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  5. Robert Jeffress - Determine To Influence Your Culture (Part 1)
Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Determine To Influence Your Culture (Part 1)

June 5, 2025 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Determine To Influence Your Culture (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Faith #Purpose #WalkwithGod #Christianity #Religion #Culture #Encouragement #Calling #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #LightoftheWorld

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Determine To Influence Your Culture (Part 1) | June 5, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first
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  • Baptist church of dallas, texas, this is
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  • "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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  • As a christian, it's natural to want to protect yourself and
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  • Your family from the negative influences of culture, but
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  • History shows that those who want to experience a
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  • Significant life strive to influence the world
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  • Rather than isolate themselves from it.
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  • That was certainly true for the prophet elijah, and we should
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  • Have that same passion for reaching
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  • The people and nations around us.
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  • My message is titled "determine to influence your culture," on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: jesus declared, "you are the salt of the earth
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  • And the light of the world."
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  • With so much darkness creeping into our schools and
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  • Communities, now is the time to answer that calling.
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  • Become the salt and light
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  • The world desperately needs through
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  • The "pathway to victory" salt
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  • And light matching challenge.
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  • Your gift today, doubled in ministry impact, will empower
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  • "pathway to victory" to proclaim the gospel and stand for
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  • Biblical truth.
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  • Push back and hold strong against moral decline by joining
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  • The salt and light matching challenge.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: billy graham was on the cutting edge
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  • Of the culture for more than 50 years.
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  • Yes, he was known for preaching the gospel in crusades all
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  • Across the world where millions came to know christ as savior,
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  • But even though preaching the gospel was his primary
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  • Function, it wasn't his only function.
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  • Billy graham never shrinked away from addressing the
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  • Spiritual and moral decay of our culture.
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  • Way back in 1965 in his book "world aflame," billy graham hit
  • 00:02:07.250 --> 00:02:13.890
  • Upon a persistent problem confronting our culture.
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  • He wrote, "in a declining culture,
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  • One of its characteristics is that ordinary people
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  • Are unaware of what is happening.
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  • Modern man has become a spectator of
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  • World events, observing on his television
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  • Screen without becoming involved.
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  • He watches the ominous events while he
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  • Sips his beer in a comfortable chair.
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  • He does not understand that his world is on fire
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  • And that he is about to be burned with it."
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  • That ordinary man was me early in my ministry.
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  • No, i wasn't at home, sipping beer, i can assure you of that,
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  • But i would come home from working at the church, sit in my
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  • Chair, turn on the television news, and just cluck my tongue
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  • Over the sad situation we were living in.
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  • I actually believed that as long as i preached the gospel
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  • Every sunday and did that faithfully, that
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  • Neither me nor my church had to worry about
  • 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:26.129
  • Being engulfed in the flames of the culture.
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  • I soon discovered how wrong i was about that.
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  • My awakening occurred in 1998.
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  • I was pastoring the first baptist church in wichita falls,
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  • And one day, one of our members came into my office.
  • 00:03:43.313 --> 00:03:46.316
  • She happened to work at the local library,
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  • And she had two books with her, two children's
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  • Books that had been in the library.
  • 00:03:51.387 --> 00:03:54.357
  • They were children's books written to extol the
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  • Virtues of homosexuality to children.
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  • The books, which are infamous now, were titled "daddy's
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  • Roommate," and "heather has two mommies."
  • 00:04:03.566 --> 00:04:08.004
  • The books were written from a child's point of view,
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  • Trying to normalize homosexual behavior.
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  • One book, "daddy's roommate," was told by a little boy who
  • 00:04:13.543 --> 00:04:17.347
  • Explains in the book that his father left his mother in order
  • 00:04:17.347 --> 00:04:21.918
  • To be with his friend named frank, and in this children's
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  • Books were children's illustrations where the little
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  • Boy is telling what his daddy and his new friend, frank, did
  • 00:04:28.891 --> 00:04:34.097
  • Together, and on one page, it says, "daddy and frank eat
  • 00:04:34.097 --> 00:04:37.967
  • Together," then the next page, "daddy and frank play together,"
  • 00:04:37.967 --> 00:04:42.038
  • And then the next page, "and daddy and frank sleep together,"
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  • And there was a children's illustration of two men in bed
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  • With one another while the boy is talkin'
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  • About what his dad and his new friend do.
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  • Well, the librarian, the person who worked at the library,
  • 00:04:55.952 --> 00:05:00.690
  • Brought those books to me, dropped them on my desk and
  • 00:05:00.690 --> 00:05:03.259
  • Said, "now, pastor, what are you gonna do about these books?"
  • 00:05:03.259 --> 00:05:07.930
  • I said--thought to myself, "what do you mean,
  • 00:05:07.930 --> 00:05:09.332
  • What am i gonna do with these books?
  • 00:05:09.332 --> 00:05:10.867
  • I'm busy preparin' my sermon for sunday.
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  • I don't have time to get involved with that."
  • 00:05:13.403 --> 00:05:16.272
  • But it just happened that i was preaching through the book of
  • 00:05:16.272 --> 00:05:18.708
  • Genesis in a yearlong series, and that upcoming sunday, that
  • 00:05:18.708 --> 00:05:23.079
  • Next sunday, my text was genesis 19, about god's destruction of
  • 00:05:23.079 --> 00:05:28.684
  • Sodom and gomorrah--just happened.
