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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Choosing Perseverance Over Defeat (Part 2)

January 6, 2026 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - Choosing Perseverance Over Defeat (Part 2)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#WordofGod #Success #Prosperity #Meditation #Healing #Perseverance #RobertJeffress

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Choosing Perseverance Over Defeat (Part 2) | January 6, 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," 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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  • Human nature is a predictable thing.
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  • We don't like conflict.
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  • We avoid hard work but sometimes tough issues require a never
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  • Give up attitude.
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  • Well, i don't know what challenge you're facing today.
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  • Whether it's a financial barrier may be a treasured relationship
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  • That's turned sour or a son or daughter who's far from home.
  • 00:00:35.358 --> 00:00:39.529
  • Whatever the case today's teaching is for you.
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  • My message is titled, "choosing perseverance over defeat," on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:46.736 --> 00:00:49.572
  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪ i saw the lord seated high and lifted up. ♪
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  • ♪ majestic in splendor. ♪
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  • ♪ i saw the lord seated high and lifted up. ♪
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  • ♪ filling the temple. ♪
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  • ♪ his glory declaring the words of his praise. ♪
  • 00:01:55.838 --> 00:02:01.244
  • ♪ his mercies surrounding the depth of his praise. ♪
  • 00:02:01.244 --> 00:02:07.550
  • ♪ holy, holy is the lord. ♪
  • 00:02:07.550 --> 00:02:17.560
  • ♪ worthy, worthy is the lamb. ♪
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  • ♪ he was and is and evermore shall reign. ♪
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  • ♪ we sing glory, glory to his name. ♪
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  • ♪ we sing glory, ♪
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  • ♪ glory to his name. ♪
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  • ♪ my eyes have seen the king. ♪
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  • ♪ the lord of hosts is with us. ♪
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  • ♪ and by thine majesty ♪
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  • ♪ this land redeemed in jesus. ♪
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  • ♪ holy, ♪
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  • ♪ holy is the lord. ♪
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  • ♪ worthy, worthy is the lamb ♪
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  • ♪ he was and is and evermore shall reign. ♪
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  • ♪ we sing glory,
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  • Glory to his name. ♪
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  • ♪ to his name. ♪♪
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  • [congregation applauding]
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  • Male announcer: each day, millions of lost people are
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  • 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.
  • 00:04:43.172 --> 00:04:46.776
  • 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
  • 00:04:50.046 --> 00:04:53.216
  • Sharing the gospel through television and radio.
  • 00:04:53.216 --> 00:04:55.918
  • Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide with the
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  • Life-changing power of the cross.
  • 00:04:59.589 --> 00:05:02.125
  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: we find the key to success in life,
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  • An important key.
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  • Joshua said, "this book of the law shall not depart from your
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  • Mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you
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  • May be careful to do all that is written in it; for then you will
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  • Make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."
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  • You wanna have success in life?
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  • God says, "meditate on this book day and night and then do
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  • Everything that's in it, and you'll have success."
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  • Meditate in this book?
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  • How does meditating on a book, 2,500 years old, how does that
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  • Get me to where i wanna go in life?
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  • I want success.
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  • I don't wanna meditate on scripture.
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  • The bible says it's the key to success.
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  • Naman was told to do something he didn't want to do, but he
  • 00:05:59.215 --> 00:06:01.884
  • Heard enough that he was willing, finally, to obey.
  • 00:06:01.884 --> 00:06:05.154
  • Verse 14, "so naman went down and he dipped himself seven
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  • Times in the jordan, according to the word of the man of god;
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  • And his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and
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  • He was clean."
  • 00:06:19.268 --> 00:06:20.603
  • Can't you just see it?
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  • And he said, "okay," goes down in the water, comes back up,
  • 00:06:21.971 --> 00:06:25.508
  • Don't you know, he immediately checked the see if the leprosy
  • 00:06:25.508 --> 00:06:29.145
  • Was still there.
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  • Still there.
  • 00:06:30.513 --> 00:06:31.848
  • He goes down the second time, the third time, the fourth time,
  • 00:06:31.848 --> 00:06:36.719
  • And he stopped and said, "i, i need to go to a faith healer or
  • 00:06:36.719 --> 00:06:40.556
  • Somebody else.
  • 00:06:40.556 --> 00:06:41.924
  • This isn't working."
  • 00:06:41.924 --> 00:06:43.259
  • He would have missed the blessing, but he went down the
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  • Fifth, the sixth time.
  • 00:06:45.394 --> 00:06:48.197
  • Again, had he stopped there, he would have left just as infected
  • 00:06:48.197 --> 00:06:53.970
  • As he came, but it was after that seventh time of coming up
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  • Out of the water that he saw the leprosy was gone.
  • 00:06:58.608 --> 00:07:03.246
  • That's what perseverance: is continuing in spite of
  • 00:07:03.246 --> 00:07:07.750
  • The obstacles.
  • 00:07:07.750 --> 00:07:09.085
  • What have we seen about perseverance so far?
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  • First of all, we ought to only persist in the god-given goals
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  • For our life.
