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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Developing An Obedient Heart (Part 1)

August 12, 2025 | S25 E385 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - Developing An Obedient Heart (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#inActive #WordofGod #Favor #LoveofGod #Faithfulness #Commandment #Disciples #Belief #EternalLife #God'sWill

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Developing An Obedient Heart (Part 1) | August 12, 2025
  • ♪♪
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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 dr. robert
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  • Jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
  • 00:00:14.070 --> 00:00:16.206
  • Again to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:16.206 --> 00:00:18.174
  • Have you ever noticed that some people seem to naturally follow
  • 00:00:18.174 --> 00:00:21.411
  • Instructions while others resist authority at every turn?
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  • As employers, parents, and leaders, we tend to favor those
  • 00:00:25.748 --> 00:00:29.552
  • Who willingly comply with our requests, and yet many
  • 00:00:29.552 --> 00:00:33.590
  • Christians have bought into the false idea that believing in
  • 00:00:33.590 --> 00:00:37.060
  • Jesus is essential for salvation, but obeying him
  • 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:41.464
  • Is optional.
  • 00:00:41.464 --> 00:00:42.966
  • Today i want to show you why a true follower of christ must
  • 00:00:42.966 --> 00:00:46.836
  • Have an obedient heart.
  • 00:00:46.836 --> 00:00:48.938
  • My message is titled, "developing an obedient heart"
  • 00:00:48.938 --> 00:00:52.842
  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:52.842 --> 00:01:03.486
  • Announcer: give your heart the encouragement it needs.
  • 00:01:04.521 --> 00:01:07.290
  • Start and end each day meditating on god's word with
  • 00:01:07.290 --> 00:01:10.527
  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple."
  • 00:01:10.527 --> 00:01:12.996
  • This brand new, beautiful, full-color padded hardcover book
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  • By dr. robert jeffress features 80 breathtaking images of
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  • Creation paired with scripture, prayers, and insights you can
  • 00:01:19.869 --> 00:01:23.339
  • Read in under two minutes.
  • 00:01:23.339 --> 00:01:24.974
  • Perfect for your coffee table or as a thoughtful gift for
  • 00:01:24.974 --> 00:01:27.877
  • A loved one.
  • 00:01:27.877 --> 00:01:29.212
  • Request "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" when you
  • 00:01:29.212 --> 00:01:31.648
  • Give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
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  • Jeffress: i don't know about you but i like people who obey me.
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  • I just do.
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  • Especially people under my authority.
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  • I'm not saying i'm some tyrannical despot, but i'd like
  • 00:01:56.105 --> 00:01:59.275
  • People who do what i ask them to do without a lot of hassle.
  • 00:01:59.275 --> 00:02:02.779
  • You know, amy and i hired a painter not long ago to do some
  • 00:02:02.779 --> 00:02:06.616
  • Touch up work around the house.
  • 00:02:06.616 --> 00:02:08.751
  • I'm telling you everything we ask was met with resistance.
  • 00:02:08.751 --> 00:02:13.556
  • He'd give us a list of reasons he couldn't do the simple things
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  • We ask him to do.
  • 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:18.695
  • And amy and i vowed we will never use that painter again.
  • 00:02:18.695 --> 00:02:23.900
  • You know, i think about our staff, we've got such a gifted
  • 00:02:23.900 --> 00:02:26.502
  • And wonderful staff here.
  • 00:02:26.502 --> 00:02:28.137
  • But i appreciate those staff members who do what i ask them
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  • To do, even though they may not understand why.
  • 00:02:32.008 --> 00:02:35.745
  • At least they believe maybe i know something they don't know
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  • About a situation and they comply with my request.
  • 00:02:39.582 --> 00:02:43.086
  • Those are the staff members admittedly, that i favor.
  • 00:02:43.086 --> 00:02:46.389
  • Those are the ones who get the raises and the promotions
  • 00:02:46.389 --> 00:02:49.092
  • Because they do what i asked them to do.
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  • Hint to staff members listening today.
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  • I think about my own children.
  • 00:02:57.367 --> 00:02:59.769
  • You know, i remember many years ago i was talking to one of my
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  • Daughters about a particular behavior and i said, "you know,
  • 00:03:02.905 --> 00:03:06.576
  • Honey, i love you and i want the best for you.
  • 00:03:06.576 --> 00:03:09.479
  • That's why i want you to do this."
  • 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:11.814
  • I didn't know how she would react.
  • 00:03:11.814 --> 00:03:13.850
  • And she said, "dad, i'll do what you asked me to do."
  • 00:03:13.850 --> 00:03:17.587
  • I mean at that moment she could have asked me for anything in
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  • The world.
  • 00:03:20.523 --> 00:03:21.858
  • I'm glad she didn't but she could have and i would have
  • 00:03:21.858 --> 00:03:23.760
  • Given it to her.
  • 00:03:23.760 --> 00:03:25.228
  • Because i wanna reward my children when they obey me.
  • 00:03:25.228 --> 00:03:29.365
  • Now, why is it that i use contractors, i favor employees,
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  • And i reward children who obey me?
  • 00:03:33.536 --> 00:03:37.507
  • It's because i am made in the image of a god who uses favors
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  • And rewards those who obey him.
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  • God rewards those who obey him because they understand the
  • 00:03:49.218 --> 00:03:53.389
  • Nature of their relationship to him, they trust his judgment,
  • 00:03:53.389 --> 00:03:58.027
  • And they trust his motives.
