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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Christians in the Crosshairs (Part 2)

June 16, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Christians in the Crosshairs (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 #Glory #Strength #Marriage #Rejoice #Suffering #Struggle #RobertJeffress

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Christians in the Crosshairs (Part 2) | June 16, 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 dr.
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  • 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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  • For over 2000 years, christians around the world have faced
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  • Religious persecution, and jesus told us plainly it would only
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  • Get worse before his return.
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  • Is it possible we are witnessing the signs right now?
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  • Today i'm going to show you why the groundwork is being laid for
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  • Persecution to increase around the world and especially on
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  • American soil.
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  • My message is titled "christians in the crosshairs" on today's
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  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪ your voice, o lord, is power. ♪
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  • ♪ the god of glory thunders. ♪
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  • ♪ the sound of mighty waters. ♪
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  • ♪ echoes deep within my soul. ♪
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  • ♪ echoes deep within my soul. ♪
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  • ♪ holy, you are holy. ♪
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  • ♪ all the glory to your name. ♪
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  • ♪ jesus, you are mighty. ♪
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  • ♪ strength and glory to your name. ♪
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  • ♪ holy, you are holy. ♪
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  • ♪ all the glory to your name. ♪
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  • ♪ jesus, you are mighty. ♪
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  • ♪ strength and glory to your name. ♪
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  • ♪ holy, you are holy. ♪
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  • ♪ all the glory to your name. ♪
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  • ♪ jesus, you are mighty. ♪
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  • ♪ strength and glory to your name. ♪
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  • ♪ glory to your name. ♪
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  • ♪ holy is your name. ♪
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  • ♪ your name. ♪♪
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  • Jeffress: before today's program begins, i want to invite you to
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  • Join me for a special message about america's future.
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  • Our nation is celebrating 250 years, but can we survive
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  • 250 more?
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  • Mark your calendar for june 21 and june 28 to hear this timely
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  • Message, "america at the crossroads: can we survive
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  • Another 250 years?"
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  • On "pathway to victory."
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  • Announcer: as our nation marks 250 years, america stands at
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  • A crossroads.
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  • Will we return to the god who blessed us or continue down a
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  • Path that leads to ruin?
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  • Through the in god we trust matching challenge, your gift
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  • Today will be doubled in ministry impact.
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  • For 30 years, "pathway to victory" has pierced the
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  • Darkness of our nation with the light of god's word by sharing
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  • Biblical truth that transforms hearts.
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  • Join us in this critical hour by giving toward the in god we
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  • Trust matching challenge today.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: applied to the christian faith, being
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  • Persecuted means enduring unfair treatment because of either your
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  • Words or your deeds that you do in the name of jesus christ.
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  • And that kind of ill treatment you receive, well, it's on
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  • A spectrum.
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  • It can be anything from ridicule that you endure for wearing a
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  • Cross to school or work, all the way to the other end of the
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  • Spectrum, and that means martyrdom for the faith and
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  • Anything in between those two extremes.
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  • Now, if you never take a stand for your faith, if you never act
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  • Differently than those around you, you never have to worry
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  • About persecution.
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  • It's only those who stand for their faith.
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  • For example, students, if you remain quiet when a professor is
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  • Standing up and ridiculing the bible and blaspheming god, if
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  • You remain quiet, you never have to worry about experiencing a
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  • Lower grade.
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  • If you're a pastor listening to this message and you never
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  • Speak out against moral issues in the world today, you'll never
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  • Have to worry about being criticized by people outside the
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  • Church or even inside the church.
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  • Nobody's gonna bother you.
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  • They'll leave you alone.
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  • If your parents are not a christian, and you talk to them
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  • About their need for christ in a respectful way, if you choose
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  • Never to talk to them about their need for christ, you'll
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  • Never have to worry about being thrown out of the house or
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  • Suffering their wrath.
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  • If you're married to a non-christian and you surrender
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  • To his or her desire that you quit going to church or that
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  • You not take the children to church, if you surrender to
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  • Those wishes, you'll never have to worry about disharmony in
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  • Your marriage.
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  • But if you do take a stand for jesus christ, get ready.
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  • You are going to suffer.
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  • It is inevitable.
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  • Again, jesus talked about that in matthew 24, verses 8 and 9.
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  • He said, "but all of these things are merely the beginning
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  • Of birth pangs.
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  • Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you,
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  • And you will be hated by all the nations on account of my name."
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  • That's something you can bank on.
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  • Well, what should we be doing in order to prepare for this
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  • Coming persecution?
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  • Some of you are experiencing it already, but what are we to do
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  • To prepare for it?
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  • I want you to turn in your bibles to 1 peter chapter 4, 1
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  • Peter chapter 4.
