Robert Jeffress - Choosing Purpose Over Aimlessness (Part 1)

January 23, 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 Purpose Over Aimlessness (Part 1) | January 23, 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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  • Most people simply react to whatever comes their way each
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  • Day, drifting through life without any real direction or
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  • Sense of calling.
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  • But god didn't create you to wander aimlessly.
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  • He has a unique reason for your existence, a specific purpose
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  • That only you can fulfill.
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  • Today i wanna show you how to discover that god-given purpose
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  • And how to connect every area of your life to it.
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  • My message is titled "choosing purpose over aimlessness" on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:48.371 --> 00:00:55.311
  • 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: legacy is
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  • Not what you leave behind, it's what you set in motion for
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  • 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 out it's much easier to run a
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  • Business, but having a family, a wife, children that serve the
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  • Lord, is much, much more difficult.
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  • And that's who we are.
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  • 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.
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  • Bill high: no matter what stage of life you're in, "the legacy
  • 00:01:47.697 --> 00:01:50.567
  • Life" will help you understand how to apply god's word and set
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  • In motion a great legacy.
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  • Announcer: request "the legacy life" when you give a generous
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  • Gift to "pathway to victory" or when you become a
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  • Pathway partner.
  • 00:02:03.046 --> 00:02:04.380
  • You'll also receive the powerful book by dr. jeffress, "choose
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  • Your attitudes, change your life."
  • 00:02:07.383 --> 00:02:09.586
  • 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
  • 00:02:13.389 --> 00:02:16.793
  • Group study guide, plus the complete teaching series on cd
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  • And dvd, and a set of attitude booster cards for
  • 00:02:20.496 --> 00:02:24.100
  • Your encouragement.
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  • Thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: thomas chalmers once said, "the grand essentials for
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  • Happiness are something to love, something to do, and something
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  • To hope for."
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  • What chalmers is talking about is the importance of having a
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  • Purpose in life.
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  • Purpose is the foundation upon which we build our actions, our
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  • Affections, our aspirations.
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  • Having a purpose is like having an engine that drives our life.
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  • A purpose is like a beacon in the darkness that gives our
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  • Lives direction in times of uncertainty.
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  • And yet, as important as it is to have a purpose, studies have
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  • Shown that less than 3% of americans have a clearly defined
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  • Purpose in life or the goals and objectives to meet that purpose.
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  • In our series, "choose your attitudes, change your life,"
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  • We're talking about 11 biblical attitude choices that are
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  • Essential for living the life god wants us to experience, and
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  • I could certainly make an argument about why each one of
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  • These choices is the most important one.
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  • But if i were going to say which attitude choice is the most
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  • Essential, certainly the one we're talking about today would
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  • Be close to, if not at the top of the list, and that is the
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  • Choice of how we go through life.
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  • How do we spend the limited time god has given us here on earth?
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  • We can do so aimlessly.
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  • And just simply reacting to whatever comes our way each day,
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  • Or we can choose to live our life with purpose.
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  • And today we're going to talk about the importance of choosing
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  • Purpose over aimlessness in life.
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  • Without a clearly defined purpose for living, we are
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  • Doomed to live lives that thoreau talked about: lives of
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  • Quiet desperation.
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  • If you think that's an overstatement, consider this
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  • Very real experience that the late charles colson talks about
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  • In his book "kingdoms in conflict."
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  • In that book, colson recounts the story, the true story, of a
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  • Group of jewish prisoners in a nazi concentration camp who
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  • Suddenly found that the factory they had been working in had
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  • Been bombed out by allied aircraft.
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  • Colson writes, "the next morning, several hundred inmates
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  • Were herded to one end of the charred remains of the factory.
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  • Expecting orders to begin rebuilding, they were startled
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  • When the nazi officer commanded them to shovel sand into the
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  • Carts and drag it to the other end of the plant.
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  • The next day, the process was repeated in reverse.
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  • They were ordered to move that huge pile of sand back to the
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  • Other end of the compound.
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  • A mistake had been made, the prisoners thought, stupid swine.
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  • But day after day they hauled the same pile of sand from one
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  • End of the camp to the other.
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  • And then it began to happen.
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  • One old man began crying uncontrollably, the guards
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  • Hauled him away.
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  • Another prisoner screamed until he was beaten into silence.
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  • Then a young man who had survived 3 years in that
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  • Concentration camp, darted away from the group.
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  • The guard shouted for him to stop as he ran toward the
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  • Electrified fence.
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  • The other prisoners cried out, but it was too late.
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  • There was a blinding flash and a terrible sizzling noise as smoke
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  • Puffed from his smoldering flesh.
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  • In the days that followed, dozens of prisoners went mad and
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  • Ran from their work only to be shot by the guards or
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  • Electrocuted by the fence.