  • 00:03:58.027 --> 00:04:00.897
  • Today, we're in our series on "7 marks of a disciple."
  • 00:04:00.897 --> 00:04:05.635
  • And today we're going to discover another one of those
  • 00:04:05.635 --> 00:04:08.137
  • Marks of a follower of jesus christ.
  • 00:04:08.137 --> 00:04:10.840
  • And that is, an obedient heart.
  • 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:14.344
  • A true follower of christ is one who obeys jesus in all things
  • 00:04:14.344 --> 00:04:20.316
  • That he has commanded them according to matthew chapter 28.
  • 00:04:20.316 --> 00:04:25.455
  • You know, jesus demands from us an obedient heart.
  • 00:04:25.455 --> 00:04:30.360
  • Just listen to some of the commands in scripture that
  • 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:32.795
  • He gave.
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  • John 14:21.
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  • He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves
  • 00:04:35.498 --> 00:04:40.737
  • Me, and he who loves me shall be loved by my father, and i will
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  • Love him and will disclose myself to him.
  • 00:04:44.707 --> 00:04:48.044
  • Or john 8:51, truly, truly i say to you, if anyone keeps my word,
  • 00:04:48.044 --> 00:04:54.150
  • He shall never see death,"
  • 00:04:54.150 --> 00:04:55.518
  • Or john 3:36.
  • 00:04:55.518 --> 00:04:57.520
  • This is a great one to memorize.
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  • He who believes in the son has eternal life; but he who does
  • 00:04:59.422 --> 00:05:04.861
  • Not obey the son shall not see life, but the wrath of god
  • 00:05:04.861 --> 00:05:09.866
  • Abides on him."
  • 00:05:09.866 --> 00:05:12.068
  • You know, one of the downsides of the evangelical faith
  • 00:05:12.068 --> 00:05:16.472
  • Tradition is this idea that we have that somehow belief in
  • 00:05:16.472 --> 00:05:22.111
  • Jesus is essential for salvation, but obedience to
  • 00:05:22.111 --> 00:05:26.916
  • Jesus is optional.
  • 00:05:26.916 --> 00:05:30.553
  • We give people the idea that you can trust in god to take care of
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  • You in the next life without trusting him enough to obey him
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  • In this life.
  • 00:05:40.496 --> 00:05:42.598
  • But jesus never gives us that option.
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  • He never gives us a dichotomy between trusting him for
  • 00:05:45.935 --> 00:05:50.740
  • Salvation, but distrust in him for obedience.
  • 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:55.278
  • You know, it's no accident that the words in the bible, the
  • 00:05:55.278 --> 00:05:58.848
  • Greek word obey and trust are very similar.
  • 00:05:58.848 --> 00:06:03.052
  • The greek word obey, "peitho," the greek word trust, "pisteuo"
  • 00:06:03.052 --> 00:06:07.290
  • Are very similar because they're really the same thing.
  • 00:06:07.290 --> 00:06:11.594
  • W. e. vine says, "when a man obeys god, he gives the only
  • 00:06:11.594 --> 00:06:16.466
  • Possible evidence that in his heart he believes god."
  • 00:06:16.466 --> 00:06:21.070
  • Go back to john 3:36 for a moment.
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  • Look at this, "he who believes," i want you to underline that
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  • Word, believes.
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  • "he who believes in the son has eternal life; but he who does
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  • Not,"--he doesn't say believe.
  • 00:06:32.348 --> 00:06:34.684
  • "he who does not obey the son shall not see life."
  • 00:06:34.684 --> 00:06:38.588
  • You see how jesus is using the words belief and
  • 00:06:38.588 --> 00:06:41.390
  • Obey simultaneously.
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  • They're the same words: belief and obey.
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  • To believe is to obey, to obey is to believe.
  • 00:06:47.396 --> 00:06:51.100
  • It was bonhoeffer who said, "only he who believes truly
  • 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:55.271
  • Obeys, and only he who obeys truly believes."
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  • You can't truly believe christ without obeying christ.
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  • That's what jesus is saying to us.
  • 00:07:07.583 --> 00:07:10.887
  • Jesus not only commanded obedience, but he demonstrated
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  • Obedience in his own relationship with god.
  • 00:07:14.857 --> 00:07:18.027
  • In john 4:34, he said, "my food is to do the will of him who
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  • Sent me and to accomplish his work."
  • 00:07:22.932 --> 00:07:26.002
  • In john 6:38, he said, "for i have come down from heaven, not
  • 00:07:26.002 --> 00:07:30.239
  • To do my own will, but to do the will of him who sent me."
  • 00:07:30.239 --> 00:07:34.076
  • Let me ask you, can you say honestly that when you wake up
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  • In the morning, your first thought is, "what would god have
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  • Me to do today?"
  • 00:07:41.717 --> 00:07:44.287
  • When you go to sleep at night, before you drift off to sleep,
  • 00:07:44.287 --> 00:07:48.090
  • Is your thought, "god, have i pleased you today?
  • 00:07:48.090 --> 00:07:50.927
  • Is there anything i've done to displease you?"
  • 00:07:50.927 --> 00:07:54.230
  • A true disciple of christ has as his passion, obedience to god.
  • 00:07:54.230 --> 00:07:59.802
  • And jesus demonstrated that not just in his words, but in
  • 00:07:59.802 --> 00:08:03.105
  • His actions.
