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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Developing The Habit of Obedience

March 9, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Developing The Habit of Obedience
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#WordofGod #Politics #Righteousness #Satan #Obedience #Salvation #Forgiveness #LoveofGod #ChildofGod #Family #RobertJeffress

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Developing The Habit of Obedience | March 9, 2026
  • ...
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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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  • We've all had moments in our life when we know we should say
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  • No to temptation, but we say yes instead, and sometimes we're
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  • Able to overcome that temptation and say yes to obeying god.
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  • But today, i'm going to share some powerful principles for
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  • Making obedience to god the rule rather than the exception in
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  • Your life.
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  • My message today is titled "developing the habit of
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  • Obedience" on today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • Announcer: whether you know it or not, you're in a battle.
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  • Satan has a strategy to attack your faith, disrupt your family,
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  • And derail your future.
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  • But god has given you everything you need to fight back and win.
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  • In "the divine defense," dr. robert jeffress reveals six
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  • Practical strategies from ephesians chapter 6 to defeat
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  • Satan's destructive plan.
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  • When you put on the full armor of god, satan doesn't have
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  • A prayer.
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  • Request "the divine defense" when you give a generous
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  • Ministry gift to "pathway to victory."
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  • Jeffress: thomas à kempis wrote, "the enemy is more easily
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  • Overcome if he is not allowed to enter the door of our hearts,
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  • But is resisted outside the gate at his first knock."
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  • Now, that's easier said than done.
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  • How do you say no to the enemy when he knocks on the door of
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  • Your heart, not just sometimes, but every time?
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  • And how do you say yes to god, not just some of the time, but
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  • All of the time.
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  • That is the essence of obedience, or as paul calls it,
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  • Putting on the breastplate of righteousness.
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  • When he says, "put on the breastplate of righteousness,"
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  • What he's saying is, do what you know you should do.
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  • Obey the truth that you know you should obey.
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  • He's talking about practiced righteousness.
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  • How does that help protect us against satan's attacks in
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  • Our life?
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  • Remember last time we saw four ways that doing the right thing,
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  • Obeying god protects you from satan's attacks.
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  • First of all, obedience protects us from the consequences of sin.
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  • Now, so many christians get mixed up about this.
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  • They think when they trust in christ the savior, that it
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  • Erases all of the consequences of their sin.
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  • No, salvation, receiving christ as your savior, erases the
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  • Eternal consequences of your sin.
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  • You never have to worry about going to hell for all eternity
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  • And paying for your sin.
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  • Christ's blood erases those eternal consequences, but
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  • Christ's blood does not erase the temporary consequences
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  • Of sin.
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  • Remember this, forgiven people, christians, still
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  • Experience divorces.
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  • They still go through bankruptcy.
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  • They still have broken relationships.
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  • They still contract sexually transmitted diseases.
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  • Becoming a christian does not erase the temporary consequences
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  • Of your sin.
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  • But here's what does erase those consequences, never committing
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  • Those sins to begin with.
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  • Obedience protects us from the consequences, the painful
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  • Consequences of sin.
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  • Secondly, obedience protects us from doubts about our salvation.
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  • I've talked to people all the time who wonder, "am i really
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  • Saved or not?"
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  • You know, one reason people doubt their salvation?
  • 00:04:00.663 --> 00:04:03.232
  • Because they're not acting like a saved person.
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  • Whenever there's a gap between our belief and our behavior,
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  • It's gonna raise doubts in our minds as to whether or not we're
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  • Truly children of god, and that can be a healthy thing to doubt
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  • Our salvation because the bible's very clear.
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  • Those who continue to practice sin over and over and over again
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  • Should not deceive themselves into thinking they're
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  • A christian.
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  • Where do you find that in the bible?
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  • Well, 1 john 3, verses 9 to 10 are a good passage to memorize.
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  • Listen to what john says.
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  • "no one who is born of god practices sin."
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  • Now don't make john say something he didn't say.
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  • He doesn't say, "no one who is born of god ever commits a sin."
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  • No, it's practices sin.
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  • In other words, a true christian does not continually
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  • Practice sin.
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  • Why?
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  • "because his seed," god's seed, "abides in him; and he cannot
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  • Sin," habitually sin, "because he is born of god.
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  • By this, the children of god and the children of the devil are
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  • Obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness," there
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  • It is, practice righteousness.
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  • Anyone who doesn't have the habit of righteousness, if you
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  • Will, "is not of god, nor the one who does not love
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  • His brother."
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  • And then verse 24 of 1 john 3, "the one who keeps his
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  • Commandments abides in him, and he in him."
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  • And finally, how does obedience protect us from satan's attack?
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  • Obedience protects us from satan's further entrance into
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  • Our lives.
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  • Remember james 4:7 says, "resist the devil and he'll flee
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  • From you."
