Robert Jeffress - Determine To Influence Your Culture (Part 2)

June 6, 2025 | 27:29

Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Determine To Influence Your Culture (Part 2) | June 6, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:00.356
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:00.824 --> 00:00:02.559
  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
  • 00:00:06.763 --> 00:00:09.132
  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with dr.
  • 00:00:09.132 --> 00:00:12.335
  • Robert jeffress.
  • 00:00:12.335 --> 00:00:14.737
  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress and welcome
  • 00:00:14.737 --> 00:00:16.706
  • Again to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:16.706 --> 00:00:18.875
  • With our world as dark and as lost as it is, it's tempting to
  • 00:00:18.875 --> 00:00:23.246
  • Live in a holy huddle, only interacting with christians
  • 00:00:23.246 --> 00:00:26.916
  • Around us, but elijah didn't shy away from being an influence in
  • 00:00:26.916 --> 00:00:31.254
  • His culture and neither should we.
  • 00:00:31.254 --> 00:00:34.157
  • Today, i wanna urge you to take a page out of elijah's book and
  • 00:00:34.157 --> 00:00:38.428
  • Be an influencer for god in your own setting.
  • 00:00:38.428 --> 00:00:41.931
  • My message is titled, "determine to influence your culture" on
  • 00:00:41.931 --> 00:00:46.402
  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:46.402 --> 00:00:50.039
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:50.039 --> 00:00:51.875
  • ♪ behold the lamb, ♪
  • 00:00:51.875 --> 00:00:57.780
  • ♪ behold the lamb, ♪
  • 00:00:57.847 --> 00:01:05.688
  • ♪ slain from the foundation ♪
  • 00:01:05.688 --> 00:01:11.961
  • ♪ of the world. ♪
  • 00:01:11.961 --> 00:01:16.633
  • ♪ for sinners crucified, ♪
  • 00:01:16.633 --> 00:01:23.406
  • ♪ o holy sacrifice. ♪
  • 00:01:23.406 --> 00:01:29.612
  • ♪ behold the lamb of god, ♪
  • 00:01:29.612 --> 00:01:36.085
  • ♪ behold the lamb. ♪
  • 00:01:36.085 --> 00:01:45.161
  • ♪ crown him, ♪
  • 00:01:45.161 --> 00:01:51.935
  • ♪ crown him. ♪
  • 00:01:52.001 --> 00:01:58.174
  • ♪ worthy is the lamb. ♪
  • 00:01:58.174 --> 00:02:08.218
  • ♪ behold the lamb, ♪
  • 00:02:10.787 --> 00:02:16.092
  • ♪ behold the lamb. ♪
  • 00:02:16.726 --> 00:02:24.834
  • ♪ slain from the foundation ♪
  • 00:02:24.834 --> 00:02:30.907
  • ♪ of the world. ♪
  • 00:02:30.907 --> 00:02:36.546
  • ♪ for sinners crucified, ♪
  • 00:02:36.546 --> 00:02:42.685
  • ♪ o holy sacrifice. ♪
  • 00:02:42.685 --> 00:02:49.292
  • ♪ behold the lamb of god, ♪
  • 00:02:49.292 --> 00:02:56.199
  • ♪ behold the lamb of god. ♪
  • 00:02:56.266 --> 00:03:02.205
  • ♪ behold the lamb of god, ♪
  • 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:10.446
  • ♪ behold the lamb. ♪
  • 00:03:10.446 --> 00:03:19.956
  • ♪ behold the lamb, ♪
  • 00:03:22.125 --> 00:03:28.164
  • ♪ behold the lamb. ♪
  • 00:03:29.332 --> 00:03:43.379
  • Announcer: jesus declared, "you are the salt of the earth
  • 00:03:47.550 --> 00:03:50.253
  • And the light of the world."
  • 00:03:50.253 --> 00:03:51.688
  • With so much darkness creeping into our schools and
  • 00:03:51.688 --> 00:03:54.357
  • Communities, now is the time to answer that calling.
  • 00:03:54.357 --> 00:03:57.694
  • Become the salt and light
  • 00:03:57.694 --> 00:03:59.028
  • The world desperately needs through
  • 00:03:59.028 --> 00:04:00.663
  • The "pathway to victory" salt
  • 00:04:00.663 --> 00:04:02.098
  • And light matching challenge.
  • 00:04:02.098 --> 00:04:03.800
  • Your gift today, doubled in ministry impact, will empower
  • 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:07.437
  • "pathway to victory" to proclaim the gospel and stand for
  • 00:04:07.437 --> 00:04:10.506
  • Biblical truth.
  • 00:04:10.506 --> 00:04:11.874
  • Push back and hold strong against moral decline by joining
  • 00:04:11.874 --> 00:04:15.144
  • The salt and light matching challenge.
  • 00:04:15.144 --> 00:04:17.180
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:04:19.482 --> 00:04:26.089
  • Jeffress: you know, god left us here not to isolate ourselves
  • 00:04:26.089 --> 00:04:30.927
  • From the culture, not to identify with the culture, but
  • 00:04:30.927 --> 00:04:34.030
  • To influence the culture.
  • 00:04:34.030 --> 00:04:36.699
  • And yet i think you'd have to agree with me on the whole,
  • 00:04:36.699 --> 00:04:40.169
  • Christians aren't doing that great of a job of influence the
  • 00:04:40.169 --> 00:04:42.972
  • Culture, are we?
  • 00:04:42.972 --> 00:04:44.374
  • I mean, look at what's happening.
  • 00:04:44.374 --> 00:04:46.209
  • And that's amazing.