  • 00:08:03.105 --> 00:08:04.507
  • In fact, jesus in his life demonstrated three key
  • 00:08:04.507 --> 00:08:07.677
  • Characteristics of an obedient heart.
  • 00:08:07.677 --> 00:08:10.680
  • The kind of obedience that god demands from us.
  • 00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:14.383
  • First of all, jesus's life demonstrates immediate obedience
  • 00:08:14.383 --> 00:08:18.421
  • To god, immediate obedience to god.
  • 00:08:18.421 --> 00:08:20.856
  • Now, i'm not suggesting jesus was some divine robot who was
  • 00:08:20.856 --> 00:08:24.660
  • Programmed to say yes automatically to god.
  • 00:08:24.660 --> 00:08:27.597
  • Jesus struggled with doing the will of god sometimes.
  • 00:08:27.597 --> 00:08:31.701
  • There was no greater struggle he experienced than that
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  • Of gethsemane.
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  • I was in gethsemane earlier this week.
  • 00:08:35.638 --> 00:08:38.407
  • I looked at one of those giant trees there that many of them
  • 00:08:38.407 --> 00:08:42.745
  • Are thousands of years old.
  • 00:08:42.745 --> 00:08:45.715
  • Perhaps one of those trees was the one jesus knelt down, but
  • 00:08:45.715 --> 00:08:48.851
  • You remember that struggle he went through the night before he
  • 00:08:48.851 --> 00:08:51.887
  • Was crucified.
  • 00:08:51.887 --> 00:08:53.255
  • In luke 22:42, he said, "father, if thou art willing, remove this
  • 00:08:53.255 --> 00:08:58.461
  • Cup, this experience from me."
  • 00:08:58.461 --> 00:09:01.297
  • Jesus did not want to go to the cross.
  • 00:09:01.297 --> 00:09:04.266
  • Not only because of the physical torture, but because of the
  • 00:09:04.266 --> 00:09:08.537
  • Spiritual agony for the first time ever being separated from
  • 00:09:08.537 --> 00:09:12.541
  • His heavenly father because he was bearing the sins of
  • 00:09:12.541 --> 00:09:15.811
  • The world.
  • 00:09:15.811 --> 00:09:17.179
  • So, he begged, "find another way, god," and yet after that
  • 00:09:17.179 --> 00:09:21.517
  • Semicolon, he quickly added, "yet not my will, but your will
  • 00:09:21.517 --> 00:09:26.255
  • Be done."
  • 00:09:26.255 --> 00:09:29.091
  • Let me give you a little insight here.
  • 00:09:29.091 --> 00:09:31.961
  • When we develop an obedient heart, the more we obey god, we
  • 00:09:31.961 --> 00:09:37.066
  • Find that interval between god's command and our obedience
  • 00:09:37.066 --> 00:09:41.303
  • Shorter, and shorter, and shorter.
  • 00:09:41.303 --> 00:09:43.839
  • But here's the flip side to that.
  • 00:09:43.839 --> 00:09:45.875
  • The longer the gap between god's command and our obedience, the
  • 00:09:45.875 --> 00:09:52.181
  • Greater the opportunity for satan to gain a victory in
  • 00:09:52.181 --> 00:09:54.984
  • Our life.
  • 00:09:54.984 --> 00:09:56.719
  • When god speaks, the longer we say, "well, god, let me think
  • 00:09:56.719 --> 00:09:59.555
  • About that and get back to you on it."
  • 00:09:59.555 --> 00:10:02.391
  • The greater the opportunity for satan to persuade us to go
  • 00:10:02.391 --> 00:10:05.795
  • Another way.
  • 00:10:05.795 --> 00:10:07.129
  • Jesus demonstrated immediate obedience.
  • 00:10:07.129 --> 00:10:10.266
  • Secondly, jesus demonstrated complete obedience to god.
  • 00:10:10.266 --> 00:10:15.304
  • The puritan writer, thomas brooks said, "no man obeys god
  • 00:10:15.304 --> 00:10:19.809
  • Truly who does not endeavor to obey god fully,"
  • 00:10:19.809 --> 00:10:26.582
  • Complete obedience.
  • 00:10:26.582 --> 00:10:29.051
  • You know, most of us treat our obedience to god like a buffet.
  • 00:10:29.051 --> 00:10:33.155
  • I probably shouldn't talk about buffets so close to lunch
  • 00:10:33.155 --> 00:10:35.558
  • Right now.
  • 00:10:35.558 --> 00:10:37.293
  • But you know what we do through a buffet, you know, we select
  • 00:10:37.293 --> 00:10:39.929
  • The things we want to put on our plate.
  • 00:10:39.929 --> 00:10:41.630
  • A lot of us treat god's will that way.
  • 00:10:41.630 --> 00:10:43.733
  • We're going through the lines and "oh, yes, i'll do that.
  • 00:10:43.733 --> 00:10:46.402
  • Yes, i'll do that.
  • 00:10:46.402 --> 00:10:47.770
  • I'll have some of that.
  • 00:10:47.770 --> 00:10:49.105
  • Oh, no, not gonna do that.
  • 00:10:49.105 --> 00:10:52.208
  • Nothing appealing about that."
  • 00:10:52.208 --> 00:10:54.977
  • We think we can pick and choose which parts of god's will we're
  • 00:10:54.977 --> 00:10:58.280
  • Going to obey.