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  • But the corollary of that is submit to the devil and he'll
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  • Keep coming back for more and more and more of your life.
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  • The more you sin, the more you make sin a habit in your life.
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  • Remember my illustration last time about the string?
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  • This little flimsy piece of string, i can put it around my
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  • Hand one time and be free of it without a second thought.
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  • But if i allowed this tiny string to be wrapped around my
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  • Fingers over and over and over again, it's not long before i
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  • Can't get free, no matter how hard i try.
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  • Proverbs 5:22 says, "we are held by the cords of our own sin and
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  • Obeying god keeps us from developing that habit of
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  • Ungodliness that becomes like a cord by which we're bound."
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  • Ephesians 6:14 tells us to "put on the breastplate of
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  • Righteousness," but can i point out something to you?
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  • Paul doesn't say, "study the breastplate of righteousness."
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  • Love the breastplate of righteousness.
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  • Appreciate the breastplate of righteousness.
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  • That's not the command.
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  • The command is to "put on the breastplate of righteousness."
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  • How do you do that?
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  • We've done the exposition of the passage.
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  • Now, here's where the rubber meets the road, the application
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  • Of it.
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  • And so in the few minutes we have this morning, i wanna share
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  • With you four principles, four keys for putting on the
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  • Breastplate of righteousness.
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  • First of all, write this down.
  • 00:07:17.126 --> 00:07:19.595
  • You have to appreciate the power of habits.
  • 00:07:19.595 --> 00:07:24.200
  • Appreciate the power of habits.
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  • Somebody has written, "i am your constant companion.
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  • I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.
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  • I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
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  • I am completely at your command.
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  • Half of the things you do, you might as well turn over to me,
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  • And i will do them quickly and correctly.
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  • I am easily managed.
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  • You must merely be firm with me.
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  • Show me exactly how you want something done, and after a few
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  • Lessons, i will do it for you automatically.
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  • I'm the servant of all great people and alas of all failures
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  • As well.
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  • Those who are great, i have made great.
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  • I'm not a machine, though i work with the precision of a machine,
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  • Plus the intelligence of a man.
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  • You may run me for profit or run me for ruin.
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  • It makes no difference to me.
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  • Take me, train me, be firm with me, and i will place the world
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  • At your feet.
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  • Be easy with me, and i will destroy you.
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  • Who am i? i am habit."
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  • Always appreciate the power of habits.
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  • What is a habit?
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  • It is just a repeated pattern of behavior, doing the same thing
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  • Over and over again.
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  • We've talked about the destructive power of habits.
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  • We can be bound by a habit.
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  • Here's a good verse to memorize, 2 peter 2:19, "for by what a man
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  • Is overcome, by this he is enslaved."
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  • You know what?
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  • You are a slave to whatever or whomever you can't say no to.
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  • If you wanna know who your master is, it's whomever or
  • 00:09:08.738 --> 00:09:12.775
  • Whatever you cannot say no to.
  • 00:09:12.775 --> 00:09:16.045
  • I was talking to another congregation about this one time
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  • And trying to do it in a humorous way, and i gave my
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  • Testimony of how i became addicted to haagen-dazs vanilla
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  • Ice cream.
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  • And it all started when i made the decision that on sunday
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  • Nights after church i would reward myself for a day of
  • 00:09:31.427 --> 00:09:34.764
  • Preaching by eating a half pint of haagen-dazs vanilla
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  • Ice cream.
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  • And i did that for a while.
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  • And then one week wednesday came along.
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  • And i said, "you know, i've made it halfway through the week
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  • Without any major mistakes.
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  • It's hump day.
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  • I think i'm gonna give myself another reward."
  • 00:09:50.813 --> 00:09:53.149
  • So i went for that last half of a pint of haagen-dazs ice cream.
  • 00:09:53.149 --> 00:09:58.954
  • And then one day it was a friday afternoon.
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  • I was driving home from church and i thought to myself, "you
  • 00:10:00.990 --> 00:10:04.060
  • Know, there are a lot of men who are going out and carousing and
  • 00:10:04.060 --> 00:10:07.263
  • Getting drunk and i'm going home to my family.
  • 00:10:07.263 --> 00:10:10.066
  • I think i'll whip into the supermarket and get another pint
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  • Of haagen-dazs ice cream."
  • 00:10:13.035 --> 00:10:15.304
  • And pretty soon i had developed a rationale for eating ice cream
  • 00:10:15.304 --> 00:10:18.708
  • Every night of the week.
  • 00:10:18.708 --> 00:10:21.577
  • Well, the congregation laughed.
  • 00:10:21.577 --> 00:10:23.579
  • At the end of the service i invited people to join the
  • 00:10:23.579 --> 00:10:26.082
  • Church, and down the aisle came this young woman who looked very
  • 00:10:26.082 --> 00:10:30.086
  • Familiar to me.
