Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Crux of Christianity (Part 1)

November 27, 2024 | S24:E4804

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 - The Crux of Christianity (Part 1) | November 27, 2024

♪ music ♪
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[announcer] from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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With dr. robert jeffress.
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Jeffress: hi, i am robert jeffress
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And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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In his famous sermon on the mount,
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Jesus delivered a brief message that
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Contains a sequence of paradoxes.
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"blessed are those who are poor in spirit,
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For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth."
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Sounds completely backwards, doesn't it?
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Well, maybe from our point of view,
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But when you view things from jesus' perspective,
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These statements start to make a whole lot more sense.
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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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♪ music ♪
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[announcer] the celebration of jesus' 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
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Of god's word through the "pathway to victory"
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Light the darkness matching challenge.
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Since 1996, "pathway to victory"
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Has been boldly sharing the gospel of jesus christ
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And your gift doubled in impact will be used
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To proclaim god's truth,
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Here in america and around the world.
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♪ music ♪
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Chuck swindoll tells a great story
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About a couple
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That lived in new orleans.
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The husband loved his wife desperately,
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But he hated his wife's cat.
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Some of you can relate.
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Every night he'd come home from work
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And that cat would curl itself around his leg.
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The cat would jump up in his lap
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While he was trying to eat dinner.
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At night, the cat would insist on sleeping
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At the end of the bed.
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One weekend his wife had to leave town
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For a few days to go visit her mother
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And the husband thought this was his big chance.
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So while his wife was gone, he took a burlap sack,
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Loaded it with rocks, put the cat in there,
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Went down to the mississippi river,
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And threw the cat and bag into the mississippi river.
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He knew his problem was over.
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Comes back home sunday night.
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His wife returns from visiting her mother,
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And of course the first thing she wanted to know
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Was where was her cat?
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He said, "well, i guess the cat ran away."
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She burst into tears
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And so trying to console his wife, he said,
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"look, i'll try to retrieve your cat for you."
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And so the next day he put an ad in the newspaper,
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"$500 reward for missing cat,"
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And he put his phone number in there.
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Of course, there was no response.
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That night, his wife again began to sob uncontrollably.
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And so he said, "well,
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Let me put another ad in the newspaper."
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So the next day he took out an ad,
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"$1,000 for missing cat"
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And put his telephone number.
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Later in the day, a coworker said,
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"hey, i saw that ad in the newspaper for the missing cat,
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And i recognize your phone number.
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That sure is a lot of money to offer for a cat."
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The husband smiled and said, "when you know what i know,
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You can afford to be generous."
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(congregation laughing)
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Some of you can't get past the cat in the river.
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I know that.
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But just try for a moment, okay?
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You know, jesus said something very similar
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In luke chapter six, not about cats,
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But the message of luke chapter six is very clear.
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When you know what jesus knows,
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You can afford to be generous
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In your attitude toward difficult circumstances
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And difficult people.
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And that's the theme of the message we're
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Going to look at today.
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If you have your bibles turned to luke chapter six.
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We've come in our study of luke to some
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Of jesus' most familiar words.
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We call them the sermon on the mount,
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And they're are some of jesus' most familiar teachings,
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But also some of his most misunderstood words.
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He talks about love your enemies,
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Turn the other cheek.
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And if somebody asks you for your coat,
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Not only give them your coat but your shirt as well.
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And a lot of people realize these words
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Seem impossible to keep.
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How in the world can they apply in a world like ours today?
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And so i've noticed throughout the ages,
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People have gone to one of two extremes
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When it comes to these words
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That we call the sermon on the mount.
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Some people say, "this is a list of requirements of
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What you must do to go to heaven when you die."
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Now if that's true, if jesus was giving us a list
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Of impossible requirements to keep,
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Then jesus was no better than the pharisees.
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Remember what he said about the pharisees?
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They tie up heavy loads on the backs of men,
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So that they cannot enter into the kingdom of god.
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The pharisees had all of these do's
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And don'ts that made it impossible for anybody to keep.
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So jesus is no better than if he gives us this list
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And says, "this is how you go to heaven."
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I don't think that's what this is,
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But other people go to the opposite extreme.
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In fact, it's the extreme that most evangelicals go to
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And that is saying that these words have no application
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For our world today.
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In fact, i attended a seminary,
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One seminary that taught that.
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Well-known professor used
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To say about the sermon on the mount
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That this has no application for today.