  • 00:04:46.209 --> 00:04:47.577
  • When you see our culture unraveling with as many
  • 00:04:47.577 --> 00:04:50.012
  • Christians as there are in this country supposedly, you know,
  • 00:04:50.012 --> 00:04:53.349
  • One survey says that 1/4 of the us population claims to be
  • 00:04:53.349 --> 00:04:58.321
  • Evangelical christian.
  • 00:04:58.321 --> 00:05:00.590
  • 1/4 of 300 million would be 75 million people claim to
  • 00:05:00.590 --> 00:05:06.496
  • Be christians.
  • 00:05:06.496 --> 00:05:09.265
  • Somebody put that in perspective pretty well.
  • 00:05:09.265 --> 00:05:12.001
  • You know, a pound of meat would probably be influenced by a
  • 00:05:12.001 --> 00:05:16.706
  • Quarter pound of salt, don't you think?
  • 00:05:16.706 --> 00:05:20.410
  • It doesn't take much salt to impact meat.
  • 00:05:20.410 --> 00:05:25.081
  • If you had a quarter pound of salt, you could really flavor a
  • 00:05:25.081 --> 00:05:28.251
  • Pound of meat.
  • 00:05:28.251 --> 00:05:29.619
  • If a quarter of our population are christians, why are we
  • 00:05:29.619 --> 00:05:32.989
  • Having zero influence on this culture?
  • 00:05:32.989 --> 00:05:37.360
  • I think there are two reasons that i wanna mention to
  • 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:39.862
  • You today.
  • 00:05:39.862 --> 00:05:41.197
  • One reason is some christians have become what i call
  • 00:05:41.197 --> 00:05:43.699
  • Silo saints.
  • 00:05:43.699 --> 00:05:45.968
  • Instead of being salt that penetrates the meat, flavors the
  • 00:05:45.968 --> 00:05:50.206
  • Meat, preserves the meat, these christians remain in the salt
  • 00:05:50.206 --> 00:05:54.210
  • Shaker totally isolated from the meat.
  • 00:05:54.210 --> 00:05:57.947
  • They become silo saints and they actually pride themselves
  • 00:05:57.947 --> 00:06:00.917
  • On that.
  • 00:06:00.917 --> 00:06:02.285
  • And so i don't want to get involved in the culture.
  • 00:06:02.285 --> 00:06:04.120
  • I could pollute myself or i could pollute my family if i
  • 00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:06.923
  • Do that.
  • 00:06:06.923 --> 00:06:08.257
  • In fact, some christians have even come up with a theological
  • 00:06:08.257 --> 00:06:11.194
  • Justification for what they're doing.
  • 00:06:11.194 --> 00:06:12.962
  • A popular book right now is called "the benedict option."
  • 00:06:12.962 --> 00:06:16.165
  • I hate even giving the book a plug 'cause it is so insidious,
  • 00:06:16.165 --> 00:06:19.735
  • But it's written by a christian.
  • 00:06:19.735 --> 00:06:21.437
  • And he claims that christians ought to follow the example of
  • 00:06:21.437 --> 00:06:24.040
  • That monastic church leader, saint benedict, who basically
  • 00:06:24.040 --> 00:06:27.877
  • Said to his followers, "let's just get in our holy huddle and
  • 00:06:27.877 --> 00:06:31.314
  • Try to encourage one another in these dark days and pray that
  • 00:06:31.314 --> 00:06:34.717
  • Bad people don't do anything evil to us."
  • 00:06:34.717 --> 00:06:37.620
  • Is that what god has called us to do?
  • 00:06:37.620 --> 00:06:39.956
  • No, but there are many christians who fall for that and
  • 00:06:39.956 --> 00:06:42.792
  • Even justify that.
  • 00:06:42.792 --> 00:06:45.328
  • Not long ago i was on a panel discussion at a seminary and
  • 00:06:45.328 --> 00:06:49.232
  • During the q&a time, one of the students asked me this
  • 00:06:49.232 --> 00:06:51.868
  • Question, "dr. jeffress,
  • 00:06:51.868 --> 00:06:53.236
  • Why do you feel that conservative christians have the
  • 00:06:53.236 --> 00:06:58.140
  • Right to impose their values on a secular pluralistic society?"
  • 00:06:58.140 --> 00:07:05.548
  • Why do conservative christians have the right to impose their
  • 00:07:05.548 --> 00:07:09.385
  • Values on a secular society?
  • 00:07:09.385 --> 00:07:12.588
  • And my answer to him was, "look, society is always gonna be
  • 00:07:12.588 --> 00:07:17.226
  • Influenced by somebody's set of values.
  • 00:07:17.226 --> 00:07:19.896
  • The only question is, whose values are going to impact
  • 00:07:19.896 --> 00:07:22.732
  • The society?"
  • 00:07:22.732 --> 00:07:24.200
  • Some set of values impact any culture.
  • 00:07:24.200 --> 00:07:26.903
  • For the first, and i gave him an illustration.
  • 00:07:26.903 --> 00:07:28.738
  • I said, for example, for the first 160 years of our nation's
  • 00:07:28.738 --> 00:07:33.009
  • History, we said that marriage should be between one man and
  • 00:07:33.009 --> 00:07:37.713
  • One woman.
  • 00:07:37.713 --> 00:07:39.081
  • That was the biblical principle.
  • 00:07:39.081 --> 00:07:40.683
  • One man and one woman.
  • 00:07:40.683 --> 00:07:42.018
  • In 1885, the supreme court, murphy versus ramsey said,
  • 00:07:42.018 --> 00:07:45.421
  • Marriage is a holy a state of god consisting of the union of
  • 00:07:45.421 --> 00:07:49.458
  • One man and one woman.
  • 00:07:49.458 --> 00:07:51.761
  • That was our value that was imposed, if you will, by our
  • 00:07:51.761 --> 00:07:55.898
  • Adherence to the judeo-christian belief.
