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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Developing A Forgiving Heart

July 23, 2025 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - Developing A Forgiving Heart
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#WordofGod #Betrayal #Forgiveness #Worship #Parable #Surrender #Pain #Loss #Desire #ReturnofChrist

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Developing A Forgiving Heart | July 23, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
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  • Dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • At some point in our lives, all of us are bound to feel
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  • Abandoned or betrayed.
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  • In those intense moments of hurt and pain, how do we find the
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  • Power to forgive?
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  • Today, i'm going to show you why forgiveness isn't just good
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  • Advice, it's essential for your physical health, emotional
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  • Wellbeing, and most importantly, your spiritual life.
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  • My message is titled, "developing a forgiving heart"
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  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • Announcer: give your heart the encouragement it needs.
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  • Start and end each day meditating on god's word with
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  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple."
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  • This brand new, beautiful, full-color, padded hardcover
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  • Book by dr. robert jeffress features 80 breathtaking images
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  • Of creation paired with scripture, prayers, and insights
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  • You can read in under two minutes, perfect for your coffee
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  • Table or as a thoughtful gift for a loved one.
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  • Request "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" when you
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  • Give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
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  • Jeffress: c.s. lewis once said,
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  • "forgiveness is a beautiful word until you have
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  • Somebody to forgive."
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  • Have you discovered that's true?
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  • It's easy to extol the virtues of forgiveness, until you have
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  • To practice it yourself.
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  • Until you have to extend it toward that boss who has
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  • Mistreated you.
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  • That friend who has betrayed you.
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  • Perhaps a mate who has abandoned you or a parent who has
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  • Abused you.
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  • "why should i forgive somebody who has caused me so much hurt?"
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  • We wonder.
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  • You know, in my 40+ years in the ministry, i've discovered that
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  • The issues--the two issues people struggle with the most in
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  • Life, both have to do with forgiveness.
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  • Either receiving god's forgiveness or extending
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  • Forgiveness to others who have wronged us.
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  • And by the way, there's an inseparable link between the
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  • Two: receiving forgiveness and extending forgiveness to others.
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  • Very simply, if you refuse to forgive other people, god won't
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  • Forgive you.
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  • And i hear people try to rationalize this and say,
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  • "well, what jesus really meant was,"--no, jesus really meant
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  • What he said.
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  • He said, "if you don't forgive, god is not going to
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  • Forgive you."
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  • There's an inseparable link between receiving god's
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  • Forgiveness and granting that forgiveness to others.
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  • And both receiving and granting forgiveness are marks of a true
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  • Follower of jesus christ, a disciple of christ.
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  • Now, to see the link about receiving forgiveness and
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  • Extending it to others, i want you to turn in your bibles to
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  • Matthew chapter 18 to a story jesus told to illustrate both
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  • Why we should forgive and how we should forgive.
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  • Now, we've looked at this parable before so today i'm
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  • Gonna give you just the reader's digest version just to remind
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  • You of what this story is about.
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  • This story is about a king who was having some serious cash
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  • Flow problems.
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  • And so, he needed to call in the "i owe you's" he was holding,
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  • People who owed him money.
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  • And he started with the person who owed him the most amount
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  • Of money.
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  • It was a slave who owed him 10,000 talents.
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  • Now, in jesus's day, a talent was a unit of measurement
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  • Of gold.
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  • It would be about 70 or 80 pounds.
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  • One talent, 70 or 80 pounds of gold.
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  • This servant owed his king 10,000 of those talents.
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  • I did a quick calculation according to today's price
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  • Of gold.
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  • You know how much money that would be, 10,000 talents of
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  • Gold?
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  • That would be about $16 billion in today's money.
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  • You think $16 billion--how could a lowly slave ever get into debt
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  • That much?
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  • I mean, did you go to vegas too many times?
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  • I mean, what was going on here?
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  • Well, remember this is a story jesus told, a parable.
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  • He was trying to illustrate a man who owed a debt that he
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  • Couldn't pay in 10,000 lifetimes.
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  • So, the king says, "i want my money."
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  • He had a right to say that.
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  • And the king--and the slave fell down before him and begged him.
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  • Said, "master, please be patient with me and i will repay
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  • You everything."
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  • Can you imagine a more pitiful sight than that?
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  • A little slave saying, "if you'll just give me a little
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  • More time, i'll pay you back that $16 billion."
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  • Now look at verse 27 of matthew 18.
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  • "the lord of that slave," the king, "felt compassion and he
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  • Released him and he forgave him of the debt."
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  • That's what forgiveness is.
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  • Literally, it means to release a debt, to let go of.
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  • Can you imagine the relief that slave must have felt?
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  • As he heard the words, "you are forgiven.
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  • You don't owe me anything, you're free."
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  • Slave got up, he walked out of the palace a new man.