  • 00:10:58.280 --> 00:10:59.648
  • No, a true disciple is one who obeys all things jesus said in
  • 00:10:59.648 --> 00:11:04.053
  • Matthew 28, "whatsoever, i have commanded you."
  • 00:11:04.053 --> 00:11:09.125
  • Have you ever read some of these bizarre stories in the old
  • 00:11:09.125 --> 00:11:11.961
  • Testament and really kind of wondered why they're there?
  • 00:11:11.961 --> 00:11:16.465
  • Stories that seem to make god seem awfully severe, kind of
  • 00:11:16.465 --> 00:11:19.835
  • Overreacting sometimes.
  • 00:11:19.835 --> 00:11:22.204
  • I mean, remember, for example, the story of the israelites
  • 00:11:22.204 --> 00:11:26.242
  • Being defeated at ai because of one man, achan, who decided to
  • 00:11:26.242 --> 00:11:31.714
  • Keep some of the treasure for himself.
  • 00:11:31.714 --> 00:11:34.016
  • The whole army was defeated because of one man keeping
  • 00:11:34.016 --> 00:11:36.519
  • A few treasures.
  • 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:37.887
  • Or remember king saul, who was forced to give up his kingship
  • 00:11:37.887 --> 00:11:41.190
  • Only because he kept a few sheep instead of having them
  • 00:11:41.190 --> 00:11:43.826
  • Slaughtered like he was commanded.
  • 00:11:43.826 --> 00:11:46.228
  • Or remember that bizarre case of uzzah in 2 samuel chapter 6.
  • 00:11:46.228 --> 00:11:51.433
  • He was a guy who was walking alongside the ark of the
  • 00:11:51.433 --> 00:11:54.069
  • Covenant when they were transporting it.
  • 00:11:54.069 --> 00:11:55.971
  • And the oxen started to stumble, and the ark started to tip over,
  • 00:11:55.971 --> 00:12:00.643
  • And uzzah reached out, and touched the ark.
  • 00:12:00.643 --> 00:12:03.879
  • And god struck him dead.
  • 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:06.282
  • He was trying to do a good thing to sturdy the ark, but god
  • 00:12:06.282 --> 00:12:08.918
  • Struck him dead because god said, "nobody is to touch
  • 00:12:08.918 --> 00:12:12.254
  • The ark."
  • 00:12:12.254 --> 00:12:13.889
  • Why does god overreact like that?
  • 00:12:13.889 --> 00:12:17.326
  • Well, he's teaching us a lesson.
  • 00:12:17.326 --> 00:12:19.895
  • The obedience that god demands from each of us is not just
  • 00:12:19.895 --> 00:12:24.066
  • A partial obedience, it is complete obedience.
  • 00:12:24.066 --> 00:12:28.838
  • And by the way, jesus demonstrated that in philippians
  • 00:12:28.838 --> 00:12:31.507
  • 2:8 when he said, "and being found in the appearance of a
  • 00:12:31.507 --> 00:12:35.344
  • Man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point
  • 00:12:35.344 --> 00:12:40.416
  • Of death, even death on a cross."
  • 00:12:40.416 --> 00:12:44.620
  • Jesus's obedience wasn't partial, it was complete.
  • 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:48.190
  • And then finally, the kind of obedience god demands from us is
  • 00:12:48.190 --> 00:12:51.994
  • A joyful obedience.
  • 00:12:51.994 --> 00:12:54.763
  • Just imagine parents, that you're having a dinner party one
  • 00:12:54.763 --> 00:12:57.433
  • Friday night at your home.
  • 00:12:57.433 --> 00:12:59.034
  • And in the middle of the dinner party, the trash is running
  • 00:12:59.034 --> 00:13:01.604
  • Over, so you say to your ten-year-old son, "so, would you
  • 00:13:01.604 --> 00:13:04.707
  • Empty the trash?"
  • 00:13:04.707 --> 00:13:06.342
  • Your son stomps around and growls about how unfair you are
  • 00:13:06.342 --> 00:13:10.212
  • And so forth.
  • 00:13:10.212 --> 00:13:11.580
  • So, after about 20 minutes of cajoling them, you finally get
  • 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:14.383
  • Him to agree to take out the trash.
  • 00:13:14.383 --> 00:13:17.820
  • Now, what is your attitude toward him?
  • 00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:20.422
  • Probably he gets some credit for finally doing what you've asked
  • 00:13:20.422 --> 00:13:23.726
  • Him to do.
  • 00:13:23.726 --> 00:13:25.060
  • But aren't you embarrassed having seen all of your friends
  • 00:13:25.060 --> 00:13:28.831
  • Witness that lack of respect for your authority and that argument
  • 00:13:28.831 --> 00:13:32.668
  • Back and forth?
  • 00:13:32.668 --> 00:13:34.470
  • Did you know the bible says right now there is a whole
  • 00:13:34.470 --> 00:13:38.707
  • Audience watching our relationship to god, how we
  • 00:13:38.707 --> 00:13:42.511
  • Respond to god our father.
  • 00:13:42.511 --> 00:13:44.346
  • The audience consists of people here on earth who are watching
  • 00:13:44.346 --> 00:13:47.316
  • Whether or not we obey god completely, and fully,
  • 00:13:47.316 --> 00:13:50.252
  • And joyfully.
  • 00:13:50.252 --> 00:13:51.587
  • But there's also an unseen audience in heaven.
  • 00:13:51.587 --> 00:13:54.757
  • Those who've gone before us and are in heaven.