  • 00:07:15.658 --> 00:07:16.993
  • Secondly, persistence doesn't necessarily mean overcoming
  • 00:07:16.993 --> 00:07:21.130
  • Obstacles, it means continuing in spite of obstacles.
  • 00:07:21.130 --> 00:07:25.935
  • And finally, persistence sometimes requires that we
  • 00:07:25.935 --> 00:07:29.639
  • Continue in activities that don't seem to make any sense.
  • 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:33.743
  • Remember joshua and naman?
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  • Now, you say, "i agree with you, i need to be more persistent in
  • 00:07:36.546 --> 00:07:41.884
  • My life, but how do i develop that quality of perseverance?"
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  • Let me close today with four practical insights about
  • 00:07:46.022 --> 00:07:49.859
  • Developing pers perseverance, that i think will be a great
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  • Encouragement to you.
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  • First of all, understand the value of perseverance.
  • 00:07:54.297 --> 00:08:00.102
  • Understand the value of perseverance.
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  • You know, you may be one of these people, deep down,
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  • You think you could never be successful because you're
  • 00:08:05.741 --> 00:08:08.344
  • Not as gifted as other people you know.
  • 00:08:08.344 --> 00:08:11.981
  • Many people feel inferior about their gifts and abilities,
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  • Thinking that successful people are just inherently more gifted
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  • Than they are.
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  • That is just not true.
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  • In fact, i read a book one time by dr. david wechsler called
  • 00:08:22.258 --> 00:08:25.995
  • "the range of human capacities," in which his basic thesis is
  • 00:08:25.995 --> 00:08:31.067
  • There's not that much difference in people.
  • 00:08:31.067 --> 00:08:34.236
  • He says, quote, "the differences that separate the masses of
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  • Mankind from one another with respect to any or all of their
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  • Capabilities are small.
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  • As compared with other ratios or orders or differences in nature,
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  • They are pitifully insignificant."
  • 00:08:51.287 --> 00:08:54.490
  • There's not that much difference in people.
  • 00:08:54.490 --> 00:08:57.660
  • Napoleon hill made the same observation in the last century.
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  • He studied people's success and he spent years studying the two
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  • Most successful men of his age, thomas edison and henry ford,
  • 00:09:07.169 --> 00:09:11.941
  • And listen to his conclusion of why they were such successes.
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  • He said, "i had the privileges of analyzing both mr. edison and
  • 00:09:15.811 --> 00:09:19.815
  • Mr. ford, year by year, over a long period of years, and
  • 00:09:19.815 --> 00:09:24.920
  • Therefore, the opportunity to study them at close range.
  • 00:09:24.920 --> 00:09:28.524
  • So, i speak from actual knowledge when i say that i
  • 00:09:28.524 --> 00:09:32.495
  • Found no quality, except persistence, in either one of
  • 00:09:32.495 --> 00:09:37.500
  • Them that even remotely suggested the major source of
  • 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:42.505
  • Their stupendous achievements."
  • 00:09:42.505 --> 00:09:45.741
  • Some of my favorite words about the value of perseverance come
  • 00:09:45.741 --> 00:09:50.046
  • From president calvin coolidge, "press on: nothing in the world
  • 00:09:50.046 --> 00:09:56.185
  • Can take the place of persistence.
  • 00:09:56.185 --> 00:09:58.454
  • Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people
  • 00:09:58.454 --> 00:10:03.392
  • With talent.
  • 00:10:03.392 --> 00:10:04.860
  • Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
  • 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:09.565
  • Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
  • 00:10:09.565 --> 00:10:14.837
  • Persistence and determination alone are
  • 00:10:14.837 --> 00:10:18.607
  • Overwhelmingly powerful."
  • 00:10:18.607 --> 00:10:20.910
  • Understand the value of perseverance.
  • 00:10:20.910 --> 00:10:24.180
  • Secondly, anticipate obstacles in achieving your goals.
  • 00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:29.051
  • Some obstacles between you and your goal can be anticipated and
  • 00:10:29.051 --> 00:10:33.556
  • They can be removed.
  • 00:10:33.556 --> 00:10:34.924
  • Very simply, for example, maybe you would say, "you know, i
  • 00:10:34.924 --> 00:10:38.160
  • Wanna get in better shape in 2019, so i'm gonna start running
  • 00:10:38.160 --> 00:10:41.263
  • 30 minutes a day, five days a week."
  • 00:10:41.263 --> 00:10:44.166
  • The obstacle you face is you don't have a good pair of
  • 00:10:44.166 --> 00:10:47.536
  • Running shoes, so you can eliminate that obstacle.
  • 00:10:47.536 --> 00:10:51.474
  • You put on your to do list, go to the store and buy
  • 00:10:51.474 --> 00:10:53.676
  • Running shoes.
  • 00:10:53.676 --> 00:10:55.044
  • Or maybe you have a spiritual goal.
  • 00:10:55.044 --> 00:10:56.512
  • You wanna share your faith with one person a week.