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  • But as he was thinking about what he had heard from the king,
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  • "you were forgiven of your debt," it dawned on him, "hey,
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  • Think about--thinking about debt, there's somebody who owes
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  • Me some money."
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  • And he remembered a fellow slave, a friend who owed him
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  • 100 denarii, jesus said.
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  • Now a denarius was 16 cents in today's economy, one day's wage.
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  • A hundred denarii would be $16.
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  • And this slave remembers, "i know somebody who owes me $16."
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  • So, he goes out, jesus says, grabs him by the neck, begins to
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  • Choke him and, says, "repay me what you owe me."
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  • Now that: was a very real debt too.
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  • And so, the fellow slave says, "have patience with me and i'll
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  • Repay you everything."
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  • Sound familiar?
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  • That's what the first slave saved to the king.
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  • But unlike the king, this slave refused to forgive that paltry
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  • $16 debt.
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  • Well, when the king heard about this, he was incensed.
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  • Look at verse 32, "then summoning the slave, the king
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  • Said to him, 'you wicked slave, i forgave you all that debt
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  • Because you pleaded with me.
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  • Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in
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  • The same way that i had mercy on you?'"
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  • I mean, even this king who was a pagan understood there was
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  • Something fundamentally wrong with a man who had been forgiven
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  • So much to refuse to forgive such a little debt.
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  • You see, the relationship between the king and the first
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  • Slave is like god's relationship with us.
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  • All of us owe god a debt we could never repay.
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  • And yet when we ask him, god in his mercy forgives us of that
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  • Debt through christ.
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  • We have been forgiven a $16 billion spiritual debt,
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  • So to speak.
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  • When we refuse to grant forgiveness to those who wrong
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  • Us, well, it's just like that slave refusing to forgive that
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  • $16 debt.
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  • Now, don't misunderstand what jesus is saying here.
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  • Jesus is not denying that you may have been hurt and wronged.
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  • Jesus is not asking you to play like it never happened or to
  • 00:08:12.048 --> 00:08:15.618
  • Minimize the wrong that has been committed against you, but jesus
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  • Says, "whatever your hurt is, just keep that hurt
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  • In perspective."
  • 00:08:22.158 --> 00:08:24.160
  • For you see, the difference between how much somebody has
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  • Wronged you and how much you have wronged god, is the
  • 00:08:27.897 --> 00:08:32.702
  • Difference between $16 and $16 billion.
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  • And that's why forgiveness is the obligation of those who have
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  • Truly been forgiven.
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  • And yet in spite of the physical, the emotional, and
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  • Certainly the spiritual benefits of forgiving other people,
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  • We still find it hard to do, don't we?
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  • I think there are four reasons for misunderstandings that cause
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  • People difficulty in forgiving other people.
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  • So, let me dispel a few of those myths about forgiveness that may
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  • Be hampering some of you right now from experiencing the
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  • Freedom of that gift of forgiveness.
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  • First of all, understand forgiveness is not ignoring
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  • Or rationalizing offenses.
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  • When you forgive somebody, you're not engaging in some
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  • Mental fantasy playing like what happened to you never
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  • Actually happened.
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  • No, in fact, you really can't forgive somebody until you
  • 00:09:29.859 --> 00:09:33.462
  • Acknowledge the wrong that they've committed against you.
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  • Somebody said, "we cannot forgive those who are not
  • 00:09:35.898 --> 00:09:38.734
  • Willing to blame."
  • 00:09:38.734 --> 00:09:40.536
  • To be able to forgive, you have to be willing to blame somebody
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  • For the real hurt they've caused in your life.
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  • If we just ignore the wrongs that somebody does to us--i'm
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  • Not talking about, you know, not saying hello in the hallway to
  • 00:09:49.645 --> 00:09:52.114
  • You, but i'm talking about really major offenses.
  • 00:09:52.114 --> 00:09:55.384
  • Proverbs says we ought to overlook transgressions.
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  • But i'm talking about the things you can't overlook.
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  • We need to acknowledge that those hurts have occurred so
  • 00:10:00.723 --> 00:10:03.559
  • That we can go through the spiritual surgery we
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  • Call forgiveness.
  • 00:10:06.729 --> 00:10:08.197
  • You cannot forgive those you're not willing to blame.
  • 00:10:08.197 --> 00:10:11.000
  • And the bible says, "you cannot forgive unless first of all
  • 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:14.203
  • You're willing to acknowledge that a wrong has occurred in
  • 00:10:14.203 --> 00:10:17.873
  • Your life."
  • 00:10:17.873 --> 00:10:19.208
  • Forgiveness is not about rationalizing or
  • 00:10:19.208 --> 00:10:21.110
  • Ignoring offenses.
  • 00:10:21.110 --> 00:10:22.478
  • Secondly, forgiveness is not about surrendering our desire
  • 00:10:22.478 --> 00:10:27.283
  • For justice.