  • 00:05:28.684 --> 00:05:31.354
  • That happened to be the sermon that week, and i had already
  • 00:05:31.354 --> 00:05:34.257
  • Prepared most of my message, and one of the application points
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  • Was, as christians, we cannot condone what god has condemned.
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  • And i said to myself, "self, how am i gonna stand up and preach
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  • That with a straight face and not do something about this?"
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  • Now, i didn't wanna cause any kind of ruckus at all.
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  • I thought i could just have a amicable discussion
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  • With the local librarian about it.
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  • So i was drivin' home on thursday afternoon, and i called
  • 00:06:00.883 --> 00:06:03.386
  • Her on my mobile phone, and i explained to her the situation.
  • 00:06:03.386 --> 00:06:07.457
  • I said, "now, i know you're probably not aware that these
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  • Books are in the children's section of your library, but
  • 00:06:09.325 --> 00:06:12.295
  • This one book especially, two men in bed together, i mean,
  • 00:06:12.295 --> 00:06:15.631
  • Given the fact that homosexual behavior is illegal in the state
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  • Of texas," and it was at that time, "given the fact that
  • 00:06:19.035 --> 00:06:22.738
  • Homosexual behavior is responsible largely for one of
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  • The greatest epidemics in mankind, aids, and given the
  • 00:06:27.510 --> 00:06:31.047
  • Fact that homosexuality is condemned by all three major
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  • World religions, christianity, judaism, islam, i'm sure you'd
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  • Like to remove these books now that you know they're there."
  • 00:06:38.454 --> 00:06:41.924
  • And she basically said, "not on your life, i'm not removing
  • 00:06:41.924 --> 00:06:46.496
  • Those books," and accused me of everything under the sun.
  • 00:06:46.496 --> 00:06:50.233
  • Well, i knew we had a problem at that point.
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  • So i thought about what i was gonna do.
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  • So, the next sunday morning, i took those books with me in the
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  • Pulpit, and i gave that point, we cannot condone what god has
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  • Condemned, and i explained my dilemma, and i hadn't planned to
  • 00:07:01.744 --> 00:07:05.648
  • Do this, but the more i thought about it, the more worked up i
  • 00:07:05.648 --> 00:07:08.618
  • Got, and i held those library books up, and we're on live tv
  • 00:07:08.618 --> 00:07:12.321
  • At the time, and i said, "therefore, i'm
  • 00:07:12.321 --> 00:07:15.191
  • Not returning these books to the library.
  • 00:07:15.191 --> 00:07:18.528
  • You're gonna have to come and get 'em if you want 'em."
  • 00:07:18.528 --> 00:07:21.964
  • Well, that set off a firestorm you cannot imagine, not just in
  • 00:07:21.964 --> 00:07:28.371
  • Our local community but in the nation as well.
  • 00:07:28.371 --> 00:07:32.041
  • "the pastor who stole the library books," that's what i
  • 00:07:32.041 --> 00:07:35.711
  • Became known as, and so the local newspaper, which hated me
  • 00:07:35.711 --> 00:07:39.749
  • Already, they said in their next editorial because of what
  • 00:07:39.749 --> 00:07:43.286
  • I had done, i ought to be thrown
  • 00:07:43.286 --> 00:07:44.987
  • Into jail immediately and incarcerated.
  • 00:07:44.987 --> 00:07:49.458
  • There was a lawsuit, a federal lawsuit filed against our city.
  • 00:07:49.458 --> 00:07:53.329
  • For the next two years, nothing but scathing letters denouncing
  • 00:07:53.329 --> 00:07:57.633
  • Me and our church in our local newspaper.
  • 00:07:57.633 --> 00:08:00.970
  • In fact, the debate got so serious that pbs actually came
  • 00:08:00.970 --> 00:08:05.908
  • From new york and filmed a one-hour
  • 00:08:05.908 --> 00:08:07.810
  • Documentary about this controversy that a pastor had
  • 00:08:07.810 --> 00:08:11.113
  • Caused in a small west texas town.
  • 00:08:11.113 --> 00:08:14.951
  • You know, that was my baptism with fire.
  • 00:08:14.951 --> 00:08:19.088
  • I was aware of what romans 12:18 says, "as far as is
  • 00:08:19.088 --> 00:08:24.627
  • Possible with you, live at peace with all men," but i discovered
  • 00:08:24.627 --> 00:08:30.266
  • Through that experience that it is difficult to live at peace
  • 00:08:30.266 --> 00:08:35.371
  • With a culture that is at odds with god.
  • 00:08:35.371 --> 00:08:39.842
  • And christians who wanna make a significant difference in this
  • 00:08:39.842 --> 00:08:42.912
  • World are going to learn that lesson.
  • 00:08:42.912 --> 00:08:46.515
  • And that brings us to what we're talkin' about in this series on
  • 00:08:46.515 --> 00:08:50.052
  • Elijah, "choosing an extraordinary life."
  • 00:08:50.052 --> 00:08:53.756
  • We're discovering from the life of elijah his seven secrets for
  • 00:08:53.756 --> 00:08:57.860
  • Living a spiritually significant life even
  • 00:08:57.860 --> 00:09:00.429
  • Though he was just an ordinary person.