  • 00:07:55.898 --> 00:07:58.501
  • But then suddenly in 2015, the supreme court decided to change
  • 00:07:58.501 --> 00:08:02.271
  • That in obergefell versus hodges.
  • 00:08:02.271 --> 00:08:04.740
  • They said we're gonna have a new set of values that influence
  • 00:08:04.740 --> 00:08:07.743
  • Our policy.
  • 00:08:07.743 --> 00:08:09.078
  • The new value is marriage is whatever you want it to be.
  • 00:08:09.078 --> 00:08:13.282
  • And the supreme court imposed that value on our nation.
  • 00:08:13.282 --> 00:08:18.921
  • And believe me, it is imposed on us.
  • 00:08:18.921 --> 00:08:22.892
  • If you don't subscribe to that value, if you don't bow down to
  • 00:08:22.892 --> 00:08:26.729
  • It, you face fines or even bankruptcy in your work.
  • 00:08:26.729 --> 00:08:30.800
  • So remember this, somebody's values are already always gonna
  • 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:34.270
  • Be imposed on the society.
  • 00:08:34.270 --> 00:08:35.638
  • It's just a question of whose values are going to be imposed.
  • 00:08:35.638 --> 00:08:39.875
  • Silo saints don't understand that.
  • 00:08:39.875 --> 00:08:42.478
  • You see, they believe what they believe is first of all, because
  • 00:08:42.478 --> 00:08:45.114
  • They see a false dichotomy between the sacred and
  • 00:08:45.114 --> 00:08:48.150
  • The secular.
  • 00:08:48.150 --> 00:08:49.518
  • They say, "now the church is sacred, but the government, oh,
  • 00:08:49.518 --> 00:08:53.723
  • That's secular, that's bad."
  • 00:08:53.723 --> 00:08:55.992
  • As we've seen, god actually designed both institutions to
  • 00:08:55.992 --> 00:08:59.161
  • Carry out his purpose.
  • 00:08:59.161 --> 00:09:00.663
  • He designed the church and he designed government and this
  • 00:09:00.663 --> 00:09:04.800
  • Idea that the church should not have any influence on
  • 00:09:04.800 --> 00:09:07.737
  • Governmental policy, that is something only infidels and
  • 00:09:07.737 --> 00:09:11.440
  • Unbelievers really believe or should believe.
  • 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:14.777
  • You know, that's why, by the way, liberals always are happy
  • 00:09:14.777 --> 00:09:17.613
  • To talk about freedom of worship.
  • 00:09:17.613 --> 00:09:19.515
  • Oh, we believe in the freedom of worship, but they never talk
  • 00:09:19.515 --> 00:09:22.785
  • About what the constitution says, the free exercise
  • 00:09:22.785 --> 00:09:25.721
  • Of religion.
  • 00:09:25.721 --> 00:09:27.056
  • You see, the freedom of worship means basically these infidels,
  • 00:09:27.056 --> 00:09:30.493
  • They don't care what we do on sunday morning at 11 o'clock in
  • 00:09:30.493 --> 00:09:33.362
  • Our own church or saturday in our synagogue.
  • 00:09:33.362 --> 00:09:35.731
  • They're okay with that.
  • 00:09:35.731 --> 00:09:37.066
  • If those nutcases want to worship some imaginary being,
  • 00:09:37.066 --> 00:09:39.702
  • That's fine.
  • 00:09:39.702 --> 00:09:41.137
  • They say, "we're all for the freedom of worship," but that's
  • 00:09:41.137 --> 00:09:43.506
  • Not what the constitution says.
  • 00:09:43.506 --> 00:09:45.541
  • The first amendment guarantees the free exercise of our faith,
  • 00:09:45.541 --> 00:09:50.946
  • Not just on sunday mornings, but in every part of our life.
  • 00:09:50.946 --> 00:09:55.151
  • But it's the infidels, the secularists who have drawn this
  • 00:09:55.151 --> 00:09:58.187
  • False separation between faith and everyday life.
  • 00:09:58.187 --> 00:10:03.292
  • These silo saints also have a false understanding of
  • 00:10:03.292 --> 00:10:06.128
  • God's sovereignty.
  • 00:10:06.128 --> 00:10:07.496
  • They think god is only interested in the church and
  • 00:10:07.496 --> 00:10:11.701
  • In christians.
  • 00:10:11.701 --> 00:10:13.235
  • His rule is limited to church and to the christians.
  • 00:10:13.235 --> 00:10:16.906
  • Is that what the bible says?
  • 00:10:16.906 --> 00:10:18.240
  • Listen to psalm 103 verse 19.
  • 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:20.743
  • "the lord has established his throne in the heavens; and his
  • 00:10:20.743 --> 00:10:24.380
  • Sovereignty rules over all."
  • 00:10:24.380 --> 00:10:27.950
  • God is not just the ruler over the church.
  • 00:10:27.950 --> 00:10:31.320
  • He's the ruler over government, he's the ruler over
  • 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:33.856
  • All creation.
  • 00:10:33.856 --> 00:10:35.224
  • And while it's true, not everybody recognizes that rule,
  • 00:10:35.224 --> 00:10:38.260
  • It's god's will that people submit to his will, not just in
  • 00:10:38.260 --> 00:10:43.866
  • The future sometime, but right now.
  • 00:10:43.866 --> 00:10:47.369
  • It is god's desire that every people, every nation submit
  • 00:10:47.369 --> 00:10:53.075
  • Themselves to god's rule now, not in the future.
  • 00:10:53.075 --> 00:10:57.947
  • If you don't believe that, how many of you have ever said the
  • 00:10:57.947 --> 00:11:01.283
  • Lord's prayer before?