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This is the constitution for the millennial kingdom,
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And this is the way we're all going
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To act when we get into the millennium,
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But we can't do that today.
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Is that what jesus is saying?
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As i read these words,
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There's nothing to suggest that this is
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For some future generation.
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Jesus is talking about how we are to act as christians.
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And yes, it's difficult.
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If you believe this world is all that there is,
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These commands are impossible to keep.
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There's no motivation for keeping them
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If this is all that there is.
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But remember the theme.
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When you know what jesus knows about the future,
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You can be generous in your attitude
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Toward difficult circumstances and difficult people.
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Now, before we get in to the summary
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Of the sermon on the mount, let's first of all,
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Look at the setting for this sermon,
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That's key to understanding what jesus is saying.
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Look at luke 6, verse 12,
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"and it was at this time that jesus went off
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To the mountain to pray
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And he spent the whole night in prayer to god."
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It was at this time that jesus prayed all night.
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Now, of course, the question is,
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What time are you talking about?
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Well, the answers in the preceding verse, verse 11,
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"but they themselves were filled with rage
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And discussed together what might do to jesus."
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The pharisees had been enraged by jesus,
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What he was teaching.
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They decided we've got to get rid of this guy.
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And so they were plotting to kill jesus.
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Jesus is now aware that his time on earth
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Is very, very limited, and at this time,
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He goes off to pray all night.
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By the way, have you come to grips with the fact
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That your time on earth is limited?
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Have you come to grips with the fact
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That you are going to die
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And it's going to come sooner than you can possibly expect?
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All of us are going to die, every one of us,
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And the inevitability of death
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Produces one of two reactions.
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One reaction, the most common reaction
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Is eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.
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If this life is all there is,
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Grab all the gusto you can get, have all the pleasure,
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The recognition, pile up all the money you can
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Because one day you're going to die.
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That's one reaction.
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The other reaction, the one that lasts
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Beyond your death is to decide
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To invest your life in something that will outlast it.
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You know, the bible says there are only two things
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That are going to last for eternity.
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People,
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Everybody's going to live forever,
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Some in heaven, some in hell,
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But people are eternal
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And god's word is eternal.
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Thy word is settled in heaven forever.
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And if you want to have a life that continues after you die,
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You're going to spend your life in investing god's word
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In the lives of other people.
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And that's what jesus decided to do.
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He decided to instill his teaching in other people.
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And by the way, that's what discipleship is all about.
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Discipleship is spending your limited time on earth
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Helping other people be faithful followers of jesus christ
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By instilling his word in them.
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Remember what paul said to timothy,
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Paul knew his life was limited.
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And so he said to his young protege
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In 2 timothy 2, verse 2,
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"and the things which you have heard from me
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In the presence of many witnesses,
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These entrust to faithful men
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Who will be able to teach others also."
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Paul knew that the continuation
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Of christianity depended upon him
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Having someone to carry on his teaching after he died.
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My friend, bill spears, who is a member
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Of our church, has a great saying.
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I repeat it all the time.
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"success without succession is failure."
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A wise ceo in one who realizes his time
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In the seat is limited.
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He better prepare for somebody who's going to succeed him."
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And that's true for us who are christians.
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You know, dr. criswell used to say all the time,
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I remember him saying this all the time,
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"every civilization is only one generation away
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From paganism,"
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"every civilization,
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Only one generation away from paganism."
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If we fail to pass on the christian truth
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To the next generation, we become a pagan people.
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And that's what discipleship is.
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It is investing our lives
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And instilling god's word in the lives of other people.
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Of course, for those of us who are parents,
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Our most important discipleship project is our own children.
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To teach our children to follow god and to imitate christ.
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But our children aren't our only discipleship project.
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We need to be entrusting our faith
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To other men and women who will carry on the faith.
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Jesus knew his time was limited.
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He didn't have any natural children,
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But he decided to pass along his faith to 12 men
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Who would be entrusted with the christian faith
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To spread it throughout the world.
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And so he needed guidance from his heavenly father,
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Which 12 men should i choose?
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And so he goes and has an all night prayer meeting
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For god's wisdom in making the right choice.
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Now, i could get real sanctimonious here if i wanted to,
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And i could say, "what is it you're so concerned about
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That you've ever stayed up all night and prayed about?"
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I could do that if i wanted to,
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But i'd be a hypocrite
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Because the fact is i have never purposefully
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Stayed up all night to pray about something.