  • 00:13:54.757 --> 00:13:57.626
  • Not to mention the invisible angels and demons who are
  • 00:13:57.626 --> 00:14:00.996
  • Watching everything.
  • 00:14:00.996 --> 00:14:02.765
  • And we either give glory to god or we hurt god's reputation for
  • 00:14:02.765 --> 00:14:08.070
  • How we respond to the commands of our heavenly father.
  • 00:14:08.070 --> 00:14:11.907
  • If you think that's a stretch, consider hebrews chapter 12 that
  • 00:14:11.907 --> 00:14:16.312
  • Compares our life to a race, an olympic style race.
  • 00:14:16.312 --> 00:14:20.916
  • And god has a specific course he's laid out for us to run.
  • 00:14:20.916 --> 00:14:25.955
  • And as we go around that course to complete it, it takes
  • 00:14:25.955 --> 00:14:29.358
  • Perspiration and determination.
  • 00:14:29.358 --> 00:14:31.627
  • And whenever we're tempted to give up, hebrews 12:2 says we
  • 00:14:31.627 --> 00:14:35.597
  • Need to look at somebody else who finished the course that was
  • 00:14:35.597 --> 00:14:39.034
  • Set before him.
  • 00:14:39.034 --> 00:14:40.436
  • "fixing our eyes on jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
  • 00:14:40.436 --> 00:14:44.306
  • Who for the joy set before him endured the cross."
  • 00:14:44.306 --> 00:14:49.578
  • No, jesus wasn't giddy about the idea of going to calvary.
  • 00:14:49.578 --> 00:14:54.450
  • But he did it anyway, why?
  • 00:14:54.450 --> 00:14:56.719
  • Because he was able to look past the agony of calvary and look to
  • 00:14:56.719 --> 00:15:01.757
  • The ecstasy of the unending reward god had planned for him.
  • 00:15:01.757 --> 00:15:06.628
  • And that's the kind of obedience god wants from us.
  • 00:15:06.628 --> 00:15:09.865
  • To obey without a lot of argument.
  • 00:15:09.865 --> 00:15:13.002
  • Obey because we trust god's plan for our life.
  • 00:15:13.002 --> 00:15:17.506
  • What is it that keeps us from that complete, immediate, and
  • 00:15:17.506 --> 00:15:21.510
  • Joyful obedience?
  • 00:15:21.510 --> 00:15:23.846
  • Let me mention several barriers to that kind of obedience that
  • 00:15:23.846 --> 00:15:28.250
  • God commands to specifically.
  • 00:15:28.250 --> 00:15:30.719
  • One is our distance from god.
  • 00:15:30.719 --> 00:15:34.656
  • Let's just be honest, it's hard to obey an invisible being,
  • 00:15:34.656 --> 00:15:39.962
  • Isn't it?
  • 00:15:39.962 --> 00:15:41.296
  • One we've never seen, one who seems so far away.
  • 00:15:41.296 --> 00:15:45.701
  • By the way, that's nothing new.
  • 00:15:45.701 --> 00:15:47.202
  • The israelites had trouble obeying god because of their
  • 00:15:47.202 --> 00:15:50.506
  • Distance from god.
  • 00:15:50.506 --> 00:15:52.241
  • Remember that story in exodus chapter 32 when the children of
  • 00:15:52.241 --> 00:15:55.544
  • Israel were at the foot of mount sinai
  • 00:15:55.544 --> 00:15:57.946
  • And moses went up the mountain to receive the
  • 00:15:57.946 --> 00:16:00.849
  • Commandments from god.
  • 00:16:00.849 --> 00:16:02.684
  • They thought he would be gone for just a few days and he ended
  • 00:16:02.684 --> 00:16:05.220
  • Up being gone for a long time.
  • 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:06.955
  • So, what happened?
  • 00:16:06.955 --> 00:16:08.290
  • Listen to exodus 32, verse 1, "when the people saw that moses
  • 00:16:08.290 --> 00:16:13.028
  • Delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled
  • 00:16:13.028 --> 00:16:16.765
  • About aaron and said to him, 'come, make us a god who will
  • 00:16:16.765 --> 00:16:21.303
  • Go up before us.
  • 00:16:21.303 --> 00:16:22.638
  • And as for this moses, the man who brought us up from the land
  • 00:16:22.638 --> 00:16:25.908
  • Of egypt, we don't know what's become of him.'"
  • 00:16:25.908 --> 00:16:30.245
  • They were having a difficult time enough obeying a god
  • 00:16:30.245 --> 00:16:33.015
  • They've never seen.
  • 00:16:33.015 --> 00:16:34.416
  • But now their leader disappears.
  • 00:16:34.416 --> 00:16:36.718
  • So, what do they do?
  • 00:16:36.718 --> 00:16:38.087
  • They fall into immorality and disobedience.
  • 00:16:38.087 --> 00:16:41.290
  • Out of sight, out of mind.
  • 00:16:41.290 --> 00:16:43.826
  • I'm not saying that's a right excuse for disobeying god, but
  • 00:16:43.826 --> 00:16:47.329
  • At least helps us understand one reason we find it difficult to
  • 00:16:47.329 --> 00:16:51.033
  • Obey god.
  • 00:16:51.033 --> 00:16:52.501
  • But an even more potent barrier to obedience to god is our
  • 00:16:52.501 --> 00:16:57.172
  • Distrust of god.