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  • The commandant smugly remarked that soon there would be no more
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  • Need to use the crematoria.
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  • The gruesome lesson is plain," colson writes.
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  • "men will cling to life with dogged resolve while working
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  • Meaningfully, even if that work supports their hated captors.
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  • But purposeless labor soon snaps the mind."
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  • What is true in that nazi concentration camp is true in
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  • Your life as well.
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  • Purposeless labor soon snaps the mind and the spirit.
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  • Today we're going to talk about how to discover your god-given
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  • Purpose in life.
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  • Now, when we talk about your purpose, it's important to
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  • Clarify the difference between a purpose, objectives, and goals
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  • In your life.
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  • Let's look first of all at purpose.
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  • A purpose statement simply answers the question: why do
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  • I exist?
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  • It doesn't have to be a long treatise.
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  • It can be a simple statement about your unique purpose
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  • In life.
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  • Why did god create you?
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  • Why are you occupying real estate on planet earth?
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  • You know, organizations have purpose statements, hopefully.
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  • Many businesses have a purpose statement.
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  • You know, the general motors corporation might say that their
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  • Purpose, their reason for existing, is to generate a
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  • Healthy profit by manufacturing the finest automobiles in
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  • The world.
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  • And that statement gives that company direction.
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  • You know, suppose a vice president comes into the ceo and
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  • Says, "you know, i had an idea.
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  • I think there's a lot of money to be made in pharmaceuticals."
  • 00:08:40.443 --> 00:08:44.480
  • And the ceo, if he's worth his weight in salt, would say,
  • 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:48.317
  • "well, that's a great idea, but that's not the purpose of
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  • Our company.
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  • Our company exists to make money by manufacturing
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  • Fine automobiles."
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  • Not only do businesses have purpose, hopefully a church has
  • 00:08:58.661 --> 00:09:02.064
  • A clearly defined purpose.
  • 00:09:02.064 --> 00:09:04.500
  • You know, in our church, we understand and believe the great
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  • Commission jesus gave to "go into all the world and make
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  • Disciples, baptizing them in the name of the father, son, and
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  • Holy spirit, teaching them to observe whatsoever things i have
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  • Commanded you."
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  • And from that great commission, first baptist dallas has
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  • Developed a mission statement.
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  • Our purpose is to transform the world with god's word, one life
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  • At a time.
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  • And that means everything we do as a church is directed toward
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  • Either winning people to christ, baptizing them in the name of
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  • The father, son, and holy spirit, or once they become
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  • Christians, developing them into disciples, teaching them to
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  • Observe all things christ has commanded us.
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  • And anything that doesn't contribute to either evangelism
  • 00:09:53.516 --> 00:09:56.819
  • Or discipleship may be a nice thing to do, it may be a good
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  • Thing to do, but it's not what we're called to do.
  • 00:10:00.556 --> 00:10:03.059
  • You know, somebody might say, "you know, i think it would be
  • 00:10:03.059 --> 00:10:06.195
  • Helpful to our people if we held a seminar on real estate
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  • Investing for our people."
  • 00:10:09.899 --> 00:10:11.634
  • Well, that may be a nice thing to do, but that's not
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  • Our purpose.
  • 00:10:14.270 --> 00:10:15.604
  • Or somebody else might say, "wouldn't it be a nice ministry
  • 00:10:15.604 --> 00:10:18.107
  • For our church to run a hospital?"
  • 00:10:18.107 --> 00:10:20.476
  • Well, that's a nice thing to do as well.
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  • Some of you might think we actually do that.
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  • Have you seen those commercials for first baptist hospital?
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  • That's not us.
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  • It's not that we're against hospitals, but that's not what
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  • We're called to do.
  • 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:32.488
  • Or somebody else would say, "wouldn't it be fun to have a
  • 00:10:32.488 --> 00:10:34.290
  • Monday night bingo at our church every monday night?"
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  • Nothing wrong with bingo, but that's not what we're called
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  • To do.
  • 00:10:40.229 --> 00:10:41.564
  • A purpose statement gives us, as a church, direction.
  • 00:10:41.564 --> 00:10:44.467
  • And what's true about organizations, businesses, and
  • 00:10:44.467 --> 00:10:48.370
  • Churches is true about individuals as well.
  • 00:10:48.370 --> 00:10:51.707
  • We need to have a clearly defined purpose statement.
  • 00:10:51.707 --> 00:10:55.678
  • We talked about the difference between a general purpose and a
  • 00:10:55.678 --> 00:10:59.515
  • Specific purpose.