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Now, i have had times when i couldn't go to sleep at night
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And when i was so concerned about something
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That i would pray and then i would drift off to sleep
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For a little bit and then i would wake up
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And start praying about it again and drift off to sleep.
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Many of us have had that experience,
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But honestly, i've not stayed up all night purposefully
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To pray, so i'm not going to ask you that question.
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Here's the question i am going to ask you.
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What are you so concerned about in your life right now
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That you would devote just five minutes a day to pray for?
00:11:59.809 --> 00:12:04.980
Is there anything in your life?
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Your children, your work,
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The health concern of a friend or yourself,
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Anything that you're willing
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To spend five uninterrupted minutes a day praying for?
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Jesus knew how important prayer was,
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And so he prayed all night.
00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:27.136
And the result, verse 13,
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"and when day came, he called his disciples to him
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And he chose 12 of them whom he also named as apostles."
00:12:33.576 --> 00:12:39.782
Now, let me say a word.
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You might want to write this down
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About the difference between a disciple and an apostle.
00:12:42.384 --> 00:12:45.921
A disciple is a follower of a rabbi.
00:12:45.921 --> 00:12:49.825
A disciple is somebody who is so enthralled with a rabbi
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That he seeks to imitate not just his words,
00:12:53.529 --> 00:12:56.265
But his example.
00:12:56.265 --> 00:12:57.833
To be a disciple of jesus means to model your attitudes,
00:12:57.833 --> 00:13:02.271
Actions, and affections after jesus.
00:13:02.271 --> 00:13:05.441
It means to love what jesus loved,
00:13:05.441 --> 00:13:07.676
Act like jesus acted,
00:13:07.676 --> 00:13:09.211
Think like jesus thought in every situation.
00:13:09.211 --> 00:13:13.349
The simple definition i gave you a few months ago
00:13:13.349 --> 00:13:15.651
Of a disciple is this, to be a disciple means
00:13:15.651 --> 00:13:19.121
For me to live my life
00:13:19.121 --> 00:13:22.491
As jesus would live my life if he were i.
00:13:22.491 --> 00:13:26.428
How would jesus operate if he had your job?
00:13:27.329 --> 00:13:30.833
How would jesus relate to your family members?
00:13:30.833 --> 00:13:33.836
How would jesus relate to your friends?
00:13:33.836 --> 00:13:36.605
How would jesus handle the amount
00:13:36.605 --> 00:13:38.207
Of money he's entrusted to you?
00:13:38.207 --> 00:13:39.808
That's what it means to be a disciple.
00:13:39.808 --> 00:13:42.845
But out of the disciples came 12 apostles.
00:13:42.845 --> 00:13:47.082
These are the ones who would be sent forth a unique group
00:13:47.082 --> 00:13:51.086
To proclaim the message of jesus to the jews
00:13:51.086 --> 00:13:54.123
And the gentiles.
00:13:54.123 --> 00:13:55.824
Now, i could spend sermon
00:13:55.824 --> 00:13:57.493
After sermon talking about these apostles.
00:13:57.493 --> 00:14:00.129
I'm not going to do that.
00:14:00.129 --> 00:14:01.363
Let me just give you three observations
00:14:01.363 --> 00:14:04.199
About the list you find in verses 12 to 14,
00:14:04.199 --> 00:14:07.903
And you find the similar list in matthew and mark.
00:14:07.903 --> 00:14:11.340
Number one, the lists begin with simon peter.
00:14:11.340 --> 00:14:15.344
All three lists of the apostles begin with peter.
00:14:15.344 --> 00:14:18.714
He was the leader.
00:14:18.714 --> 00:14:20.149
But you know what? what's interesting?
00:14:20.149 --> 00:14:21.550
He was the greatest failure of all of the apostles.
00:14:21.550 --> 00:14:24.219
Here's a guy who denied jesus, not once or twice,
00:14:24.219 --> 00:14:27.256
But three different times.
00:14:27.256 --> 00:14:29.124
He was a major screw up as an apostle,
00:14:29.124 --> 00:14:33.162
And yet jesus chose him to be the leader.
00:14:33.162 --> 00:14:36.565
Doesn't that give you hope?
00:14:36.565 --> 00:14:38.067
It doesn't matter how much you failed,
00:14:38.067 --> 00:14:40.002
What is in your past,
00:14:40.002 --> 00:14:41.603
God can take your mistakes, forgive them, and redeem them.