  • 00:11:01.283 --> 00:11:02.818
  • Come on, admit to it.
  • 00:11:02.818 --> 00:11:05.121
  • What have you really prayed if you've prayed the lord's prayer?
  • 00:11:05.121 --> 00:11:08.257
  • Listen to this.
  • 00:11:08.257 --> 00:11:09.592
  • Matthew 6, verses 9 and 10.
  • 00:11:09.592 --> 00:11:10.960
  • "our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
  • 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:13.763
  • Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is
  • 00:11:13.763 --> 00:11:20.369
  • In heaven."
  • 00:11:20.369 --> 00:11:21.904
  • When you're praying for the lord's will to be done, you're
  • 00:11:21.904 --> 00:11:24.940
  • Not talking about in the future, you're saying, "god, i want your
  • 00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:28.811
  • Will being done right now on earth as it's being done right
  • 00:11:28.811 --> 00:11:33.549
  • Now in heaven."
  • 00:11:33.549 --> 00:11:35.017
  • Let me ask you something, do you think it's part of god's will
  • 00:11:35.017 --> 00:11:38.387
  • For 1.3 million children to be butchered in the womb every year
  • 00:11:38.387 --> 00:11:42.358
  • Through abortion?
  • 00:11:42.358 --> 00:11:43.692
  • Is that part of god's will?
  • 00:11:43.692 --> 00:11:45.861
  • Is it god's will for christians to be persecuted?
  • 00:11:45.861 --> 00:11:50.599
  • Not just marginalized, but persecuted, put in boiling oil,
  • 00:11:50.599 --> 00:11:54.770
  • Having their heads chopped off in the middle east around
  • 00:11:54.770 --> 00:11:57.740
  • The world.
  • 00:11:57.740 --> 00:11:59.074
  • Is that part of god's will, the persecution of his followers?
  • 00:11:59.074 --> 00:12:02.444
  • Is it god's will for immorality to continue and the marriage to
  • 00:12:02.444 --> 00:12:06.415
  • Be redefined?
  • 00:12:06.415 --> 00:12:07.750
  • Is that part of god's will?
  • 00:12:07.750 --> 00:12:09.118
  • Of course it's not.
  • 00:12:09.118 --> 00:12:10.953
  • And the idea that we can just remain cloistered together and
  • 00:12:10.953 --> 00:12:14.190
  • Not to try to impact our culture for good is an idea that is
  • 00:12:14.190 --> 00:12:17.393
  • Absolutely foreign to christianity.
  • 00:12:17.393 --> 00:12:20.896
  • Fact is, spiritual silo people are isolating themselves from
  • 00:12:20.896 --> 00:12:26.802
  • The culture.
  • 00:12:26.802 --> 00:12:28.170
  • That's why they have no impact on the culture.
  • 00:12:28.170 --> 00:12:30.339
  • They live in their silos.
  • 00:12:30.339 --> 00:12:32.308
  • They are silo saints.
  • 00:12:32.308 --> 00:12:34.910
  • But there's another group of christians who are having no
  • 00:12:34.910 --> 00:12:38.547
  • Impact on this world because they are what i call
  • 00:12:38.547 --> 00:12:42.017
  • Spiritual sellouts.
  • 00:12:42.017 --> 00:12:44.520
  • No, they haven't isolated themselves from the culture.
  • 00:12:44.520 --> 00:12:47.556
  • Instead, they have identified with the culture.
  • 00:12:47.556 --> 00:12:51.327
  • They have become so much like the world you can't tell the
  • 00:12:51.327 --> 00:12:54.730
  • Difference between these christians and unbelievers.
  • 00:12:54.730 --> 00:12:57.499
  • They have adopted the world's value system.
  • 00:12:57.499 --> 00:13:00.135
  • They are like the salt jesus talked about in matthew 5 that
  • 00:13:00.135 --> 00:13:03.839
  • Has lost its saltiness, it's become worthless and deserves to
  • 00:13:03.839 --> 00:13:09.478
  • Be thrown out.
  • 00:13:09.478 --> 00:13:10.813
  • That's what he's talking about.
  • 00:13:10.813 --> 00:13:12.181
  • Salt that has lost its savor, that has lost its bite, it's
  • 00:13:12.181 --> 00:13:15.985
  • Become diluted and therefore it is worthless.
  • 00:13:15.985 --> 00:13:19.622
  • Many christians are like that.
  • 00:13:19.622 --> 00:13:21.891
  • They refuse to recognize sin.
  • 00:13:21.891 --> 00:13:24.059
  • They have a reluctance to recognize sin in the culture
  • 00:13:24.059 --> 00:13:28.864
  • Because frankly, they don't recognize sin in their own life.
  • 00:13:28.864 --> 00:13:32.001
  • They have so adopted the world's value system.
  • 00:13:32.001 --> 00:13:35.437
  • One christian philosopher described the process of how sin
  • 00:13:35.437 --> 00:13:39.408
  • Has become acceptable to the world and even to christians
  • 00:13:39.408 --> 00:13:42.678
  • Like this.
  • 00:13:42.678 --> 00:13:44.280
  • He says, "as any sin passes through its stages from
  • 00:13:44.280 --> 00:13:48.517
  • Temptation to toleration to approval, its name is first
  • 00:13:48.517 --> 00:13:53.822
  • Euphemized, then avoided, then forgotten.
  • 00:13:53.822 --> 00:13:59.261
  • A colleague tells me that some of his fellow scholars called
  • 00:13:59.261 --> 00:14:03.465
  • Child molestation quote, "intergenerational intimacy,"
  • 00:14:03.465 --> 00:14:08.570
  • End of quote.