  • 00:10:59.515 --> 00:11:00.850
  • I mean, as christians, we all have a general purpose of
  • 00:11:00.850 --> 00:11:03.552
  • Glorifying god, having fellowship with him, leading
  • 00:11:03.552 --> 00:11:06.922
  • People to faith in christ, but each of us should have a
  • 00:11:06.922 --> 00:11:10.292
  • Specific reason for living as well.
  • 00:11:10.292 --> 00:11:13.529
  • Remember we said that god is telling a story throughout the
  • 00:11:13.529 --> 00:11:17.566
  • Universe of his love and redemption through christ, but
  • 00:11:17.566 --> 00:11:21.470
  • God is also writing an individual story in your life to
  • 00:11:21.470 --> 00:11:26.942
  • Tell his story.
  • 00:11:26.942 --> 00:11:28.410
  • And so when we talk about discovering your purpose, we're
  • 00:11:28.410 --> 00:11:31.514
  • Talking about discovering that unique reason that god has
  • 00:11:31.514 --> 00:11:36.085
  • Created you.
  • 00:11:36.085 --> 00:11:37.453
  • And there are two keys, the bible says, to discovering your
  • 00:11:37.453 --> 00:11:41.690
  • Unique purpose, the answer to the question, "why do
  • 00:11:41.690 --> 00:11:46.262
  • You exist?"
  • 00:11:46.262 --> 00:11:47.863
  • And those two keys are both found in philippians chapter 2,
  • 00:11:47.863 --> 00:11:52.001
  • Verse 13.
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  • I like the way j.b. phillips
  • 00:11:53.536 --> 00:11:55.237
  • Paraphrases this verse: "for it is god who is at work
  • 00:11:55.237 --> 00:12:00.709
  • Within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve
  • 00:12:00.709 --> 00:12:07.349
  • His purpose."
  • 00:12:07.349 --> 00:12:09.318
  • God has given you, first of all, a will, a desire, a passion, if
  • 00:12:09.318 --> 00:12:15.624
  • You will, to accomplish your purpose.
  • 00:12:15.624 --> 00:12:18.761
  • And so the first key to discovering that unique purpose
  • 00:12:18.761 --> 00:12:21.630
  • Is to identify your passion.
  • 00:12:21.630 --> 00:12:25.634
  • What is it that you see that causes you concern in the
  • 00:12:25.634 --> 00:12:30.472
  • World today?
  • 00:12:30.472 --> 00:12:31.841
  • One way god reveals his purpose for your life is by the unique
  • 00:12:31.841 --> 00:12:36.412
  • Passion, the desire, he has given you.
  • 00:12:36.412 --> 00:12:39.682
  • For example, here is a business person who is concerned about
  • 00:12:39.682 --> 00:12:43.485
  • The fact that many christians in business compartmentalize
  • 00:12:43.485 --> 00:12:47.356
  • Their faith.
  • 00:12:47.356 --> 00:12:48.691
  • They have never integrated their business with faith, and this
  • 00:12:48.691 --> 00:12:52.161
  • Person believes that the bible has a lot to say about how to
  • 00:12:52.161 --> 00:12:55.731
  • Run a business according to biblical principles.
  • 00:12:55.731 --> 00:12:58.267
  • So he makes as his life purpose to be a model christian
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  • Businessman for other business people to show how to integrate
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  • Biblical principles with your business.
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  • That's his passion.
  • 00:13:07.977 --> 00:13:09.445
  • Or let's say there's a woman whose teenage daughter was
  • 00:13:09.445 --> 00:13:14.083
  • Killed by a drunk driver, and she has a passion to remove the
  • 00:13:14.083 --> 00:13:19.054
  • Menace of drunk driving from our nation's streets.
  • 00:13:19.054 --> 00:13:23.259
  • Or here is a pastor who growing up as a teenager, always was
  • 00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:27.796
  • Trying to invite his unsaved friends to church, but every
  • 00:13:27.796 --> 00:13:31.233
  • Time he did so he was embarrassed by the poor quality
  • 00:13:31.233 --> 00:13:34.603
  • Of the church service and the deafness, so to speak, to
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  • Unbelievers, and so he has this passion as a pastor to create a
  • 00:13:38.507 --> 00:13:42.945
  • Church in which unbelievers would be comfortable attending
  • 00:13:42.945 --> 00:13:46.315
  • And that would speak to their special needs.
  • 00:13:46.315 --> 00:13:49.551
  • By the way, all three of those examples are real life examples
  • 00:13:49.551 --> 00:13:53.856
  • Of people who found their purpose in life by the unique
  • 00:13:53.856 --> 00:13:57.626
  • Passion that they have.
  • 00:13:57.626 --> 00:13:59.828
  • What passion do you have?
  • 00:13:59.828 --> 00:14:02.031
  • What is it that inspires you?
  • 00:14:02.031 --> 00:14:04.366
  • What is it that makes you angry?