00:14:41.603 --> 00:14:45.874
Peter is at the beginning of every list.
00:14:45.874 --> 00:14:48.410
Secondly, the list ends with judas iscariot.
00:14:48.410 --> 00:14:52.281
You know iscariot, "is" i-s comes from the hebrew word
00:14:53.382 --> 00:14:57.319
"is," man.
00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:58.821
Cariot is probably a derivation
00:14:58.821 --> 00:15:00.856
Of kerioth the town of judea.
00:15:00.856 --> 00:15:03.125
Judas, the man of kerioth.
00:15:03.125 --> 00:15:05.894
We all know about judas.
00:15:05.894 --> 00:15:07.429
He's the one who betrayed jesus for 30 pieces of silver
00:15:07.429 --> 00:15:11.433
And led to his crucifixion.
00:15:11.433 --> 00:15:13.535
Now, at first reading, we have to think,
00:15:13.535 --> 00:15:14.903
Well, why did jesus choose judas?
00:15:14.903 --> 00:15:18.040
Did he make a mistake?
00:15:18.040 --> 00:15:19.975
Maybe jesus should have spent even longer praying
00:15:19.975 --> 00:15:22.177
About this selection,
00:15:22.177 --> 00:15:23.445
So he didn't make a mistake like judas.
00:15:23.445 --> 00:15:26.148
No, all of this was a part of god's plan.
00:15:26.148 --> 00:15:30.285
Jesus chose judas for a reason,
00:15:30.285 --> 00:15:32.454
Because jesus knew god could use the evil
00:15:32.454 --> 00:15:36.158
In judas own heart to accomplish his purpose.
00:15:36.158 --> 00:15:38.927
I'm going to say more about that in a moment,
00:15:38.927 --> 00:15:41.063
But god can take evil people,
00:15:41.063 --> 00:15:43.565
He can take evil circumstances that are used against you,
00:15:43.565 --> 00:15:47.436
And he can still use those for your good
00:15:47.436 --> 00:15:50.105
And his eternal purpose.
00:15:50.105 --> 00:15:52.074
The final thing i noticed about these lists
00:15:52.074 --> 00:15:54.076
Is they are comprised of young men.
00:15:54.076 --> 00:15:56.812
You know, when we think about the apostles,
00:15:56.812 --> 00:15:58.414
We think about these old white guys with beards,
00:15:58.414 --> 00:16:02.284
And think 60, 70 year olds know,
00:16:02.284 --> 00:16:05.954
Most bible scholars believe these men were
00:16:05.954 --> 00:16:08.090
Probably in their late teenage years,
00:16:08.090 --> 00:16:10.526
Early 20s at the most when they were chosen to be apostles.
00:16:10.526 --> 00:16:15.531
Now, having said all of that, verse 17 tells us
00:16:15.531 --> 00:16:19.568
That when jesus descended to a plain,
00:16:19.568 --> 00:16:22.805
There was a great multitude of his followers there.
00:16:22.805 --> 00:16:25.774
And verse 20 says,
00:16:25.774 --> 00:16:26.975
"turning his gaze on his disciples."
00:16:26.975 --> 00:16:31.480
What i want you to notice is this message we're going to
00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:33.649
Look at for just a few moments
00:16:33.649 --> 00:16:35.651
Is not a message for the unsaved.
00:16:35.651 --> 00:16:38.353
There's nothing in this passage that will tell you how
00:16:38.353 --> 00:16:40.489
To go to heaven when you die.
00:16:40.489 --> 00:16:42.057
There's nothing about god's forgiveness through jesus
00:16:42.057 --> 00:16:44.827
Or the cross or the blood of christ.
00:16:44.827 --> 00:16:46.829
This was a message for his disciples, his followers.
00:16:46.829 --> 00:16:52.501
You know, it's interesting, jesus was in the midst
00:16:52.501 --> 00:16:54.470
Of relentless criticism from the pharisees,
00:16:54.470 --> 00:16:57.539
But jesus did not spend his time answering the criticism
00:16:57.539 --> 00:17:01.844
Of the pharisees.
00:17:01.844 --> 00:17:03.011
In fact, in this passage,
00:17:03.011 --> 00:17:04.313
Jesus doesn't try to answer the pharisees.
00:17:04.313 --> 00:17:06.915
Instead, he invest his time
00:17:06.915 --> 00:17:10.119
With his disciples, his followers.
