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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Crux of Christianity for Christ (Part 2)

December 31, 2024 | S

Robert Jeffress - The Crux of Christianity for Christ (Part 2)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Faith #Blessing #Religion #WordofGod #Family #inActive #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Money #Heaven #Crucifixion #Reward #Hypocrisy #Luke6

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Crux of Christianity for Christ (Part 2) | December 31, 2024
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit
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  • Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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  • This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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  • And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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  • Life can be overwhelming, can't it?
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  • Whether you're dealing with a financial problem
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  • Or a health crisis or a relationship that's gone south,
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  • Troubles can weigh us down and rob us of hope.
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  • Well, in his sermon on the mount,
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  • Jesus offered an unconventional perspective
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  • On life's difficulties, and while his words won't erase
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  • Our day-to-day problems, they can revolutionize
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  • Our perspective about them.
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  • My message is titled, "the crux of christianity,"
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  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪ our father ♪
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  • ♪ which art in heaven ♪
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  • ♪ hallowed be thy name ♪
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  • ♪ thy kingdom come, ♪
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  • ♪ thy will be done ♪
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  • ♪ on earth ♪
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  • ♪ as it is in heaven ♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪ oooo ♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪ give us this day our daily bread ♪
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  • ♪ and forgive us our debts ♪
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  • ♪ as we forgive our debtors ♪
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  • ♪ and lead us not into temptation ♪
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  • ♪ but deliver us from evil ♪
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  • ♪ for thine is the kingdom ♪
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  • ♪ and the power and the glory ♪
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  • ♪ forever, forever ♪
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  • ♪ amen ♪♪
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  • [applauding]
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  • Announcer: the celebration of jesus's birth each christmas
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  • Marks the moment when god's radiant hope entered our world,
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  • And jesus calls us to share this light with others.
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  • You can help pierce the darkness with the light of god's word
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  • Through the pathway to victory light the darkness
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  • Matching challenge.
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  • Since 1996, "pathway to victory" has been boldly sharing the
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  • Gospel of jesus christ, and your gift, doubled in impact, will be
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  • Used to proclaim god's truth here in america and around
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  • The world.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: there's nothing more painful than losing a loved one.
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  • Losing a loved one through death is painful.
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  • I've come to believe even more painful is losing
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  • A loved one through defection.
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  • Their heart turns cold towards you.
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  • They desert you, they leave you.
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  • Many of you have suffered a loss of a loved one,
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  • Either through death or defection.
  • 00:05:06.729 --> 00:05:08.598
  • He said, "blessed are those of you who weep right now
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  • For one day, eventually, you will laugh."
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  • Remember, when you know what jesus knows about the future,
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  • You can be generous even about loss.
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  • Verse 22: "happy are you when men hate you and ostracize you
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  • And cast insults at you and spurn your name as evil
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  • For the sake of the son of man," verse 23,
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  • "for great is your reward in heaven."
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  • Students, teenagers, do you ever feel like you're ostracized
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  • From the rest of the group because you wanna live for god?
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  • Do you ever feel like in your business you've been passed over
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  • For a promotion because you won't bend
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  • Your christian principles?
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  • Do you ever feel like there's a division in your family
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  • Between you and your mate or you and your children
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  • Or you and your parents because of your christian faith?
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  • That's all part of the price for living for christ.
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  • But he goes on to say: "great, one day,
  • 00:06:02.351 --> 00:06:05.488
  • Will be your reward in heaven."
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  • Let me illustrate that truth this way.
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  • Let's say like many people, many families,
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  • You're just keeping your head above water financially,
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  • You're trying to meet monthly expenses,
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  • Think about your kids' education,
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  • Think about your retirement.
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  • And every month you're hoping, you know,
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  • You run out of month before you run out of money.
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  • You're having a struggle.
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  • It's tight.
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  • That's the bad news.
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  • The good news is you have an uncle who has left
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  • An irrevocable trust for you of $10 million
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  • That will be yours when he dies.
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  • And the even better news is he's 99 years old.
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  • Now, what does that knowledge do for you?
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  • Does the fact that that trust has been set up,
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  • Does it alleviate your day-to-day problems?
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  • No, it doesn't eradicate your problems.
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  • But it gives you a different perspective about your problems,
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  • Doesn't it?
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  • You know your problems are temporary.
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  • There's a great reward coming.
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  • And that's what jesus is saying here.
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  • Yes, your difficult circumstances are real and
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  • They're painful but remember, when you know what jesus knows
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  • About the future, you can be generous in your attitude
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  • Toward those difficult circumstances.
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  • You can also be generous in your attitude
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  • Toward difficult people.
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  • Look at verse 27 through 30: "but i say to you who hear,
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  • Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
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  • Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
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  • Now, don't read into this what jesus isn't saying
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  • About your enemies.