  • 00:16:57.172 --> 00:16:59.308
  • It's not just our distance from god, at the heart of our
  • 00:16:59.308 --> 00:17:03.412
  • Disobedience to god, is a basic innate distrust we have of god.
  • 00:17:03.412 --> 00:17:10.119
  • Not long ago, my car started leaking coolant, so i took it
  • 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:13.489
  • Into the shop and they said, "oh, well, there's a leaky
  • 00:17:13.489 --> 00:17:16.492
  • Radiator hose."
  • 00:17:16.492 --> 00:17:18.293
  • I said, "how much would it cost to fix that?"
  • 00:17:18.293 --> 00:17:19.795
  • They said, "about a hundred dollars."
  • 00:17:19.795 --> 00:17:22.431
  • And i said, "well, fine, let's fix the hose."
  • 00:17:22.431 --> 00:17:24.700
  • A couple of hours later they call me and they said, "well,
  • 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:26.668
  • You know, the mechanic found out it wasn't a leaky hose, it is
  • 00:17:26.668 --> 00:17:30.372
  • A gasket on the engine, a gasket that has gone bad, and it's
  • 00:17:30.372 --> 00:17:34.076
  • Gonna cost $1300 to replace that gasket."
  • 00:17:34.076 --> 00:17:38.714
  • Now, i believed that mechanic knew more about my car than
  • 00:17:38.714 --> 00:17:43.785
  • I did.
  • 00:17:43.785 --> 00:17:45.154
  • That wasn't the issue.
  • 00:17:45.154 --> 00:17:46.722
  • The issue was, did i trust him or not?
  • 00:17:46.722 --> 00:17:50.626
  • Did i really trust that he wanted what is best for me or
  • 00:17:50.626 --> 00:17:54.530
  • What is best for him?
  • 00:17:54.530 --> 00:17:57.065
  • You know, a lot of the reason we have trouble obeying god is we
  • 00:17:57.065 --> 00:18:00.369
  • Don't doubt that god knows more than we do.
  • 00:18:00.369 --> 00:18:03.572
  • But at the heart of our question is, can we really trust god?
  • 00:18:03.572 --> 00:18:09.778
  • Does god care about us or does god only really care
  • 00:18:09.778 --> 00:18:13.115
  • About himself?
  • 00:18:13.115 --> 00:18:14.850
  • By the way, that was the basis of the first sin recorded in
  • 00:18:14.850 --> 00:18:19.821
  • The bible.
  • 00:18:19.821 --> 00:18:21.156
  • Remember in genesis chapter 3, god had said to adam and eve,
  • 00:18:21.156 --> 00:18:24.326
  • "now, adam and eve, i've given you this whole garden, every
  • 00:18:24.326 --> 00:18:27.996
  • Tree is yours, except one.
  • 00:18:27.996 --> 00:18:30.732
  • Just stay away from that tree, every other tree is yours."
  • 00:18:30.732 --> 00:18:34.469
  • So, when the serpent came to deceive eve, where did he center
  • 00:18:34.469 --> 00:18:38.507
  • Her attention?
  • 00:18:38.507 --> 00:18:39.875
  • Not on all the things god had said yes to, but on the one
  • 00:18:39.875 --> 00:18:43.078
  • Thing god had said no to.
  • 00:18:43.078 --> 00:18:45.514
  • He said, "come on, eve, have some of this fruit."
  • 00:18:45.514 --> 00:18:48.250
  • Eve said, "no, mr. serpent, i can't do that.
  • 00:18:48.250 --> 00:18:51.153
  • God said in the day we eat of the tree, we shall die."
  • 00:18:51.153 --> 00:18:55.224
  • What did the serpent say, verse 4 of genesis 3, "and the serpent
  • 00:18:55.224 --> 00:18:58.627
  • Said to the woman, "you surely shall not die!
  • 00:18:58.627 --> 00:19:02.965
  • For god knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will
  • 00:19:02.965 --> 00:19:07.202
  • Be opened, and you will be like god, knowing good and evil."
  • 00:19:07.202 --> 00:19:13.175
  • Eve, there's a reason god said not to eat of this tree.
  • 00:19:13.175 --> 00:19:16.278
  • He doesn't want you to be like him.
  • 00:19:16.278 --> 00:19:18.647
  • He's trying to keep something good, pleasurable from
  • 00:19:18.647 --> 00:19:21.116
  • Your wife.
  • 00:19:21.116 --> 00:19:23.318
  • "you can't trust god.
  • 00:19:23.318 --> 00:19:24.920
  • Go ahead and eat."
  • 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:26.755
  • And that is the heart of every temptation that we face.
  • 00:19:26.755 --> 00:19:30.859
  • Can we really trust that god wants what is best for us?
  • 00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:35.330
  • You know, somebody has said all sin is basically contempt
  • 00:19:35.330 --> 00:19:40.102
  • For god.
  • 00:19:40.102 --> 00:19:41.770
  • Whenever we violate god's command, we're saying, "god, i
  • 00:19:41.770 --> 00:19:46.341
  • Don't trust you.
  • 00:19:46.341 --> 00:19:48.010
  • You may be more powerful than i am, but i don't really believe
  • 00:19:48.010 --> 00:19:51.480
  • What you've said is what is best for me."
  • 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:54.082
  • Every time we sin, we're basically casting a no
  • 00:19:54.082 --> 00:19:57.452
  • Confidence vote in god.
  • 00:19:57.452 --> 00:20:00.155
  • That's the barrier to our obedience, our distrust of god.