  • 00:10:30.086 --> 00:10:31.454
  • I had the microphone, which i vowed never to do again, and i
  • 00:10:31.454 --> 00:10:34.757
  • Said to her in front of our congregation, "you
  • 00:10:34.757 --> 00:10:37.059
  • Look familiar.
  • 00:10:37.059 --> 00:10:38.394
  • Who are you?"
  • 00:10:38.394 --> 00:10:39.762
  • She smiled and said, "i'm the cashier at albertson's that
  • 00:10:39.762 --> 00:10:43.065
  • Sells you your ice cream every friday."
  • 00:10:43.065 --> 00:10:46.469
  • True story.
  • 00:10:46.469 --> 00:10:49.505
  • You're a slave to whatever you can't say no to.
  • 00:10:49.505 --> 00:10:53.609
  • But here's the good news.
  • 00:10:53.609 --> 00:10:56.011
  • Habits not only work against you, they can work for you.
  • 00:10:56.011 --> 00:11:00.216
  • Repeated patterns of behavior can have a powerful positive
  • 00:11:00.216 --> 00:11:03.953
  • Impact on your life.
  • 00:11:03.953 --> 00:11:05.321
  • The late writer dallas willard used the analogy of a star
  • 00:11:05.321 --> 00:11:09.125
  • Athlete to illustrate the power of habits.
  • 00:11:09.125 --> 00:11:12.528
  • He said "a teenage boy who idolizes a star baseball player
  • 00:11:12.528 --> 00:11:16.699
  • May decide that the way to succeed in baseball is to mimic
  • 00:11:16.699 --> 00:11:20.503
  • The actions of a star ballplayer during the game, swing like he
  • 00:11:20.503 --> 00:11:24.840
  • Swings, slide into home like he slides.
  • 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:28.978
  • But does mimicking the actions of an athlete in the game lead
  • 00:11:28.978 --> 00:11:33.516
  • To greatness?
  • 00:11:33.516 --> 00:11:35.084
  • Of course not.
  • 00:11:35.084 --> 00:11:36.619
  • The star athlete didn't achieve his excellence by trying to
  • 00:11:36.619 --> 00:11:40.256
  • Behave in a certain way only during the game.
  • 00:11:40.256 --> 00:11:43.859
  • Instead, he chose an overall life of preparation of mind and
  • 00:11:43.859 --> 00:11:48.297
  • Body, pouring all his energies into that total preparation to
  • 00:11:48.297 --> 00:11:53.202
  • Provide a foundation in the body's automatic responses and
  • 00:11:53.202 --> 00:11:57.139
  • Strength for his conscious efforts during the game.
  • 00:11:57.139 --> 00:12:00.376
  • Those exquisite responses we see during the game aren't produced
  • 00:12:00.376 --> 00:12:04.814
  • And maintained by the short hours of the game itself.
  • 00:12:04.814 --> 00:12:08.818
  • They are available to the athlete for those short,
  • 00:12:08.818 --> 00:12:12.054
  • All-important hours because of a daily regimen that no one sees."
  • 00:12:12.054 --> 00:12:18.327
  • You know, too often we tell people, "when you're in the
  • 00:12:18.327 --> 00:12:20.396
  • Middle of a trial or a test, just put out that question,
  • 00:12:20.396 --> 00:12:24.633
  • Wwjd, what would jesus do?
  • 00:12:24.633 --> 00:12:27.603
  • And just try to mimic the actions of jesus and you'll be
  • 00:12:27.603 --> 00:12:30.506
  • A success."
  • 00:12:30.506 --> 00:12:32.107
  • The only problem is if we wait until we're in the midst of a
  • 00:12:32.107 --> 00:12:35.544
  • Temptation or trial to do what we're supposed to do, to do what
  • 00:12:35.544 --> 00:12:39.415
  • Jesus did, it's too late to experience success.
  • 00:12:39.415 --> 00:12:43.686
  • Now listen to this.
  • 00:12:43.686 --> 00:12:45.054
  • "jesus's amazing and automatic obedience in the middle of a
  • 00:12:45.054 --> 00:12:48.724
  • Crisis was the result of his habit of solitude, prayer,
  • 00:12:48.724 --> 00:12:54.697
  • Meditation on god's word and obedience in the smallest
  • 00:12:54.697 --> 00:12:58.033
  • Details of life.
  • 00:12:58.033 --> 00:12:59.602
  • The christian who expects obedience to come easily when
  • 00:12:59.602 --> 00:13:04.206
  • Under attack is doomed to failure as the athlete who
  • 00:13:04.206 --> 00:13:08.544
  • Ignores the disciplines of diet, exercise, and training, yet
  • 00:13:08.544 --> 00:13:13.449
  • Expects to perform well in the game."
  • 00:13:13.449 --> 00:13:16.485
  • Isn't that good?
  • 00:13:16.485 --> 00:13:18.153
  • Appreciate the power of habits.