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  • He's not saying you have to hand around your enemies.
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  • He doesn't mean you have to have them as your best friends.
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  • He says: "love them, pray for them, do good to them."
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  • You know the best way to pray for your enemies is to pray
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  • God's best in their life.
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  • If they're your enemies and they're not christians,
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  • Pray for god's best that they would be saved.
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  • If they're your enemies and they're christians who are
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  • Acting unjustly, pray that they would come back to god.
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  • That's what it means.
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  • To love your enemies means to wish and pray
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  • For god's best in their lives.
  • 00:08:15.985 --> 00:08:19.188
  • He goes on in verse 29 and says: "whoever hits you on the cheek,
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  • Offer him the other also."
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  • Again, people misinterpret this.
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  • When he talks about people hitting you on the cheek,
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  • He's not talking about somebody threatening your life.
  • 00:08:32.435 --> 00:08:35.004
  • In jesus's day, part of the middle eastern culture was if
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  • You wanted to insult somebody, you would slap them on the face.
  • 00:08:37.707 --> 00:08:41.277
  • It was a way of insulting somebody.
  • 00:08:41.277 --> 00:08:44.046
  • And jesus said: "when somebody insults you,
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  • Don't feel like you have to respond," you know,
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  • With a don rickles insult, you know,
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  • To come back at 'em.
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  • The best line you can come up with.
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  • Don't do that.
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  • Don't return insult for insult.
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  • This is not a prohibition against self-defense.
  • 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:01.864
  • Remember, we believe in the sanctity of life as christians,
  • 00:09:01.864 --> 00:09:06.802
  • And the sanctity of life not only refers to life inside
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  • A mother's womb, it also refers to life outside the womb.
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  • Human life is valuable, it's created by god and we're to try
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  • To do anything we can to prevent destruction of human life,
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  • Including our own life.
  • 00:09:21.417 --> 00:09:23.319
  • There's nothing wrong with having a weapon,
  • 00:09:23.319 --> 00:09:24.887
  • There's nothing wrong in defending yourself
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  • Or defending your family.
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  • That's a godly principle.
  • 00:09:28.457 --> 00:09:29.992
  • He's talking about returning insult for insult.
  • 00:09:29.992 --> 00:09:32.161
  • He says: "whoever takes your coat,
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  • Do not withhold your shirt from him either.
  • 00:09:34.697 --> 00:09:36.966
  • Give to everyone who ask of you, and whoever takes away
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  • What is yours, don't demand it back."
  • 00:09:40.703 --> 00:09:44.473
  • Now, again, let's not go to extremes
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  • Of what jesus is saying or not saying here.
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  • If somebody cheats you out of money,
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  • Is it ever wrong to try to get that back
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  • And go to court to try to settle the issue?
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  • No.
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  • In luke 18, jesus told a story about a woman who was being
  • 00:09:58.454 --> 00:10:01.891
  • Mistreated, a widow, and she went to a judge to seek relief
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  • For the mistreatment, the financial mistreatment,
  • 00:10:07.229 --> 00:10:09.398
  • She was experiencing.
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  • Jesus didn't condemn her for going to the judge.
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  • He commended her for going to the judge.
  • 00:10:13.803 --> 00:10:17.173
  • Here's what i think jesus is saying is,
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  • He's saying when somebody wrongs you,
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  • Don't let it be the consuming passion of your life to get back
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  • What was taken from you.
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  • I can tell you from personal experience,
  • 00:10:26.649 --> 00:10:29.418
  • A number of times somebody has cheated me out of money,
  • 00:10:29.418 --> 00:10:33.522
  • And i've allowed that to consume me for a period of days, weeks,
  • 00:10:33.522 --> 00:10:37.593
  • And months, trying to get that money back,
  • 00:10:37.593 --> 00:10:40.262
  • Trying to right the wrong.
  • 00:10:40.262 --> 00:10:42.465
  • And it became an all-consuming possession and feeling in me.
  • 00:10:42.465 --> 00:10:47.837
  • And in none of those cases did i ever get back
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  • What was taken from me.
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  • What jesus is saying is, you know,
  • 00:10:52.575 --> 00:10:54.009
  • Sometimes you just have to take the loss and move on
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  • With your life.
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  • Don't demand everything that is yours
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  • When it's been taken from you.
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  • Let god settle the score.
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  • That's what he's saying here.
  • 00:11:03.953 --> 00:11:05.888
  • By the way, let me also remind you that these commands
  • 00:11:05.888 --> 00:11:08.991
  • In verses 27 to 30, they are given to individuals,
  • 00:11:08.991 --> 00:11:14.296
  • Not to nations.