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  • Most scholars believe that peter wrote this
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  • Letter while nero was the emperor of rome.
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  • However, he wrote this letter one year before the empire-wide
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  • Ban on christianity began.
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  • In other words, before nero began persecuting all christians
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  • For every reason, peter wrote this letter.
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  • So as peter wrote this letter, things were beginning to heat up
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  • In the culture.
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  • Christians were sporadically being targeted, but the
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  • Worldwide ban had not yet begun.
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  • In many ways, the situation then mirrors our situation here
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  • In america.
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  • People aren't being beheaded yet in america for their faith.
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  • They're not going to prison yet, but things
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  • Are starting to heat up.
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  • That's the direction things are going.
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  • And so peter has a strong word for us today as well.
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  • Look at verses 12 and 13.
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  • He says, "beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal
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  • Among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some
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  • Strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you
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  • Share the sufferings of christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also
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  • At the revelation of his glory you may rejoice
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  • With exultation."
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  • I want you to look at that phrase, "don't be surprised."
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  • You know, sometimes, and i'll put myself in this category, we
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  • Get surprised when we suffer for christ's sake.
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  • We think, "wait a minute.
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  • I'm supposed to get rewarded for doing right.
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  • I'm not supposed to suffer for doing right."
  • 00:08:52.588 --> 00:08:55.124
  • And yet peter says, "don't be surprised when you suffer for
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  • Christ, as though it were odd, that it were strange."
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  • And then he adds that word at the beginning, "beloved."
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  • That word means literally as those deeply loved by god.
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  • When you suffer in your workplace, when you suffer in a
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  • Relationship, when you suffer at school for following christ,
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  • Remember you're deeply loved by god.
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  • Your suffering doesn't mean god has forgotten about you, or that
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  • He doesn't care about you.
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  • This is just part of the price for following christ.
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  • And frankly, it's the price we don't hear
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  • That often about today.
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  • You know, one reason i think we get so surprised when we suffer
  • 00:09:31.961 --> 00:09:35.197
  • For being a christian is, we think, "now, wait a minute.
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  • This isn't what i signed up for.
  • 00:09:37.800 --> 00:09:40.069
  • I thought following christ means i would have a better life.
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  • I thought following christ means an improved self-image, a
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  • Happier marriage, an increase in my income.
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  • That's what i signed up for.
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  • I thought being a christian would eliminate my problems."
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  • Ladies and gentlemen, being a christian doesn't
  • 00:09:58.421 --> 00:10:00.890
  • Eliminate problems.
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  • In many ways, it creates new problems you would never have if
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  • You weren't a christian, at least in the short term.
  • 00:10:05.594 --> 00:10:09.265
  • Now, in the end, it all works out, and christ rewards us.
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  • But in the short term, there is a price to pay for being
  • 00:10:11.934 --> 00:10:15.504
  • A christian.
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  • Don't think of it as unusual.
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  • And you know, inherent in this idea of persecution is being
  • 00:10:19.709 --> 00:10:23.045
  • Treated unfairly.
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  • You say, "well, it's not fair that
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  • Somebody would do that to me.
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  • It's just not fair."
  • 00:10:28.451 --> 00:10:29.785
  • That's part of suffering.
  • 00:10:29.785 --> 00:10:31.120
  • Look at 1 peter chapter 2.
  • 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:32.488
  • Turn back two chapters to verses 21 and 23.
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  • If we're following christ, we're gonna have the same experience
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  • That christ experienced.
  • 00:10:39.595 --> 00:10:41.297
  • And what was that experience?
  • 00:10:41.297 --> 00:10:42.631
  • Look at verse 21.
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  • "for you have been called for this purpose," what purpose?
  • 00:10:43.999 --> 00:10:47.703
  • For suffering, "since christ also suffered for you, leaving
  • 00:10:47.703 --> 00:10:52.208
  • You an example for you to follow in his steps."
  • 00:10:52.208 --> 00:10:55.644
  • And who was this christ?
  • 00:10:55.644 --> 00:10:57.046
  • Look at verse 22, "who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found
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  • In his mouth."
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  • That is, he suffered for no reason.
  • 00:11:04.887 --> 00:11:07.790
  • He did nothing that merited his suffering.
  • 00:11:07.790 --> 00:11:11.227
  • Verse 23, "and while being reviled, he did not revile in
  • 00:11:11.227 --> 00:11:14.830
  • Return; while suffering, he uttered no threats, but he kept
  • 00:11:14.830 --> 00:11:18.367
  • Entrusting himself to him who judges righteously."
  • 00:11:18.367 --> 00:11:22.638
  • Jesus was treated unfairly.
