grace given to me i say to every man
  • 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:07.289
  • Among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought
  • 00:21:07.289 --> 00:21:11.126
  • To think; but to think so as to have sound judgment."
  • 00:21:11.126 --> 00:21:14.696
  • And then paul launches into a discussion of spiritual gifts.
  • 00:21:14.696 --> 00:21:18.767
  • The fact that we are all members of the body of christ, and each
  • 00:21:18.767 --> 00:21:22.137
  • One of us has an important function, and no one function is
  • 00:21:22.137 --> 00:21:25.640
  • More important than the other one.
  • 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:27.275
  • We are christ's body and, individually, members of it.
  • 00:21:27.275 --> 00:21:31.012
  • But the other extreme is equally wrong, to think, "i'm nothing
  • 00:21:31.012 --> 00:21:34.116
  • But a lowly worm.
  • 00:21:34.116 --> 00:21:35.450
  • I can't do anything."
  • 00:21:35.450 --> 00:21:37.419
  • It's true.
  • 00:21:37.419 --> 00:21:38.754
  • Jesus said, "apart from me, you can do nothing."
  • 00:21:38.754 --> 00:21:41.490
  • But if you're a christian this morning, you're not apart from
  • 00:21:41.490 --> 00:21:44.226
  • Christ; christ is in you, the holy spirit is in you.
  • 00:21:44.226 --> 00:21:48.497
  • And 2 corinthians 5:17 says, "if any man is in christ, he is
  • 00:21:48.497 --> 00:21:52.601
  • A new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things
  • 00:21:52.601 --> 00:21:57.339
  • Have come."
  • 00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:58.707
  • And that's why paul said, with confidence, "i can do all things
  • 00:21:58.707 --> 00:22:03.678
  • Through christ who strengthens me."
  • 00:22:03.678 --> 00:22:07.682
  • Humility views life's accomplishments and failures
  • 00:22:07.682 --> 00:22:11.953
  • From god's perspective.
  • 00:22:11.953 --> 00:22:14.990
  • I was reading yesterday about the great italian conductor,
  • 00:22:14.990 --> 00:22:20.929
  • Arturo toscanini, of the new york philharmonic orchestra.
  • 00:22:20.929 --> 00:22:25.867
  • And in one of toscanini's final performances, he and the
  • 00:22:25.867 --> 00:22:30.038
  • Orchestra performed beethoven's "ninth symphony."
  • 00:22:30.038 --> 00:22:35.010
  • It was a performance like he had never given before.
  • 00:22:35.010 --> 00:22:38.613
  • And when they finished with the great finale, the crowd stood up
  • 00:22:38.613 --> 00:22:43.084
  • And applauded wildly.
  • 00:22:43.084 --> 00:22:45.220
  • And unlike any other time, the orchestra themselves stood up,
  • 00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:49.991
  • And started applauding the great conductor who had led them.
  • 00:22:49.991 --> 00:22:54.095
  • The applause went on and on, and finally toscanini took his baton
  • 00:22:54.095 --> 00:22:57.632
  • And beat it against the stand trying to get their attention,
  • 00:22:57.632 --> 00:23:01.269
  • But they wouldn't stop.
  • 00:23:01.269 --> 00:23:02.737
  • He kept beating that baton against the stand and finally
  • 00:23:02.737 --> 00:23:06.875
  • They stopped, and he said to the orchestra, "gentlemen,
  • 00:23:06.875 --> 00:23:11.880
  • Gentlemen, it is not me.
  • 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:16.051
  • It's beethoven."
  • 00:23:16.051 --> 00:23:19.521
  • That's what a truly humble christian says.
  • 00:23:19.521 --> 00:23:23.492
  • It is not me.
  • 00:23:23.492 --> 00:23:25.594
  • It is christ in me.
  • 00:23:25.594 --> 00:23:30.031
  • Jeffress: when it feels like our world is spinning out of
  • 00:23:34.135 --> 00:23:36.571
  • Control, rest assured, god is still the one who orchestrates
  • 00:23:36.571 --> 00:23:41.009
  • Every facet of our lives.
  • 00:23:41.009 --> 00:23:43.778
  • This truth keeps us humble, doesn't it?
  • 00:23:43.778 --> 00:23:46.181
  • Because it forces us to recognize that god is the
  • 00:23:46.181 --> 00:23:49.651
  • Ultimate conductor of our lives.
  • 00:23:49.651 --> 00:23:51.953
  • Well, in closing today, let me say a brief word of thanks to
  • 00:23:51.953 --> 00:23:54.956
  • Those of you who boldly support the ministry of pathway
  • 00:23:54.956 --> 00:23:58.493
  • To victory.
  • 00:23:58.493 --> 00:23:59.828
  • God is opening more and more doors for pathway to victory,
  • 00:23:59.828 --> 00:24:03.298
  • And as a result of your faithful support, we're able to take
  • 00:24:03.298 --> 00:24:06.935
  • Advantage of these new opportunities to reach people in
  • 00:24:06.935 --> 00:24:10.171
  • America and around the world with the gospel of jesus christ.