  • 00:14:08.570 --> 00:14:10.005
  • That's a euphemism.
  • 00:14:10.005 --> 00:14:11.807
  • A good-hearted editor tried to talk me out of using the
  • 00:14:11.807 --> 00:14:14.977
  • Term sodomy.
  • 00:14:14.977 --> 00:14:17.212
  • That's avoidance.
  • 00:14:17.212 --> 00:14:19.415
  • My students don't know the word fornication at all.
  • 00:14:19.415 --> 00:14:23.585
  • That's forgetfulness.
  • 00:14:23.585 --> 00:14:25.955
  • If we can't truly call sin sin, if we can't label it for what it
  • 00:14:25.955 --> 00:14:31.727
  • Is, sodomy, fornication, molestation, no wonder we have
  • 00:14:31.727 --> 00:14:38.067
  • Become like the world.
  • 00:14:38.067 --> 00:14:40.502
  • How many churches today do you know of that will call sin sin?
  • 00:14:40.502 --> 00:14:46.375
  • They avoid it and then they forget it.
  • 00:14:46.375 --> 00:14:48.811
  • A friend of mine says it very well.
  • 00:14:48.811 --> 00:14:50.446
  • "the sins of the culture soon become the sins of christians
  • 00:14:50.446 --> 00:14:54.783
  • And the sins of christians become the sin of the church."
  • 00:14:54.783 --> 00:14:59.722
  • One reason some christians are not making any difference in the
  • 00:14:59.722 --> 00:15:03.592
  • World is that they are spiritual sellouts.
  • 00:15:03.592 --> 00:15:05.995
  • They have sold out to an ungodly lifestyle.
  • 00:15:05.995 --> 00:15:08.530
  • They can't point out sin in the culture because they don't
  • 00:15:08.530 --> 00:15:11.200
  • Recognize it in their own life or because of their adherence to
  • 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:15.137
  • Political correctness.
  • 00:15:15.137 --> 00:15:17.072
  • That is, they won't speak out against sin because they don't
  • 00:15:17.072 --> 00:15:20.943
  • Wanna be identified as a religious fanatic.
  • 00:15:20.943 --> 00:15:24.680
  • They're afraid of any personal loss and popularity or job
  • 00:15:24.680 --> 00:15:28.517
  • Promotion or even harmony in their own home that taking a
  • 00:15:28.517 --> 00:15:33.455
  • Stand for christ will cause.
  • 00:15:33.455 --> 00:15:35.591
  • So what happens?
  • 00:15:35.591 --> 00:15:37.192
  • Whenever they are with a christian who will take such a
  • 00:15:37.192 --> 00:15:40.396
  • Stand, instead of supporting that christian, they back away
  • 00:15:40.396 --> 00:15:44.700
  • As far as they can, not wanting to have any of that
  • 00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:48.070
  • Negative fallout.
  • 00:15:48.070 --> 00:15:50.305
  • You see it all of the time.
  • 00:15:50.305 --> 00:15:52.775
  • And remember peter, how he said, "lord, i'm with you to the end."
  • 00:15:52.775 --> 00:15:57.980
  • But then when the heat started being turned up on jesus and he
  • 00:15:57.980 --> 00:16:01.016
  • Started being arrested and going to the trials, what does it say?
  • 00:16:01.016 --> 00:16:05.421
  • Peter started following the lord, what?
  • 00:16:05.421 --> 00:16:07.689
  • From a distance. from a distance.
  • 00:16:07.689 --> 00:16:10.459
  • He wanted to keep his options open in case this thing didn't
  • 00:16:10.459 --> 00:16:12.761
  • Turn out too well.
  • 00:16:12.761 --> 00:16:14.763
  • It's a lot of--that's the same sentiment of a lot of
  • 00:16:14.763 --> 00:16:17.666
  • Christians today.
  • 00:16:17.666 --> 00:16:19.334
  • You know, oh we're with you, brother, we're with you until
  • 00:16:19.334 --> 00:16:23.305
  • There's some negative fallout and then these christians fail
  • 00:16:23.305 --> 00:16:26.575
  • To speak up because they don't want to be identified with
  • 00:16:26.575 --> 00:16:30.579
  • Something that might cause them a problem.
  • 00:16:30.579 --> 00:16:33.315
  • I told you last time that one of the most memorable experiences
  • 00:16:33.315 --> 00:16:37.286
  • Of my life was preaching at the inauguration.
  • 00:16:37.286 --> 00:16:41.523
  • But an equally memorable day was what happened the day before
  • 00:16:41.523 --> 00:16:46.195
  • The inauguration.
  • 00:16:46.195 --> 00:16:48.230
  • On that thursday night before the inauguration, i was walking
  • 00:16:48.230 --> 00:16:52.301
  • Into the studios of fox news in washington dc and my cell phone
  • 00:16:52.301 --> 00:16:57.840
  • Started to ring.
  • 00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:59.341
  • So i answered the phone and the person on the other end said,
  • 00:16:59.341 --> 00:17:02.344
  • "you just need to know that the breaking news on cnn and nbc is
  • 00:17:02.344 --> 00:17:08.417
  • That president trump has chosen, a quote, 'inflammatory pastor
  • 00:17:08.417 --> 00:17:13.722
  • Who is noted for his anti-gay and anti-muslim comments to
  • 00:17:13.722 --> 00:17:18.060
  • Lead the service tomorrow.'"
  • 00:17:18.060 --> 00:17:20.262
  • That would be me, by the way, that's--
  • 00:17:20.262 --> 00:17:25.701
  • And so when i got that news, i'm telling you the blood drained
  • 00:17:25.701 --> 00:17:28.470
  • From my face, i was getting ready to go
  • 00:17:28.470 --> 00:17:29.838
  • On television to talk about what i
  • 00:17:29.838 --> 00:17:31.540
  • Was gonna be preaching-- that day, that next day.