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  • When you forgive, you're not surrendering your desire
  • 00:10:28.851 --> 00:10:32.088
  • For justice.
  • 00:10:32.088 --> 00:10:33.422
  • I remember in my last church, there was a man, a father whose
  • 00:10:33.422 --> 00:10:37.927
  • Daughter had been brutally, brutally murdered.
  • 00:10:37.927 --> 00:10:42.064
  • As you can imagine, he struggled with that issue of forgiveness.
  • 00:10:42.064 --> 00:10:46.135
  • And finally he reached the point that he felt like he had
  • 00:10:46.135 --> 00:10:48.571
  • Forgiven his daughter's killer.
  • 00:10:48.571 --> 00:10:51.273
  • But then he was asked to testify by the prosecution at the
  • 00:10:51.273 --> 00:10:56.345
  • Killer's trial.
  • 00:10:56.345 --> 00:10:57.947
  • And he came to see me.
  • 00:10:57.947 --> 00:10:59.281
  • He said, "pastor, i've just now barely been able to forgive this
  • 00:10:59.281 --> 00:11:02.785
  • Man for what he did to my daughter, and now i'm being
  • 00:11:02.785 --> 00:11:05.154
  • Asked to testify, and my testimony could easily result in
  • 00:11:05.154 --> 00:11:09.391
  • A guilty verdict and a death penalty for this guy."
  • 00:11:09.391 --> 00:11:13.662
  • And i'm just not sure as a christian, "should i testify?"
  • 00:11:13.662 --> 00:11:17.733
  • Frankly, i'd like to see him in the electorate chair for what he
  • 00:11:17.733 --> 00:11:20.536
  • Did, but i've forgiven him.
  • 00:11:20.536 --> 00:11:22.304
  • So, what am i supposed to do?"
  • 00:11:22.304 --> 00:11:25.341
  • And that afternoon i explained to him the difference between
  • 00:11:25.341 --> 00:11:29.645
  • Vengeance and justice.
  • 00:11:29.645 --> 00:11:33.816
  • When we forgive, we give up our right to vengeance, but justice,
  • 00:11:33.816 --> 00:11:38.287
  • On the other hand, justice is the payment that god or other
  • 00:11:38.287 --> 00:11:43.592
  • People may require from my offender.
  • 00:11:43.592 --> 00:11:48.030
  • Justice is the payment that god, or other people, or government
  • 00:11:48.030 --> 00:11:52.568
  • Officials might require from my offender.
  • 00:11:52.568 --> 00:11:57.273
  • And while we're to give up our desire for vengeance, we never
  • 00:11:57.273 --> 00:12:00.776
  • Have to surrender our desire for justice.
  • 00:12:00.776 --> 00:12:03.779
  • We want justice because why?
  • 00:12:03.779 --> 00:12:05.714
  • We're made in the image of god who wants justice.
  • 00:12:05.714 --> 00:12:08.551
  • We serve a just god.
  • 00:12:08.551 --> 00:12:10.352
  • Thirdly, forgiveness is not about forgetting the offenses
  • 00:12:10.352 --> 00:12:15.491
  • Committed against us.
  • 00:12:15.491 --> 00:12:16.826
  • Forgiveness is not about forgetting.
  • 00:12:16.826 --> 00:12:18.260
  • People say to me, "well, pastor, i still remember.
  • 00:12:18.260 --> 00:12:20.663
  • I keep thinking about what that person did to me.
  • 00:12:20.663 --> 00:12:23.265
  • I guess that means i haven't really forgiven them, right?"
  • 00:12:23.265 --> 00:12:26.602
  • Wrong, remember this, forgetting is a biological function.
  • 00:12:26.602 --> 00:12:33.209
  • Forgiving is a spiritual function.
  • 00:12:33.209 --> 00:12:37.012
  • I think the best way to understand what god's
  • 00:12:37.012 --> 00:12:39.281
  • Forgiveness means is found in romans 4:7-8 when paul quoting
  • 00:12:39.281 --> 00:12:43.586
  • Psalm 32 says, "blessed are those whose lawless deeds have
  • 00:12:43.586 --> 00:12:47.957
  • Been forgiven, whose sin has been covered.
  • 00:12:47.957 --> 00:12:51.393
  • Blessed is the man whose sin the lord will not take
  • 00:12:51.393 --> 00:12:55.798
  • Into account."
  • 00:12:55.798 --> 00:12:57.266
  • That's what it means.
  • 00:12:57.266 --> 00:12:58.634
  • He no longer charges our sin to our account.
  • 00:12:58.634 --> 00:13:03.272
  • That's a forgiveness transaction.
  • 00:13:03.272 --> 00:13:05.941
  • When god forgives us, he no longer holds us accountable for
  • 00:13:05.941 --> 00:13:10.546
  • Our sin.