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  • Last time we looked at the secret, the foundation of the
  • 00:09:04.233 --> 00:09:06.702
  • Secret, discovering your life purpose, but today we're going
  • 00:09:06.702 --> 00:09:10.940
  • To begin looking, this time and next time, at the second secret
  • 00:09:10.940 --> 00:09:14.977
  • Of spiritual significance, and that is determining to impact
  • 00:09:14.977 --> 00:09:20.883
  • Your culture, determining to influence your culture for god.
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  • Let's, first of all look at god's mandate to
  • 00:09:27.056 --> 00:09:31.160
  • Actually even care for our culture.
  • 00:09:31.160 --> 00:09:33.929
  • You know, some people actually believe that god has no interest
  • 00:09:33.929 --> 00:09:37.733
  • In what is happening in the world, and yet from the very
  • 00:09:37.733 --> 00:09:41.337
  • Beginning god gave man the mandate to take
  • 00:09:41.337 --> 00:09:44.340
  • Care of the world in which he placed him.
  • 00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:47.043
  • In genesis 2, verse 15, the bible says, "the lord god took
  • 00:09:47.043 --> 00:09:52.248
  • The man and put him into the garden of
  • 00:09:52.248 --> 00:09:54.550
  • Eden to cultivate it and to keep it."
  • 00:09:54.550 --> 00:10:00.322
  • God's interest--listen to this.
  • 00:10:00.322 --> 00:10:02.391
  • God's interest extend beyond the four walls of the church.
  • 00:10:02.391 --> 00:10:06.195
  • God is not only interested in religious institutions.
  • 00:10:06.195 --> 00:10:09.532
  • He's interested in the whole world, and
  • 00:10:09.532 --> 00:10:11.901
  • That's why god said to adam, "i want you to
  • 00:10:11.901 --> 00:10:14.170
  • Cultivate the earth and to keep it."
  • 00:10:14.170 --> 00:10:18.207
  • And that leads me to a definition of "culture."
  • 00:10:18.207 --> 00:10:21.010
  • Write this down: "culture is what
  • 00:10:21.010 --> 00:10:23.713
  • Human beings make of the world."
  • 00:10:23.713 --> 00:10:26.682
  • When we talk about culture, we're talking about
  • 00:10:26.682 --> 00:10:28.417
  • What human beings make of the world.
  • 00:10:28.417 --> 00:10:31.454
  • Now, to be honest, human beings have
  • 00:10:31.454 --> 00:10:33.989
  • Done some good things for this world.
  • 00:10:33.989 --> 00:10:36.258
  • They have made some improvements in this world.
  • 00:10:36.258 --> 00:10:39.729
  • For example, walking is good, but if you're
  • 00:10:39.729 --> 00:10:42.898
  • In a emergency, and you need to get to
  • 00:10:42.898 --> 00:10:44.400
  • The hospital, driving is better, isn't it?
  • 00:10:44.400 --> 00:10:47.436
  • It's good that we have an automobile rather than being
  • 00:10:47.436 --> 00:10:51.240
  • Confined to walking all of the time.
  • 00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:54.043
  • Writing a letter, that's a good thing, but if you have a
  • 00:10:54.043 --> 00:10:57.246
  • Pressing problem at your business that you need input
  • 00:10:57.246 --> 00:10:59.548
  • From others on, email is even better, isn't it?
  • 00:10:59.548 --> 00:11:04.286
  • Who, today, would wanna trade laser surgery
  • 00:11:04.286 --> 00:11:08.691
  • For surgery 150 years ago that basically consisted
  • 00:11:08.691 --> 00:11:12.128
  • Of a sharp knife and no anesthetic?
  • 00:11:12.128 --> 00:11:15.631
  • I mean, we have improved things.
  • 00:11:15.631 --> 00:11:17.533
  • We have cultivated the earth that god has planted us in.
  • 00:11:17.533 --> 00:11:20.636
  • That is a good thing, but if we are honest, we'd also say that
  • 00:11:20.636 --> 00:11:25.508
  • There has been a deterioration of our world as well.
  • 00:11:25.508 --> 00:11:29.945
  • In the last 100 years, the last 150 years, look at
  • 00:11:29.945 --> 00:11:33.415
  • The changes you've seen in our own country.
  • 00:11:33.415 --> 00:11:36.418
  • Hundred and fifty years ago, there was no doubt that this was
  • 00:11:36.418 --> 00:11:39.455
  • A nation that was built on the judeo-christian ethic.
  • 00:11:39.455 --> 00:11:43.292
  • That doesn't mean everybody subscribed to
  • 00:11:43.292 --> 00:11:44.994
  • It, but the foundation of our law and
  • 00:11:44.994 --> 00:11:47.196
  • Society was the judeo-christian ethic.
  • 00:11:47.196 --> 00:11:49.732
  • Today, our country is being guided by
  • 00:11:49.732 --> 00:11:52.334
  • Moral relativism and by postmodernism.
  • 00:11:52.334 --> 00:11:57.273
  • What is our place in that culture that seems
  • 00:11:57.273 --> 00:11:59.909
  • To be unraveling more day after day?
  • 00:11:59.909 --> 00:12:03.479
  • Well, in ephesians 2, verse 10, paul gives us an interesting
  • 00:12:03.479 --> 00:12:08.417
  • Word picture of what we're to be in this deteriorating culture.
  • 00:12:08.417 --> 00:12:13.122
  • He said, "we are god's workmanship, created in christ
  • 00:12:13.122 --> 00:12:18.194
  • Jesus for good works, which god
  • 00:12:18.194 --> 00:12:21.063
  • Prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
  • 00:12:21.063 --> 00:12:26.335
  • He said, "god has created us as his workmanship."