  • 00:17:31.540 --> 00:17:34.843
  • I knew i wasn't gonna be preaching anything.
  • 00:17:34.843 --> 00:17:37.513
  • I expected that cell phone to ring at any moment and the
  • 00:17:37.513 --> 00:17:40.649
  • Chairman of the inauguration committee to say, "thank you for
  • 00:17:40.649 --> 00:17:44.286
  • Being willing to do this, but we highly recommend you bow out."
  • 00:17:44.286 --> 00:17:50.526
  • And i wouldn't have blamed them, by the way, for doing that.
  • 00:17:50.526 --> 00:17:53.228
  • They didn't need that kind of baggage on such a
  • 00:17:53.228 --> 00:17:55.397
  • Festive occasion.
  • 00:17:55.397 --> 00:17:57.766
  • Well, my phone did ring and it was the person in charge.
  • 00:17:57.766 --> 00:18:04.039
  • And they said, "pastor, we just want you to know we're standing
  • 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:07.709
  • With you on this.
  • 00:18:07.709 --> 00:18:09.411
  • We're standing with you."
  • 00:18:09.411 --> 00:18:11.680
  • And, by the way, it's not because they necessarily agreed
  • 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:17.686
  • With everything i believe, not at all, but they also recognized
  • 00:18:17.686 --> 00:18:21.890
  • That i represented the beliefs of millions of christians.
  • 00:18:21.890 --> 00:18:26.428
  • Christians who believe what the bible says.
  • 00:18:26.428 --> 00:18:29.498
  • Now what stood out to me was they were willing to take a
  • 00:18:29.498 --> 00:18:33.335
  • Stand that a lot of christian leaders aren't willing to take.
  • 00:18:33.335 --> 00:18:37.673
  • They had the boldness to take a stand i've seen many, many
  • 00:18:37.673 --> 00:18:41.443
  • Christians shrink away from.
  • 00:18:41.443 --> 00:18:42.878
  • I have to tell you one of the great disappointments of my
  • 00:18:42.878 --> 00:18:45.280
  • Ministry through the years have been friends, leaders in the
  • 00:18:45.280 --> 00:18:50.018
  • Church who when the temperature started to get a little hot,
  • 00:18:50.018 --> 00:18:53.789
  • They shrinked away.
  • 00:18:53.789 --> 00:18:55.390
  • They found some reason to quit coming to church.
  • 00:18:55.390 --> 00:18:58.660
  • They found some reason to join another fellowship that wasn't
  • 00:18:58.660 --> 00:19:01.597
  • Quite as controversial.
  • 00:19:01.597 --> 00:19:03.899
  • By the way, paul knew something of that disappointment.
  • 00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:07.236
  • In 2 timothy 4:10, he writes, "demas, having loved this
  • 00:19:07.236 --> 00:19:11.440
  • Present world, has deserted me and has gone to thessalonica."
  • 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:15.911
  • Demas was one of those, "i'm with you, paul, until the
  • 00:19:15.911 --> 00:19:18.146
  • Very end."
  • 00:19:18.146 --> 00:19:19.948
  • Or until it becomes unpopular.
  • 00:19:19.948 --> 00:19:22.184
  • Demas loved his freedom more than he loved the apostle paul
  • 00:19:22.184 --> 00:19:25.821
  • In christ.
  • 00:19:25.821 --> 00:19:27.256
  • You know, both of these reasons explain why we don't make a
  • 00:19:27.256 --> 00:19:29.992
  • Bigger difference in our culture.
  • 00:19:29.992 --> 00:19:32.027
  • Some christians have isolated themselves by becoming
  • 00:19:32.027 --> 00:19:34.730
  • Silo saints.
  • 00:19:34.730 --> 00:19:36.098
  • Some christians have identified with the culture by being
  • 00:19:36.098 --> 00:19:39.001
  • Spiritual sellouts, but of these two extremes, you know, the one
  • 00:19:39.001 --> 00:19:42.337
  • I think is the most dangerous.
  • 00:19:42.337 --> 00:19:44.473
  • It's the isolation from the culture.
  • 00:19:44.473 --> 00:19:46.908
  • I mean, the fact is i don't know any christian who tries to
  • 00:19:46.908 --> 00:19:50.479
  • Justify his being like the culture with a bible verse.
  • 00:19:50.479 --> 00:19:53.715
  • Well, here's the verse that explains why i commit adultery.
  • 00:19:53.715 --> 00:19:56.518
  • Here's the verse that explains why i'm involved in fornication.
  • 00:19:56.518 --> 00:19:59.788
  • And yet it's the isolationists who say, "oh yes, i'm doing the
  • 00:19:59.788 --> 00:20:03.392
  • Right thing by not sullying myself, getting involved
  • 00:20:03.392 --> 00:20:06.228
  • With non-christians.
  • 00:20:06.228 --> 00:20:07.996
  • After all, if i get involved with non-christians, i'm gonna
  • 00:20:07.996 --> 00:20:11.433
  • Become like them."
  • 00:20:11.433 --> 00:20:13.302
  • You know, in john chapter 17 beginning with verse 11, i want
  • 00:20:13.302 --> 00:20:17.639
  • You to listen to this prayer that jesus prayed, not just for
  • 00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:22.044
  • His apostles, but all who would come to know him and centuries
  • 00:20:22.044 --> 00:20:25.647
  • Later through the witness of the apostles.
  • 00:20:25.647 --> 00:20:27.983
  • Did you know this is the prayer that jesus prayed for you the
  • 00:20:27.983 --> 00:20:32.154
  • Night before he was crucified?