  • 00:11:14.296 --> 00:11:16.699
  • Nowhere in the bible is any nation told to turn
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  • The other cheek when faced with mistreatment.
  • 00:11:20.636 --> 00:11:24.807
  • Can you imagine after this tragedy in nice,
  • 00:11:24.807 --> 00:11:27.276
  • Thursday night, that terrible what appears to be terrorist
  • 00:11:27.276 --> 00:11:30.112
  • Attack, can you imagine the french leader standing up
  • 00:11:30.112 --> 00:11:34.416
  • And saying, "well, we need to invoke what jesus said
  • 00:11:34.416 --> 00:11:37.720
  • And we just need to forgive and turn the other cheek."
  • 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:41.157
  • No, he would be run out of office for saying such a thing.
  • 00:11:41.157 --> 00:11:44.293
  • That is not god's plan for nations to forgive,
  • 00:11:44.293 --> 00:11:48.297
  • To turn the other cheek.
  • 00:11:48.297 --> 00:11:50.199
  • I was on npr, radio, a couple of weeks ago doing a debate,
  • 00:11:50.199 --> 00:11:54.503
  • And the guy i was debating with was a christian
  • 00:11:54.503 --> 00:11:58.607
  • Evangelical professor of a well-known university.
  • 00:11:58.607 --> 00:12:02.278
  • And this professor said to me, "pastor jeffress,
  • 00:12:02.278 --> 00:12:05.948
  • Don't you want a leader for this nation
  • 00:12:05.948 --> 00:12:09.351
  • Who will govern this nation according to jesus's words
  • 00:12:09.351 --> 00:12:12.888
  • In the sermon on the mount?"
  • 00:12:12.888 --> 00:12:14.990
  • I said, "heck no, i don't want that kind of leader."
  • 00:12:14.990 --> 00:12:18.093
  • In fact, any leader who says, "i'm gonna rule this nation
  • 00:12:18.093 --> 00:12:21.197
  • According to the sermon on the mount," i'm gonna run
  • 00:12:21.197 --> 00:12:23.232
  • As far and as fast from that candidate as possible
  • 00:12:23.232 --> 00:12:25.434
  • Because that is a perversion of the sermon on the mount.
  • 00:12:25.434 --> 00:12:29.638
  • God never gave the sermon on the mount as a constitution
  • 00:12:29.638 --> 00:12:32.942
  • For how a nation is to order itself.
  • 00:12:32.942 --> 00:12:36.278
  • You know in romans 12, god says, "do not repay evil for evil.
  • 00:12:36.278 --> 00:12:40.916
  • Leave room for the wrath of god.
  • 00:12:40.916 --> 00:12:42.818
  • 'for vengeance is mine, i will repay,' saith the lord."
  • 00:12:42.818 --> 00:12:46.789
  • He's talking about how we deal individually with injustice.
  • 00:12:46.789 --> 00:12:50.059
  • Leave room for the vengeance of god.
  • 00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:52.094
  • Let god take care of it.
  • 00:12:52.094 --> 00:12:53.462
  • Then in the very next chapter, romans 13, he says,
  • 00:12:53.462 --> 00:12:56.899
  • "for government is an instrument of god,
  • 00:12:56.899 --> 00:13:00.202
  • Designed by god to seek vengeance on evildoers."
  • 00:13:00.202 --> 00:13:04.406
  • God's gonna take care of evildoers;
  • 00:13:04.406 --> 00:13:07.243
  • The instrument he does it through, many times,
  • 00:13:07.243 --> 00:13:09.845
  • Is government.
  • 00:13:09.845 --> 00:13:11.180
  • Don't confuse individual responsibility
  • 00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:13.716
  • With governmental responsibility.
  • 00:13:13.716 --> 00:13:16.018
  • This is for individuals.
  • 00:13:16.018 --> 00:13:19.154
  • You know, jesus not only gave us an exhortation of how
  • 00:13:19.154 --> 00:13:22.391
  • To treat evildoers, he gave us a great example in his own life.
  • 00:13:22.391 --> 00:13:26.495
  • Remember as he hung on the cross?
  • 00:13:26.495 --> 00:13:29.365
  • 1 peter 2:23 says: "while being reviled,
  • 00:13:29.365 --> 00:13:32.268
  • He did not revile in return.
  • 00:13:32.268 --> 00:13:34.904
  • While suffering, he uttered no threats,
  • 00:13:34.904 --> 00:13:37.473
  • But he kept entrusting himself
  • 00:13:37.473 --> 00:13:39.208
  • To the one who judges righteously."
  • 00:13:39.208 --> 00:13:43.646
  • Jesus could have called 12 legions of angels,
  • 00:13:43.646 --> 00:13:46.415
  • 36,000 angels, as he wanted to to get those guys
  • 00:13:46.415 --> 00:13:49.818
  • Who were doing him such evil.