  • 00:12:26.335 --> 00:12:29.071
  • That word, workmanship, is the greek word poiema.
  • 00:12:29.071 --> 00:12:33.142
  • We get our word poem from it.
  • 00:12:33.142 --> 00:12:36.178
  • Last time, we talked about the story that god
  • 00:12:36.178 --> 00:12:38.447
  • Is writing in your life right now.
  • 00:12:38.447 --> 00:12:41.016
  • Your story is like a poem god is writing through
  • 00:12:41.016 --> 00:12:45.487
  • Your life, not to be put on the shelf somewhere,
  • 00:12:45.487 --> 00:12:49.124
  • But to be read by those around you.
  • 00:12:49.124 --> 00:12:53.362
  • God wants others you come in contact with to see your life
  • 00:12:53.362 --> 00:12:58.434
  • Story, to see your stand for god.
  • 00:12:58.434 --> 00:13:01.503
  • Of course, the key word is "come in contact with."
  • 00:13:01.503 --> 00:13:05.174
  • To influence our culture, we have
  • 00:13:05.174 --> 00:13:07.343
  • To come in contact with our culture.
  • 00:13:07.343 --> 00:13:10.379
  • More about that in just a moment.
  • 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:12.781
  • But let's expand this idea of culture and talk about what it
  • 00:13:12.781 --> 00:13:16.418
  • Means for ordinary people to cultivate their culture.
  • 00:13:16.418 --> 00:13:19.588
  • Perhaps you're like this, perhaps you're thinking to
  • 00:13:19.588 --> 00:13:22.625
  • Yourself, "i can't have any influence on the culture."
  • 00:13:22.625 --> 00:13:26.428
  • When you think about the culture, you think about what's
  • 00:13:26.428 --> 00:13:28.497
  • Happening in washington, d.c., or in hollywood, california,
  • 00:13:28.497 --> 00:13:32.568
  • And you think, "that's the culture, i'm
  • 00:13:32.568 --> 00:13:34.670
  • Powerless to have any influence over it."
  • 00:13:34.670 --> 00:13:38.474
  • But, remember, culture is what you make of the world,
  • 00:13:38.474 --> 00:13:42.578
  • Specifically the world god has placed you in.
  • 00:13:42.578 --> 00:13:46.682
  • You are in a particular culture in your home,
  • 00:13:46.682 --> 00:13:51.120
  • In your workplace, in your neighborhood, and
  • 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:55.257
  • Your job is to influence that culture.
  • 00:13:55.257 --> 00:13:57.559
  • Perhaps you're a stay-at-home mom, and you think, "i couldn't
  • 00:13:57.559 --> 00:14:00.863
  • Have any influence on the culture of our nation."
  • 00:14:00.863 --> 00:14:04.600
  • But, look, god has given you a great influence
  • 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:06.802
  • Over those children in your home.
  • 00:14:06.802 --> 00:14:08.570
  • Think about hannah in the old testament.
  • 00:14:08.570 --> 00:14:11.073
  • For years she prayed that god would give her a child, and
  • 00:14:11.073 --> 00:14:14.443
  • Finally he answered her prayer and gave her samuel.
  • 00:14:14.443 --> 00:14:17.513
  • She faithfully taught samuel the fear of the lord, the word of
  • 00:14:17.513 --> 00:14:21.383
  • God, and then she delivered him to eli, who trained him further,
  • 00:14:21.383 --> 00:14:25.187
  • And samuel became a mighty prophet of good,
  • 00:14:25.187 --> 00:14:28.290
  • Who greatly influenced the nation for god.
  • 00:14:28.290 --> 00:14:31.393
  • Did hannah influence her culture?
  • 00:14:31.393 --> 00:14:33.429
  • Of course she did.
  • 00:14:33.429 --> 00:14:34.997
  • Maybe you're a student right now
  • 00:14:34.997 --> 00:14:36.765
  • In junior high, high school, or college.
  • 00:14:36.765 --> 00:14:39.468
  • For you, your culture is that school where god has placed you.
  • 00:14:39.468 --> 00:14:43.806
  • Teenagers listening, don't underestimate the impact you can
  • 00:14:43.806 --> 00:14:48.010
  • Make right where you are, your culture, your school.
  • 00:14:48.010 --> 00:14:51.880
  • And when i was in the ninth grade, i attended
  • 00:14:51.880 --> 00:14:55.718
  • This church, had been here all of my life.
  • 00:14:55.718 --> 00:14:58.520
  • I wasn't a particularly spiritual person at all.
  • 00:14:58.520 --> 00:15:01.824
  • I just, kind of, came to church like everybody else did, but one
  • 00:15:01.824 --> 00:15:05.327
  • Day when i was at west junior high school in richardson,
  • 00:15:05.327 --> 00:15:09.131
  • Texas, one of my teachers asked me if i would
  • 00:15:09.131 --> 00:15:11.900
  • Stay behind school and visit with her.
  • 00:15:11.900 --> 00:15:15.337
  • I didn't feel like i had any choice, so i said, "yes, i'd be
  • 00:15:15.337 --> 00:15:19.041
  • Happy to meet with you," and she was a christian, even though we
  • 00:15:19.041 --> 00:15:22.745
  • Were in a secular high school, and i'll never forget where we
  • 00:15:22.745 --> 00:15:25.714
  • Were seated in that classroom, and she said, "robert, have you
  • 00:15:25.714 --> 00:15:29.151
  • Ever thought about the fact that god has placed you in this
  • 00:15:29.151 --> 00:15:32.488
  • School with 3,000 people for a reason, and that reason
  • 00:15:32.488 --> 00:15:36.558
  • Is to lead other students to christ?"