00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:12.621
And here's a great leadership principle
00:17:12.621 --> 00:17:14.423
That won't cost you anything extra,
00:17:14.423 --> 00:17:16.525
But i want you to write it down.
00:17:16.525 --> 00:17:18.494
Here's a mark of a true leader,
00:17:18.494 --> 00:17:20.429
A true leader doesn't invest him time with problem people.
00:17:20.429 --> 00:17:27.035
He invest his time with people with potential.
00:17:27.035 --> 00:17:30.873
Let me say it again.
00:17:30.873 --> 00:17:32.341
A real effective leader in invest his time,
00:17:32.341 --> 00:17:35.444
Not with people with problems,
00:17:35.444 --> 00:17:37.779
But people with potential.
00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:40.215
He doesn't invest his time with people
00:17:40.215 --> 00:17:42.050
Who are causing trouble and are upset all the time.
00:17:42.050 --> 00:17:44.987
He invest his time with the people who have potential.
00:17:44.987 --> 00:17:48.557
You see that over and over again.
00:17:48.557 --> 00:17:49.925
The mistake of focusing your attention
00:17:49.925 --> 00:17:52.461
On people who just have problems.
00:17:52.461 --> 00:17:55.631
You know, we see this in families.
00:17:55.631 --> 00:17:57.366
There's a problem child in the family.
00:17:57.366 --> 00:17:59.535
The parent devotes all the attention
00:17:59.535 --> 00:18:01.670
And emotional issue to this child with the problems
00:18:01.670 --> 00:18:04.673
And neglects the rest of the children in the family
00:18:04.673 --> 00:18:07.042
Who have great potential.
00:18:07.042 --> 00:18:08.777
Or you see this in businesses.
00:18:08.777 --> 00:18:10.212
A business is all hung up on this one
00:18:10.212 --> 00:18:12.881
Or two problem disgruntled customer they have
00:18:12.881 --> 00:18:16.318
And they forget all of the potential customers they
00:18:16.318 --> 00:18:19.588
Could be devoting their resources toward.
00:18:19.588 --> 00:18:22.191
You see this in a church,
00:18:22.191 --> 00:18:23.458
I see this time and time again in churches.
00:18:23.458 --> 00:18:26.195
A church has a little handful of disgruntled members
00:18:26.195 --> 00:18:29.698
And the leaders of the church are focused
00:18:29.698 --> 00:18:31.600
On these disgruntled members.
00:18:31.600 --> 00:18:33.101
Oh, what did we do to offend you?
00:18:33.101 --> 00:18:35.070
Or what could we do to make you happy?
00:18:35.070 --> 00:18:37.105
And the pastor stands up and he focuses on that little group
00:18:37.105 --> 00:18:40.442
And he's just lambasting them week
00:18:40.442 --> 00:18:42.344
After week after week,
00:18:42.344 --> 00:18:43.745
Forgetting that 99% of the people in the church
00:18:43.745 --> 00:18:46.148
Are happy with the church!
00:18:46.148 --> 00:18:47.950
They're excited about what's going on,
00:18:47.950 --> 00:18:49.551
But he focuses on the few with problems.
00:18:49.551 --> 00:18:52.487
Again, a real leader is somebody
00:18:52.487 --> 00:18:55.624
Who doesn't focus his attention on people
00:18:55.624 --> 00:18:57.960
Who are causing problems,
00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:59.494
But people with potential.
00:18:59.494 --> 00:19:00.629
And that's what jesus did.
00:19:00.629 --> 00:19:01.863
He focused this message on the ones
00:19:01.863 --> 00:19:04.299
Who would carry on his faith,
00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:06.468
Long after he had ascended back into heaven.
00:19:06.468 --> 00:19:08.904
And that brings us to the substance
00:19:08.904 --> 00:19:11.073
Of the sermon beginning in verse 20.
00:19:11.073 --> 00:19:14.509
Let me remind you, this is just a summary
00:19:14.509 --> 00:19:17.913
Of the sermon on the mount.
00:19:17.913 --> 00:19:19.581
You find a longer version in matthew five through seven.
00:19:19.581 --> 00:19:23.752
This is a short version of it.
00:19:23.752 --> 00:19:25.721
Some people get hung up on that.
00:19:25.721 --> 00:19:27.256
Well, wait a minute, pastor, why are the accounts different?