  • 00:13:49.818 --> 00:13:51.887
  • But instead he said, "father," what?
  • 00:13:51.887 --> 00:13:55.190
  • "forgive them, for they know not what they do."
  • 00:13:55.190 --> 00:14:00.829
  • He could have added, "but you know
  • 00:14:00.829 --> 00:14:03.032
  • What you're doing through them."
  • 00:14:03.032 --> 00:14:05.834
  • You see that's how jesus was able to forgive.
  • 00:14:05.834 --> 00:14:08.537
  • First of all, he knew one day god would settle the score,
  • 00:14:08.537 --> 00:14:11.140
  • He would judge righteously those who had done evil to him.
  • 00:14:11.140 --> 00:14:16.478
  • But he also knew that god was working out his perfect plan
  • 00:14:16.478 --> 00:14:21.350
  • In jesus's life and using evildoers to do that.
  • 00:14:21.350 --> 00:14:25.487
  • You know, there's some of you right now who are just eaten up
  • 00:14:25.487 --> 00:14:30.326
  • With bitterness over what somebody has done to you.
  • 00:14:30.326 --> 00:14:35.164
  • You know the greatest key to forgiveness, i believe,
  • 00:14:35.164 --> 00:14:38.701
  • It's realizing that nothing ever happens to a child of god
  • 00:14:38.701 --> 00:14:43.405
  • That has not, first of all,
  • 00:14:43.405 --> 00:14:45.274
  • Passed through the perfect, loving will of god.
  • 00:14:45.274 --> 00:14:49.745
  • Nobody is free to do to you whatever they want to do.
  • 00:14:49.745 --> 00:14:54.350
  • God is sovereign.
  • 00:14:54.350 --> 00:14:55.918
  • He's in control even of that person who has hurt you
  • 00:14:55.918 --> 00:14:58.787
  • And wronged you so deeply.
  • 00:14:58.787 --> 00:15:00.556
  • And he is able to take what was absolute evil that's been done
  • 00:15:00.556 --> 00:15:04.059
  • To you and use it for your good and for his glory.
  • 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:08.097
  • That's why jesus was able to say,
  • 00:15:08.831 --> 00:15:10.499
  • "father, forgive them.
  • 00:15:10.499 --> 00:15:11.834
  • They know not what they are doing,
  • 00:15:11.834 --> 00:15:13.535
  • But you know what you're doing.
  • 00:15:13.535 --> 00:15:15.104
  • You're working out your plan for the redemption of the world."
  • 00:15:15.104 --> 00:15:19.208
  • When you know what jesus knows, you can afford to be generous
  • 00:15:19.274 --> 00:15:22.544
  • In your attitude toward difficult circumstances
  • 00:15:22.544 --> 00:15:25.581
  • And difficult people.
  • 00:15:25.581 --> 00:15:27.683
  • Now, jesus closes with three, quick parables about
  • 00:15:27.683 --> 00:15:31.954
  • The importance of listening and acting upon his words
  • 00:15:31.954 --> 00:15:36.892
  • In this message.
  • 00:15:36.892 --> 00:15:38.327
  • First of all, a parable about sight.
  • 00:15:38.327 --> 00:15:41.063
  • It's so easy to hear a message like this today and say,
  • 00:15:41.063 --> 00:15:43.699
  • "i know somebody who needs to hear this message.
  • 00:15:43.699 --> 00:15:47.236
  • I'm gonna buy a cd for them.
  • 00:15:47.236 --> 00:15:48.971
  • I'm gonna give 'em out 'cause i know people who--"
  • 00:15:48.971 --> 00:15:50.606
  • No, this is a message for us, first of all.
  • 00:15:50.606 --> 00:15:54.109
  • And that's what jesus says in verse 41:
  • 00:15:54.109 --> 00:15:55.944
  • "why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye,
  • 00:15:55.944 --> 00:15:58.981
  • But do you not notice the log that is in your own eye?
  • 00:15:58.981 --> 00:16:02.584
  • Or how can you say to your brother,
  • 00:16:02.584 --> 00:16:04.586
  • 'brother, let me take the speck out that is in your eye,'
  • 00:16:04.586 --> 00:16:07.256
  • When you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye?
  • 00:16:07.256 --> 00:16:10.392
  • You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye,
  • 00:16:10.392 --> 00:16:14.797
  • And then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is
  • 00:16:14.797 --> 00:16:18.233
  • In your brother's eye."
  • 00:16:18.233 --> 00:16:19.902
  • Now, again, don't misinterpret this verse
  • 00:16:19.902 --> 00:16:22.337
  • Like so many people do.