  • 00:15:36.558 --> 00:15:39.795
  • Honestly, that thought had never crossed my mind.
  • 00:15:39.795 --> 00:15:43.999
  • And she said, "i wanna give you a challenge, and that is to make
  • 00:15:43.999 --> 00:15:47.569
  • A list of five of your classmates who aren't christians
  • 00:15:47.569 --> 00:15:51.840
  • And to commit to pray for their salvation and
  • 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:55.377
  • Commit that, sometime during this year,
  • 00:15:55.377 --> 00:15:58.781
  • You're gonna share your faith with them."
  • 00:15:58.781 --> 00:16:01.450
  • And, honestly, i don't know why i agreed to do that, but there
  • 00:16:01.450 --> 00:16:04.386
  • Is something about that, that kind of captivated my interest,
  • 00:16:04.386 --> 00:16:09.324
  • The idea that maybe god had a bigger purpose for my life
  • 00:16:09.324 --> 00:16:12.528
  • Than simply going to school every day.
  • 00:16:12.528 --> 00:16:14.830
  • And so i went home that night, and i made a list of five people
  • 00:16:14.830 --> 00:16:19.268
  • I knew who weren't christians, and i made a commitment to the
  • 00:16:19.268 --> 00:16:21.970
  • Lord that i would pray for them and witness to them.
  • 00:16:21.970 --> 00:16:26.375
  • The first guy on my list was a student named nick.
  • 00:16:26.375 --> 00:16:31.413
  • Nick is what we used to call back then a hood.
  • 00:16:31.413 --> 00:16:35.284
  • He wore the black leather jacket.
  • 00:16:35.284 --> 00:16:37.619
  • He would hang out during the breaks
  • 00:16:37.619 --> 00:16:39.488
  • In the smoking area of the school.
  • 00:16:39.488 --> 00:16:41.590
  • Can you believe we had smoking areas where
  • 00:16:41.590 --> 00:16:44.026
  • Students actually went to smoke?
  • 00:16:44.026 --> 00:16:45.861
  • But we did, and that's where nick hung out.
  • 00:16:45.861 --> 00:16:47.796
  • I mean, he looked like he was straight out of the
  • 00:16:47.796 --> 00:16:49.498
  • Cast of "west side story," you know?
  • 00:16:49.498 --> 00:16:52.067
  • And everybody was afraid of nick because of his reputation.
  • 00:16:52.067 --> 00:16:57.639
  • One day, i screwed up the courage, and i said,
  • 00:16:57.639 --> 00:17:00.409
  • "nick, could i meet with ya after school today?"
  • 00:17:00.409 --> 00:17:03.479
  • Said, "what for?
  • 00:17:03.479 --> 00:17:04.813
  • What do you wanna meet with me for?"
  • 00:17:04.813 --> 00:17:06.148
  • And i said, "well, i just wanna talk to
  • 00:17:06.148 --> 00:17:07.483
  • You about something," and he agreed.
  • 00:17:07.483 --> 00:17:09.218
  • So we sat in our history class, vacant classroom, and i shared
  • 00:17:09.218 --> 00:17:13.989
  • With him the "four spiritual laws," and i remember closing by
  • 00:17:13.989 --> 00:17:17.392
  • Saying, "nick, is there any reason you
  • 00:17:17.392 --> 00:17:19.895
  • Wouldn't wanna become a christian today?"
  • 00:17:19.895 --> 00:17:22.264
  • And he said, "no, there's no reason.
  • 00:17:22.264 --> 00:17:23.999
  • In fact, i think that was somethin' i would like to do."
  • 00:17:23.999 --> 00:17:26.468
  • And he prayed with me to trust in christ as his savior.
  • 00:17:26.468 --> 00:17:31.473
  • Little did i know, little did he know, that he had a brain tumor
  • 00:17:31.473 --> 00:17:36.845
  • Growing in his brain, and within nine months, he was dead.
  • 00:17:36.845 --> 00:17:42.818
  • That was the first person.
  • 00:17:42.818 --> 00:17:44.153
  • That year, i saw every one of those students i had committed
  • 00:17:44.153 --> 00:17:49.958
  • To pray for and share with come to faith in christ.
  • 00:17:49.958 --> 00:17:54.129
  • Now, i'll be the first to admit, my five converts did not match
  • 00:17:54.129 --> 00:17:59.134
  • Billy graham's hundreds of thousands of converts.
  • 00:17:59.134 --> 00:18:02.905
  • He preached in football stadiums.
  • 00:18:02.905 --> 00:18:05.541
  • He influenced hollywood luminaries and presidents.
  • 00:18:05.541 --> 00:18:10.179
  • He had a worldwide impact, but that
  • 00:18:10.179 --> 00:18:13.348
  • Was the culture god had placed him.
  • 00:18:13.348 --> 00:18:16.051
  • My culture was that little corner of the world, west junior
  • 00:18:16.051 --> 00:18:20.289
  • High school, in richardson, texas.
  • 00:18:20.289 --> 00:18:23.225
  • What i'm saying to you is don't ever underestimate
  • 00:18:23.225 --> 00:18:26.361
  • Your ability to change your culture.