  • 00:11:22.638 --> 00:11:26.842
  • You know, peter reminds us in verse 20, if you're a christian,
  • 00:11:26.842 --> 00:11:32.281
  • And you do something wrong and you suffer the consequences, you
  • 00:11:32.281 --> 00:11:36.952
  • Don't get any credit for that.
  • 00:11:36.952 --> 00:11:38.287
  • Did you know that?
  • 00:11:38.287 --> 00:11:39.722
  • You don't get credit for suffering for doing wrong.
  • 00:11:39.722 --> 00:11:43.159
  • Look at verse 20.
  • 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:44.493
  • "for what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly
  • 00:11:44.493 --> 00:11:48.297
  • Treated, you endure it with patience?
  • 00:11:48.297 --> 00:11:50.933
  • But if when you do what is right and suffer for it patiently
  • 00:11:50.933 --> 00:11:53.903
  • Endure it, this finds favor with god."
  • 00:11:53.903 --> 00:11:57.273
  • If you're a christian who doesn't pay your income tax, for
  • 00:11:57.273 --> 00:12:00.109
  • Example, and the irs comes and hauls you off to jail, you say,
  • 00:12:00.109 --> 00:12:04.246
  • "well, i'm a christian, i'm suffering for my faith."
  • 00:12:04.246 --> 00:12:06.182
  • No, you're suffering for being a crook and not paying the
  • 00:12:06.182 --> 00:12:08.350
  • Government what you owe them.
  • 00:12:08.350 --> 00:12:09.819
  • You're not suffering because you're a christian.
  • 00:12:09.819 --> 00:12:11.754
  • You're suffering--you're getting what you deserve.
  • 00:12:11.754 --> 00:12:14.156
  • That doesn't count.
  • 00:12:14.156 --> 00:12:15.524
  • You don't get any credit with god for that.
  • 00:12:15.524 --> 00:12:17.026
  • No, peter is saying, "what gets favor with god is when you
  • 00:12:17.026 --> 00:12:21.030
  • Suffer for doing what is right, not for doing what is wrong."
  • 00:12:21.030 --> 00:12:25.301
  • Think about christ.
  • 00:12:25.301 --> 00:12:26.669
  • He did nothing wrong, yet he was betrayed, reviled, and
  • 00:12:26.669 --> 00:12:29.705
  • Ultimately crucified.
  • 00:12:29.705 --> 00:12:31.774
  • The call to be a christian is the call to suffer for christ.
  • 00:12:31.774 --> 00:12:36.879
  • Paul said to timothy in 2 timothy 2:11-12, "for if we died
  • 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:40.950
  • With him, we shall also live with him; if we endure with him,
  • 00:12:40.950 --> 00:12:45.654
  • We shall reign with him."
  • 00:12:45.654 --> 00:12:48.057
  • In my book, "countdown to the apocalypse," i tell the true
  • 00:12:48.057 --> 00:12:50.960
  • Story of a man named mathu, a father who lived in indonesia.
  • 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:56.165
  • After jihad militiamen attacked his village in indonesia, the
  • 00:12:56.165 --> 00:13:00.336
  • Christians in that village escaped into the
  • 00:13:00.336 --> 00:13:02.271
  • Surrounding jungle.
  • 00:13:02.271 --> 00:13:04.139
  • Mathu, the father of this family, had led his family deep
  • 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:07.810
  • Into the jungle to escape the jihadists.
  • 00:13:07.810 --> 00:13:11.614
  • After two exhausting days of running in the jungle, mathu's
  • 00:13:11.614 --> 00:13:15.618
  • Family stopped to rest and pray.
  • 00:13:15.618 --> 00:13:18.320
  • They knew real danger approached ever nearer, the more time they
  • 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:22.124
  • Spent to rest, but they were starving.
  • 00:13:22.124 --> 00:13:24.627
  • The family had to eat.
  • 00:13:24.627 --> 00:13:26.695
  • Mathu's eight-year-old son was crying for food, so mathu went
  • 00:13:26.695 --> 00:13:30.799
  • To find food for his family nearby.
  • 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:33.736
  • Suddenly out of nowhere, the jihadists appeared.
  • 00:13:33.736 --> 00:13:36.772
  • Mathu saw them capture his ten-year-old daughter as she
  • 00:13:36.772 --> 00:13:40.242
  • Screamed out, "father, help us!
  • 00:13:40.242 --> 00:13:42.645
  • Father, help us!"
  • 00:13:42.645 --> 00:13:44.346
  • But one of the jihad troops threw a grenade at mathu, and he
  • 00:13:44.346 --> 00:13:47.549
  • Had to turn to escape.
  • 00:13:47.549 --> 00:13:49.351
  • He tripped and fell down a ravine, becoming unconscious.
  • 00:13:49.351 --> 00:13:53.122
  • When he awoke, he went back to the place where his family had
  • 00:13:53.122 --> 00:13:56.425
  • Been captured.