  • 00:10:56.512 --> 00:10:59.815
  • Whatever you do, you're gonna share the gospel with somebody.
  • 00:10:59.815 --> 00:11:02.451
  • The obstacle is you don't know how to share the gospel
  • 00:11:02.451 --> 00:11:05.588
  • With anybody.
  • 00:11:05.588 --> 00:11:06.922
  • So, you can alleviate that.
  • 00:11:06.922 --> 00:11:08.491
  • You go to discipleship university, find the evangelism
  • 00:11:08.491 --> 00:11:10.593
  • Course, and sign up for the next 12 weeks, and learn how to share
  • 00:11:10.593 --> 00:11:13.763
  • Your faith.
  • 00:11:13.763 --> 00:11:15.131
  • But again, some obstacles cannot be overcome.
  • 00:11:15.131 --> 00:11:18.334
  • I think about the apostle paul.
  • 00:11:18.334 --> 00:11:20.369
  • Remember, his vision, his dream, his purpose was to be a light to
  • 00:11:20.369 --> 00:11:25.341
  • The gentiles, to be a missionary to the gentiles, but paul had
  • 00:11:25.341 --> 00:11:29.578
  • Some obstacles in doing that, most of which were unremovable.
  • 00:11:29.578 --> 00:11:34.650
  • His first obstacle was he was a jew.
  • 00:11:34.650 --> 00:11:37.653
  • He couldn't change that.
  • 00:11:37.653 --> 00:11:39.255
  • That was his heritage.
  • 00:11:39.255 --> 00:11:40.623
  • Jews influencing gentiles didn't happen that much.
  • 00:11:40.623 --> 00:11:44.627
  • Secondly, and i don't know how to say this delicately,
  • 00:11:44.627 --> 00:11:47.997
  • He was ugly.
  • 00:11:47.997 --> 00:11:49.899
  • Did you know that?
  • 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:51.267
  • Do you know the apostle paul was nothing to look at?
  • 00:11:51.267 --> 00:11:54.570
  • In fact, we have in a, an apocryphal book, "the acts of
  • 00:11:54.570 --> 00:11:58.073
  • Paul and thelca," this description of paul, quote: "he
  • 00:11:58.073 --> 00:12:01.410
  • Was a man of little stature, thin-haired upon the head,
  • 00:12:01.410 --> 00:12:05.915
  • Crooked in the legs with eyebrows joining, and a nose
  • 00:12:05.915 --> 00:12:10.052
  • Somewhat hooked."
  • 00:12:10.052 --> 00:12:13.522
  • Not exactly the kind of guy you would, would wanna watch on
  • 00:12:13.522 --> 00:12:16.659
  • Television, but some of you are treated on "pathway to victory"
  • 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:19.228
  • Right now, so i guess that's okay.
  • 00:12:19.228 --> 00:12:22.631
  • Third, paul was a terrible communicator.
  • 00:12:22.631 --> 00:12:26.869
  • We think he's this great writer and great communicator, neither
  • 00:12:26.869 --> 00:12:31.440
  • Of which was too true.
  • 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:32.975
  • Listen to what paul said about his own writing and his own
  • 00:12:32.975 --> 00:12:37.012
  • Appearances, he repeats what other people were saying about
  • 00:12:37.012 --> 00:12:40.449
  • Him in 2 corinthians 10:10, they say, "his," talking about paul,
  • 00:12:40.449 --> 00:12:44.353
  • "his letters are weighty and strong," peter said, "you can't
  • 00:12:44.353 --> 00:12:49.491
  • Even make sense of some of his writing.
  • 00:12:49.491 --> 00:12:51.727
  • His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal
  • 00:12:51.727 --> 00:12:54.930
  • Presence is unimpressive, and his speech is contemptible."
  • 00:12:54.930 --> 00:13:00.769
  • That's an obstacle if you're trying to be
  • 00:13:00.769 --> 00:13:02.304
  • A communicator of god's word.
  • 00:13:02.304 --> 00:13:04.573
  • But his fourth obstacle was one he couldn't do anything about,
  • 00:13:04.573 --> 00:13:08.010
  • As much as he tried.
  • 00:13:08.010 --> 00:13:09.778
  • 2 corinthians 12, verses 8 and 9 said he had a thorn in
  • 00:13:09.778 --> 00:13:14.149
  • The flesh.
  • 00:13:14.149 --> 00:13:15.818
  • We don't know what it was, whether it was a physical thorn,
  • 00:13:15.818 --> 00:13:19.455
  • An emotional one, but there was something in his life that
  • 00:13:19.455 --> 00:13:22.191
  • Hindered his ministry, and three different times, he prayed for
  • 00:13:22.191 --> 00:13:26.428
  • God to remove that thorn in the flesh from him, and each time,
  • 00:13:26.428 --> 00:13:30.766
  • God said, "no, no, no, my grace is sufficient for you."
  • 00:13:30.766 --> 00:13:38.741
  • What i want you to see is, obstacles sometimes can be
  • 00:13:38.741 --> 00:13:43.279
  • Removed; many times they can't be, but when those unmovable
  • 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:48.517
  • Obstacles come into our life, we have one of two choices.