  • 00:14:04.366 --> 00:14:06.702
  • What needs do you see in the world that keep you awake
  • 00:14:06.702 --> 00:14:11.206
  • Some nights?
  • 00:14:11.206 --> 00:14:12.641
  • You know, in our first service, andy horner was here, and i just
  • 00:14:12.641 --> 00:14:19.882
  • Thought of it.
  • 00:14:19.882 --> 00:14:21.250
  • I saw him on the second row.
  • 00:14:21.250 --> 00:14:22.584
  • I thought of that as i was preaching this because, you
  • 00:14:22.584 --> 00:14:25.321
  • Know, andy's story is a miraculous one.
  • 00:14:25.321 --> 00:14:27.456
  • When he was 60 years old, he had retired.
  • 00:14:27.456 --> 00:14:31.160
  • He could have stayed retired.
  • 00:14:31.160 --> 00:14:32.561
  • He didn't need to work anymore, but as he looked around, he saw
  • 00:14:32.561 --> 00:14:36.198
  • Some needs in the world that really bothered him.
  • 00:14:36.198 --> 00:14:40.402
  • One need he saw was the need to provide funds for missionaries
  • 00:14:40.402 --> 00:14:45.007
  • And to support the work of missionaries.
  • 00:14:45.007 --> 00:14:47.776
  • But another desire, a need he saw, was the need for women who
  • 00:14:47.776 --> 00:14:52.181
  • Were staying at home with small children or single women to be
  • 00:14:52.181 --> 00:14:56.151
  • Able to make a living for their families.
  • 00:14:56.151 --> 00:14:59.888
  • And so out of that passion to generate money to support
  • 00:14:59.888 --> 00:15:03.792
  • Missionaries and to meet the need of women who couldn't be in
  • 00:15:03.792 --> 00:15:08.197
  • The workplace full time, he developed premier designs, a way
  • 00:15:08.197 --> 00:15:12.901
  • To fill that very real need he saw in the world.
  • 00:15:12.901 --> 00:15:16.905
  • And the same is true for you and me.
  • 00:15:16.905 --> 00:15:18.540
  • God puts a passion in our heart.
  • 00:15:18.540 --> 00:15:21.643
  • You know, every life, somebody said, is focused either to fill
  • 00:15:21.643 --> 00:15:24.680
  • A greed or to meet a need.
  • 00:15:24.680 --> 00:15:27.416
  • And the passion god puts in your heart is not to fill your own
  • 00:15:27.416 --> 00:15:30.753
  • Greed, but to meet a genuine need in the world.
  • 00:15:30.753 --> 00:15:33.956
  • How do you identify what that passion is?
  • 00:15:33.956 --> 00:15:36.992
  • Our friend bobb biehl from masterplanning international
  • 00:15:36.992 --> 00:15:39.895
  • Gives five questions you can ask yourself to help you determine
  • 00:15:39.895 --> 00:15:44.199
  • What your passion is.
  • 00:15:44.199 --> 00:15:45.768
  • "question number one: what needs do i see in the world that
  • 00:15:45.768 --> 00:15:50.372
  • Concern me?
  • 00:15:50.372 --> 00:15:52.674
  • Question number two: if i could meet any need in the world, what
  • 00:15:52.674 --> 00:15:57.546
  • Would that need be?
  • 00:15:57.546 --> 00:15:59.848
  • Number three: what are the most urgent needs in my country, my
  • 00:15:59.848 --> 00:16:04.586
  • Community, my work, my school, and my church?
  • 00:16:04.586 --> 00:16:08.624
  • Number four: what age group or type of people naturally
  • 00:16:08.624 --> 00:16:12.961
  • Interests me?
  • 00:16:12.961 --> 00:16:14.563
  • And number five: what are the major needs among my neighbors,
  • 00:16:14.563 --> 00:16:18.534
  • My friends, and my family?"
  • 00:16:18.534 --> 00:16:21.837
  • Answering those questions will help you determine the unique
  • 00:16:21.837 --> 00:16:25.140
  • Passion god has placed in your heart.
  • 00:16:25.140 --> 00:16:28.110
  • It is god who is at work within you, giving you the will to do
  • 00:16:28.110 --> 00:16:33.015
  • His will.
  • 00:16:33.015 --> 00:16:34.383
  • But there's a second key in that verse, and that is, he gives you
  • 00:16:34.383 --> 00:16:37.953
  • Both the will and the power.
  • 00:16:37.953 --> 00:16:40.122
  • That is the ability, the giftedness, to achieve your
  • 00:16:40.122 --> 00:16:43.892
  • Unique purpose.
  • 00:16:43.892 --> 00:16:45.394
  • If god has called you to do something, he's not only gonna
  • 00:16:45.394 --> 00:16:48.530
  • Give you a passion for it, he's gonna give you a special gift in
  • 00:16:48.530 --> 00:16:52.301
  • Order to fulfill that passion.