  • 00:13:10.546 --> 00:13:11.881
  • Let me show you what god did with your "i owe you" and my "i
  • 00:13:11.881 --> 00:13:15.651
  • Owe you" if we really have trusted in christ.
  • 00:13:15.651 --> 00:13:18.687
  • It's in colossians 2:13 and 14, "he has forgiven us of all of
  • 00:13:18.687 --> 00:13:23.025
  • Our transgressions."
  • 00:13:23.025 --> 00:13:24.526
  • This is so great.
  • 00:13:24.526 --> 00:13:25.928
  • "having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting
  • 00:13:25.928 --> 00:13:30.799
  • Of decrees against us, which were hostile to us; and he has
  • 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:34.803
  • Taken that certificate of debt out of the way, having nailed it
  • 00:13:34.803 --> 00:13:38.941
  • To the cross."
  • 00:13:38.941 --> 00:13:40.409
  • Isn't that a great truth?
  • 00:13:40.409 --> 00:13:42.278
  • Remember some of jesus's final words on the cross were?
  • 00:13:42.278 --> 00:13:45.881
  • "it is," what?
  • 00:13:45.881 --> 00:13:48.684
  • "finished!"
  • 00:13:48.684 --> 00:13:50.052
  • The greek word, one greek word there, "tetelestai, tetelestai."
  • 00:13:50.052 --> 00:13:55.190
  • That word literally means, paid in full.
  • 00:13:55.190 --> 00:13:59.328
  • Isn't that great?
  • 00:13:59.328 --> 00:14:01.030
  • Jesus paid the debt we could never repay, that $16 billion
  • 00:14:01.030 --> 00:14:05.634
  • Sin debt.
  • 00:14:05.634 --> 00:14:07.002
  • He's done it all.
  • 00:14:07.002 --> 00:14:08.337
  • There is nothing we can add to it.
  • 00:14:08.337 --> 00:14:10.506
  • But there's something we must do to receive it.
  • 00:14:10.506 --> 00:14:14.476
  • The biggest choice we ever make in our life is the choice, who's
  • 00:14:14.476 --> 00:14:18.047
  • Gonna pay for my sin.
  • 00:14:18.047 --> 00:14:19.615
  • We can spend all of this life and all eternity in hell trying
  • 00:14:19.615 --> 00:14:23.452
  • To pay off that debt and we'll never do it.
  • 00:14:23.452 --> 00:14:25.688
  • Or we can say, "by faith, jesus, i believe you paid the debt
  • 00:14:25.688 --> 00:14:29.825
  • For me.
  • 00:14:29.825 --> 00:14:31.193
  • I'm not trusting in myself.
  • 00:14:31.193 --> 00:14:32.528
  • I'm trusting in what you did for me.
  • 00:14:32.528 --> 00:14:34.430
  • I'm going to allow you to pay the debt for me."
  • 00:14:34.430 --> 00:14:38.534
  • That's what jesus christ offers to do.
  • 00:14:38.534 --> 00:14:42.338
  • You know, forgiveness is not about forgetting.
  • 00:14:42.338 --> 00:14:45.941
  • It's about not holding to account somebody else's sin.
  • 00:14:45.941 --> 00:14:49.244
  • Fourth, forgiveness is not reconciling with our offender.
  • 00:14:49.244 --> 00:14:54.283
  • Forgiveness does not necessarily mean reconciling with
  • 00:14:54.283 --> 00:14:57.286
  • Our offender.
  • 00:14:57.286 --> 00:14:58.654
  • I've talked to many women who have been physically abused by
  • 00:14:58.654 --> 00:15:04.093
  • Their husbands and they've made the right choice to separate, to
  • 00:15:04.093 --> 00:15:08.263
  • Move themselves and or their children away from that
  • 00:15:08.263 --> 00:15:10.866
  • Abusive background.
  • 00:15:10.866 --> 00:15:12.668
  • God doesn't ask us to go through physical harm in the home,
  • 00:15:12.668 --> 00:15:17.773
  • That's not god's plan at all.
  • 00:15:17.773 --> 00:15:20.709
  • And yet somewhere along the way after they've separated they
  • 00:15:20.709 --> 00:15:24.213
  • Realize as a christian they need to forgive their husband but
  • 00:15:24.213 --> 00:15:27.783
  • They're reluctant to do so because they're afraid that if
  • 00:15:27.783 --> 00:15:31.053
  • They forgive their husband, that that means they have to
  • 00:15:31.053 --> 00:15:34.523
  • Automatically move back in and put their lives or the life of
  • 00:15:34.523 --> 00:15:37.326
  • Their children in danger.
  • 00:15:37.326 --> 00:15:38.660
  • No, there's a big difference between forgiveness
  • 00:15:38.660 --> 00:15:42.464
  • And reconciliation.
  • 00:15:42.464 --> 00:15:44.600
  • Forgiveness is unconditional.
  • 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:46.835
  • It doesn't depend on what my offender does or doesn't do.