  • 00:13:48.517 --> 00:13:51.787
  • We can either just give up, or like paul, we can view those
  • 00:13:51.787 --> 00:13:56.425
  • Problems as brilliantly disguised opportunities to trust
  • 00:13:56.425 --> 00:14:01.063
  • In god.
  • 00:14:01.063 --> 00:14:02.932
  • Thirdly, realize failure is not final.
  • 00:14:02.932 --> 00:14:08.137
  • Failure is not final.
  • 00:14:08.137 --> 00:14:10.272
  • We live in a culture that says, "if at first you don't succeed,
  • 00:14:10.272 --> 00:14:13.709
  • Give up."
  • 00:14:13.709 --> 00:14:16.178
  • No, failure isn't final, and somebody sent me this after the
  • 00:14:16.178 --> 00:14:20.749
  • First service, "and it's not fatal either."
  • 00:14:20.749 --> 00:14:24.353
  • You know, one reason most of us don't venture out and start
  • 00:14:24.353 --> 00:14:27.523
  • Pursuing our god-given dreams in life: we are paralyzed by the
  • 00:14:27.523 --> 00:14:31.427
  • Fear of failure.
  • 00:14:31.427 --> 00:14:32.761
  • We thought, "what if i apply for this job and i don't get it?
  • 00:14:32.761 --> 00:14:36.332
  • You know, what if i ask that person out on a date and they
  • 00:14:36.332 --> 00:14:38.667
  • Don't say yes?
  • 00:14:38.667 --> 00:14:40.002
  • What if i, you know, do this and it doesn't work?"
  • 00:14:40.002 --> 00:14:43.906
  • They're paralyzed by failure.
  • 00:14:43.906 --> 00:14:45.841
  • Remember this: nobody stubbed his toes standing still.
  • 00:14:45.841 --> 00:14:50.045
  • I mean, if you're moving forward, you are gonna stub your
  • 00:14:50.045 --> 00:14:52.815
  • Toe from time to time, but you're also gonna move forward.
  • 00:14:52.815 --> 00:14:56.118
  • I mean, i think of thomas j watson, the founder of ibm, he
  • 00:14:56.118 --> 00:14:59.822
  • Said, "the way to succeed is to double your failure rate."
  • 00:14:59.822 --> 00:15:05.461
  • "what do you mean by that?
  • 00:15:05.461 --> 00:15:06.795
  • Double your failure rate?"
  • 00:15:06.795 --> 00:15:08.163
  • He was saying the more times you try something, the more ventures
  • 00:15:08.163 --> 00:15:10.799
  • You pursue, yes, the more times you're gonna fail, but you're
  • 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:13.902
  • Also gonna succeed more as well.
  • 00:15:13.902 --> 00:15:16.805
  • You have to fail if you're going to succeed.
  • 00:15:16.805 --> 00:15:19.641
  • George bernard shaw, great novelist had his first five
  • 00:15:19.641 --> 00:15:22.745
  • Novels rejected.
  • 00:15:22.745 --> 00:15:24.279
  • Babe ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he's considered one
  • 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:29.852
  • Of america's greatest baseball players.
  • 00:15:29.852 --> 00:15:32.321
  • Thomas edison discovered 1,800 ways not to make a light bulb,
  • 00:15:32.321 --> 00:15:39.161
  • But all of those men were tremendous successes.
  • 00:15:39.161 --> 00:15:42.598
  • By the way, is that attitude a biblical one?
  • 00:15:42.598 --> 00:15:44.900
  • You better believe it.
  • 00:15:44.900 --> 00:15:46.335
  • Remember what solomon said in ecclesiastes 11, verse one?
  • 00:15:46.335 --> 00:15:50.372
  • Solomon said, "cast your bread on the surface of the waters,
  • 00:15:50.372 --> 00:15:55.277
  • For you will find it after many days."
  • 00:15:55.277 --> 00:16:00.015
  • "cast your bread upon the waters," what is that
  • 00:16:00.015 --> 00:16:01.784
  • Talking about?
  • 00:16:01.784 --> 00:16:03.118
  • Getting a loaf of mrs. baird's bread and going down to the
  • 00:16:03.118 --> 00:16:06.822
  • Trinity river, and you know, picking off portions of it and
  • 00:16:06.822 --> 00:16:09.792
  • Throwing it?
  • 00:16:09.792 --> 00:16:11.160
  • No, that's not what he's talking about.
  • 00:16:11.160 --> 00:16:12.494
  • In solomon's day, "casting your bread upon the waters," it was
  • 00:16:12.494 --> 00:16:16.432
  • A reference to a king sending out ships.
  • 00:16:16.432 --> 00:16:20.803
  • A king would, many times, send out empty ships to foreign lands
  • 00:16:20.803 --> 00:16:25.941
  • With the hopes of bringing back treasure.
  • 00:16:25.941 --> 00:16:28.777
  • Some of the boats came back empty; no success.