  • 00:13:56.425 --> 00:13:57.793
  • His words are sufficient to sum up the scene he found.
  • 00:13:57.793 --> 00:14:01.864
  • "to my horror, i discovered the bodies of my mother
  • 00:14:01.864 --> 00:14:05.301
  • And mother-in-law.
  • 00:14:05.301 --> 00:14:06.835
  • A few feet away, i found the body of my eight-year-old son,
  • 00:14:06.835 --> 00:14:10.572
  • Cristiano, lying in a pool of blood.
  • 00:14:10.572 --> 00:14:14.076
  • I found their bibles, three of them near their bodies.
  • 00:14:14.076 --> 00:14:17.813
  • All but one had been ripped into pieces, and the pages scattered
  • 00:14:17.813 --> 00:14:22.584
  • Over their bodies."
  • 00:14:22.584 --> 00:14:24.586
  • And then mathu added, "i remembered the scripture verse
  • 00:14:24.586 --> 00:14:27.990
  • That said, 'if we become followers of christ, we not only
  • 00:14:27.990 --> 00:14:32.494
  • Gain salvation and joy, but also the gift of suffering."'
  • 00:14:32.494 --> 00:14:40.502
  • I think it's important for us in the west to hear those stories
  • 00:14:40.502 --> 00:14:43.639
  • Over and over again to remind us that suffering, persecution
  • 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:48.577
  • Is coming.
  • 00:14:48.577 --> 00:14:50.045
  • Dietrich bonhoeffer once remarked, "when christ calls a
  • 00:14:50.045 --> 00:14:53.382
  • Man, he bids him come and die."
  • 00:14:53.382 --> 00:14:58.420
  • Admittedly, we're not suffering like christians in the middle
  • 00:14:58.420 --> 00:15:02.024
  • East yet, but the groundwork is being laid for that to happen in
  • 00:15:02.024 --> 00:15:06.695
  • Our own country.
  • 00:15:06.695 --> 00:15:08.163
  • And let me tell you exactly how it is going to happen.
  • 00:15:08.163 --> 00:15:11.600
  • Right now, there is a moral revolution occurring in our
  • 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:15.938
  • Country that is proceeding at warp speed.
  • 00:15:15.938 --> 00:15:20.743
  • And with that moral revolution will come a cultural revulsion
  • 00:15:20.743 --> 00:15:26.482
  • And rejection of christians and what they believe.
  • 00:15:26.482 --> 00:15:30.185
  • And that is what we're have happening right now.
  • 00:15:30.185 --> 00:15:33.322
  • We are having a moral revolution that will lead to the
  • 00:15:33.322 --> 00:15:36.692
  • Marginalization and ultimately the criminalization
  • 00:15:36.692 --> 00:15:40.429
  • Of christianity.
  • 00:15:40.429 --> 00:15:42.398
  • My friend al mohler has a three-stage process of how a
  • 00:15:42.398 --> 00:15:47.036
  • Moral revolution occurs in a culture, and i want you to write
  • 00:15:47.036 --> 00:15:50.806
  • Down these three stages.
  • 00:15:50.806 --> 00:15:52.608
  • Stage one, what was condemned is now celebrated.
  • 00:15:52.608 --> 00:15:58.147
  • What was condemned is now celebrated.
  • 00:15:58.147 --> 00:16:00.649
  • Stage two, what was celebrated is now condemned.
  • 00:16:00.649 --> 00:16:06.188
  • And stage three, those refusing to celebrate are condemned.
  • 00:16:06.188 --> 00:16:11.860
  • And once that revolution is complete, what happens is the
  • 00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:16.665
  • Marginalization of christians.
  • 00:16:16.665 --> 00:16:19.435
  • The germans did not take the jews to the
  • 00:16:19.435 --> 00:16:21.904
  • Crematorium immediately.
  • 00:16:21.904 --> 00:16:24.073
  • If they had tried to do that and exterminate the jews
  • 00:16:24.073 --> 00:16:26.842
  • Immediately, the german people would have risen up
  • 00:16:26.842 --> 00:16:29.478
  • And objected.
  • 00:16:29.478 --> 00:16:30.813
  • No, they were too smart to do that.
  • 00:16:30.813 --> 00:16:32.247
  • Instead, they, first of all, marginalized the jews in
  • 00:16:32.247 --> 00:16:35.551
  • The culture.
  • 00:16:35.551 --> 00:16:36.919
  • They made the jewish people objects of disdain,
  • 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:39.555
  • Contempt, hatred.
  • 00:16:39.555 --> 00:16:40.989
  • "well, they're different than we are.
  • 00:16:40.989 --> 00:16:42.691
  • They're hurting our society."