  • 00:16:22.337 --> 00:16:23.972
  • They say, "oh, well, jesus says we should never try
  • 00:16:23.972 --> 00:16:26.208
  • To correct anybody involved in sin.
  • 00:16:26.208 --> 00:16:28.410
  • That's judging, and we're not supposed to judge."
  • 00:16:28.410 --> 00:16:30.746
  • How many of you have ever had something in your eye,
  • 00:16:30.746 --> 00:16:33.015
  • Very uncomfortable?
  • 00:16:33.015 --> 00:16:34.349
  • You know that feeling?
  • 00:16:34.349 --> 00:16:35.684
  • A speck, a little grain of sand.
  • 00:16:35.684 --> 00:16:37.019
  • It's terribly uncomfortable.
  • 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:39.154
  • The most loving thing somebody could do would be to help you
  • 00:16:39.154 --> 00:16:41.824
  • Get that out of your eye.
  • 00:16:41.824 --> 00:16:44.393
  • They would have to perform a judgment, first of all,
  • 00:16:44.393 --> 00:16:46.929
  • To say what's in your eye is bad and it shouldn't be there.
  • 00:16:46.929 --> 00:16:50.532
  • There's nothing wrong with that.
  • 00:16:50.532 --> 00:16:53.936
  • Galatians 6:1 says if you see somebody who has been overtaken
  • 00:16:53.936 --> 00:16:58.340
  • By sin, let those of you "who are spiritual,
  • 00:16:58.340 --> 00:17:01.510
  • Restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness."
  • 00:17:01.510 --> 00:17:05.047
  • The most loving thing you can do for somebody who's caught up
  • 00:17:05.047 --> 00:17:08.317
  • In sin is to help them rid themselves of that sin
  • 00:17:08.317 --> 00:17:11.520
  • And restore them to a right relationship with god.
  • 00:17:11.520 --> 00:17:14.790
  • Just imagine, you've got this speck in your eye.
  • 00:17:14.790 --> 00:17:17.693
  • You go to the ophthalmologist, "doc, can you help me?
  • 00:17:17.693 --> 00:17:20.496
  • I've got something in my eye and it's just killing me."
  • 00:17:20.496 --> 00:17:23.065
  • And the doctor says, "i'm sorry, i don't do that.
  • 00:17:23.065 --> 00:17:24.433
  • I don't do that.
  • 00:17:24.433 --> 00:17:26.468
  • I don't remove specks from people's eyes
  • 00:17:26.468 --> 00:17:28.704
  • Because that would require me to make a judgment,
  • 00:17:28.704 --> 00:17:30.706
  • And i don't judge anybody or anything."
  • 00:17:30.706 --> 00:17:33.509
  • What kind of doctor would that be?
  • 00:17:33.509 --> 00:17:35.344
  • I mean that's why he exists, to help people like you.
  • 00:17:35.344 --> 00:17:38.380
  • But imagine you're sitting there and you're waiting
  • 00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:40.115
  • For the ophthalmologist to come in and he walks in
  • 00:17:40.115 --> 00:17:42.684
  • And he's got a two by four coming out of his eye.
  • 00:17:42.684 --> 00:17:46.588
  • He says, "well, let me see if i can help ya get this thing
  • 00:17:46.588 --> 00:17:48.624
  • Here," and you're ducking, trying to miss the two by four.
  • 00:17:48.624 --> 00:17:52.261
  • You'd want that doctor to take the plank out of his own eye
  • 00:17:52.261 --> 00:17:55.397
  • First before he tried to perform a delicate operation on you.
  • 00:17:55.397 --> 00:17:59.801
  • And that's what jesus is saying.
  • 00:17:59.801 --> 00:18:01.837
  • If you see somebody overtaken in sin,
  • 00:18:01.837 --> 00:18:03.705
  • You need to help them.
  • 00:18:03.705 --> 00:18:05.507
  • But before you can see clearly to help them,
  • 00:18:05.507 --> 00:18:08.410
  • Make sure you've dealt with unconfessed sin in your life,
  • 00:18:08.410 --> 00:18:11.880
  • As well.
  • 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:13.415
  • Second parable is one about fruit.
  • 00:18:13.415 --> 00:18:15.250
  • Verses 43 to 45: "for there is no good tree which produces
  • 00:18:15.250 --> 00:18:18.620
  • Bad fruit, nor, on the other hand,
  • 00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:21.256
  • A bad tree which produces good fruit.
  • 00:18:21.256 --> 00:18:24.560
  • For each tree is known by its own fruit."
  • 00:18:24.560 --> 00:18:30.899
  • Imagine you have an apple tree in your backyard
  • 00:18:30.899 --> 00:18:35.571
  • And it's producing delicious, red apples.