  • 00:13:18.153 --> 00:13:21.223
  • It's necessary if you're gonna put on that breastplate
  • 00:13:21.223 --> 00:13:23.492
  • Of righteousness.
  • 00:13:23.492 --> 00:13:24.860
  • Number two, choose discipline over deliverance.
  • 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:29.164
  • We read this morning from 1 timothy chapter 4,
  • 00:13:29.164 --> 00:13:31.734
  • Verse 7 and 8.
  • 00:13:31.734 --> 00:13:33.068
  • Paul said, "discipline yourself for the purpose of
  • 00:13:33.068 --> 00:13:36.472
  • Godliness, for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but
  • 00:13:36.472 --> 00:13:41.377
  • Godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds the
  • 00:13:41.377 --> 00:13:45.114
  • Promise for this present life and for the life to come."
  • 00:13:45.114 --> 00:13:49.318
  • In a modern version of the c.s. lewis classic
  • 00:13:49.318 --> 00:13:52.655
  • "the screwtape letters," randy alcorn relates
  • 00:13:52.655 --> 00:13:54.990
  • A letter from the senior demon he calls foulgrin to his demonic
  • 00:13:54.990 --> 00:14:00.362
  • Student named squall taint, and this is what he writes.
  • 00:14:00.362 --> 00:14:04.333
  • His word of advice, "let the humans cast us out or imagine
  • 00:14:04.333 --> 00:14:09.371
  • They have as long as the vermin keep making the daily choices
  • 00:14:09.371 --> 00:14:13.842
  • That invite us back in.
  • 00:14:13.842 --> 00:14:16.011
  • Let them name and bind us for their heart's content, as long
  • 00:14:16.011 --> 00:14:20.082
  • As they entertain the thoughts and engage in activities that
  • 00:14:20.082 --> 00:14:23.919
  • Give us the power over them.
  • 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:26.622
  • It's not power plays and sweeping declarations of our
  • 00:14:26.622 --> 00:14:30.526
  • Defeat that frighten me.
  • 00:14:30.526 --> 00:14:32.561
  • It's the quiet prayers for personal holiness and greater
  • 00:14:32.561 --> 00:14:37.099
  • Yieldedness to the enemy that is god.
  • 00:14:37.099 --> 00:14:40.502
  • Far better that the humans focus on us than look to their own
  • 00:14:40.502 --> 00:14:45.274
  • Hearts and ask the enemy to cleanse them.
  • 00:14:45.274 --> 00:14:48.811
  • Never be frightened by their grandstanding."
  • 00:14:48.811 --> 00:14:52.948
  • You know, cultivating the disciplines of prayer, reading
  • 00:14:52.948 --> 00:14:58.187
  • God's word daily, confessing our sins, developing those
  • 00:14:58.187 --> 00:15:03.392
  • Disciplines do more, do more to destroy satan's plan to destroy
  • 00:15:03.392 --> 00:15:09.365
  • Us than any grand declaration or one-time experience we can have.
  • 00:15:09.365 --> 00:15:14.403
  • That's why it's important that we value discipline
  • 00:15:14.403 --> 00:15:18.440
  • Over deliverance.
  • 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:19.808
  • A third key for putting on the breastplate of righteousness
  • 00:15:19.808 --> 00:15:22.811
  • Is this.
  • 00:15:22.811 --> 00:15:24.146
  • Perform an obedience inventory.
  • 00:15:24.146 --> 00:15:27.950
  • Perform what i call an obedience inventory.
  • 00:15:27.950 --> 00:15:30.853
  • It was the great evangelist charles finney that said, "the
  • 00:15:30.853 --> 00:15:34.490
  • Man who is convicted of one sin is convicted of all sins, but
  • 00:15:34.490 --> 00:15:39.962
  • The first person who is convicted of all sins is
  • 00:15:39.962 --> 00:15:43.832
  • Convicted of none."
  • 00:15:43.832 --> 00:15:46.335
  • Do you understand what finney is saying?
  • 00:15:46.335 --> 00:15:48.804
  • If you say, "i'm guilty of all sins," then you're really not
  • 00:15:48.804 --> 00:15:52.574
  • Being specific enough to correct any sin.
  • 00:15:52.574 --> 00:15:55.911
  • Find that one specific sin you need to repent of and do so.
  • 00:15:55.911 --> 00:16:01.817
  • You know, so many times we say, "lord, i've sinned.
  • 00:16:01.817 --> 00:16:03.986
  • Help me to do better.
  • 00:16:03.986 --> 00:16:05.354
  • In jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:16:05.354 --> 00:16:06.722
  • That doesn't cut it.
  • 00:16:06.722 --> 00:16:08.357
  • We need to let god know exactly what sin we are turning from,
  • 00:16:08.357 --> 00:16:13.128
  • And exactly what we're going to do differently in our life to
  • 00:16:13.128 --> 00:16:16.632
  • Put on that breastplate of righteousness.