  • 00:16:28.777 --> 00:16:32.414
  • Some came back full of gold, and silver, and precious stones.
  • 00:16:32.414 --> 00:16:37.519
  • The point is, the more ships you sent out, the more likely you
  • 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:42.524
  • Were to have ships that came back with treasure, and that's
  • 00:16:42.524 --> 00:16:45.461
  • Where we get our expression, "sending out your ship,"
  • 00:16:45.461 --> 00:16:49.832
  • Or "waiting for your ship to come in."
  • 00:16:49.832 --> 00:16:52.734
  • That's where that expression comes out.
  • 00:16:52.734 --> 00:16:54.503
  • The more ships you send out, the more that will come back
  • 00:16:54.503 --> 00:16:57.206
  • With treasure.
  • 00:16:57.206 --> 00:16:58.540
  • Motivational speaker, charlie "tremendous" jones said, "a lot
  • 00:16:58.540 --> 00:17:01.977
  • Of people are waiting for their ship to come in, even though
  • 00:17:01.977 --> 00:17:05.681
  • They never sent one out, or they only sent one out."
  • 00:17:05.681 --> 00:17:11.153
  • Guess what?
  • 00:17:11.153 --> 00:17:12.521
  • The more resumes you send out, yeah, the more rejections you'll
  • 00:17:12.521 --> 00:17:16.325
  • Get, but the more likely you'll get a bite on it.
  • 00:17:16.325 --> 00:17:19.761
  • The more doors you knock on, the more people you share your faith
  • 00:17:19.761 --> 00:17:23.866
  • With, yeah, the more rejections you're gonna have, not of you,
  • 00:17:23.866 --> 00:17:26.835
  • But of christ, but the more opportunities to lead people
  • 00:17:26.835 --> 00:17:29.771
  • To christ.
  • 00:17:29.771 --> 00:17:31.106
  • That's why it is important that we understand that failure is
  • 00:17:31.106 --> 00:17:35.611
  • Not final.
  • 00:17:35.611 --> 00:17:37.212
  • Years ago, i had the opportunity to meet doctor kenneth taylor.
  • 00:17:37.212 --> 00:17:41.917
  • He's in heaven now, but doctor taylor, many of you know, was
  • 00:17:41.917 --> 00:17:45.587
  • The compiler, the paraphrase-- paraphraser of the living bible,
  • 00:17:45.587 --> 00:17:51.193
  • And doctor taylor told me the story of how he came to produce
  • 00:17:51.193 --> 00:17:55.764
  • The living bible.
  • 00:17:55.764 --> 00:17:57.099
  • He had been a businessman in chicago, and like so many people
  • 00:17:57.099 --> 00:18:00.869
  • In chicago, he had to take a commuter train to work, and so,
  • 00:18:00.869 --> 00:18:03.939
  • Instead of wasting that time, he had a king james bible and he
  • 00:18:03.939 --> 00:18:07.943
  • Would take a section of the new testament, and he would write it
  • 00:18:07.943 --> 00:18:11.613
  • In his own words so he could read it to his children during
  • 00:18:11.613 --> 00:18:14.816
  • Their devotionals at night.
  • 00:18:14.816 --> 00:18:17.486
  • And his children so enjoyed hearing the bible in a way that
  • 00:18:17.486 --> 00:18:21.623
  • They could understand it, doctor taylor continued to do that for
  • 00:18:21.623 --> 00:18:25.894
  • The whole new testament, and he thought, "you know, if my
  • 00:18:25.894 --> 00:18:28.130
  • Children enjoyed this so much, perhaps their other children,
  • 00:18:28.130 --> 00:18:32.401
  • Perhaps other adults who would like to be able to understand
  • 00:18:32.401 --> 00:18:35.571
  • The bible."
  • 00:18:35.571 --> 00:18:36.905
  • So, he completed the entire new testament.
  • 00:18:36.905 --> 00:18:39.041
  • He took it to a christian publisher to share the idea
  • 00:18:39.041 --> 00:18:41.910
  • With them.
  • 00:18:41.910 --> 00:18:43.245
  • They "said, are you out of your mind?
  • 00:18:43.245 --> 00:18:44.613
  • Of course, we're not gonna do that.
  • 00:18:44.613 --> 00:18:46.582
  • Touching god's holy word?
  • 00:18:46.582 --> 00:18:48.617
  • Paraphrasing it?
  • 00:18:48.617 --> 00:18:49.952
  • Nobody would wanna do that."
  • 00:18:49.952 --> 00:18:52.521
  • So, he went to a second publisher.
  • 00:18:52.521 --> 00:18:54.389
  • A third one.
  • 00:18:54.389 --> 00:18:55.724
  • He got six rejections.
  • 00:18:55.724 --> 00:18:58.327
  • He could have given up, he could have said it's a bad idea,
  • 00:18:58.327 --> 00:19:01.797
  • But he believed this idea was from god.
  • 00:19:01.797 --> 00:19:03.765
  • So, he and his wife used their life savings to publish
  • 00:19:03.765 --> 00:19:07.603
  • A paperback edition of some of the letters from paul.