  • 00:15:46.835 --> 00:15:50.339
  • But reconciliation is very conditional.
  • 00:15:50.339 --> 00:15:53.475
  • Now, let's talk very quickly about the steps to understanding
  • 00:15:53.475 --> 00:15:58.213
  • Authentic forgiveness.
  • 00:15:58.213 --> 00:15:59.815
  • Go back to matthew 18:27, "and the lord of that slave felt
  • 00:15:59.815 --> 00:16:05.954
  • Compassion and released him and he forgave him of the debt."
  • 00:16:05.954 --> 00:16:12.294
  • First of all, notice genuine forgiveness acknowledges the
  • 00:16:12.294 --> 00:16:16.632
  • Offense that is taking place.
  • 00:16:16.632 --> 00:16:18.667
  • Again, we're not asking you to ignore it, rationalize it,
  • 00:16:18.667 --> 00:16:22.404
  • Pretend it never happened.
  • 00:16:22.404 --> 00:16:24.073
  • You cannot forgive those you are not willing to blame.
  • 00:16:24.073 --> 00:16:28.277
  • Secondly, genuine forgiveness calculates the debt that is owed
  • 00:16:28.277 --> 00:16:34.016
  • To us.
  • 00:16:34.016 --> 00:16:35.350
  • It calculates the debt that is owed to us.
  • 00:16:35.350 --> 00:16:38.954
  • You need to know what you're forgiving before you can let go
  • 00:16:38.954 --> 00:16:41.623
  • Of it.
  • 00:16:41.623 --> 00:16:42.991
  • Genuine forgiveness calculates the debt.
  • 00:16:42.991 --> 00:16:45.961
  • And thirdly, genuine forgiveness releases the debtor to god.
  • 00:16:45.961 --> 00:16:52.034
  • And don't miss this.
  • 00:16:52.034 --> 00:16:54.303
  • Why did that king forgive a $16 billion debt?
  • 00:16:54.303 --> 00:16:58.807
  • Jesus said, "because of compassion."
  • 00:16:58.807 --> 00:17:01.577
  • Obviously i think jesus was right.
  • 00:17:01.577 --> 00:17:04.279
  • It was compassion even though he was a hardened king, he felt
  • 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:07.382
  • Compassion for that pitiful slave offering to repay
  • 00:17:07.382 --> 00:17:10.652
  • An unrepayable debt.
  • 00:17:10.652 --> 00:17:12.488
  • I mean, think about it.
  • 00:17:12.488 --> 00:17:14.490
  • What could anybody repay you to make up for a marriage that was
  • 00:17:14.490 --> 00:17:19.595
  • Destroyed by adultery?
  • 00:17:19.595 --> 00:17:22.064
  • What could anybody do to repay you for your reputation that was
  • 00:17:22.064 --> 00:17:25.767
  • Unfairly ruined by slander?
  • 00:17:25.767 --> 00:17:28.937
  • What could anybody do to make up to a parent whose child was
  • 00:17:28.937 --> 00:17:33.575
  • Killed by a drunk driver?
  • 00:17:33.575 --> 00:17:36.912
  • Letting go, forgiving is really the only reasonable response
  • 00:17:36.912 --> 00:17:44.286
  • When you think about it.
  • 00:17:44.286 --> 00:17:45.621
  • We all hold this worthless "i owe you."
  • 00:17:45.621 --> 00:17:49.291
  • That's what happened here.
  • 00:17:49.291 --> 00:17:51.260
  • You're sitting there thinking, "you know, this pastor jeffress
  • 00:17:51.260 --> 00:17:53.595
  • Has been talking--i remember all these people who have
  • 00:17:53.595 --> 00:17:55.631
  • Wronged me."
  • 00:17:55.631 --> 00:17:56.999
  • What are you to do about it?
  • 00:17:56.999 --> 00:17:58.333
  • One word, forgive.
  • 00:17:58.333 --> 00:18:00.369
  • It doesn't matter if they're sitting next to you in the pew,
  • 00:18:00.369 --> 00:18:04.239
  • Whether they're in the next city, the next state, it doesn't
  • 00:18:04.239 --> 00:18:07.609
  • Matter even if they're in the cemetery.
  • 00:18:07.609 --> 00:18:09.811
  • You can forgive them right where you are.
  • 00:18:09.811 --> 00:18:12.614
  • Let go of it.
  • 00:18:12.614 --> 00:18:14.316
  • Regardless of whether they ever ask for forgiveness or not.
  • 00:18:14.316 --> 00:18:18.720
  • Why is that so important to do?
  • 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:20.689
  • Because if you don't forgive that person, you are tied to
  • 00:18:20.689 --> 00:18:24.893
  • Them forever.
  • 00:18:24.893 --> 00:18:26.228
  • You've made your future dependent upon their future.