  • 00:16:52.301 --> 00:16:54.369
  • And that's why the second key in discovering your purpose is
  • 00:16:54.369 --> 00:16:57.439
  • Identifying your gifts and your abilities.
  • 00:16:57.439 --> 00:17:00.476
  • Let me show you why that's so important.
  • 00:17:00.476 --> 00:17:03.178
  • You know, let's just say for example, i looked around the
  • 00:17:03.178 --> 00:17:05.280
  • World and i said, you know what the greatest need in the world
  • 00:17:05.280 --> 00:17:07.549
  • Is, i think, is to find a cure for cancer.
  • 00:17:07.549 --> 00:17:11.320
  • So i think maybe i would devote my life to finding a cure
  • 00:17:11.320 --> 00:17:15.357
  • For cancer.
  • 00:17:15.357 --> 00:17:16.725
  • How many of you would think that was a worthy goal?
  • 00:17:16.725 --> 00:17:18.694
  • Okay, i could develop quite a passion for that.
  • 00:17:18.694 --> 00:17:21.497
  • I mean, i could talk about how cancer affected my own family
  • 00:17:21.497 --> 00:17:24.700
  • And took my parents prematurely.
  • 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:26.969
  • I could have a real passion for it.
  • 00:17:26.969 --> 00:17:28.570
  • The only problem with me devoting my life to that is i
  • 00:17:28.570 --> 00:17:32.174
  • Have no gifts in science whatsoever.
  • 00:17:32.174 --> 00:17:35.711
  • I mean, i almost flunked out of high school biology because i
  • 00:17:35.711 --> 00:17:39.381
  • Couldn't see anything in the microscope.
  • 00:17:39.381 --> 00:17:41.049
  • Everybody else saw all these things swimming.
  • 00:17:41.049 --> 00:17:43.152
  • I never saw anything in a microscope.
  • 00:17:43.152 --> 00:17:45.888
  • So i'm probably not the one to find a cure for cancer, because
  • 00:17:45.888 --> 00:17:50.859
  • If god is gonna gift you to do something, he's not going to
  • 00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:53.996
  • Only give you the passion, he's gonna give you the corresponding
  • 00:17:53.996 --> 00:17:57.132
  • Gifts and abilities.
  • 00:17:57.132 --> 00:17:59.101
  • That's what philippians 2:13 is.
  • 00:17:59.101 --> 00:18:01.870
  • It is god giving you the will and the power to achieve
  • 00:18:01.870 --> 00:18:04.473
  • His purpose.
  • 00:18:04.473 --> 00:18:06.642
  • Many years ago, back in 1984, i remember sitting in the coffee
  • 00:18:06.642 --> 00:18:11.780
  • Shop at the houston intercontinental airport, had my
  • 00:18:11.780 --> 00:18:14.816
  • Yellow legal tablet out.
  • 00:18:14.816 --> 00:18:16.385
  • I had a few hours to wait for a flight, and i really asked god
  • 00:18:16.385 --> 00:18:20.122
  • To give me discernment in writing down a clear purpose
  • 00:18:20.122 --> 00:18:24.226
  • Statement that would guide the rest of my life.
  • 00:18:24.226 --> 00:18:27.029
  • And i wrote this simple statement: "my purpose is to be
  • 00:18:27.029 --> 00:18:30.432
  • An effective communicator of god's word."
  • 00:18:30.432 --> 00:18:35.137
  • I remember the words of my old seminary professor who used to
  • 00:18:35.137 --> 00:18:38.540
  • Say, "men, it is a sin to bore people with the word of god."
  • 00:18:38.540 --> 00:18:45.781
  • I hear an amen on that somewhere, don't hurt
  • 00:18:45.781 --> 00:18:48.951
  • My feelings.
  • 00:18:48.951 --> 00:18:50.319
  • But that is true.
  • 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:51.653
  • And so i wanted to devote my life to clearly communicating
  • 00:18:51.653 --> 00:18:55.090
  • God's word.
  • 00:18:55.090 --> 00:18:56.458
  • Now, suppose i had that passion, but i had no communication
  • 00:18:56.458 --> 00:18:59.228
  • Skill whatsoever.
  • 00:18:59.228 --> 00:19:00.662
  • Every time i stood up, i stuttered and stammered, or when
  • 00:19:00.662 --> 00:19:03.699
  • I sat down to try to write, i couldn't write a cohesive
  • 00:19:03.699 --> 00:19:07.903
  • Sentence that made sense.
  • 00:19:07.903 --> 00:19:09.805
  • That's probably not my calling if i don't have the gifts to go
  • 00:19:09.805 --> 00:19:14.610
  • Along with that.