  • 00:20:00.155 --> 00:20:05.861
  • How do we develop an obedient heart--a heart that reflexively
  • 00:20:05.861 --> 00:20:11.033
  • Obeys god completely, immediately, and joyfully?
  • 00:20:11.033 --> 00:20:15.804
  • It doesn't happen automatically.
  • 00:20:15.804 --> 00:20:18.340
  • We don't get one of those hearts the moment we are saved.
  • 00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:21.843
  • The key is we have to transform our hearts and it is a joint
  • 00:20:21.843 --> 00:20:25.580
  • Project between god and us.
  • 00:20:25.580 --> 00:20:27.049
  • Salvation is god's work alone but sanctification, becoming
  • 00:20:27.049 --> 00:20:30.452
  • More like christ, is a joint effort between god and us.
  • 00:20:30.452 --> 00:20:34.489
  • Even jesus--you know, this is one of the most amazing verses
  • 00:20:34.489 --> 00:20:36.992
  • In the bible.
  • 00:20:36.992 --> 00:20:38.327
  • Hebrews 5, verse 8 says, "though jesus was a son, he learned
  • 00:20:38.327 --> 00:20:43.699
  • Obedience by the things that he suffered."
  • 00:20:43.699 --> 00:20:47.202
  • Now, think about this.
  • 00:20:47.202 --> 00:20:48.537
  • If jesus, the perfect son of god had to learn how to obey his
  • 00:20:48.537 --> 00:20:52.074
  • Heavenly father, how much more do you and i have to learn how
  • 00:20:52.074 --> 00:20:56.545
  • To obey god?
  • 00:20:56.545 --> 00:20:58.714
  • How do we do it?
  • 00:20:58.714 --> 00:21:00.082
  • Let me suggest four practical ways to develop this
  • 00:21:00.082 --> 00:21:02.851
  • Obedient heart.
  • 00:21:02.851 --> 00:21:04.286
  • First of all, decide that obedience is a priority in
  • 00:21:04.286 --> 00:21:08.857
  • Your life.
  • 00:21:08.857 --> 00:21:10.459
  • Decide that obedience is a priority in your life.
  • 00:21:10.459 --> 00:21:12.794
  • I know that sounds simple, but let me just say, the reason most
  • 00:21:12.794 --> 00:21:16.598
  • Of us don't obey god regularly is because we have no intention
  • 00:21:16.598 --> 00:21:21.336
  • Of obeying god regularly.
  • 00:21:21.336 --> 00:21:24.906
  • We have to intentionally decide that we're going to obey god.
  • 00:21:24.906 --> 00:21:29.111
  • We have to come to the point in our life when we say, "god, i
  • 00:21:29.111 --> 00:21:32.347
  • Believe what you say is true, and i really do believe you want
  • 00:21:32.347 --> 00:21:35.617
  • What is best for me."
  • 00:21:35.617 --> 00:21:38.887
  • Number of years ago, i went to my gastroenterologist.
  • 00:21:38.887 --> 00:21:43.625
  • Having had both of my parents die at at an early age from
  • 00:21:43.625 --> 00:21:46.395
  • Cancer, i decided i didn't wanna go that way and go that early.
  • 00:21:46.395 --> 00:21:50.799
  • So, i asked my doctor for some advice--what i could do from
  • 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:55.637
  • Contracting colon cancer.
  • 00:21:55.637 --> 00:21:56.972
  • He said, "well, that's real easy."
  • 00:21:56.972 --> 00:21:58.673
  • He said, "eat a bowl of bran flakes every morning with some
  • 00:21:58.673 --> 00:22:02.511
  • Unprocessed wheat bran on it.
  • 00:22:02.511 --> 00:22:04.479
  • And every night before you go to bed, have a glass of metamucil
  • 00:22:04.479 --> 00:22:07.382
  • And you'll be just fine.
  • 00:22:07.382 --> 00:22:08.750
  • And by the way, that'll be $120."
  • 00:22:08.750 --> 00:22:13.355
  • So, he took my money and i took his advice.
  • 00:22:13.355 --> 00:22:16.324
  • And i've been doing that every day for 35 years.
  • 00:22:16.324 --> 00:22:21.129
  • I gag down the bran flakes not because i like them.
  • 00:22:21.129 --> 00:22:24.099
  • There are many mornings i'd rather have a sausage biscuit
  • 00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:27.035
  • From mcdonald's.
  • 00:22:27.035 --> 00:22:29.404
  • Every night there are nights i'd rather have a milkshake than
  • 00:22:29.404 --> 00:22:32.140
  • A metamucil shake, but i do it anyway, why?
  • 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:36.278
  • Because i have an intention of doing it.
  • 00:22:36.278 --> 00:22:42.684
  • Jeffress: developing an obedient heart isn't something that
  • 00:22:43.785 --> 00:22:46.421
  • Happens overnight.
  • 00:22:46.421 --> 00:22:47.889
  • It requires intentional effort and a daily commitment to trust
  • 00:22:47.889 --> 00:22:52.394
  • God's plan for our lives.
  • 00:22:52.394 --> 00:22:54.696
  • There's much more i wanna share with you on this important
  • 00:22:54.696 --> 00:22:57.232
  • Topic, so please make plans to join me again next time.