  • 00:18:26.228 --> 00:18:30.132
  • You all remember--did you ever go to those kind of old
  • 00:18:30.132 --> 00:18:32.901
  • Fashioned picnics that we used to have more of and where they
  • 00:18:32.901 --> 00:18:37.005
  • Would have a contest, a game called the three-legged race?
  • 00:18:37.005 --> 00:18:41.443
  • Did you ever participate in a three-legged race?
  • 00:18:41.443 --> 00:18:43.779
  • You know, you get your right leg bound to the left leg of your
  • 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:47.049
  • Partner and you've got several different teams, and you're
  • 00:18:47.049 --> 00:18:49.885
  • Trying to make it to the finish line, and you're hobbling along
  • 00:18:49.885 --> 00:18:52.788
  • Like this, you're hobbling along.
  • 00:18:52.788 --> 00:18:54.523
  • And if you've ever had the thought that i have, you
  • 00:18:54.523 --> 00:18:56.792
  • Probably have thought at some point in that, "if only i could
  • 00:18:56.792 --> 00:18:59.595
  • Get loose from this nitwit, i could go a lot farther, and
  • 00:18:59.595 --> 00:19:02.598
  • A lot faster, and win the contest."
  • 00:19:02.598 --> 00:19:05.968
  • But you see, three legged races don't allow for solo contenders.
  • 00:19:05.968 --> 00:19:10.672
  • The fact is, when you're bound to somebody else, you can go
  • 00:19:10.672 --> 00:19:14.209
  • Only as fast and as far as they're willing to travel.
  • 00:19:14.209 --> 00:19:18.814
  • Now, listen to me, when you make forgiving another person
  • 00:19:18.814 --> 00:19:22.184
  • Dependent on what they do, it's like you're emotionally tying
  • 00:19:22.184 --> 00:19:26.455
  • Yourself to that other person.
  • 00:19:26.455 --> 00:19:28.357
  • If you're saying, "i can't forgive them until they say,
  • 00:19:28.357 --> 00:19:30.292
  • 'i'm sorry,'" then you can go no further in life, no more quickly
  • 00:19:30.292 --> 00:19:34.429
  • In life than they're willing or unwilling to go.
  • 00:19:34.429 --> 00:19:38.233
  • But forgiveness is the process by which i untie myself from
  • 00:19:38.233 --> 00:19:43.438
  • My offender.
  • 00:19:43.438 --> 00:19:44.840
  • When i say--if not to them, directly to god, "i no longer
  • 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:48.677
  • Wanna be bound to this other person.
  • 00:19:48.677 --> 00:19:51.013
  • I'm letting go of the hurt that they've committed against me so
  • 00:19:51.013 --> 00:19:54.516
  • That i can be free to live the life that god has planned
  • 00:19:54.516 --> 00:19:58.053
  • For me.
  • 00:19:58.053 --> 00:19:59.388
  • Today, i am letting go.
  • 00:19:59.388 --> 00:20:00.756
  • I am binding myself so that i can go where god wants me to go.
  • 00:20:00.756 --> 00:20:06.094
  • Remember that first slave?
  • 00:20:06.094 --> 00:20:08.597
  • Because he didn't forgive, he was put into the prison, the
  • 00:20:08.597 --> 00:20:11.566
  • Torturer's house, where he was tormented day and night forever
  • 00:20:11.566 --> 00:20:15.437
  • And ever.
  • 00:20:15.437 --> 00:20:16.805
  • When you refuse to forgive until somebody does something, you're
  • 00:20:16.805 --> 00:20:21.343
  • Going through mental, emotional, and spiritual torture just
  • 00:20:21.343 --> 00:20:24.946
  • Waiting for them to free you.
  • 00:20:24.946 --> 00:20:27.015
  • No, you need to be free of that other person's.
  • 00:20:27.015 --> 00:20:30.385
  • Louis mead said, "when we forgive, we set the
  • 00:20:30.385 --> 00:20:33.355
  • Prisoner free."
  • 00:20:33.355 --> 00:20:35.157
  • And the prisoner we set free is us.
  • 00:20:35.157 --> 00:20:38.160
  • That's the practical reason to forgive.
  • 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:41.163
  • But the greater reason is the spiritual reason.
  • 00:20:41.163 --> 00:20:44.833
  • As jesus said, "if you don't forgive others, god will not
  • 00:20:44.833 --> 00:20:49.071
  • Forgive you."
  • 00:20:49.071 --> 00:20:50.439
  • "pastor, i don't understand that.
  • 00:20:50.439 --> 00:20:52.274
  • Are you saying that we earn our forgiveness by forgiving
  • 00:20:52.274 --> 00:20:55.310
  • Other people?"
  • 00:20:55.310 --> 00:20:56.678
  • Of course not, paul said, for "by grace, god's grace, you have
  • 00:20:56.678 --> 00:20:59.648
  • Been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is
  • 00:20:59.648 --> 00:21:02.417
  • A gift of god, not of works lest any man should boast."