  • 00:18:26.361 --> 00:18:28.564
  • Wherever god has placed you, your home, your workplace, your
  • 00:18:28.564 --> 00:18:34.536
  • Neighborhood, your family, god has placed you
  • 00:18:34.536 --> 00:18:37.506
  • There for a reason, and you know what?
  • 00:18:37.506 --> 00:18:40.909
  • When you're faithful to be that representative for christ
  • 00:18:40.909 --> 00:18:44.513
  • Wherever you are, don't be surprised if god doesn't expand
  • 00:18:44.513 --> 00:18:48.517
  • Your territory and your influence beyond that.
  • 00:18:48.517 --> 00:18:52.287
  • That's exactly what happened with elijah.
  • 00:18:52.287 --> 00:18:56.425
  • You know, god left us here not to isolate ourselves from the
  • 00:18:56.425 --> 00:19:01.396
  • Culture, not to identify with the culture, but to influence
  • 00:19:01.396 --> 00:19:05.667
  • The culture, and yet i think you'd have to agree with me, on
  • 00:19:05.667 --> 00:19:09.438
  • The whole, christians aren't doin' that great
  • 00:19:09.438 --> 00:19:11.807
  • Of a job of influencing the culture, are we?
  • 00:19:11.807 --> 00:19:14.843
  • I mean, look at what's happening.
  • 00:19:14.843 --> 00:19:16.645
  • And then that's amazing when you see our culture unraveling with
  • 00:19:16.645 --> 00:19:19.715
  • As many christians as there are in this country supposedly.
  • 00:19:19.715 --> 00:19:23.352
  • You know, one survey says that one-fourth of the u.s.
  • 00:19:23.352 --> 00:19:26.755
  • Population claims to be evangelical christian.
  • 00:19:26.755 --> 00:19:30.592
  • One-fourth of 300 million would be
  • 00:19:30.592 --> 00:19:33.161
  • 75 million people claim to be christians.
  • 00:19:33.161 --> 00:19:39.468
  • Somebody put that in perspective pretty well.
  • 00:19:39.468 --> 00:19:42.371
  • You know, a pound of meat would probably be influenced by a
  • 00:19:42.371 --> 00:19:47.042
  • Quarter pound of salt, don't you think?
  • 00:19:47.042 --> 00:19:50.846
  • Doesn't take much salt to impact meat.
  • 00:19:50.846 --> 00:19:55.384
  • If you had a quarter pound of salt,
  • 00:19:55.384 --> 00:19:57.219
  • You could really flavor a pound of meat.
  • 00:19:57.219 --> 00:19:59.721
  • If a quarter of our population are christians, why are we
  • 00:19:59.721 --> 00:20:03.258
  • Having zero influence on this culture?
  • 00:20:03.258 --> 00:20:07.562
  • I think there are two reasons that
  • 00:20:07.562 --> 00:20:09.364
  • I wanna mention to you today.
  • 00:20:09.364 --> 00:20:10.899
  • One reason is some christians have
  • 00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:12.801
  • Become what i call silo saints.
  • 00:20:12.801 --> 00:20:16.338
  • Instead of being salt that penetrates the meat, flavors the
  • 00:20:16.338 --> 00:20:20.309
  • Meat, preserves the meat, these christians remain in the salt
  • 00:20:20.309 --> 00:20:24.379
  • Shaker, totally isolated from the meat.
  • 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:28.350
  • They become silo saints, and they
  • 00:20:28.350 --> 00:20:30.085
  • Actually pride themselves on that.
  • 00:20:30.085 --> 00:20:31.987
  • They say, "well, i don't wanna get involved in the culture.
  • 00:20:31.987 --> 00:20:34.423
  • I could pollute myself, or i could
  • 00:20:34.423 --> 00:20:35.857
  • Pollute my family if i do that."
  • 00:20:35.857 --> 00:20:38.093
  • In fact, some christians have even come up with a theological
  • 00:20:38.093 --> 00:20:41.330
  • Justification for what they're doing.
  • 00:20:41.330 --> 00:20:43.365
  • A popular book right now is called "the benedict option."
  • 00:20:43.365 --> 00:20:46.568
  • I hate even giving the book a plug 'cause it is so insidious,
  • 00:20:46.568 --> 00:20:50.105
  • But it's written by a christian, and he claims that christians
  • 00:20:50.105 --> 00:20:53.075
  • Ought to follow the example of that monastic church leader
  • 00:20:53.075 --> 00:20:55.911
  • Saint benedict, who basically said to his followers, "let's
  • 00:20:55.911 --> 00:20:59.548
  • Just get in our holy huddle and try to encourage
  • 00:20:59.548 --> 00:21:02.417
  • One another in these dark days and pray that bad
  • 00:21:02.417 --> 00:21:04.986
  • People don't do anything evil to us."
  • 00:21:04.986 --> 00:21:07.989
  • Is that what god has called us to do?
  • 00:21:07.989 --> 00:21:10.258
  • No, but there are many christians who
  • 00:21:10.258 --> 00:21:12.094
  • Fall for that and even justify that.
  • 00:21:12.094 --> 00:21:15.564
  • Not long ago, i was on a panel discussion at
  • 00:21:15.564 --> 00:21:17.966
  • A seminary, and during the q&a time, one of the
  • 00:21:17.966 --> 00:21:20.969
  • Students asked me this question.