  • 00:16:16.632 --> 00:16:18.801
  • We have a great example of that in nehemiah chapter 10, verses
  • 00:16:18.801 --> 00:16:22.471
  • 28 to 39.
  • 00:16:22.471 --> 00:16:23.806
  • Remember ezra the high priest was confessing the sins of the
  • 00:16:23.806 --> 00:16:27.476
  • People to god.
  • 00:16:27.476 --> 00:16:29.044
  • He didn't just say, "lord, forgive us of our sins."
  • 00:16:29.044 --> 00:16:31.814
  • He said, "lord, we've committed three sins against you, and here
  • 00:16:31.814 --> 00:16:35.184
  • They are.
  • 00:16:35.184 --> 00:16:36.518
  • Number one, we've allowed our children to marry unbelievers.
  • 00:16:36.518 --> 00:16:39.855
  • Secondly, we've refused to keep the sabbath.
  • 00:16:39.855 --> 00:16:42.558
  • And thirdly, we've declined to contribute to your kingdom's
  • 00:16:42.558 --> 00:16:46.061
  • Work financially.
  • 00:16:46.061 --> 00:16:47.496
  • So here's how we're gonna change things, lord."
  • 00:16:47.496 --> 00:16:49.798
  • And then he gives three commitments, new commitments
  • 00:16:49.798 --> 00:16:52.401
  • That people were going to make to show their repentance.
  • 00:16:52.401 --> 00:16:56.004
  • We need to do the same thing.
  • 00:16:56.004 --> 00:16:58.307
  • Repentance, turning from sin requires specificity.
  • 00:16:58.307 --> 00:17:03.912
  • Exactly what are we going to start doing and stop doing?
  • 00:17:03.912 --> 00:17:07.783
  • To help you think through that, i've put on your outline what i
  • 00:17:07.783 --> 00:17:11.787
  • Call a life grid.
  • 00:17:11.787 --> 00:17:13.822
  • And i wanna encourage you just to think through this life grid,
  • 00:17:13.822 --> 00:17:17.759
  • Your family, your finances, your spiritual life, your work, your
  • 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:22.064
  • Health, your friendships, and just say, "lord, what's one
  • 00:17:22.064 --> 00:17:26.168
  • Thing i could start doing in my family that would please you?
  • 00:17:26.168 --> 00:17:30.706
  • Something i'm not doing right now with my family.
  • 00:17:30.706 --> 00:17:32.941
  • What's one thing i could do?
  • 00:17:32.941 --> 00:17:34.376
  • What's one thing i could stop doing that would make my family
  • 00:17:34.376 --> 00:17:38.080
  • More pleasing to you?
  • 00:17:38.080 --> 00:17:39.882
  • What about in my finances?
  • 00:17:39.882 --> 00:17:41.316
  • You've entrusted a certain amount of money to me.
  • 00:17:41.316 --> 00:17:44.820
  • What should i start doing that i'm not doing with my finances?
  • 00:17:44.820 --> 00:17:48.457
  • What am i doing that i need to stop doing?"
  • 00:17:48.457 --> 00:17:52.394
  • Thirdly, your spiritual life.
  • 00:17:52.394 --> 00:17:54.596
  • What about your time with god?
  • 00:17:54.596 --> 00:17:56.064
  • What about your time in the word?
  • 00:17:56.064 --> 00:17:57.799
  • What's one thing you could start doing there that would
  • 00:17:57.799 --> 00:18:00.435
  • Please god?
  • 00:18:00.435 --> 00:18:01.770
  • What's one thing you need to stop doing?
  • 00:18:01.770 --> 00:18:03.872
  • Maybe there's an area of your life god is convicting you of
  • 00:18:03.872 --> 00:18:06.642
  • Right now that you need to stop in your life.
  • 00:18:06.642 --> 00:18:09.178
  • Same thing with your work, your health, and your friendships.
  • 00:18:09.178 --> 00:18:12.147
  • Now, i would encourage you tonight, before you go to bed,
  • 00:18:12.147 --> 00:18:16.485
  • Before you enter the monday morning rat race, take 20
  • 00:18:16.485 --> 00:18:20.155
  • Minutes and just ask god to reveal one thing to start doing
  • 00:18:20.155 --> 00:18:24.193
  • And stop doing in each of these area.
  • 00:18:24.193 --> 00:18:27.196
  • Now, i know what you're thinking.
  • 00:18:27.196 --> 00:18:28.564
  • You're thinking, "pastor, that's not just one thing.
  • 00:18:28.564 --> 00:18:31.300
  • I've got ten things i need to start doing and stop doing."
  • 00:18:31.300 --> 00:18:35.437
  • I understand that, but remember, he who is convicted of all sins
  • 00:18:35.437 --> 00:18:39.374
  • Is convicted of none.