00:19:27.256 --> 00:19:31.426
It's just a summary.
00:19:31.426 --> 00:19:33.128
You know, in the english language we have quotation marks,
00:19:33.128 --> 00:19:36.698
And in your text it probably shows quotation marks.
00:19:36.698 --> 00:19:39.701
In the english language,
00:19:39.701 --> 00:19:41.370
Quotation marks means this
00:19:41.370 --> 00:19:43.138
Is a word for word exact quotation of what somebody said.
00:19:43.138 --> 00:19:47.743
In the greek language, there were no quotation marks.
00:19:47.743 --> 00:19:50.946
This is an indirect paraphrase of what jesus said,
00:19:50.946 --> 00:19:55.117
And that's why luke emphasizes some things
00:19:55.117 --> 00:19:58.220
That matthew doesn't.
00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:59.621
Matthew emphasizes something that jesus doesn't,
00:19:59.621 --> 00:20:01.857
So don't get hung up on that.
00:20:01.857 --> 00:20:03.759
This is a paraphrase of what jesus said.
00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:06.962
Now, having said that, remember the theme.
00:20:06.962 --> 00:20:09.164
When we know what jesus knows, we can be generous,
00:20:09.164 --> 00:20:12.034
First of all, in our attitude
00:20:12.034 --> 00:20:13.869
Toward difficult circumstances.
00:20:13.869 --> 00:20:16.171
Let's just look at some of these.
00:20:16.171 --> 00:20:17.572
Verse 20, "and turning his gaze on his disciples,
00:20:17.572 --> 00:20:21.076
He began to say, 'blessed,'" literally happy,
00:20:21.076 --> 00:20:24.379
"'are you who are poor
00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:27.349
For yours is the kingdom of god.'"
00:20:27.349 --> 00:20:29.818
Now he's not talking about material poverty.
00:20:29.818 --> 00:20:32.487
There's nothing blessed about
00:20:32.487 --> 00:20:34.222
Being poor financially, automatically.
00:20:34.222 --> 00:20:37.392
Matthew adds the words, "blessed are the poor in spirit."
00:20:37.392 --> 00:20:43.231
That is blessed, happy are those of you
00:20:43.231 --> 00:20:46.034
Who recognize your spiritual poverty.
00:20:46.034 --> 00:20:48.603
I like the way one commentator says it.
00:20:48.603 --> 00:20:50.672
"blessed are those who realize they are spiritual zeroes."
00:20:50.672 --> 00:20:56.244
"for one day, yours will be the kingdom of god."
00:20:56.244 --> 00:20:58.447
Do you ever feel like a spiritual zero?
00:20:58.447 --> 00:21:00.649
You just feel like you're not succeeding
00:21:00.649 --> 00:21:02.284
In your christian life?
00:21:02.284 --> 00:21:03.819
You know you ought to pray more and read the bible more,
00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:06.088
But you just can't do it,
00:21:06.088 --> 00:21:07.422
And you don't react like you should
00:21:07.422 --> 00:21:09.057
And you wish you could be better than you are.
00:21:09.057 --> 00:21:11.760
He said, "relax, be happy
00:21:11.760 --> 00:21:15.197
Because one day that struggle you have
00:21:15.197 --> 00:21:17.532
In your christian life is going to be satisfied.
00:21:17.532 --> 00:21:20.168
Yours is going to be the kingdom of god."
00:21:20.168 --> 00:21:22.804
Verse 21, "'blessed,'" happy, "'are you who hunger now
00:21:22.804 --> 00:21:26.141
For you shall be satisfied.'"
00:21:26.141 --> 00:21:28.877
Again, another version says, "blessed are you who hunger
00:21:28.877 --> 00:21:32.180
And thirst for righteousness."
00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:34.883
He's talking about a spiritual hunger
00:21:34.883 --> 00:21:36.852
And thirst for righteousness.
00:21:36.852 --> 00:21:39.621
Do you ever wish we lived in a world where justice reigned?
00:21:39.621 --> 00:21:43.492
Do you wish we had a world where there was no dallas
00:21:43.492 --> 00:21:46.995
Or baton rouge or terrorist attacks?
00:21:46.995 --> 00:21:50.832
Do you wish there was a world in which evil
00:21:50.832 --> 00:21:54.002
Would be overcome by good every time?
00:21:54.002 --> 00:21:56.872
That's what he's talking about.