  • 00:21:02.417 --> 00:21:06.254
  • "well, then, pastor, are you saying that if we don't forgive,
  • 00:21:06.254 --> 00:21:08.857
  • We lose our salvation?"
  • 00:21:08.857 --> 00:21:10.859
  • Not saying that either.
  • 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:12.227
  • Romans 11:29 says, "the gifts of god are irrevocable."
  • 00:21:12.227 --> 00:21:17.032
  • God doesn't take away what he's given as a gift.
  • 00:21:17.032 --> 00:21:20.068
  • "then what are you saying, pastor?"
  • 00:21:20.068 --> 00:21:22.871
  • What i'm saying is, if you find yourself saying what i hear many
  • 00:21:22.871 --> 00:21:27.576
  • People in the church saying, "i cannot forgive.
  • 00:21:27.576 --> 00:21:32.180
  • I cannot forgive, i will not forgive."
  • 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:37.386
  • It doesn't mean you lose your salvation.
  • 00:21:37.386 --> 00:21:40.255
  • It means you never had salvation to begin with.
  • 00:21:40.255 --> 00:21:45.293
  • Because somebody has truly--who has truly received god's
  • 00:21:45.293 --> 00:21:49.331
  • Forgiveness, who has understood the magnitude of his own sin,
  • 00:21:49.331 --> 00:21:54.169
  • That $16 billion debt, will naturally forgive somebody of
  • 00:21:54.169 --> 00:22:01.910
  • A much less offense than we've committed against god.
  • 00:22:01.910 --> 00:22:06.248
  • Forgiveness is the obligation of those who have forgiven.
  • 00:22:06.248 --> 00:22:10.318
  • Paul said it this way in ephesians 4:32, "be kind to one
  • 00:22:10.318 --> 00:22:14.890
  • Another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as
  • 00:22:14.890 --> 00:22:22.164
  • God in christ has forgiven you."
  • 00:22:22.164 --> 00:22:26.968
  • Jeffress: there are great physical and emotional benefits
  • 00:22:31.106 --> 00:22:34.042
  • To forgiveness.
  • 00:22:34.042 --> 00:22:35.410
  • But they pale in comparison to the spiritual benefits.
  • 00:22:35.410 --> 00:22:39.481
  • Jesus said, "for if you forgive others for their transgressions,
  • 00:22:39.481 --> 00:22:43.118
  • Your heavenly father will also forgive you, but if you do not
  • 00:22:43.118 --> 00:22:47.422
  • Forgive others, then your heavenly father will not forgive
  • 00:22:47.422 --> 00:22:51.760
  • Your transgressions."
  • 00:22:51.760 --> 00:22:53.695
  • This powerful truth about forgiveness is just one example
  • 00:22:53.695 --> 00:22:57.399
  • Of the life-changing messages we're privileged to share every
  • 00:22:57.399 --> 00:23:01.369
  • Day on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:01.369 --> 00:23:03.839
  • And i wanna express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you who
  • 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:07.409
  • Faithfully supports this ministry.
  • 00:23:07.409 --> 00:23:10.178
  • Your partnership enables us to reach countless people with
  • 00:23:10.178 --> 00:23:13.715
  • God's word, including people who are struggling with
  • 00:23:13.715 --> 00:23:17.085
  • Unforgiveness, bitterness, and pain.
  • 00:23:17.085 --> 00:23:20.355
  • Through your generosity, we're able to offer them hope and
  • 00:23:20.355 --> 00:23:23.391
  • Freedom that comes through understanding
  • 00:23:23.391 --> 00:23:25.894
  • Biblical forgiveness.
  • 00:23:25.894 --> 00:23:28.063
  • Thank you for being a part of the "pathway to victory" family.
  • 00:23:28.063 --> 00:23:31.867
  • Together, we're making an eternal difference.
  • 00:23:31.867 --> 00:23:35.070
  • Now, stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
  • 00:23:35.070 --> 00:23:37.806
  • Victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:23:37.806 --> 00:23:41.176
  • Announcer: we all need god's strength to make it through
  • 00:23:42.744 --> 00:23:44.779
  • The day.
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  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" by dr. robert
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  • Jeffress provides the spiritual refreshment you need.
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  • In a large print format, every page bursts with breathtaking
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  • Imagery that draws you toward the beauty of god's creation.
  • 00:23:55.790 --> 00:23:59.594
  • Jeffress: i know how challenging it can be to stay connected with
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  • God in our busy lives.
  • 00:24:02.697 --> 00:24:04.533
  • In my new devotional, i provide personal reflections and
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  • Practical insights that will help you experience god's
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  • Presence and encouragement throughout your day.