  • 00:22:57.232 --> 00:23:01.303
  • Now, before we wrap up today's program, i wanna thank those of
  • 00:23:01.303 --> 00:23:04.639
  • You who faithfully support "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:04.639 --> 00:23:08.210
  • Your generous partnership allows us to reach you, your family,
  • 00:23:08.210 --> 00:23:12.147
  • And people in your community with the life-changing truth of
  • 00:23:12.147 --> 00:23:16.117
  • God's word.
  • 00:23:16.117 --> 00:23:17.452
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  • Occasional gift, your support makes it possible for us to
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  • Continue teaching the bible without compromise.
  • 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:28.263
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  • 00:23:28.263 --> 00:23:31.867
  • Darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:31.867 --> 00:23:34.870
  • Now, stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
  • 00:23:34.870 --> 00:23:37.272
  • Victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:23:37.272 --> 00:23:40.542
  • Announcer: we all need god's strength to make it through
  • 00:23:41.676 --> 00:23:43.879
  • The day.
  • 00:23:43.879 --> 00:23:45.247
  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" by dr. robert
  • 00:23:45.247 --> 00:23:47.782
  • 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.
  • 00:23:54.923 --> 00:23:58.760
  • Jeffress: i know how challenging it can be to stay connected with
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  • God in our busy lives.
  • 00:24:01.863 --> 00:24:03.698
  • In my new devotional, i provide personal reflections and
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  • Practical insights that will help you experience god's
  • 00:24:07.202 --> 00:24:10.605
  • 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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  • Encouragement resource set containing the new devotional,
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  • Book and life application guide, and the "7 marks of a disciple"
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  • 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
  • 00:25:04.025 --> 00:25:08.096
  • Of god's word.
  • 00:25:08.096 --> 00:25:10.398
  • Jeffress: today we've seen that true belief in christ and
  • 00:25:11.499 --> 00:25:14.135
  • Obedience to christ are inseparable.
  • 00:25:14.135 --> 00:25:17.405
  • You can't have one without the other.
  • 00:25:17.405 --> 00:25:19.841
  • We've also seen how our distance from god and our distrust of his
  • 00:25:19.841 --> 00:25:23.845
  • Motives can make obedience difficult.
  • 00:25:23.845 --> 00:25:27.148
  • So, next time i'm going to share four practical steps you can
  • 00:25:27.148 --> 00:25:30.685
  • Take to develop that obedient heart that reflexively trusts
  • 00:25:30.685 --> 00:25:35.390
  • And follows god.
  • 00:25:35.390 --> 00:25:37.125
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:37.125 --> 00:25:39.761
  • Series, "7 marks of a disciple."
  • 00:25:39.761 --> 00:25:44.265
  • Jeffress: if you're going to obey god continually, yes, you
  • 00:25:44.265 --> 00:25:47.836
  • Must believe that god exists.
  • 00:25:47.836 --> 00:25:49.371
  • That's kind of a no-brainer, isn't it?
  • 00:25:49.371 --> 00:25:51.673
  • You must believe that god is.
  • 00:25:51.673 --> 00:25:53.541
  • But believing god is is not enough.
  • 00:25:53.541 --> 00:25:56.277
  • For consistently obeying god, you have to believe that one day
  • 00:25:56.277 --> 00:26:01.016
  • There's a payoff for your obedience.
  • 00:26:01.016 --> 00:26:03.585
  • That one day he is going to reward you for your obedience
  • 00:26:03.585 --> 00:26:07.188
  • To him.
  • 00:26:07.188 --> 00:26:08.523
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two of the
  • 00:26:08.523 --> 00:26:11.359
  • Message, "developing an obedient heart" here on "pathway
  • 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:15.163
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:15.163 --> 00:26:19.300
  • Announcer: step away from your daily routine and immerse
  • 00:26:20.368 --> 00:26:23.071
  • Yourself in god's masterpiece on the "pathway to victory" cruise
  • 00:26:23.071 --> 00:26:26.474
  • To alaska, june 13 through 20, 2026.
  • 00:26:26.474 --> 00:26:30.178
  • Jeffress: imagine starting each day immersed in god's word, then
  • 00:26:30.178 --> 00:26:33.815
  • Stepping out to witness god's grandeur from the majestic
  • 00:26:33.815 --> 00:26:37.218
  • Glaciers to soaring eagles.
  • 00:26:37.218 --> 00:26:39.788
  • These moments in god's creation will deepen your faith in
  • 00:26:39.788 --> 00:26:43.358
  • Powerful ways.
  • 00:26:43.358 --> 00:26:44.726
  • Announcer: experience five-star dining, luxurious staterooms,
  • 00:26:44.726 --> 00:26:47.762
  • And exceptional service while visiting iconic ports like
  • 00:26:47.762 --> 00:26:50.932
  • Juneau, ketchikan, and skagway.
  • 00:26:50.932 --> 00:26:53.435
  • Jeffress: we'll explore god's word together against the
  • 00:26:53.435 --> 00:26:55.870
  • Backdrop of his most impressive handiwork.
  • 00:26:55.870 --> 00:26:59.207
  • I promise, you'll return home with memories that will last
  • 00:26:59.207 --> 00:27:02.577
  • A lifetime and a heart renewed by god's presence.
  • 00:27:02.577 --> 00:27:06.748
  • Announcer: to book your spot on the 2026 "pathway to victory"
  • 00:27:06.748 --> 00:27:09.751
  • Cruise to alaska, call... or go to ptv.org.
  • 00:27:09.751 --> 00:27:29.010