  • 00:16:42.691 --> 00:16:44.460
  • And only after they had marginalized the jewish people,
  • 00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:48.263
  • Then were they able to take away their rights, even their right
  • 00:16:48.263 --> 00:16:51.400
  • To live in the final solution.
  • 00:16:51.400 --> 00:16:53.702
  • That is what is happening with christianity.
  • 00:16:53.702 --> 00:16:56.105
  • Right now, there is an effort to marginalize christians.
  • 00:16:56.105 --> 00:16:58.774
  • "those christians are backwards in their thinking.
  • 00:16:58.774 --> 00:17:01.143
  • They're bigoted.
  • 00:17:01.143 --> 00:17:02.678
  • They're not good for society."
  • 00:17:02.678 --> 00:17:05.414
  • And once they have marginalized christians, then it leads to the
  • 00:17:05.414 --> 00:17:09.318
  • Criminalization of christians.
  • 00:17:09.318 --> 00:17:11.620
  • And you see that, especially in what is happening around this
  • 00:17:11.620 --> 00:17:15.424
  • Debate over homosexual marriage.
  • 00:17:15.424 --> 00:17:17.993
  • I want you to think about that three-stage process i just
  • 00:17:17.993 --> 00:17:21.497
  • Gave you.
  • 00:17:21.497 --> 00:17:22.831
  • First of all, it begins when what was condemned is
  • 00:17:22.831 --> 00:17:26.101
  • Now celebrated.
  • 00:17:26.101 --> 00:17:28.003
  • Do you realize that homosexual marriage has not been with us
  • 00:17:28.003 --> 00:17:32.441
  • For thousands of years or hundreds of years?
  • 00:17:32.441 --> 00:17:35.911
  • It didn't even appear on the scene until 2001 in
  • 00:17:35.911 --> 00:17:40.549
  • The netherlands.
  • 00:17:40.549 --> 00:17:41.950
  • That was the first place it was ever heard of.
  • 00:17:41.950 --> 00:17:44.386
  • Until then, it was routinely condemned.
  • 00:17:44.386 --> 00:17:49.024
  • This is a new phenomenon.
  • 00:17:49.024 --> 00:17:52.394
  • Everybody, everybody understood that marriage was between a man
  • 00:17:52.394 --> 00:17:56.198
  • And a woman, not just evangelical christians, but jews
  • 00:17:56.198 --> 00:17:59.868
  • And muslims, not only conservatives, but liberals.
  • 00:17:59.868 --> 00:18:03.906
  • And yet suddenly overnight, what was condemned is now celebrated.
  • 00:18:03.906 --> 00:18:10.179
  • Step number two, what is being celebrated right now was
  • 00:18:10.179 --> 00:18:15.217
  • Once condemned.
  • 00:18:15.217 --> 00:18:16.652
  • What was celebrated is now condemned.
  • 00:18:16.652 --> 00:18:19.721
  • The idea that marriage is between a man and a woman, why?
  • 00:18:19.721 --> 00:18:25.093
  • That idea is being condemned routinely, and you see
  • 00:18:25.093 --> 00:18:28.897
  • That everywhere.
  • 00:18:28.897 --> 00:18:30.265
  • Anybody who stands up for the belief that marriage should be
  • 00:18:30.265 --> 00:18:33.502
  • Reserved for a man and a woman, they are marginalized as
  • 00:18:33.502 --> 00:18:36.939
  • Homophobes, bigots, and hate mongers.
  • 00:18:36.939 --> 00:18:41.143
  • What was condemned is now celebrated.
  • 00:18:41.143 --> 00:18:43.845
  • What was celebrated is now condemned.
  • 00:18:43.845 --> 00:18:46.215
  • And the third stage, those refusing to celebrate
  • 00:18:46.215 --> 00:18:49.718
  • Are condemned.
  • 00:18:49.718 --> 00:18:51.553
  • If you don't join in the celebration of homosexual
  • 00:18:51.553 --> 00:18:56.058
  • Marriage, you're a marked person.
  • 00:18:56.058 --> 00:18:58.760
  • You're gonna be condemned.
  • 00:18:58.760 --> 00:19:00.195
  • You're gonna have your business taken away from you.
  • 00:19:00.195 --> 00:19:03.732
  • We saw that with the sweet cakes bakery in oregon
  • 00:19:03.732 --> 00:19:07.269
  • That was put out of business.
  • 00:19:07.269 --> 00:19:08.604
  • Did they lose their lives?
  • 00:19:08.604 --> 00:19:09.938
  • No, but they lost their livelihood because of their
  • 00:19:09.938 --> 00:19:13.475
  • Failure to celebrate a gay marriage.
  • 00:19:13.475 --> 00:19:16.578
  • And that is going to happen more and more and more.