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  • Announcer: filled with stunning images of creation, scripture
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  • Verses, and prayers you can read in under two minutes, this
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  • Padded hardcover book is the perfect daily companion to help
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  • Refresh your spirit morning and night.
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  • It also makes a thoughtful gift to encourage a friend or
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  • Loved one.
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  • Request your copy of "encouragement for the heart of
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  • A disciple" when you give a generous gift to support the
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  • Ministry of "pathway to victory" or when you become
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  • A pathway partner.
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  • With your ministry gift of $100 or more, we'll send you the
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  • Encouragement resource set containing the new devotional,
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  • Six clutter-free prayer cards, the clutter-free christianity
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  • Book, and life application guide, and the "7 marks of
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  • A disciple" message series on both cd and dvd.
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  • Your generous partnership helps us impact you and your family
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  • And a nation in deep spiritual need with the transforming truth
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  • Of god's word.
  • 00:25:08.930 --> 00:25:12.233
  • Jeffress: forgiveness is the obligation of those who have
  • 00:25:12.300 --> 00:25:15.070
  • Truly been forgiven.
  • 00:25:15.070 --> 00:25:17.339
  • And i hope today's message has helped you take a step toward
  • 00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:20.508
  • That freedom.
  • 00:25:20.508 --> 00:25:22.177
  • Well, next time, we're going to conclude our series on the
  • 00:25:22.177 --> 00:25:25.280
  • "7 marks of a disciple" with the final study about the first mark
  • 00:25:25.280 --> 00:25:29.551
  • Of a disciple.
  • 00:25:29.551 --> 00:25:30.919
  • You see, everything we've covered so far like prayer,
  • 00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:34.723
  • Trust, and forgiveness requires our effort, but a regenerate
  • 00:25:34.723 --> 00:25:39.160
  • Heart, well, that's something only god can give.
  • 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:43.098
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:43.098 --> 00:25:45.767
  • Series, "7 marks of a disciple."
  • 00:25:45.767 --> 00:25:50.038
  • Jeffress: salvation is something god does for us.
  • 00:25:50.038 --> 00:25:52.374
  • We can't do for ourselves.
  • 00:25:52.374 --> 00:25:53.775
  • That is completely an act of god.
  • 00:25:53.775 --> 00:25:56.277
  • "for by grace you have been saved through faith, that not of
  • 00:25:56.277 --> 00:25:59.914
  • Yourselves, it is a gift of god, not of works lest any man
  • 00:25:59.914 --> 00:26:03.318
  • Should boast."
  • 00:26:03.318 --> 00:26:04.653
  • Salvation is god's work alone, but the transformation of our
  • 00:26:04.653 --> 00:26:08.623
  • Heart is a joint work between god and us after we're saved.
  • 00:26:08.623 --> 00:26:13.395
  • Without god we cannot transform our hearts.
  • 00:26:13.395 --> 00:26:16.798
  • Without us, god will not transform our hearts.
  • 00:26:16.798 --> 00:26:20.635
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for a message
  • 00:26:20.635 --> 00:26:23.405
  • Called, "developing a regenerate heart" here on "pathway
  • 00:26:23.405 --> 00:26:26.875
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:26.875 --> 00:26:28.610
  • Announcer: step away from your daily routine and immerse
  • 00:26:31.346 --> 00:26:34.049
  • Yourself in god's masterpiece on the "pathway to victory" cruise
  • 00:26:34.049 --> 00:26:37.419
  • To alaska june 13 through 20, 2026.
  • 00:26:37.419 --> 00:26:41.189
  • Jeffress: imagine starting each day immersed in god's word, then
  • 00:26:41.189 --> 00:26:44.759
  • Stepping out to witness god's grandeur from the majestic
  • 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:48.163
  • Glaciers to soaring eagles.
  • 00:26:48.163 --> 00:26:50.765
  • These moments in god's creation will deepen your faith
  • 00:26:50.765 --> 00:26:54.335
  • In powerful ways.
  • 00:26:54.335 --> 00:26:55.670
  • Announcer: experience five-star dining, luxurious staterooms,
  • 00:26:55.670 --> 00:26:58.740
  • And exceptional service while visiting iconic ports like
  • 00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:01.943
  • Juneau, ketchikan, and skagway.
  • 00:27:01.943 --> 00:27:04.379
  • Jeffress: we'll explore god's word together against the
  • 00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:06.815
  • Backdrop of his most impressive handiwork.
  • 00:27:06.815 --> 00:27:10.218
  • I promise, you'll return home with memories that will last
  • 00:27:10.218 --> 00:27:13.221
  • A lifetime and a heart renewed by god's presence.
  • 00:27:13.221 --> 00:27:17.726
  • Announcer: to book your spot on the 2026 "pathway to victory"
  • 00:27:17.726 --> 00:27:20.695
  • Cruise to alaska, call...
  • 00:27:20.695 --> 00:27:25.500
  • Or go to ptv.org.
  • 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:27.936