  • 00:18:35.571 --> 00:18:38.974
  • What do you know about that apple tree?
  • 00:18:38.974 --> 00:18:41.843
  • You know it's alive because it's producing fruit.
  • 00:18:41.843 --> 00:18:45.380
  • However, if you go out during fruit-bearing season and
  • 00:18:45.380 --> 00:18:49.318
  • There's no fruit and just dried up, withered limbs on that tree,
  • 00:18:49.318 --> 00:18:54.323
  • What do you know about the tree?
  • 00:18:54.323 --> 00:18:56.525
  • The tree's dead.
  • 00:18:56.525 --> 00:18:58.727
  • Where there is no fruit, there's no life.
  • 00:18:58.727 --> 00:19:04.299
  • Now all of these things jesus has said about loving
  • 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:06.969
  • Your enemies, praying for those who do wrong,
  • 00:19:06.969 --> 00:19:09.071
  • Standing firm in times of trial.
  • 00:19:09.071 --> 00:19:12.140
  • These are not the means by which we become a christian doing
  • 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:15.544
  • These things, but they are the proof that we are a christian.
  • 00:19:15.544 --> 00:19:21.016
  • If we are truly saved and born again,
  • 00:19:21.016 --> 00:19:23.418
  • Our life will be producing the fruit that jesus describes
  • 00:19:23.418 --> 00:19:27.723
  • In luke chapter 6.
  • 00:19:27.723 --> 00:19:30.626
  • If there is no fruit in our life,
  • 00:19:30.626 --> 00:19:33.795
  • It means there is no faith.
  • 00:19:33.795 --> 00:19:36.231
  • That's why james said, "faith without works is a dead,
  • 00:19:36.231 --> 00:19:41.136
  • Non-existent faith."
  • 00:19:41.136 --> 00:19:45.140
  • The third parable is a parable about construction.
  • 00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:48.510
  • Verse 46, luke 6: "and why do you call me,
  • 00:19:48.510 --> 00:19:51.513
  • 'lord, lord,' and do not do what i say?"
  • 00:19:51.513 --> 00:19:55.017
  • Jesus is not just interested in professions of faith,
  • 00:19:55.017 --> 00:19:58.987
  • He's interested in the practice of faith.
  • 00:19:58.987 --> 00:20:01.690
  • That's the thing you see over and over again.
  • 00:20:01.690 --> 00:20:03.725
  • And to illustrate that he gives this parable.
  • 00:20:03.725 --> 00:20:05.794
  • Look at verse 47: "everyone who comes to me and hears my words
  • 00:20:05.794 --> 00:20:10.532
  • And acts upon them, i will show you whom he is like.
  • 00:20:10.532 --> 00:20:14.002
  • He is like a man building a house,
  • 00:20:14.002 --> 00:20:16.371
  • Who dug deep and laid a foundation upon a rock:
  • 00:20:16.371 --> 00:20:19.174
  • And when the flood rose, the torrent burst against that
  • 00:20:19.174 --> 00:20:22.277
  • House and he could not shake it, because it had been well built.
  • 00:20:22.277 --> 00:20:26.348
  • But the one who has heard my words and not acted accordingly,
  • 00:20:26.348 --> 00:20:31.586
  • He is like a man who built a house upon the ground without
  • 00:20:31.586 --> 00:20:35.023
  • Any foundation: and the torrent burst against it and immediately
  • 00:20:35.023 --> 00:20:39.695
  • It collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."
  • 00:20:39.695 --> 00:20:43.732
  • Two men, both building a house, both experiencing storms,
  • 00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:51.807
  • That's what they had in common.
  • 00:20:51.807 --> 00:20:53.775
  • But one house stood, the other house fell.
  • 00:20:53.775 --> 00:20:58.914
  • What was the difference?
  • 00:20:58.914 --> 00:21:00.882
  • It all had to do with the foundation.
  • 00:21:00.882 --> 00:21:04.186
  • Jesus said, "the one who listens to my words and builds upon it
  • 00:21:04.186 --> 00:21:10.258
  • Is like the man who built his house upon the rock."
  • 00:21:10.258 --> 00:21:14.496
  • Every one of us here today is building some kind of life.
  • 00:21:14.496 --> 00:21:18.567
  • We have a limited amount of time, energy, resources.
  • 00:21:18.567 --> 00:21:23.305
  • You can build a life built around pleasure, recognition,
  • 00:21:23.305 --> 00:21:28.844
  • Material accumulation.
  • 00:21:28.844 --> 00:21:31.780
  • That's a life built upon the sand and when the storm
  • 00:21:31.780 --> 00:21:35.584
  • Comes into your life, especially the storm of death
  • 00:21:35.584 --> 00:21:39.921
  • That we're all going to face, nothing will remain.