  • 00:19:16.578 --> 00:19:20.482
  • A few weeks ago, before the supreme court heard their oral
  • 00:19:20.482 --> 00:19:25.120
  • Arguments on april 28 on this case, on the sunday before that
  • 00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:29.691
  • Tuesday, i was sitting here in church and i got a note from
  • 00:19:29.691 --> 00:19:33.629
  • Fox news.
  • 00:19:33.629 --> 00:19:34.997
  • And they said, "could you send us a one-page analysis of what's
  • 00:19:34.997 --> 00:19:38.634
  • Coming up tuesday and your thoughts about it?"
  • 00:19:38.634 --> 00:19:41.837
  • And so as i was thinking about that argument case, i
  • 00:19:41.837 --> 00:19:45.907
  • Remembered, just--i don't know why i remembered it--but i
  • 00:19:45.907 --> 00:19:48.777
  • Remembered a supreme court case back in 1983 in which the
  • 00:19:48.777 --> 00:19:54.016
  • Supreme court said the irs could revoke the tax-exempt status of
  • 00:19:54.016 --> 00:19:59.121
  • A religious organization for engaging in discrimination.
  • 00:19:59.121 --> 00:20:03.725
  • It was an eight-to-one decision.
  • 00:20:03.725 --> 00:20:06.428
  • And it went on to say in that decision that the eradication of
  • 00:20:06.428 --> 00:20:10.532
  • Discrimination is so important that even if it tramples on
  • 00:20:10.532 --> 00:20:13.902
  • Individual rights, that's the more important interest, to
  • 00:20:13.902 --> 00:20:16.772
  • Eradicate discrimination.
  • 00:20:16.772 --> 00:20:18.173
  • Now, the religious organization happened to be bob jones
  • 00:20:18.173 --> 00:20:21.810
  • University, and the kind of discrimination was
  • 00:20:21.810 --> 00:20:24.780
  • Racial discrimination.
  • 00:20:24.780 --> 00:20:26.715
  • Now, i think we all agree there should not be
  • 00:20:26.715 --> 00:20:28.250
  • Racial discrimination.
  • 00:20:28.250 --> 00:20:29.618
  • I think we'd agree you ought to take away the tax-exempt status
  • 00:20:29.618 --> 00:20:32.020
  • Of somebody that engages in racial discrimination.
  • 00:20:32.020 --> 00:20:34.890
  • But do you see what's happening here?
  • 00:20:34.890 --> 00:20:36.758
  • If gay marriage suddenly becomes a constitutional right, if
  • 00:20:36.758 --> 00:20:42.030
  • Personal sexual behavior becomes equated with a person's race, it
  • 00:20:42.030 --> 00:20:47.402
  • Becomes a civil right, then anyone, including a church that
  • 00:20:47.402 --> 00:20:52.374
  • Refuses to celebrate, that refuses to perform homosexual
  • 00:20:52.374 --> 00:20:57.746
  • Marriages, they are going to face government sanctions.
  • 00:20:57.746 --> 00:21:01.616
  • The government has no choice but to come after churches that
  • 00:21:01.616 --> 00:21:05.220
  • Engage in this kind of discrimination.
  • 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:07.289
  • I hear people say, "oh, well, the government will carve out a
  • 00:21:07.289 --> 00:21:10.592
  • Special regulation for churches."
  • 00:21:10.592 --> 00:21:12.861
  • Do you really believe that?
  • 00:21:12.861 --> 00:21:14.529
  • Do you believe the supreme court says, "oh, it's okay for
  • 00:21:14.529 --> 00:21:17.265
  • Churches to discriminate?"
  • 00:21:17.265 --> 00:21:18.867
  • It's not going to happen.
  • 00:21:18.867 --> 00:21:20.469
  • They are coming after the tax-exempt--
  • 00:21:20.469 --> 00:21:22.637
  • So anyway, i sent all that to fox.
  • 00:21:22.637 --> 00:21:25.173
  • On tuesday, they had the hearings, and justice alito was
  • 00:21:25.173 --> 00:21:30.178
  • Talking to the obama representative, the solicitor
  • 00:21:30.178 --> 00:21:33.081
  • General who was arguing for gay marriage.
  • 00:21:33.081 --> 00:21:34.783
  • He said, "now, wait a minute.
  • 00:21:34.783 --> 00:21:36.585
  • Couldn't you end up coming after churches, religious
  • 00:21:36.585 --> 00:21:39.187
  • Organizations, if we make this ruling in favor of
  • 00:21:39.187 --> 00:21:42.324
  • Gay marriage?"
  • 00:21:42.324 --> 00:21:43.825
  • He wouldn't answer the question.
  • 00:21:43.825 --> 00:21:45.227
  • He dodged it.