  • 00:18:39.374 --> 00:18:41.009
  • Start with that one thing in each of these life areas that
  • 00:18:41.009 --> 00:18:44.646
  • You know would be pleasing to god.
  • 00:18:44.646 --> 00:18:46.715
  • You know, i remember reading the biography of benjamin franklin.
  • 00:18:46.715 --> 00:18:50.219
  • Benjamin franklin was not a christian.
  • 00:18:50.219 --> 00:18:52.254
  • He was a deist.
  • 00:18:52.254 --> 00:18:53.855
  • But even he understood the importance of habits.
  • 00:18:53.855 --> 00:18:57.092
  • He had a practice of looking at his character, examining his
  • 00:18:57.092 --> 00:19:01.129
  • Character, and determining one character quality that he needed
  • 00:19:01.129 --> 00:19:04.833
  • To work on each week.
  • 00:19:04.833 --> 00:19:06.335
  • And so every week he would work on self-control or speaking in
  • 00:19:06.335 --> 00:19:11.173
  • Kindness or managing his time better, and he would devote all
  • 00:19:11.173 --> 00:19:15.344
  • Of his activities to correcting that one area in his life.
  • 00:19:15.344 --> 00:19:19.114
  • That's a powerful concept.
  • 00:19:19.114 --> 00:19:20.515
  • Now, benjamin franklin didn't have the holy spirit of god like
  • 00:19:20.515 --> 00:19:24.152
  • Christians do to help him.
  • 00:19:24.152 --> 00:19:26.121
  • But just think between your decision and resolve and god's
  • 00:19:26.121 --> 00:19:30.425
  • Power, what you can do to make a difference in your life.
  • 00:19:30.425 --> 00:19:34.396
  • Have a spiritual inventory of your life.
  • 00:19:34.396 --> 00:19:37.666
  • And then fourthly, to put on the breastplate of righteousness,
  • 00:19:37.666 --> 00:19:41.236
  • Decide once and for all that obedience is both possible
  • 00:19:41.236 --> 00:19:46.508
  • And profitable.
  • 00:19:46.508 --> 00:19:48.877
  • You know, many christians think of obedience like they do the
  • 00:19:48.877 --> 00:19:53.115
  • Law of gravity.
  • 00:19:53.115 --> 00:19:54.449
  • They think just as gravity is inevitable, we're gonna fall.
  • 00:19:54.449 --> 00:19:59.955
  • They think sin is inevitable.
  • 00:19:59.955 --> 00:20:02.024
  • They think, "i've got this sin nature in me and i can't
  • 00:20:02.024 --> 00:20:05.093
  • Help it.
  • 00:20:05.093 --> 00:20:06.428
  • I have to sin."
  • 00:20:06.428 --> 00:20:07.829
  • No, you don't.
  • 00:20:07.829 --> 00:20:10.999
  • One writer said it this way, "falling off a platform is not
  • 00:20:10.999 --> 00:20:15.170
  • A habit, but cultivated lusting, anger, and so on are.
  • 00:20:15.170 --> 00:20:19.875
  • And generally speaking those who say, 'i cannot help it' are
  • 00:20:19.875 --> 00:20:23.812
  • Either not well informed about life or have not decided to do
  • 00:20:23.812 --> 00:20:28.817
  • Without sin.
  • 00:20:28.817 --> 00:20:30.185
  • Most likely it's the latter."
  • 00:20:30.185 --> 00:20:32.788
  • Let me give you some great news today.
  • 00:20:32.788 --> 00:20:35.390
  • You don't have to be a slave to sin any longer.
  • 00:20:35.390 --> 00:20:39.127
  • The same power that raised jesus from the dead, the same
  • 00:20:39.127 --> 00:20:42.831
  • Holy spirit power is available to you right now to break the
  • 00:20:42.831 --> 00:20:48.036
  • Cycle of sin and death.
  • 00:20:48.036 --> 00:20:49.404
  • Here's another great verse to memorize.
  • 00:20:49.404 --> 00:20:51.206
  • Romans 8:2.
  • 00:20:51.206 --> 00:20:52.774
  • The living bible says, "for we know that the power of the
  • 00:20:52.774 --> 00:20:56.645
  • Life-giving spirit, and that power is mine through christ
  • 00:20:56.645 --> 00:21:00.382
  • Jesus, has forever freed us from the vicious circle of sin
  • 00:21:00.382 --> 00:21:05.220
  • And death."
  • 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:07.622
  • You've got to decide that obedience is possible, but you
  • 00:21:07.622 --> 00:21:12.661
  • Also need to decide that obedience is profitable.
  • 00:21:12.661 --> 00:21:17.566
  • That's what it comes down to.
  • 00:21:17.566 --> 00:21:19.701
  • Do you think it really pays to obey god?