  • 00:21:39.921 --> 00:21:44.326
  • Or you can build your life around not just hearing,
  • 00:21:44.326 --> 00:21:48.497
  • But applying jesus's words.
  • 00:21:48.497 --> 00:21:52.801
  • You know, i heard an illustration
  • 00:21:52.801 --> 00:21:55.337
  • From chuck swindoll,
  • 00:21:55.337 --> 00:21:57.239
  • And then i later read it in a book by john ortberg,
  • 00:21:57.239 --> 00:22:01.510
  • And i can't tell who stole from whom.
  • 00:22:01.510 --> 00:22:05.113
  • I spent all week trying to tell who stole this from whom.
  • 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:08.784
  • I couldn't figure it out so i just decided
  • 00:22:08.784 --> 00:22:10.786
  • To steal it from both of them.
  • 00:22:10.786 --> 00:22:12.654
  • How many of you have ever played monopoly before?
  • 00:22:14.956 --> 00:22:18.193
  • It was my favorite game as a child, monopoly.
  • 00:22:18.193 --> 00:22:21.730
  • I used to play it with julia and dorothy too.
  • 00:22:21.730 --> 00:22:23.765
  • You know monopoly, you get the board out.
  • 00:22:23.765 --> 00:22:26.768
  • You have the little pieces you move around the board.
  • 00:22:26.768 --> 00:22:29.204
  • You have all of this pretend money,
  • 00:22:29.204 --> 00:22:30.939
  • The idea is to gain as much property as you can,
  • 00:22:30.939 --> 00:22:33.475
  • Build as many houses and hotels as you can,
  • 00:22:33.475 --> 00:22:36.711
  • And extract as much money from your children as possible,
  • 00:22:36.711 --> 00:22:40.182
  • You know, in the game and leave them frustrated.
  • 00:22:40.182 --> 00:22:42.851
  • It's a lot of fun and at the end,
  • 00:22:42.851 --> 00:22:44.586
  • Whoever ends up with the most money wins.
  • 00:22:44.586 --> 00:22:48.690
  • The problem is, it's all a fantasy.
  • 00:22:48.690 --> 00:22:51.626
  • None of it's real and eventually,
  • 00:22:51.626 --> 00:22:54.229
  • Everything has to be folded up and put back in the box.
  • 00:22:54.229 --> 00:23:00.068
  • You know, life is like that.
  • 00:23:00.068 --> 00:23:02.170
  • We spend our time trying to accumulate recognition,
  • 00:23:02.170 --> 00:23:05.740
  • Pleasure, material assets.
  • 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:07.642
  • It's all a fantasy, folks.
  • 00:23:07.642 --> 00:23:10.011
  • It's all a fantasy.
  • 00:23:10.011 --> 00:23:11.847
  • Everything you've experienced, achieved,
  • 00:23:11.847 --> 00:23:13.882
  • Or accumulated is either gonna be burned up one day or left
  • 00:23:13.882 --> 00:23:18.220
  • Behind and you are going in the box and the only thing
  • 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:24.960
  • That remains is your relationship with god.
  • 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:30.432
  • Isn't that what the bible says?
  • 00:23:30.432 --> 00:23:31.766
  • "it's appointed unto every one of us,
  • 00:23:31.766 --> 00:23:34.402
  • Once to die and then the judgment."
  • 00:23:34.402 --> 00:23:37.439
  • The wise person is the one who understands that,
  • 00:23:37.439 --> 00:23:42.711
  • Hears jesus's words, and builds his life upon it.
  • 00:23:42.711 --> 00:23:47.482
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:47.482 --> 00:23:53.555
  • Jeffress: life is like a fictional game of monopoly.
  • 00:23:53.555 --> 00:23:56.658
  • When our time comes, fame and fortune will evaporate
  • 00:23:56.658 --> 00:24:00.595
  • And only your relationship with god will stand.
  • 00:24:00.595 --> 00:24:04.399
  • This is the crux of christianity.
  • 00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:07.035
  • And it's the very reason pathway to victory exists.
  • 00:24:07.035 --> 00:24:10.372
  • When you partner with pathway to victory,
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  • You're helping us share the good news about jesus far and wide.
  • 00:24:12.807 --> 00:24:17.245
  • And right now, because of the light the darkness matching
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  • Challenge, every dollar you give is automatically matched and
  • 00:24:19.948 --> 00:24:23.952
  • Therefore doubled in impact.