  • 00:24:10.171 --> 00:24:14.643
  • In fact, our global outreach is growing tremendously because
  • 00:24:14.643 --> 00:24:18.647
  • People like you are coming alongside of us as partners
  • 00:24:18.647 --> 00:24:22.350
  • In ministry.
  • 00:24:22.350 --> 00:24:23.685
  • So, thanks so much for your support.
  • 00:24:23.685 --> 00:24:26.321
  • God is using your partnership to pierce the darkness with the
  • 00:24:26.321 --> 00:24:30.392
  • Light of his word.
  • 00:24:30.392 --> 00:24:31.726
  • Now, stay right there.
  • 00:24:31.726 --> 00:24:33.094
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:33.094 --> 00:24:36.531
  • Male announcer: each day, millions of lost people are
  • 00:24:38.066 --> 00:24:40.368
  • Searching for hope and truth.
  • 00:24:40.368 --> 00:24:42.404
  • 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
  • 00:24:45.273 --> 00:24:48.877
  • So many who haven't heard the saving message of jesus christ.
  • 00:24:48.877 --> 00:24:52.480
  • You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
  • 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:55.750
  • You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries who are
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  • Sharing the gospel through television and radio.
  • 00:24:58.920 --> 00:25:01.623
  • Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide with the
  • 00:25:01.623 --> 00:25:05.293
  • Life-changing power of the cross.
  • 00:25:05.293 --> 00:25:07.829
  • Jeffress: together, let's ask god to help us apply the words
  • 00:25:10.065 --> 00:25:12.867
  • Of peter to any circumstance that comes our way.
  • 00:25:12.867 --> 00:25:16.304
  • Peter wrote, "clothe yourselves with humility toward
  • 00:25:16.304 --> 00:25:20.408
  • One another.
  • 00:25:20.408 --> 00:25:21.776
  • For god is opposed to the proud, but he gives grace to
  • 00:25:21.776 --> 00:25:25.213
  • The humble."
  • 00:25:25.213 --> 00:25:26.648
  • Well, when tragedy comes our way, there's a natural tendency
  • 00:25:26.648 --> 00:25:30.919
  • To withdraw from public view, taking time to heal in the
  • 00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:34.723
  • Privacy and comfort of our own space.
  • 00:25:34.723 --> 00:25:37.325
  • So, at what point does isolation become unhealthy
  • 00:25:37.325 --> 00:25:41.296
  • And counterproductive?
  • 00:25:41.296 --> 00:25:42.964
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:42.964 --> 00:25:45.700
  • Series, "choose your attitudes, change your life."
  • 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:50.472
  • Jeffress: we think of loneliness as a state of being.
  • 00:25:50.472 --> 00:25:54.142
  • I'm lonely because i feel isolated from others or i'm
  • 00:25:54.142 --> 00:25:58.580
  • Separated from others, but loneliness is not just a state
  • 00:25:58.580 --> 00:26:02.851
  • Of being.
  • 00:26:02.851 --> 00:26:04.319
  • I wanna suggest to you, today, that loneliness is a choice.
  • 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:09.290
  • Male announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the
  • 00:26:09.290 --> 00:26:11.793
  • Message, "choosing companionship over loneliness," here on
  • 00:26:11.793 --> 00:26:15.730
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:15.730 --> 00:26:17.799
  • Announcer: experience a journey that will refresh your spirit
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  • And renew your faith on the pathway to victory cruise to
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  • Alaska, june 13-20, 2026.
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  • Jeffress: sail aboard holland america's luxurious koningsdam
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  • Through british columbia's beautiful inside passage.
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  • From the pristine waters of glacier bay to the charming
  • 00:26:36.851 --> 00:26:40.255
  • Frontier towns of juneau, ketchikan, and skagway, you'll
  • 00:26:40.255 --> 00:26:44.526
  • Witness god's handiwork on full display.
  • 00:26:44.526 --> 00:26:47.996
  • Announcer: imagine standing on deck surrounded by towering
  • 00:26:47.996 --> 00:26:50.632
  • Glaciers and snowcapped mountains while enjoying
  • 00:26:50.632 --> 00:26:53.234
  • Powerful bible teaching from dr. jeffress.
  • 00:26:53.234 --> 00:26:56.071
  • Then enjoy spirit-lifting worship led by michael o'brien
  • 00:26:56.071 --> 00:26:59.808
  • And share plenty of laughter with dennis swanberg, america's
  • 00:26:59.808 --> 00:27:03.011
  • Minister of encouragement.
  • 00:27:03.011 --> 00:27:04.779
  • Jeffress: this is more than just a vacation.
  • 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:06.915
  • It's a sacred pause to reconnect with the lord.
  • 00:27:06.915 --> 00:27:10.418
  • Announcer: to reserve your cabin on the 2026 pathway to victory
  • 00:27:10.418 --> 00:27:13.188
  • Cruise to alaska, call ... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:13.188 --> 00:27:13.188