  • 00:20:32.154 --> 00:20:34.289
  • And look at it with me.
  • 00:20:34.289 --> 00:20:35.657
  • John 17 verse 11 and then down to verses 14 and 17.
  • 00:20:35.657 --> 00:20:39.761
  • He says to god, "now i am departing from the world; they
  • 00:20:39.761 --> 00:20:43.398
  • Are staying in this world, but i am coming to you.
  • 00:20:43.398 --> 00:20:47.202
  • And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world,
  • 00:20:47.202 --> 00:20:51.239
  • Just as i do not belong to the world.
  • 00:20:51.239 --> 00:20:53.709
  • I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep
  • 00:20:53.709 --> 00:20:58.513
  • Them safe from the evil one.
  • 00:20:58.513 --> 00:21:00.682
  • They do not belong to this world any more than i do.
  • 00:21:00.682 --> 00:21:03.819
  • Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which
  • 00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:09.558
  • Is truth."
  • 00:21:09.558 --> 00:21:12.294
  • Notice jesus said, "i'm not asking you to isolate my
  • 00:21:12.294 --> 00:21:16.231
  • Followers from the world.
  • 00:21:16.231 --> 00:21:17.632
  • Don't take them out, then they can't do any good.
  • 00:21:17.632 --> 00:21:21.036
  • And i certainly don't want them to identify and become like
  • 00:21:21.036 --> 00:21:23.939
  • The world.
  • 00:21:23.939 --> 00:21:25.273
  • They're not of the world and that's why god, i'm praying,
  • 00:21:25.273 --> 00:21:26.775
  • Make them holy, separate apart from the world."
  • 00:21:26.775 --> 00:21:31.012
  • His prayer was that we would influence the world.
  • 00:21:31.012 --> 00:21:35.784
  • Jesus understood and modeled how to do that, how to influence the
  • 00:21:35.784 --> 00:21:39.888
  • World without isolation, without identification.
  • 00:21:39.888 --> 00:21:44.493
  • Elijah is a perfect illustration of somebody who influenced his
  • 00:21:44.493 --> 00:21:48.663
  • Culture rather than isolating or identifying with it.
  • 00:21:48.663 --> 00:21:53.769
  • As my old professor howard hendrick said, "when elijah
  • 00:21:53.769 --> 00:21:58.340
  • Burst on the scene, he came to a nation that was on the skids."
  • 00:21:58.340 --> 00:22:03.712
  • He writes, "there was a mania of mediocrity, 7000 believers were
  • 00:22:03.712 --> 00:22:09.217
  • Huddled in a cave in silent protest.
  • 00:22:09.217 --> 00:22:11.720
  • 'we don't want to get involved,' they cried, but this man, elijah
  • 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:15.824
  • Stands out like a spiritual colossus in the midst of a
  • 00:22:15.824 --> 00:22:21.096
  • Generation of perverts and spiritual pygmies."
  • 00:22:21.096 --> 00:22:25.600
  • I love that phrase.
  • 00:22:25.600 --> 00:22:28.003
  • Doesn't that describe the world in which we live?
  • 00:22:28.003 --> 00:22:31.306
  • A world filled with perverts and spiritual pygmies.
  • 00:22:31.306 --> 00:22:36.044
  • And yet in the middle of that, elijah was a giant.
  • 00:22:36.044 --> 00:22:40.215
  • He was a giant because of three convictions that shaped
  • 00:22:40.215 --> 00:22:44.319
  • His life.
  • 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:46.154
  • And next time we're going to discover elijah's three
  • 00:22:46.154 --> 00:22:49.458
  • Convictions that cannot only transform your life, but will
  • 00:22:49.458 --> 00:22:53.695
  • Transform your world as well.
  • 00:22:53.695 --> 00:22:55.530
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:22:55.530 --> 00:23:01.102
  • Jeffress: maybe you feel unsettled in this culture or
  • 00:23:01.102 --> 00:23:04.139
  • You're beginning to feel like an outsider as a christian.
  • 00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:07.676
  • Well, that's because god is preparing you to make an impact.
  • 00:23:07.676 --> 00:23:11.580
  • It's impossible to be at peace with a culture that is clearly
  • 00:23:11.580 --> 00:23:15.884
  • At odds with god.
  • 00:23:15.884 --> 00:23:18.019
  • And if you're ready to begin making a difference for him, let
  • 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:21.623
  • Me urge you to participate in our salt and light
  • 00:23:21.623 --> 00:23:25.026
  • Matching challenge.
  • 00:23:25.026 --> 00:23:26.561
  • From now through july 6, every gift you give to "pathway to
  • 00:23:26.561 --> 00:23:30.232
  • Victory" will be matched by a group of friends and therefore
  • 00:23:30.232 --> 00:23:34.269
  • Doubled in impact until we reach the goal of $1 million.
  • 00:23:34.269 --> 00:23:39.007
  • That's a large number for any one person, but through the
  • 00:23:39.007 --> 00:23:42.410
  • Combined efforts of our "pathway to victory" family, i'm
  • 00:23:42.410 --> 00:23:46.047
  • Confident we can reach and even exceed this goal.
  • 00:23:46.047 --> 00:23:49.951
  • Together let's be the salt and light our world desperately
  • 00:23:49.951 --> 00:23:53.421
  • Needs, preserving what is good and driving out darkness in a
  • 00:23:53.421 --> 00:23:57.893
  • World that grows morally darker by the day.
  • 00:23:57.893 --> 00:24:02.330
  • I believe that when we proclaim the gospel and stand for
  • 00:24:02.330 --> 00:24:05.700
  • Biblical truth, we can push back against the moral decline in
  • 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:09.571
  • Our world.