  • 00:19:14.610 --> 00:19:15.944
  • And i know some of you bible students, you're
  • 00:19:15.944 --> 00:19:17.312
  • Already objecting.
  • 00:19:17.312 --> 00:19:18.647
  • You say, "oh, wait a minute, pastor.
  • 00:19:18.647 --> 00:19:20.515
  • What about moses?
  • 00:19:20.515 --> 00:19:22.084
  • He stuttered, he stammered, but god used him supernaturally."
  • 00:19:22.084 --> 00:19:27.022
  • Well, that's true, but moses's major calling was not to be a
  • 00:19:27.022 --> 00:19:31.026
  • Communicator of god's word.
  • 00:19:31.026 --> 00:19:32.995
  • It was to be a leader of god's people.
  • 00:19:32.995 --> 00:19:35.797
  • And moses had tremendous leadership abilities from the
  • 00:19:35.797 --> 00:19:39.301
  • Very beginning as a child growing up in pharaoh's palace
  • 00:19:39.301 --> 00:19:42.471
  • That were exhibited throughout the rest of his life.
  • 00:19:42.471 --> 00:19:45.507
  • If god has called you to do something, he will give you the
  • 00:19:45.507 --> 00:19:48.610
  • Gifts to do that.
  • 00:19:48.610 --> 00:19:50.078
  • How can you identify your unique gifts and abilities?
  • 00:19:50.078 --> 00:19:53.882
  • Again, let me share with you five questions you ought to
  • 00:19:53.882 --> 00:19:56.451
  • Ask yourself.
  • 00:19:56.451 --> 00:19:57.786
  • And by the way, this is great material for you to use with
  • 00:19:57.786 --> 00:20:00.822
  • Your children, your grandchildren.
  • 00:20:00.822 --> 00:20:03.392
  • There are so many millennials today who are wandering through
  • 00:20:03.392 --> 00:20:06.228
  • Life without any clear direction because they really don't know
  • 00:20:06.228 --> 00:20:10.198
  • How to define their purpose in life.
  • 00:20:10.198 --> 00:20:12.134
  • Here are some questions to help you identify your gifts
  • 00:20:12.134 --> 00:20:14.403
  • And abilities.
  • 00:20:14.403 --> 00:20:15.737
  • Number one: what abilities do you have that other people seem
  • 00:20:15.737 --> 00:20:19.708
  • To notice and appreciate?
  • 00:20:19.708 --> 00:20:21.376
  • Things they compliment you about.
  • 00:20:21.376 --> 00:20:23.979
  • Number two, i love this: suppose you were asked to give a how-to
  • 00:20:23.979 --> 00:20:28.250
  • Seminar in your church or civic group on any topic you chose.
  • 00:20:28.250 --> 00:20:34.022
  • What topic would you feel the most comfortable addressing?
  • 00:20:34.022 --> 00:20:38.727
  • Number three: outside of recreational pursuits, list five
  • 00:20:38.727 --> 00:20:42.898
  • Accomplishments that have given you the most satisfaction.
  • 00:20:42.898 --> 00:20:46.968
  • What aspect of these experiences did you enjoy?
  • 00:20:46.968 --> 00:20:51.540
  • Number four: is there a common denominator in those five
  • 00:20:51.540 --> 00:20:55.544
  • Experiences that you could identify?
  • 00:20:55.544 --> 00:20:59.815
  • What is it?
  • 00:20:59.815 --> 00:21:01.149
  • I mean, i think about the five most satisfying experiences of
  • 00:21:01.149 --> 00:21:04.653
  • My life.
  • 00:21:04.653 --> 00:21:06.054
  • They were different, and yet they all shared one
  • 00:21:06.054 --> 00:21:08.190
  • Common characteristic.
  • 00:21:08.190 --> 00:21:09.558
  • They all dealt with communicating.
  • 00:21:09.558 --> 00:21:12.761
  • Whether it's to a church group or to a secular audience or
  • 00:21:12.761 --> 00:21:16.231
  • Something about communication that satisfied me.
  • 00:21:16.231 --> 00:21:19.234
  • With you, that might be working with children, it might be
  • 00:21:19.234 --> 00:21:24.005
  • Serving other people, it might be organizing events.
  • 00:21:24.005 --> 00:21:27.542
  • But what one word would describe that satisfaction?
  • 00:21:27.542 --> 00:21:31.680
  • And number five: hopefully these questions have helped you
  • 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:34.616
  • Identify one area in which you are both interested and gifted.
  • 00:21:34.616 --> 00:21:40.355
  • In a word, what is that area?