  • 00:21:20.969 --> 00:21:22.904
  • "dr. jeffress, why do you feel that
  • 00:21:22.904 --> 00:21:26.074
  • Conservative christians have the right
  • 00:21:26.074 --> 00:21:28.844
  • To impose their values on a secular, pluralistic society?
  • 00:21:28.844 --> 00:21:35.917
  • Why do conservative christians have the right
  • 00:21:35.917 --> 00:21:38.754
  • To impose their values on a secular society?"
  • 00:21:38.754 --> 00:21:42.791
  • And my answer to him was "look, society is always gonna be
  • 00:21:42.791 --> 00:21:47.095
  • Influenced by somebody's set of values.
  • 00:21:47.095 --> 00:21:50.232
  • The only question is whose values
  • 00:21:50.232 --> 00:21:52.200
  • Are going to impact the society?
  • 00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:54.403
  • Some set of values impact any culture.
  • 00:21:54.403 --> 00:21:57.072
  • For the first--" and i gave him an illustration.
  • 00:21:57.072 --> 00:21:59.040
  • I said, "for example, for the first 160 years
  • 00:21:59.040 --> 00:22:02.544
  • Of our nation's history, we said that marriage
  • 00:22:02.544 --> 00:22:06.214
  • Should be between one man and one woman.
  • 00:22:06.214 --> 00:22:09.050
  • That was the biblical principle, one man and one woman.
  • 00:22:09.050 --> 00:22:12.387
  • In 1885, the supreme court, murphy vs.
  • 00:22:12.387 --> 00:22:14.623
  • Ramsey said, "marriage is a holy estate of god,
  • 00:22:14.623 --> 00:22:18.293
  • Consisting of the union of one man and one woman."
  • 00:22:18.293 --> 00:22:22.130
  • That was our value that was imposed, if you will, by our
  • 00:22:22.130 --> 00:22:26.067
  • Adherence to the judeo-christian belief.
  • 00:22:26.067 --> 00:22:28.670
  • But then suddenly in 2015 the supreme court
  • 00:22:28.670 --> 00:22:31.706
  • Decided to change that in obergefell vs. hodges.
  • 00:22:31.706 --> 00:22:34.910
  • They said, "we're gonna have a new set of
  • 00:22:34.910 --> 00:22:36.745
  • Values that influence our policy.
  • 00:22:36.745 --> 00:22:39.181
  • The new value is marriage is whatever you want it to be," and
  • 00:22:39.181 --> 00:22:43.718
  • The supreme court imposed that value on our
  • 00:22:43.718 --> 00:22:47.956
  • Nation, and, believe me, it is imposed on us.
  • 00:22:47.956 --> 00:22:53.195
  • If you don't subscribe to that value, if you don't bow down to
  • 00:22:53.195 --> 00:22:56.965
  • It, you face fines or even bankruptcy in your work.
  • 00:22:56.965 --> 00:23:01.069
  • So, remember this, somebody's values are
  • 00:23:01.069 --> 00:23:03.538
  • Always gonna be imposed on a society.
  • 00:23:03.538 --> 00:23:06.107
  • It's just a question of whose values are going to be imposed.
  • 00:23:06.107 --> 00:23:09.945
  • Silo saints don't understand that.
  • 00:23:09.945 --> 00:23:12.481
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:12.481 --> 00:23:17.652
  • Jeffress: is god stirring in your heart to begin making a
  • 00:23:17.652 --> 00:23:20.121
  • Difference in our culture for him?
  • 00:23:20.121 --> 00:23:22.657
  • Have you begun to feel the nudge from the holy spirit?
  • 00:23:22.657 --> 00:23:25.961
  • This is no time to hunker down into a holy huddle.
  • 00:23:25.961 --> 00:23:29.965
  • I believe god is calling us to step outside our comfort zone
  • 00:23:29.965 --> 00:23:33.969
  • And become salt and light for him.
  • 00:23:33.969 --> 00:23:37.639
  • Earlier this week we launched the
  • 00:23:37.639 --> 00:23:39.407
  • Salt and light matching challenge.
  • 00:23:39.407 --> 00:23:41.810
  • That means every gift you give between now and july 6 will
  • 00:23:41.810 --> 00:23:45.847
  • Be matched and therefore doubled in impact
  • 00:23:45.847 --> 00:23:49.384
  • Until we reach the goal of $1 million.
  • 00:23:49.384 --> 00:23:52.721
  • In a world that grows morally darker by the day, we're
  • 00:23:52.721 --> 00:23:56.291
  • Called to be salt that preserves what is good and light
  • 00:23:56.291 --> 00:24:00.428
  • That drives out the darkness.
  • 00:24:00.428 --> 00:24:02.697
  • And through the ministry of "pathway to victory" we are
  • 00:24:02.697 --> 00:24:05.233
  • Working tirelessly to push back against the moral decline
  • 00:24:05.233 --> 00:24:09.237
  • In our world and boldly proclaim the gospel of jesus christ.
  • 00:24:09.237 --> 00:24:13.909
  • This is no time to retreat, but to step forward and advance
  • 00:24:13.909 --> 00:24:17.979
  • The kingdom of god.
  • 00:24:17.979 --> 00:24:19.681
  • Thank you for your generous support during
  • 00:24:19.681 --> 00:24:21.550
  • This tremendous window of opportunity.
  • 00:24:21.550 --> 00:24:24.853
  • Stay right there.