  • 00:21:45.227 --> 00:21:46.595
  • And so alito came back and he said, and he cited that same
  • 00:21:46.595 --> 00:21:49.231
  • Case i did in 1983, "why, we took it away for
  • 00:21:49.231 --> 00:21:52.234
  • Racial discrimination.
  • 00:21:52.234 --> 00:21:53.568
  • Why wouldn't we take it away for sexual discrimination?"
  • 00:21:53.568 --> 00:21:56.571
  • And finally, he wouldn't let him go on the issue, and finally the
  • 00:21:56.571 --> 00:21:59.341
  • Obama lawyer conceded, "yes, religious institutions could
  • 00:21:59.341 --> 00:22:03.378
  • Become targets."
  • 00:22:03.378 --> 00:22:05.013
  • Ladies and gentlemen, it's going to happen.
  • 00:22:05.013 --> 00:22:07.616
  • This church is going to be targeted if we stand on
  • 00:22:07.616 --> 00:22:10.786
  • God's word.
  • 00:22:10.786 --> 00:22:12.120
  • It's just beginning.
  • 00:22:12.120 --> 00:22:13.622
  • And we shouldn't be surprised.
  • 00:22:13.622 --> 00:22:16.124
  • Remember, they crucified jesus.
  • 00:22:16.124 --> 00:22:20.195
  • Why should those who follow jesus expect any less?
  • 00:22:20.195 --> 00:22:25.500
  • And yet with this coming persecution comes a tremendous
  • 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:30.772
  • Opportunity for the people of god.
  • 00:22:30.772 --> 00:22:33.241
  • Do you remember paul's words in philippians 2, verses 15 and 16?
  • 00:22:33.241 --> 00:22:37.245
  • He was writing to a culture that was even more decadent
  • 00:22:37.245 --> 00:22:40.282
  • Than ours.
  • 00:22:40.282 --> 00:22:41.650
  • Remember what he said?
  • 00:22:41.650 --> 00:22:42.984
  • "in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation, whom in
  • 00:22:42.984 --> 00:22:47.422
  • Whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of
  • 00:22:47.422 --> 00:22:52.394
  • Life, so in the day of christ i may have cause to glory because
  • 00:22:52.394 --> 00:22:57.365
  • I did not run in vain or toil in vain."
  • 00:22:57.365 --> 00:23:00.735
  • He said, "philippians, it's getting dark out there.
  • 00:23:00.735 --> 00:23:03.872
  • But remember this, the darker the background, the brighter
  • 00:23:03.872 --> 00:23:07.609
  • The light."
  • 00:23:07.609 --> 00:23:08.944
  • As this world, ladies and gentlemen, becomes darker and
  • 00:23:08.944 --> 00:23:11.813
  • Darker, the light of the gospel shines even more brightly.
  • 00:23:11.813 --> 00:23:16.885
  • And that's why it is imperative that we take advantage of
  • 00:23:16.885 --> 00:23:20.255
  • That light.
  • 00:23:20.255 --> 00:23:21.623
  • We may not always have that opportunity that we have
  • 00:23:21.623 --> 00:23:24.226
  • Right now.
  • 00:23:24.226 --> 00:23:25.560
  • Jesus said in john 9:4, "work while it is still day, for the
  • 00:23:25.560 --> 00:23:30.932
  • Night comes when no man can work."
  • 00:23:30.932 --> 00:23:36.805
  • Yes, the darkness of the world provides a great opportunity to
  • 00:23:36.805 --> 00:23:41.910
  • Share the hope of jesus christ.
  • 00:23:41.910 --> 00:23:44.112
  • And never forget this, the night is always the very darkest just
  • 00:23:44.112 --> 00:23:51.186
  • Before the dawn of christ appearing.
  • 00:23:51.186 --> 00:23:53.522
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:53.522 --> 00:23:59.060
  • Jeffress: this growing persecution is just one of the
  • 00:23:59.060 --> 00:24:01.296
  • Many reasons "pathway to victory" exists, because the
  • 00:24:01.296 --> 00:24:04.599
  • Darker our culture becomes, the brighter the light of the gospel
  • 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:08.803
  • Can shine.
  • 00:24:08.803 --> 00:24:10.138
  • And as our nation marks 250 years, i believe god is calling
  • 00:24:10.138 --> 00:24:14.142
  • His people to shine the light more boldly than ever before.
  • 00:24:14.142 --> 00:24:18.313
  • And right now through the in god we trust matching challenge,
  • 00:24:18.313 --> 00:24:21.816
  • Every dollar you give to "pathway to victory" will be
  • 00:24:21.816 --> 00:24:25.253
  • Matched, and therefore doubled in impact, up to $1.5 million.