00:21:56.872 --> 00:21:58.440
"bless are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
00:21:58.440 --> 00:22:01.777
For one day you will be satisfied."
00:22:01.777 --> 00:22:05.680
One day the tables are going to be turned
00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:07.783
And god is going to right the wrongs of this world.
00:22:07.783 --> 00:22:11.086
He goes on to say, "'blessed,'" happy,
00:22:11.086 --> 00:22:12.854
"those of you who weep now for you shall laugh."
00:22:12.854 --> 00:22:17.826
There's nothing more painful than losing a loved one.
00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:22.664
Losing a loved one through death is painful.
00:22:23.598 --> 00:22:26.168
I've come to believe even more painful
00:22:26.168 --> 00:22:28.303
Is losing a loved one through defection.
00:22:28.303 --> 00:22:32.374
Their heart turns cold towards you.
00:22:32.374 --> 00:22:35.143
They desert you, they leave you.
00:22:35.143 --> 00:22:37.245
Many of you have suffered a loss of a loved one
00:22:37.245 --> 00:22:40.115
Either through death or defection.
00:22:40.115 --> 00:22:41.950
He said, "'blessed are those of you
00:22:41.950 --> 00:22:43.585
Who weep right now,
00:22:43.585 --> 00:22:45.153
For one day, eventually you will laugh.'"
00:22:45.153 --> 00:22:48.290
Remember, when you know what jesus knows about the future,
00:22:48.290 --> 00:22:52.828
You can be generous even about loss.
00:22:52.828 --> 00:22:55.397
Verse 22, "'happier you when men hate you and ostracize you
00:22:55.397 --> 00:22:59.201
And cast insults at you
00:22:59.201 --> 00:23:00.769
And scorn your name as evil,
00:23:00.769 --> 00:23:02.938
For the sake of the son of man,'"
00:23:03.672 --> 00:23:05.073
Verse 23, "'for great is your reward in heaven.'"
00:23:05.073 --> 00:23:09.177
Students, teenagers,
00:23:09.644 --> 00:23:11.279
Do you ever feel like you're ostracized
00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.981
From the rest of the group because you want to
00:23:12.981 --> 00:23:14.616
Live for god?
00:23:14.616 --> 00:23:16.785
Do you ever feel like in your business you've been passed
00:23:16.785 --> 00:23:18.820
Over for a promotion
00:23:18.820 --> 00:23:20.222
Because you won't bend your christian principles?
00:23:20.222 --> 00:23:23.124
Do you ever feel like there's a division in your family
00:23:23.124 --> 00:23:26.061
Between you and your mate or you and your children
00:23:26.061 --> 00:23:28.864
Or you and your parents because of your christian faith?
00:23:28.864 --> 00:23:33.034
That's all part of the price for living for christ.
00:23:33.034 --> 00:23:35.637
♪ music ♪
00:23:35.637 --> 00:23:40.575
At first, these words from jesus may sound like a paradox,
00:23:40.575 --> 00:23:44.579
But those who suffer here on earth
00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:46.681
Will be blessed eternally in heaven.
00:23:46.681 --> 00:23:49.885
Now, before we close today,
00:23:49.885 --> 00:23:51.586
I want to tell you about the incredible matching challenge
00:23:51.586 --> 00:23:54.890
That began earlier this week
00:23:54.890 --> 00:23:56.858
And the amount of $1.5 million.
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The theme is light the darkness.
00:24:00.295 --> 00:24:03.131
And when you give a special year-end gift today,
00:24:03.131 --> 00:24:06.334
Your generosity will have twice the impact.
00:24:06.334 --> 00:24:09.838
That means that your $100 gift would become $200.
00:24:09.838 --> 00:24:14.175
A $500 gift becomes $1,000 and so on it goes.
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There's no limit to how much you can give
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Between now and december 31st that will be matched.
00:24:21.783 --> 00:24:25.820
Every day on television, radio, and digital streaming,
00:24:25.820 --> 00:24:29.391
"pathway to victory" brightly shines the light
00:24:29.391 --> 00:24:32.160
Of god's word in an increasingly darkening world.
00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:36.064
And just as jesus called us to be the light of the world,
00:24:36.064 --> 00:24:39.801
Your support helps us shine his truth
00:24:39.801 --> 00:24:42.304
Into every corner of our nation and our world.
00:24:42.304 --> 00:24:46.241
Now stay right there.