  • 00:19:07.603 --> 00:19:11.540
  • It was called "the living letters" is what they called it,
  • 00:19:11.540 --> 00:19:14.309
  • And they published it in paperback edition.
  • 00:19:14.309 --> 00:19:17.579
  • At first, nobody wanted it, but soon demand began to pick up,
  • 00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:22.718
  • And they published more of those volumes until finally, they put
  • 00:19:22.718 --> 00:19:26.188
  • The whole bible together.
  • 00:19:26.188 --> 00:19:27.789
  • A publisher picked it up and it has sold hundreds of millions of
  • 00:19:27.789 --> 00:19:32.561
  • Copies today, but more importantly, people all over the
  • 00:19:32.561 --> 00:19:35.464
  • World have been introduced to the word of god, and the faith
  • 00:19:35.464 --> 00:19:39.167
  • In jesus christ, because of one man and his wife who refused to
  • 00:19:39.167 --> 00:19:43.538
  • Allow failure to be final.
  • 00:19:43.538 --> 00:19:46.441
  • That's what perseverance is: continuing in spite of the
  • 00:19:46.441 --> 00:19:50.612
  • Obstacles that come in your way.
  • 00:19:50.612 --> 00:19:52.714
  • Finally, to develop perseverance in your life, expect to
  • 00:19:52.714 --> 00:19:57.152
  • Work hard.
  • 00:19:57.152 --> 00:19:58.787
  • One writer calls it, "you have to develop a good case of
  • 00:19:58.787 --> 00:20:02.090
  • Holy sweat."
  • 00:20:02.090 --> 00:20:04.893
  • You know, again, we don't wanna hear that.
  • 00:20:04.893 --> 00:20:06.428
  • We wanna think, we try to disguise our laziness with
  • 00:20:06.428 --> 00:20:09.831
  • Theology, "oh, well, you know, if it's meant to be,
  • 00:20:09.831 --> 00:20:12.901
  • It's up to god.
  • 00:20:12.901 --> 00:20:14.403
  • You know, he's got to do it, it won't
  • 00:20:14.403 --> 00:20:16.071
  • Require any effort from me."
  • 00:20:16.071 --> 00:20:17.406
  • Listen to the apostle paul in 1 corinthians 9, "therefore i run
  • 00:20:17.406 --> 00:20:21.243
  • In such a way, as not without aim; i box in such a way, as not
  • 00:20:21.243 --> 00:20:26.381
  • Beating the air; but i buffet my body and i make it my slave,
  • 00:20:26.381 --> 00:20:31.320
  • Less possibly, after i've preached to others, i should
  • 00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:34.923
  • Be disqualified."
  • 00:20:34.923 --> 00:20:37.192
  • Paul is talking about hard work.
  • 00:20:37.192 --> 00:20:39.828
  • Denis waitley, in his book, "seeds of greatness," says,
  • 00:20:39.828 --> 00:20:42.497
  • "winners work at doing things the majority of the population
  • 00:20:42.497 --> 00:20:47.035
  • Are not willing to do."
  • 00:20:47.035 --> 00:20:50.672
  • Do you desire to achieve your god-given purpose in life?
  • 00:20:50.672 --> 00:20:55.510
  • Expect to work hard, and don't be discouraged when other people
  • 00:20:55.510 --> 00:21:00.882
  • Seem to be making progress and you seem to be standing still.
  • 00:21:00.882 --> 00:21:05.721
  • I think of the words of amy carmichael, that great christian
  • 00:21:05.721 --> 00:21:10.058
  • Writer, words that have been an encouragement to me at certain
  • 00:21:10.058 --> 00:21:13.962
  • Times in my life, perhaps, you'll find encouraging as well,
  • 00:21:13.962 --> 00:21:18.266
  • She says, "sometimes when we read the words of those who have
  • 00:21:18.266 --> 00:21:21.837
  • Been more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent.
  • 00:21:21.837 --> 00:21:26.508
  • I feel that i shall never be like that we think.
  • 00:21:26.508 --> 00:21:29.911
  • But these people won through step by step by little bits of
  • 00:21:29.911 --> 00:21:35.183
  • Wills, little denials of self, little inward victories by
  • 00:21:35.183 --> 00:21:40.522
  • Faithfulness in very little things.
  • 00:21:40.522 --> 00:21:43.725
  • They became what they are.
  • 00:21:43.725 --> 00:21:46.328
  • No one sees these little hidden steps, they only see
  • 00:21:46.328 --> 00:21:50.499
  • The accomplishment.
  • 00:21:50.499 --> 00:21:52.234
  • But even so those small steps were taken."
  • 00:21:52.234 --> 00:21:55.971
  • Now listen to this.
  • 00:21:55.971 --> 00:21:57.305
  • "there is no sudden triumph, no sudden spiritual maturity.
  • 00:21:57.305 --> 00:22:03.345
  • That is the work of the moment."