  • 00:24:25.253 --> 00:24:30.358
  • The only hope for america is the transforming power of the
  • 00:24:30.358 --> 00:24:34.496
  • Gospel, and your gift today will help us carry that message to
  • 00:24:34.496 --> 00:24:38.667
  • More people across this nation and around the world.
  • 00:24:38.667 --> 00:24:42.571
  • Now, please stay right there.
  • 00:24:42.571 --> 00:24:43.939
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:43.939 --> 00:24:47.242
  • Announcer: as our nation celebrates 250 years, do we
  • 00:24:49.010 --> 00:24:52.948
  • Still remember the faith that built america?
  • 00:24:52.948 --> 00:24:56.084
  • Dr. robert jeffress has created a beautiful book to make sure
  • 00:24:56.084 --> 00:24:59.554
  • That we and our families never forget.
  • 00:24:59.554 --> 00:25:01.623
  • The brand-new 250th commemorative edition of
  • 00:25:01.623 --> 00:25:05.093
  • "america is a christian nation" is an 88-page, full color, large
  • 00:25:05.093 --> 00:25:09.364
  • Print coffee table book packed with inspiring stories from our
  • 00:25:09.364 --> 00:25:12.968
  • Nation's history, breathtaking imagery of america, select
  • 00:25:12.968 --> 00:25:16.805
  • Portraits of our founding fathers, and powerful truth from
  • 00:25:16.805 --> 00:25:20.275
  • God's word.
  • 00:25:20.275 --> 00:25:21.776
  • Jeffress: america was founded on the principles of the
  • 00:25:21.776 --> 00:25:24.112
  • Judeo-christian faith as revealed in the bible, and our
  • 00:25:24.112 --> 00:25:27.682
  • Future depends on returning to that biblical foundation.
  • 00:25:27.682 --> 00:25:31.853
  • Announcer: request the 250th commemorative edition of
  • 00:25:31.853 --> 00:25:35.523
  • "america is a christian nation" when you give a generous
  • 00:25:35.523 --> 00:25:38.360
  • Ministry gift to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:40.962
  • You'll also receive the in god we trust dvd video and mp3
  • 00:25:40.962 --> 00:25:45.400
  • Format audio disc set, featuring 2 powerful messages from dr.
  • 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:50.038
  • Jeffress and 12 patriotic performances by the first
  • 00:25:50.038 --> 00:25:53.708
  • Baptist dallas choir and orchestra.
  • 00:25:53.708 --> 00:25:56.244
  • And with your ministry gift of $100 or more, we'll also send
  • 00:25:56.244 --> 00:26:00.382
  • You the complete america and the bible teaching series on dvd
  • 00:26:00.382 --> 00:26:04.452
  • Video and mp3 format audio disc.
  • 00:26:04.452 --> 00:26:07.822
  • Your gift today will be doubled in impact through the in god we
  • 00:26:07.822 --> 00:26:11.626
  • Trust matching challenge, as together we pierce the darkness
  • 00:26:11.626 --> 00:26:15.897
  • With the light of god's word.
  • 00:26:15.897 --> 00:26:19.768
  • Jeffress: the groundwork for persecution is already being
  • 00:26:19.768 --> 00:26:22.170
  • Laid right here in america, and most people don't even see
  • 00:26:22.170 --> 00:26:25.874
  • It happening.
  • 00:26:25.874 --> 00:26:27.242
  • But the moral collapse unfolding around us isn't just a
  • 00:26:27.242 --> 00:26:30.645
  • Cultural trend.
  • 00:26:30.645 --> 00:26:32.313
  • It's a signal that we are living in the last days.
  • 00:26:32.313 --> 00:26:36.418
  • Next time i'll show you how scripture connects the moral
  • 00:26:36.418 --> 00:26:39.187
  • Deterioration of our world to the soon return of jesus christ.
  • 00:26:39.187 --> 00:26:44.059
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:46.494
  • Series "america and the bible."
  • 00:26:46.494 --> 00:26:50.265
  • You know, we keep hearing over and over again that our culture
  • 00:26:50.265 --> 00:26:54.002
  • Is evolving.
  • 00:26:54.002 --> 00:26:55.770
  • We're getting better and better as a civilization.
  • 00:26:55.770 --> 00:26:59.708
  • But the evidence suggests the contrary.
  • 00:26:59.708 --> 00:27:02.610
  • We are devolving as a nation and as a world, and it is that moral
  • 00:27:02.610 --> 00:27:08.783
  • And spiritual deterioration of our world that is the final sign
  • 00:27:08.783 --> 00:27:15.090
  • Of the coming of jesus christ.
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  • Announcer: set your dvr and join
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  • Us next time for the message,
  • 00:27:18.927 --> 00:27:20.628
  • "the new moral disorder"
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  • Here on "pathway to victory."
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