  • 00:24:09.571 --> 00:24:10.906
  • Thank you in advance for your generous support of the ministry
  • 00:24:10.906 --> 00:24:14.509
  • Of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:14.509 --> 00:24:16.711
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:24:16.711 --> 00:24:18.046
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:18.046 --> 00:24:22.284
  • Announcer: the moral decline in today's world can
  • 00:24:22.350 --> 00:24:24.352
  • Feel overwhelming, but god calls us to shine his light and make a
  • 00:24:24.352 --> 00:24:28.557
  • Difference for him in a world that has lost its way.
  • 00:24:28.557 --> 00:24:31.693
  • In his brand new book, "shine the light," dr. robert jeffress
  • 00:24:31.693 --> 00:24:35.130
  • Shows you how small faithful acts like teaching, serving, and
  • 00:24:35.130 --> 00:24:38.633
  • Encouraging can restore and renew christian values in your
  • 00:24:38.633 --> 00:24:42.137
  • Family, your church, and community.
  • 00:24:42.137 --> 00:24:44.472
  • Jeffress: the bible teaches that our primary purpose in life is
  • 00:24:44.472 --> 00:24:47.943
  • To influence the world with the gospel.
  • 00:24:47.943 --> 00:24:50.946
  • And in my new book, i'll show you how to live purposefully and
  • 00:24:50.946 --> 00:24:54.649
  • Leave behind a legacy of faith, wisdom, and compassion.
  • 00:24:54.649 --> 00:24:59.120
  • Announcer: the world may seem lost, but god's light has
  • 00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:01.790
  • Not dimmed, and neither has yours.
  • 00:25:01.790 --> 00:25:04.259
  • Request your copy of, "shine the light" when you give a generous
  • 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:07.362
  • Gift to the "pathway to victory" salt and
  • 00:25:07.362 --> 00:25:09.564
  • Light matching challenge.
  • 00:25:09.564 --> 00:25:11.466
  • And when your ministry gift is $100 or more, we'll also send
  • 00:25:11.466 --> 00:25:15.136
  • You the complete, "shine the light" teaching series on dvd
  • 00:25:15.136 --> 00:25:18.540
  • And audio disc.
  • 00:25:18.540 --> 00:25:19.874
  • Jeffress: light is of little value in the light.
  • 00:25:19.874 --> 00:25:22.777
  • If we're gonna be effective, we're effective for christ not
  • 00:25:22.777 --> 00:25:26.014
  • When we're around other light sources, other christians, it is
  • 00:25:26.014 --> 00:25:30.051
  • When we're in the darkness.
  • 00:25:30.051 --> 00:25:32.487
  • Jeffress: light has to confront the darkness.
  • 00:25:32.487 --> 00:25:35.190
  • Announcer: remember your
  • 00:25:35.190 --> 00:25:36.524
  • Gift today will have twice the
  • 00:25:36.524 --> 00:25:37.892
  • Impact thanks to the "pathway
  • 00:25:37.892 --> 00:25:39.227
  • To victory" salt and light
  • 00:25:39.227 --> 00:25:40.562
  • Matching challenge.
  • 00:25:40.562 --> 00:25:42.397
  • Thank you for partnering with "pathway to victory" as we
  • 00:25:42.397 --> 00:25:45.100
  • Boldly proclaim the gospel and equip believers to shine god's
  • 00:25:45.100 --> 00:25:49.004
  • Light in a world that has lost its way.
  • 00:25:49.004 --> 00:25:51.973
  • Jeffress: many christians fall into one of two extremes.
  • 00:25:53.808 --> 00:25:56.845
  • Either they isolate themselves from the culture or they
  • 00:25:56.845 --> 00:26:00.649
  • Identify with the culture.
  • 00:26:00.649 --> 00:26:03.051
  • But god is calling us to a third and better option to be an
  • 00:26:03.051 --> 00:26:07.222
  • Influence for him in our culture, even as the world
  • 00:26:07.222 --> 00:26:11.126
  • Continues to darken and decay.
  • 00:26:11.126 --> 00:26:13.628
  • Well, in the parable of the sower, jesus describes four
  • 00:26:13.628 --> 00:26:16.931
  • Types of soil into which the word of god can be sown from
  • 00:26:16.931 --> 00:26:21.403
  • Hard soil to the healthy soil.
  • 00:26:21.403 --> 00:26:24.139
  • And next time, i'm going to diagnose these four conditions
  • 00:26:24.139 --> 00:26:27.475
  • Of the human heart and offer three potent prescriptions for
  • 00:26:27.475 --> 00:26:31.746
  • Spiritual health.
  • 00:26:31.746 --> 00:26:33.281
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:33.281 --> 00:26:35.984
  • Series, "shine the light."
  • 00:26:35.984 --> 00:26:39.988
  • Jeffress: why doesn't everyone who hears the gospel respond to
  • 00:26:40.055 --> 00:26:45.260
  • The gospel?
  • 00:26:45.260 --> 00:26:46.594
  • Or put another way, why is it you can have two people
  • 00:26:46.594 --> 00:26:49.998
  • Listening to the same message from god's word, one responds
  • 00:26:49.998 --> 00:26:54.803
  • Enthusiastically to that message and the other turns away from
  • 00:26:54.803 --> 00:26:59.174
  • That message?
  • 00:26:59.174 --> 00:27:00.542
  • Well, jesus answers the story in the first parable we're going to
  • 00:27:00.542 --> 00:27:04.612
  • Look at today.
  • 00:27:04.612 --> 00:27:05.947
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:27:05.947 --> 00:27:09.017
  • "prescription for a healthy heart"
  • 00:27:09.017 --> 00:27:11.319
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:26.935