  • 00:21:19.701 --> 00:21:23.305
  • Let me ask you a couple of questions.
  • 00:21:23.305 --> 00:21:25.574
  • Have you come to the place in your life where you believe, you
  • 00:21:25.574 --> 00:21:28.377
  • Really believe that the short-term pleasure of
  • 00:21:28.377 --> 00:21:34.282
  • Disobeying god is far outweighed by the pains of disobedience.
  • 00:21:34.282 --> 00:21:41.323
  • Have you come to the place in your life where you believe with
  • 00:21:41.323 --> 00:21:43.992
  • All of your heart that god's plan for your life is really
  • 00:21:43.992 --> 00:21:48.330
  • Better than satan's plan for your life?
  • 00:21:48.330 --> 00:21:51.900
  • Are you ready to start putting on the breastplate of
  • 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:54.836
  • Righteousness by doing that one thing in each of these life
  • 00:21:54.836 --> 00:21:58.440
  • Areas that you know would bring the most pleasure to god?
  • 00:21:58.440 --> 00:22:03.645
  • If you've come to that place, it is god who has given you the
  • 00:22:03.645 --> 00:22:07.582
  • Willingness, the power to change.
  • 00:22:07.582 --> 00:22:10.419
  • All you have to supply is the decision.
  • 00:22:10.419 --> 00:22:14.723
  • Put on the breastplate of righteousness.
  • 00:22:14.723 --> 00:22:19.528
  • Jeffress: obedience to god requires intentional effort and
  • 00:22:23.665 --> 00:22:27.502
  • Daily discipline, but when you develop the habit of
  • 00:22:27.502 --> 00:22:30.906
  • Righteousness, you'll discover that resisting satan's schemes
  • 00:22:30.906 --> 00:22:34.743
  • Becomes far more natural than you could ever imagine.
  • 00:22:34.743 --> 00:22:38.480
  • Well, at "pathway to victory," we're committed to equipping
  • 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:41.416
  • Believers with practical biblical truth that makes a real
  • 00:22:41.416 --> 00:22:45.153
  • Difference in your everyday life.
  • 00:22:45.153 --> 00:22:48.023
  • Messages like the one you heard today are reaching people all
  • 00:22:48.023 --> 00:22:50.926
  • Around the world who need encouragement and direction.
  • 00:22:50.926 --> 00:22:54.529
  • For example, i recently heard from a man who works for an
  • 00:22:54.529 --> 00:22:57.499
  • Aircraft company in texas and spends time overseas working
  • 00:22:57.499 --> 00:23:01.536
  • With clients.
  • 00:23:01.536 --> 00:23:02.871
  • He wrote, "i want you to know that pathway to victory is an
  • 00:23:02.871 --> 00:23:05.874
  • Encouragement to me as i work around people who are not
  • 00:23:05.874 --> 00:23:09.377
  • Christians and have no idea where they are headed
  • 00:23:09.377 --> 00:23:12.647
  • After death."
  • 00:23:12.647 --> 00:23:14.082
  • Well, thank you so much for sharing that with us and to
  • 00:23:14.082 --> 00:23:17.419
  • Everyone who gives faithfully to "pathway to victory," thank you
  • 00:23:17.419 --> 00:23:20.789
  • For making it possible for us to reach people like this man with
  • 00:23:20.789 --> 00:23:24.626
  • The hope and truth of god's word.
  • 00:23:24.626 --> 00:23:27.496
  • Together, we are piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:23:27.496 --> 00:23:31.166
  • God's word.
  • 00:23:31.166 --> 00:23:32.501
  • Now please stay right there.
  • 00:23:32.501 --> 00:23:33.869
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:23:33.869 --> 00:23:36.471
  • Announcer: that recurring temptation you can't shake, the
  • 00:23:38.006 --> 00:23:40.809
  • Doubts that creep in during your darkest moments, the tension in
  • 00:23:40.809 --> 00:23:44.279
  • Your closest relationships, these aren't random struggles,
  • 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:47.816
  • These are part of a strategic attack on your faith, your
  • 00:23:47.816 --> 00:23:50.752
  • Family, and your future.
  • 00:23:50.752 --> 00:23:52.354
  • Jeffress: satan has a personalized plan to discourage,
  • 00:23:52.354 --> 00:23:55.924
  • Deceive, and derail you, but you don't have to live in defeat.
  • 00:23:55.924 --> 00:24:00.562
  • God has given you access to the same power that raised jesus
  • 00:24:00.562 --> 00:24:04.165
  • From the dead.
  • 00:24:04.165 --> 00:24:05.500
  • In my bestselling book, "the divine defense," i'll show you
  • 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:08.737
  • How to put on the full armor of god and use six biblical
  • 00:24:08.737 --> 00:24:12.507
  • Strategies to defeat satan's plan to destroy your life.