  • 00:21:40.355 --> 00:21:44.025
  • And knowing what your passion is, what your giftedness is,
  • 00:21:44.025 --> 00:21:49.197
  • Will help you identify your purpose and help you fill out
  • 00:21:49.197 --> 00:21:52.033
  • That sentence: "my purpose in life is to," what?
  • 00:21:52.033 --> 00:21:57.539
  • Now remember, we all have a general purpose in life.
  • 00:21:57.539 --> 00:22:00.008
  • Jesus said that in john 4:34.
  • 00:22:00.008 --> 00:22:02.511
  • Jesus said, "my food," that is my purpose, "is to do the will
  • 00:22:02.511 --> 00:22:06.882
  • Of him who sent me and to accomplish his work."
  • 00:22:06.882 --> 00:22:10.652
  • That ought to be the purpose statement of every christian.
  • 00:22:10.652 --> 00:22:13.321
  • But jesus also understood he had a unique purpose in coming to
  • 00:22:13.321 --> 00:22:16.691
  • Earth that nobody else could fulfill.
  • 00:22:16.691 --> 00:22:19.294
  • In matthew 20, verse 28, he said, "just as the son of man
  • 00:22:19.294 --> 00:22:23.064
  • Did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life
  • 00:22:23.064 --> 00:22:28.370
  • As a ransom for many."
  • 00:22:28.370 --> 00:22:31.673
  • Once we define our god-given
  • 00:22:31.673 --> 00:22:34.176
  • Purpose in life, it's important
  • 00:22:34.176 --> 00:22:37.179
  • To connect every part of our life to that overarching purpose
  • 00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:42.017
  • Statement, and that's where objectives come in.
  • 00:22:42.017 --> 00:22:45.921
  • A definition of an objective is an objective is a simple
  • 00:22:45.921 --> 00:22:49.524
  • Statement expressing desires for specific areas of our life.
  • 00:22:49.524 --> 00:22:54.596
  • No matter what your purpose is, you've got to be able to connect
  • 00:22:54.596 --> 00:22:57.432
  • That to every part of your life, your spiritual life, your family
  • 00:22:57.432 --> 00:23:01.670
  • Relationships, your work, every part of your life, and
  • 00:23:01.670 --> 00:23:05.307
  • Objectives are the way to do that.
  • 00:23:05.307 --> 00:23:07.742
  • Let me show you how to develop the objectives for the seven
  • 00:23:07.742 --> 00:23:10.946
  • Major areas of your life.
  • 00:23:10.946 --> 00:23:12.747
  • I've put on your outline a grid showing the seven major life
  • 00:23:12.747 --> 00:23:17.018
  • Areas: spiritual, physical, that is your health, family,
  • 00:23:17.018 --> 00:23:21.857
  • Vocational, personal growth,
  • 00:23:21.857 --> 00:23:24.059
  • Social, financial.
  • 00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:27.395
  • Jeffress: when we identify the passion god has placed in our
  • 00:23:31.633 --> 00:23:34.703
  • Hearts and connect it to the gifts he has given us, we can
  • 00:23:34.703 --> 00:23:38.740
  • Live with direction and meaning.
  • 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:41.910
  • Now, in closing today, i wanna share how this truth is
  • 00:23:41.910 --> 00:23:44.913
  • Impacting real lives through "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:44.913 --> 00:23:48.183
  • Zelda from texas wrote to us and shared, "i used to be a nurse,
  • 00:23:48.183 --> 00:23:52.320
  • But i was recently laid off.
  • 00:23:52.320 --> 00:23:54.356
  • Each morning i would listen to your radio program so
  • 00:23:54.356 --> 00:23:57.058
  • That i could maintain a positive attitude and share
  • 00:23:57.058 --> 00:24:00.428
  • It with my patients.
  • 00:24:00.428 --> 00:24:02.097
  • After being laid off, i felt that my back was up
  • 00:24:02.097 --> 00:24:04.900
  • Against the wall and yesterday i just wanted to give up.
  • 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:09.037
  • I just wanted to go see jesus.
  • 00:24:09.037 --> 00:24:11.706
  • Then this morning when i heard your sermon, i realized
  • 00:24:11.706 --> 00:24:15.010
  • I am in this spiritual war and i have to get out and
  • 00:24:15.010 --> 00:24:17.812
  • Fight no matter what."
  • 00:24:17.812 --> 00:24:20.315
  • Well, zelda, thank you for sharing your heart with us and
  • 00:24:20.315 --> 00:24:23.652
  • To everyone who supports this ministry, especially our pathway
  • 00:24:23.652 --> 00:24:27.489
  • Partners, thank you for making it possible for us to reach
  • 00:24:27.489 --> 00:24:30.692
  • People like zelda with hope and truth when they need it most.
  • 00:24:30.692 --> 00:24:35.096
  • Together we are piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:24:35.096 --> 00:24:38.667
  • God's word.