  • 00:22:03.345 --> 00:22:07.082
  • Perseverance, moving forward,
  • 00:22:07.082 --> 00:22:10.652
  • In spite of obstacles is the attitude that will lead to the
  • 00:22:10.652 --> 00:22:15.624
  • Fulfillment of your god-given dreams in life.
  • 00:22:15.624 --> 00:22:20.796
  • Jeffress: it's possible that you find yourself in amy
  • 00:22:24.833 --> 00:22:27.202
  • Carmichael's camp; you don't really feel like a conqueror
  • 00:22:27.202 --> 00:22:30.806
  • Today, the issues you face are just too painful.
  • 00:22:30.806 --> 00:22:34.576
  • Honestly, you may feel hopeless.
  • 00:22:34.576 --> 00:22:37.245
  • Well, you and i don't get to choose the challenges that come
  • 00:22:37.245 --> 00:22:40.415
  • Our way, but we can change our attitude about them.
  • 00:22:40.415 --> 00:22:44.786
  • Now, before we wrap up today, i wanted to share an encouraging
  • 00:22:44.786 --> 00:22:48.056
  • Note from myra in washington.
  • 00:22:48.056 --> 00:22:50.392
  • She wrote, "pastor, i'm unable
  • 00:22:50.392 --> 00:22:52.194
  • To get out to church on sunday,
  • 00:22:52.194 --> 00:22:54.196
  • But i love the lord and i watch
  • 00:22:54.196 --> 00:22:56.298
  • Christian broadcasting
  • 00:22:56.298 --> 00:22:58.066
  • Every sunday.
  • 00:22:58.066 --> 00:22:59.668
  • I read my bible the morning
  • 00:22:59.668 --> 00:23:01.136
  • And the evening and i love
  • 00:23:01.136 --> 00:23:02.804
  • 'pathway to victory.'
  • 00:23:02.804 --> 00:23:04.473
  • I wish i could give to support
  • 00:23:04.473 --> 00:23:06.174
  • 'pathway to victory,' but i have
  • 00:23:06.174 --> 00:23:08.176
  • To live on my social
  • 00:23:08.176 --> 00:23:09.611
  • Security check.
  • 00:23:09.611 --> 00:23:10.946
  • I just wanted you to know that
  • 00:23:10.946 --> 00:23:12.280
  • There are people watching and listening
  • 00:23:12.280 --> 00:23:14.082
  • That are moved by your teaching."
  • 00:23:14.082 --> 00:23:16.751
  • Well, thank you, myra, for that encouraging letter, and for
  • 00:23:16.751 --> 00:23:20.088
  • Those of you watching today, this is what "pathway to
  • 00:23:20.088 --> 00:23:23.024
  • Victory" is all about.
  • 00:23:23.024 --> 00:23:24.559
  • Together, we're lifting up jesus and sharing the gospel with you,
  • 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:28.830
  • Your family, and many others across the country.
  • 00:23:28.830 --> 00:23:31.900
  • Thank you for being a part of sharing the hope of jesus christ
  • 00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:35.570
  • With a world that desperately needs hope.
  • 00:23:35.570 --> 00:23:38.507
  • Now stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
  • 00:23:38.507 --> 00:23:41.910
  • Victory," in just a moment.
  • 00:23:41.910 --> 00:23:44.045
  • Announcer: we all want to live a life of meaning and
  • 00:23:45.347 --> 00:23:47.382
  • Significance, but we often dream too small.
  • 00:23:47.382 --> 00:23:50.952
  • Jeffress: my friends david green, founder and ceo of hobby
  • 00:23:50.952 --> 00:23:54.222
  • Lobby, and bill high, ceo of legacy stone, have written a
  • 00:23:54.222 --> 00:23:58.927
  • Brand new book called "the legacy life."
  • 00:23:58.927 --> 00:24:01.830
  • Jeffress: you've said it in this book several times.
  • 00:24:01.830 --> 00:24:05.100
  • Legacy is not what you leave behind, it's what you set in
  • 00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:08.637
  • Motion for the future.
  • 00:24:08.637 --> 00:24:10.372
  • Jeffress: this book will challenge you to point your life
  • 00:24:10.372 --> 00:24:12.807
  • Heavenward and set in motion a legacy of eternal significance.
  • 00:24:12.807 --> 00:24:18.079
  • David green: bill, i've found that it's much easier to run a
  • 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:20.482
  • Business, but having a family, a wife, children that serve the
  • 00:24:20.482 --> 00:24:23.919
  • Lord is much, much more difficult.
  • 00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:25.954
  • And that's who we are. we're not about hobby lobby.
  • 00:24:25.954 --> 00:24:28.256
  • We're about mission, vision, and values, and it's all based on
  • 00:24:28.256 --> 00:24:31.359
  • God's word, and that's what we're excited about.
  • 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:33.595
  • Bill high: no matter what stage of life you're in, "the legacy
  • 00:24:33.595 --> 00:24:36.298
  • Life" will help you understand how to apply god's word and set
  • 00:24:36.298 --> 00:24:40.835
  • In motion a great legacy.