  • 00:24:23.952 --> 00:24:26.421
  • As we celebrate the birth of christ this christmas season,
  • 00:24:26.421 --> 00:24:30.058
  • We remember that his light has overcome the darkness,
  • 00:24:30.058 --> 00:24:34.129
  • And it's our calling to proclaim this good news so that his light
  • 00:24:34.129 --> 00:24:38.400
  • May shine even in the darkest corners of our world.
  • 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:42.771
  • Thank you so much for giving generously to support the
  • 00:24:42.771 --> 00:24:45.640
  • Ministry of pathway to victory.
  • 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:48.143
  • Now stay right there, i'll be back in just a moment with more.
  • 00:24:48.143 --> 00:24:51.713
  • Announcer: the one thing god wants more than anything else in
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  • This world is time with you.
  • 00:24:55.984 --> 00:24:58.553
  • Make god your priority by spending quality time in his
  • 00:24:58.553 --> 00:25:01.690
  • Word with the brand-new "2025 pathway to victory
  • 00:25:01.690 --> 00:25:05.026
  • Daily devotional."
  • 00:25:05.026 --> 00:25:06.394
  • This year's devotional has a beautiful navy blue leather
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  • Cover with inlaid brown and gold foil accents.
  • 00:25:08.930 --> 00:25:11.566
  • And now with larger print, the 260 practical insights from
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  • Dr. robert jeffress are easier to read.
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  • This stunning 532-page devotional makes an ideal
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  • Christmas gift for loved ones who want to grow
  • 00:25:21.142 --> 00:25:23.111
  • In their faith too.
  • 00:25:23.111 --> 00:25:24.446
  • Jeffress: of all the ways god could have revealed himself to
  • 00:25:24.446 --> 00:25:27.482
  • Us, he chose to do it through the written word.
  • 00:25:27.482 --> 00:25:31.019
  • And that's why it's so important for you and for me to set aside
  • 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:34.155
  • Regular time to read the word of god.
  • 00:25:34.155 --> 00:25:37.859
  • Announcer: every season carries an uplifting theme.
  • 00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:40.729
  • Begin the new year by exploring god's will for your life.
  • 00:25:40.729 --> 00:25:45.266
  • In spring and summer, grow stronger in christ with insights
  • 00:25:45.266 --> 00:25:48.203
  • From colossians.
  • 00:25:48.203 --> 00:25:49.571
  • And in the fall and winter, embrace the father who loves you
  • 00:25:49.571 --> 00:25:52.807
  • With inspirational readings based on the parable of the
  • 00:25:52.807 --> 00:25:55.543
  • Prodigal son.
  • 00:25:55.543 --> 00:25:57.312
  • When the day-to-day problems of life feel overwhelming, take a
  • 00:25:57.312 --> 00:26:00.715
  • Moment to anchor yourself in the calming truth of god's word with
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  • The brand-new "2025 pathway to victory daily devotional."
  • 00:26:04.185 --> 00:26:08.390
  • Your gift of support not only provides you with this
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  • Life-giving resource, it empowers us to spread the
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  • Hope-filled message of jesus christ as well.
  • 00:26:14.462 --> 00:26:16.998
  • Thank you for supporting the ministry of "pathway
  • 00:26:16.998 --> 00:26:19.934
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:19.934 --> 00:26:21.469
  • Jeffress: every one of us is building some kind of life.
  • 00:26:23.371 --> 00:26:26.975
  • Is your life built around hearing only the words of jesus
  • 00:26:26.975 --> 00:26:31.212
  • Or applying them as well?
  • 00:26:31.212 --> 00:26:33.314
  • Those who hear but don't apply are building their life on sand.
  • 00:26:33.314 --> 00:26:38.119
  • But those who hear and apply are building their life
  • 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:41.690
  • On the rock of jesus christ.
  • 00:26:41.690 --> 00:26:44.793
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
  • 00:26:44.793 --> 00:26:47.796
  • On "pathway to victory"
  • 00:26:47.796 --> 00:26:50.732
  • Jeffress: you and i are parts of the body of christ.
  • 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:53.935
  • 1 corinthians 12 says some of us are hands,
  • 00:26:53.935 --> 00:26:56.438
  • Some of are feet, some of us are livers,
  • 00:26:56.438 --> 00:26:59.974
  • Some of us are stomachs, but we all have a part to
  • 00:26:59.974 --> 00:27:02.510
  • Play in the body of christ.
  • 00:27:02.510 --> 00:27:04.412
  • In fact, paul says, it's sometimes the hidden parts of
  • 00:27:04.412 --> 00:27:07.749
  • The body that are the most important parts
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  • Of the human body.
  • 00:27:09.551 --> 00:27:11.486
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time
  • 00:27:11.486 --> 00:27:13.655
  • For the message, "finding your 'one thing' in life,"
  • 00:27:13.655 --> 00:27:17.292
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:17.292 --> 00:27:27.235