  • 00:24:38.667 --> 00:24:40.035
  • Now please stay right there.
  • 00:24:40.035 --> 00:24:41.369
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:41.369 --> 00:24:44.806
  • Announcer: each day millions of lost people are searching for
  • 00:24:46.174 --> 00:24:49.177
  • Hope and truth.
  • 00:24:49.177 --> 00:24:50.512
  • Through "pathway to victory," god's word is reaching into
  • 00:24:50.512 --> 00:24:53.515
  • Homes across america and around the world, but there are still
  • 00:24:53.515 --> 00:24:57.085
  • So many who haven't heard the saving message of jesus christ.
  • 00:24:57.085 --> 00:25:00.689
  • You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
  • 00:25:00.689 --> 00:25:03.959
  • You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries who are
  • 00:25:03.959 --> 00:25:07.162
  • Sharing the gospel through television and radio.
  • 00:25:07.162 --> 00:25:09.864
  • Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide with the
  • 00:25:09.864 --> 00:25:13.501
  • Life-changing power of the cross.
  • 00:25:13.501 --> 00:25:15.770
  • Jeffress: right now, you may be thinking about that passion god
  • 00:25:18.473 --> 00:25:21.076
  • Has placed in your heart.
  • 00:25:21.076 --> 00:25:22.811
  • Maybe you've been ignoring it or pushing it aside because life
  • 00:25:22.811 --> 00:25:26.348
  • Gets busy.
  • 00:25:26.348 --> 00:25:27.849
  • Don't let another day go by, living aimlessly.
  • 00:25:27.849 --> 00:25:31.753
  • Well, knowing your purpose is just the beginning, and next
  • 00:25:31.753 --> 00:25:35.857
  • Time we're going to take the next step and show you how to
  • 00:25:35.857 --> 00:25:38.893
  • Connect that overarching purpose to every area of your life
  • 00:25:38.893 --> 00:25:43.198
  • Through objectives and goals.
  • 00:25:43.198 --> 00:25:45.500
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:47.969
  • Series, "choose your attitude, change your life."
  • 00:25:47.969 --> 00:25:52.874
  • Jeffress: ladies and gentlemen, there is no more effective way
  • 00:25:52.874 --> 00:25:57.979
  • To be a disciple of jesus christ than by discovering his unique
  • 00:25:57.979 --> 00:26:02.851
  • Purpose for your life and living out that purpose.
  • 00:26:02.851 --> 00:26:06.921
  • That is why god left us here to fulfill his unique purpose
  • 00:26:06.921 --> 00:26:11.660
  • For us.
  • 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:13.028
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join
  • 00:26:13.028 --> 00:26:14.396
  • Us next time for part two of the
  • 00:26:14.396 --> 00:26:15.930
  • Message, "choosing purpose over
  • 00:26:15.930 --> 00:26:18.233
  • Aimlessness," here on "pathway
  • 00:26:18.233 --> 00:26:20.335
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:20.335 --> 00:26:21.703
  • Announcer: experience a journey that will refresh your spirit
  • 00:26:24.906 --> 00:26:27.876
  • And renew your faith on the pathway to victory cruise to
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  • Alaska, june 13-20, 2026.
  • 00:26:31.112 --> 00:26:34.716
  • Jeffress: sail aboard holland america's luxurious koningsdam
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  • Through british columbia's beautiful inside passage.
  • 00:26:37.852 --> 00:26:41.656
  • From the pristine waters of glacier bay to the charming
  • 00:26:41.656 --> 00:26:45.060
  • Frontier towns of juneau, ketchikan, and skagway, you'll
  • 00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:49.330
  • Witness god's handiwork on full display.
  • 00:26:49.330 --> 00:26:52.801
  • Announcer: imagine standing on deck surrounded by towering
  • 00:26:52.801 --> 00:26:55.437
  • Glaciers and snowcapped mountains while enjoying
  • 00:26:55.437 --> 00:26:58.039
  • Powerful bible teaching from dr. jeffress.
  • 00:26:58.039 --> 00:27:00.875
  • Then enjoy spirit-lifting worship led by michael o'brien
  • 00:27:00.875 --> 00:27:04.612
  • And share plenty of laughter with dennis swanberg, america's
  • 00:27:04.612 --> 00:27:07.816
  • Minister of encouragement.
  • 00:27:07.816 --> 00:27:09.584
  • Jeffress: this is more than just a vacation.
  • 00:27:09.584 --> 00:27:11.720
  • It's a sacred pause to reconnect with the lord.
  • 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:15.223
  • Announcer: to reserve your cabin on the 2026 pathway to victory
  • 00:27:15.223 --> 00:27:17.992
  • Cruise to alaska, call ... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:17.992 --> 00:27:27.235