  • 00:24:40.835 --> 00:24:43.772
  • Announcer: request "the legacy life" when you give a generous
  • 00:24:43.772 --> 00:24:46.374
  • Gift to "pathway to victory" or when you become a pathway
  • 00:24:46.374 --> 00:24:49.077
  • Partner.
  • 00:24:49.077 --> 00:24:50.412
  • You'll also receive the powerful book by dr. jeffress, "choose
  • 00:24:50.412 --> 00:24:53.315
  • Your attitudes, change your life."
  • 00:24:53.315 --> 00:24:55.584
  • And when your ministry gift is $100 or more, we'll also send
  • 00:24:55.584 --> 00:24:59.154
  • You the "choose your attitudes, change your life" personal and
  • 00:24:59.154 --> 00:25:02.557
  • Group study guide, plus the complete teaching series on cd
  • 00:25:02.557 --> 00:25:06.294
  • And dvd and a set of attitude booster cards for
  • 00:25:06.294 --> 00:25:10.198
  • Your encouragement.
  • 00:25:10.198 --> 00:25:11.533
  • Thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
  • 00:25:11.533 --> 00:25:14.035
  • Jeffress: perseverance doesn't always mean removing obstacles.
  • 00:25:17.205 --> 00:25:20.875
  • Perseverance means continuing to pursue your god-given dream in
  • 00:25:20.875 --> 00:25:25.313
  • Spite of those obstacles.
  • 00:25:25.313 --> 00:25:27.315
  • And while it won't always be easy, in fact, it rarely is,
  • 00:25:27.315 --> 00:25:31.152
  • Your hard work will eventually pay off in the end.
  • 00:25:31.152 --> 00:25:35.023
  • Well, anxiety is a common problem for everyone and
  • 00:25:35.023 --> 00:25:38.760
  • Christians are no exception.
  • 00:25:38.760 --> 00:25:40.862
  • Worry not only saps the joy out of our lives, it paralyzes us
  • 00:25:40.862 --> 00:25:45.600
  • From fulfilling our dreams.
  • 00:25:45.600 --> 00:25:47.636
  • So, next time we'll see what the bible says are the causes and
  • 00:25:47.636 --> 00:25:51.673
  • The cures for worry.
  • 00:25:51.673 --> 00:25:53.441
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:53.441 --> 00:25:56.177
  • Series, "choose your attitudes, change your life."
  • 00:25:56.177 --> 00:26:01.282
  • Jeffress: someone has written, "a thief is running loose in
  • 00:26:01.282 --> 00:26:05.787
  • Our midst.
  • 00:26:05.787 --> 00:26:07.155
  • He's a dangerous thief, intent on stealing our most
  • 00:26:07.155 --> 00:26:11.026
  • Precious possessions.
  • 00:26:11.026 --> 00:26:12.994
  • The name of the thief?
  • 00:26:12.994 --> 00:26:15.397
  • Worry."
  • 00:26:15.397 --> 00:26:17.799
  • Male announcer: set your dvr and
  • 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:19.134
  • Join us next time for the
  • 00:26:19.134 --> 00:26:20.502
  • Message, "choosing faith over
  • 00:26:20.502 --> 00:26:22.070
  • Worry," here on
  • 00:26:22.070 --> 00:26:23.405
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:23.405 --> 00:26:25.440
  • Announcer: experience the beauty of alaska with the
  • 00:26:28.643 --> 00:26:30.945
  • Pathway to victory family june 13-20, 2026.
  • 00:26:30.945 --> 00:26:35.917
  • Sail through the calm waters of the legendary inside passage
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  • With dr. robert jeffress aboard holland america's
  • 00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:41.790
  • Magnificent koningsdam.
  • 00:26:41.790 --> 00:26:44.025
  • Be inspired by award-winning musician michael o'brien's
  • 00:26:44.025 --> 00:26:46.928
  • Powerful worship; share laughter with dennis swanberg,
  • 00:26:46.928 --> 00:26:50.298
  • America's minister of encouragement;
  • 00:26:50.298 --> 00:26:52.600
  • All while exploring frontier towns like juneau,
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  • Skagway, and ketchikan.
  • 00:26:55.503 --> 00:26:57.505
  • Jeffress: there's something powerful about connecting with
  • 00:26:57.505 --> 00:26:59.774
  • God and fellow believers in the majesty
  • 00:26:59.774 --> 00:27:02.777
  • Of his untamed wilderness.
  • 00:27:02.777 --> 00:27:04.946
  • From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles,
  • 00:27:04.946 --> 00:27:08.083
  • These moments in god's creation will deepen your
  • 00:27:08.083 --> 00:27:10.685
  • Faith in powerful ways.
  • 00:27:10.685 --> 00:27:12.854
  • Announcer: join us for a spiritual journey through some
  • 00:27:12.854 --> 00:27:15.023
  • Of creation's most spectacular displays.
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  • Don't wait, our best cabins are going fast.
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  • Secure your alaska adventure now.
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  • Call ... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:22.931 --> 00:27:22.931