  • 00:24:12.507 --> 00:24:17.178
  • Announcer: request "the divine defense" when you give
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  • A generous gift to "pathway to victory" or when you become
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  • A pathway partner.
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  • Complete resource set including the study guide, "suit up!
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  • The armor of god for kids," and the teaching series on both cd
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  • And dvd.
  • 00:24:34.262 --> 00:24:35.630
  • Jeffress: your mind is the devil's battlefield on which he
  • 00:24:35.630 --> 00:24:39.868
  • Is warring against everything important to you.
  • 00:24:39.868 --> 00:24:45.040
  • It is a battle that seeks to destroy your faith, your family,
  • 00:24:45.040 --> 00:24:49.711
  • And your future.
  • 00:24:49.711 --> 00:24:51.079
  • Announcer: thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:53.582
  • Your generous ministry gift helps us broadcast biblical
  • 00:24:53.582 --> 00:24:56.718
  • Truth on television, radio, and online, equipping believers like
  • 00:24:56.718 --> 00:25:00.855
  • You to stand firm and live victoriously.
  • 00:25:00.855 --> 00:25:03.992
  • Together, we're piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:25:03.992 --> 00:25:06.895
  • God's word.
  • 00:25:06.895 --> 00:25:08.363
  • Jeffress: every time you choose to obey god, you're building
  • 00:25:09.831 --> 00:25:12.867
  • A spiritual strength that will serve you for years to come, and
  • 00:25:12.867 --> 00:25:17.038
  • Those small daily decisions add up over time, creating a pattern
  • 00:25:17.038 --> 00:25:21.977
  • Of righteousness that protects you from satan's attacks.
  • 00:25:21.977 --> 00:25:26.181
  • Well, god didn't leave us on earth just to avoid sin.
  • 00:25:26.181 --> 00:25:29.718
  • He left us here with a mission, and next time we're going to
  • 00:25:29.718 --> 00:25:33.288
  • Discover how fulfilling your god-given purpose actually
  • 00:25:33.288 --> 00:25:37.325
  • Protects you from satan's attacks.
  • 00:25:37.325 --> 00:25:39.527
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:39.527 --> 00:25:42.230
  • Series, "the divine defense."
  • 00:25:42.230 --> 00:25:45.433
  • Jeffress: the boots for a christian soldier is our
  • 00:25:45.433 --> 00:25:49.804
  • Readiness and our ability and our commitment to sharing christ
  • 00:25:49.804 --> 00:25:55.110
  • With other people.
  • 00:25:55.110 --> 00:25:56.511
  • That's what it means to have your feet shod with the
  • 00:25:56.511 --> 00:25:59.948
  • Preparation of the gospel of peace.
  • 00:25:59.948 --> 00:26:02.217
  • The spiritual boots that paul says you need in spiritual
  • 00:26:02.217 --> 00:26:06.154
  • Warfare is a commitment as well as an ability to sharing the
  • 00:26:06.154 --> 00:26:11.493
  • Gospel message with others.
  • 00:26:11.493 --> 00:26:14.396
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:26:14.396 --> 00:26:17.565
  • "putting on your soul shoes" here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:17.565 --> 00:26:23.672
  • Announcer: join us on the "pathway to victory" cruise to
  • 00:26:23.738 --> 00:26:26.608
  • Alaska, june 13 through 20, 2026.
  • 00:26:26.608 --> 00:26:29.911
  • Jeffress: let me paint a picture for you.
  • 00:26:29.911 --> 00:26:31.780
  • You're standing on the deck of a beautiful cruise ship, coffee in
  • 00:26:31.780 --> 00:26:35.617
  • Hand, watching a glacier cave into the pristine waters while
  • 00:26:35.617 --> 00:26:40.121
  • Bald eagles circle overhead.
  • 00:26:40.121 --> 00:26:42.791
  • That's going to be us this coming june.
  • 00:26:42.791 --> 00:26:45.493
  • You've got to see alaska with your own eyes to believe it.
  • 00:26:45.493 --> 00:26:49.164
  • Announcer: seven days of pure luxury where every meal is
  • 00:26:49.164 --> 00:26:52.267
  • Prepared for you, the world class service means you never
  • 00:26:52.267 --> 00:26:55.336
  • Have to think about the details.
  • 00:26:55.336 --> 00:26:57.172
  • Instead, you can focus on casual conversations with like-minded
  • 00:26:57.172 --> 00:27:01.209
  • Christians, laughing, telling stories, while surrounded by
  • 00:27:01.209 --> 00:27:05.046
  • God's breathtaking creation.
  • 00:27:05.046 --> 00:27:07.115
  • Jeffress: this is purposeful travel at its finest, refreshing
  • 00:27:07.115 --> 00:27:11.019
  • Your soul in god's stunning cathedral of natural wonders.
  • 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:15.924
  • Announcer: call... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:15.990 --> 00:27:27.469