  • 00:24:24.853 --> 00:24:26.187
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:26.187 --> 00:24:30.759
  • Announcer: the moral decline in today's world can
  • 00:24:30.825 --> 00:24:32.827
  • Feel overwhelming, but god calls us to shine his light and make a
  • 00:24:32.827 --> 00:24:37.032
  • Difference for him in a world that has lost its way.
  • 00:24:37.032 --> 00:24:40.168
  • In his brand new book, "shine the light," dr. robert jeffress
  • 00:24:40.168 --> 00:24:43.605
  • Shows you how small faithful acts like teaching, serving, and
  • 00:24:43.605 --> 00:24:47.108
  • Encouraging can restore and renew christian values in your
  • 00:24:47.108 --> 00:24:50.612
  • Family, your church, and community.
  • 00:24:50.612 --> 00:24:52.948
  • Jeffress: the bible teaches that our primary purpose in life is
  • 00:24:52.948 --> 00:24:56.418
  • To influence the world with the gospel.
  • 00:24:56.418 --> 00:24:59.421
  • And in my new book, i'll show you how to live purposefully and
  • 00:24:59.421 --> 00:25:03.124
  • Leave behind a legacy of faith, wisdom, and compassion.
  • 00:25:03.124 --> 00:25:07.596
  • Announcer: the world may seem lost, but god's light has
  • 00:25:07.596 --> 00:25:10.265
  • Not dimmed, and neither has yours.
  • 00:25:10.265 --> 00:25:12.734
  • Request your copy of, "shine the light" when you give a generous
  • 00:25:12.734 --> 00:25:15.837
  • Gift to the "pathway to victory" salt and
  • 00:25:15.837 --> 00:25:18.039
  • Light matching challenge.
  • 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:19.941
  • And when your ministry gift is $100 or more, we'll also send
  • 00:25:19.941 --> 00:25:23.612
  • You the complete, "shine the light" teaching series on dvd
  • 00:25:23.612 --> 00:25:27.015
  • And audio disc.
  • 00:25:27.015 --> 00:25:28.350
  • Jeffress: light is of little value in the light.
  • 00:25:28.350 --> 00:25:31.252
  • If we're gonna be effective, we're effective for christ not
  • 00:25:31.252 --> 00:25:34.489
  • When we're around other light sources, other christians, it is
  • 00:25:34.489 --> 00:25:38.526
  • When we're in the darkness.
  • 00:25:38.526 --> 00:25:40.962
  • Jeffress: light has to confront the darkness.
  • 00:25:40.962 --> 00:25:43.665
  • Announcer: remember your
  • 00:25:43.665 --> 00:25:45.000
  • Gift today will have twice the
  • 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:46.368
  • Impact thanks to the "pathway
  • 00:25:46.368 --> 00:25:47.702
  • To victory" salt and light
  • 00:25:47.702 --> 00:25:49.037
  • Matching challenge.
  • 00:25:49.037 --> 00:25:50.872
  • Thank you for partnering with "pathway to victory" as we
  • 00:25:50.872 --> 00:25:53.575
  • Boldly proclaim the gospel and equip believers to shine god's
  • 00:25:53.575 --> 00:25:57.479
  • Light in a world that has lost its way.
  • 00:25:57.479 --> 00:26:00.448
  • Jeffress: without a doubt, elijah cared about what was
  • 00:26:02.283 --> 00:26:04.953
  • Happening in his world, and that same principle should drive our
  • 00:26:04.953 --> 00:26:08.990
  • Lives as well because god's mandate to care
  • 00:26:08.990 --> 00:26:12.494
  • For the culture didn't apply to elijah alone.
  • 00:26:12.494 --> 00:26:15.797
  • It applies to you and me as well.
  • 00:26:15.797 --> 00:26:18.333
  • Today, we began by understanding the biblical relationship
  • 00:26:18.333 --> 00:26:22.070
  • Between god, christians, and our culture, and next time, we'll
  • 00:26:22.070 --> 00:26:26.274
  • Look at the dire consequences that occur when
  • 00:26:26.274 --> 00:26:29.644
  • Christians fail to influence their culture.
  • 00:26:29.644 --> 00:26:32.914
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:32.914 --> 00:26:35.617
  • Series, "shine the light."
  • 00:26:35.617 --> 00:26:39.220
  • Jeffress: as my old professor howard hendricks
  • 00:26:39.287 --> 00:26:40.822
  • Said, "when elijah burst on the scene, he came
  • 00:26:40.822 --> 00:26:44.359
  • To a nation that was on the skids."
  • 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:48.229
  • He writes, "there was a mania of mediocrity.
  • 00:26:48.229 --> 00:26:52.233
  • Seven thousand believers were huddled
  • 00:26:52.233 --> 00:26:54.235
  • In a cave in silent protest.
  • 00:26:54.235 --> 00:26:56.237
  • 'we don't wanna get involved,' they cried, but this man,
  • 00:26:56.237 --> 00:26:59.507
  • Elijah, stands out like a spiritual colossus in the midst
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  • Of a generation of perverts and spiritual pygmies."
  • 00:27:04.946 --> 00:27:09.918
  • Announcer: set your dvr, and join us next time for part two
  • 00:27:09.918 --> 00:27:12.921
  • Of the message "determine to influence your
  • 00:27:12.921 --> 00:27:15.690
  • Culture," here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:15.690 --> 00:27:15.690