00:24:46.241 --> 00:24:47.542
I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
00:24:47.542 --> 00:24:50.178
In just a moment.
00:24:50.178 --> 00:24:52.013
[announcer] the one thing god wants more
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Than anything else in this world is time with you.
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Make god your priority by spending quality time in his word
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With the brand new
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2025 "pathway to victory" daily devotional.
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This year's devotional
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Has a beautiful navy blue leather cover
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With inlaid brown and gold foil accents.
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The 260 practical insights from dr. robert jeffress
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This stunning 532 page devotional
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Makes an ideal christmas gift for loved ones
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Who want to grow in their faith too.
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00:25:23.178 --> 00:25:26.615
He chose to do it through the written word,
00:25:26.615 --> 00:25:29.651
And that's why it's so important for you
00:25:29.651 --> 00:25:31.486
And for me to set aside regular time
00:25:31.486 --> 00:25:34.022
To read the word of god.
00:25:34.022 --> 00:25:36.591
[announcer] every season carries an uplifting theme.
00:25:36.591 --> 00:25:39.461
Begin the new year by exploring god's will for your life.
00:25:39.461 --> 00:25:43.098
In spring and summer, grow stronger in christ
00:25:44.032 --> 00:25:46.167
With insights from colossians.
00:25:46.167 --> 00:25:48.236
And in the fall and winter,
00:25:48.236 --> 00:25:49.504
Embrace the father who loves you
00:25:49.504 --> 00:25:51.406
With inspirational readings
00:25:51.406 --> 00:25:52.907
Based on the parable of the prodigal son.
00:25:52.907 --> 00:25:55.443
When the day-to-day problems of life feel overwhelming,
00:25:56.544 --> 00:25:59.014
Take a moment to anchor yourself in the calming truth
00:25:59.014 --> 00:26:01.583
Of god's word with the brand new 2025
00:26:01.583 --> 00:26:04.252
"pathway to victory" daily devotion.
00:26:04.252 --> 00:26:07.088
Your gift of support not only provides you
00:26:07.088 --> 00:26:09.257
With this life-giving resource,
00:26:09.257 --> 00:26:11.059
It empowers us to spread the hope-filled message
00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:13.828
Of jesus christ as well.
00:26:13.828 --> 00:26:15.730
Thank you for supporting the ministry
00:26:15.730 --> 00:26:17.732
Of "pathway to victory."
00:26:17.732 --> 00:26:21.436
If you believe this world is all there is,
00:26:22.337 --> 00:26:25.173
Then jesus' sermon on the mount makes no sense.
00:26:25.173 --> 00:26:28.877
But when you know what jesus knows about the future,
00:26:28.877 --> 00:26:32.180
You can be generous in your attitude
00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:34.249
Toward difficult circumstances.
00:26:34.249 --> 00:26:36.851
Well, circumstances aren't the only thing
00:26:36.851 --> 00:26:39.154
That can be difficult.
00:26:39.154 --> 00:26:40.622
People can test our patience too.
00:26:40.622 --> 00:26:43.258
And next time we'll look at several practical ways
00:26:43.258 --> 00:26:45.860
For dealing with the problem people in our life,
00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:49.197
Stemming from our study of the sermon on the mount.
00:26:49.197 --> 00:26:52.233
Stay tuned for a preview
00:26:52.233 --> 00:26:53.501
Of what's coming up next in our series,
00:26:53.501 --> 00:26:55.804
The incomparable christ.
00:26:55.804 --> 00:26:58.406
Every one of us here today is building some kind of life.
00:26:59.574 --> 00:27:03.278
We have a limited amount of time, energy, resources.
00:27:03.278 --> 00:27:08.049
You can build a life built around material accumulation,
00:27:08.049 --> 00:27:12.754
Or you can build your life around not just hearing,
00:27:12.754 --> 00:27:17.125
But applying jesus' words.
00:27:17.125 --> 00:27:19.694
[announcer] set your dvr
00:27:19.694 --> 00:27:21.062
And join us next time for part two of the message,
00:27:21.062 --> 00:27:23.298
"the crux of christianity,"
00:27:23.298 --> 00:27:24.966
Here on "pathway to victory."
00:27:24.966 --> 00:27:27.001
♪ music ♪
00:27:27.001 --> 00:27:27.001

Robert Jeffress - The Crux of Christianity (Part 1)

November 27, 2024 | S24:E4804

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