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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Developing An Obedient Heart (Part 2) | August 13, 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"
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- With 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."
- 00:00:16.139 --> 00:00:18.208
- One of the biggest challenges christians face is the gap
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- Between what we believe and how we actually live.
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- We can affirm all the right doctrines and attend church
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- Regularly, but still struggle with consistently obeying god's
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- Word in our daily lives.
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- Today i want to explore why obedience to christ isn't
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- Optional for believers and how we can develop hearts that
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- Naturally respond to god's commands.
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- My message is titled, "developing an obedient heart"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪
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- ♪ your voice, o lord, is power. ♪
- 00:01:03.419 --> 00:01:16.499
- ♪ the god of glory thunders. ♪
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- ♪ the sound of mighty waters. ♪
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- ♪ echoes deep within my soul. ♪
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- ♪ holy, you are holy. ♪
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- ♪ all the glory to your name. ♪
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- ♪ jesus, you are mighty. ♪
- 00:01:53.336 --> 00:01:58.708
- ♪ strength and glory to your name. ♪
- 00:01:58.708 --> 00:02:07.951
- ♪ holy, you are holy. ♪
- 00:02:07.951 --> 00:02:13.356
- ♪ all the glory to your name. ♪
- 00:02:13.356 --> 00:02:22.065
- ♪ jesus, you are mighty. ♪
- 00:02:22.065 --> 00:02:27.403
- ♪ strength and glory to your name. ♪
- 00:02:27.403 --> 00:02:36.446
- ♪ holy, you are holy. ♪
- 00:02:36.446 --> 00:02:41.684
- ♪ all the glory to your name. ♪
- 00:02:41.684 --> 00:02:50.660
- ♪ jesus, you are mighty. ♪
- 00:02:50.660 --> 00:02:55.865
- ♪ strength and glory to your name. ♪
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- ♪ glory to your name. ♪
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- ♪ holy is your name. ♪
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- ♪ your name. ♪
- 00:03:19.422 --> 00:03:35.371
- Announcer: give your heart the encouragement it needs.
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- Start and end each day meditating on god's word with
- 00:03:39.042 --> 00:03:42.312
- "encouragement for the heart of a disciple."
- 00:03:42.312 --> 00:03:44.781
- This brand new, beautiful, full color, padded, hardcover book by
- 00:03:44.781 --> 00:03:48.184
- Dr. robert jeffress features 80 breathtaking images of creation
- 00:03:48.184 --> 00:03:52.455
- Paired with scripture, prayers, and insights you can read in
- 00:03:52.455 --> 00:03:55.525
- Under two minutes.
- 00:03:55.525 --> 00:03:56.893
- Perfect for your coffee table or as a thoughtful gift for a
- 00:03:56.893 --> 00:03:59.662
- Loved one.
- 00:03:59.662 --> 00:04:00.997
- 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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- ♪♪
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- Jeffress: so, when the serpent came to deceive eve, where did
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- He center her attention?
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- Not on all the things god had said yes to, but on the one
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- Thing god had said no to.
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- He said, "come on, eve, have some of this fruit."
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- Eve said, "no, mr. serpent, i can't do that.
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- God said in the day we eat of the tree, we shall die."
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- What did the serpent say, verse 4 of genesis 3, "and the serpent
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- Said to the woman, 'you surely shall not die.
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- For god knows that in the day you eat from it, your eyes will
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- Be opened and you will be like god, knowing good and evil.'"
- 00:04:47.377 --> 00:04:53.349
- Eve, there's a reason god said not to eat of this tree.
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- He doesn't want you to be like him.
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- He's trying to keep something good, pleasurable from
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- Your life.
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- "you can't trust god, go ahead and eat."
- 00:05:03.493 --> 00:05:06.929
- And that is the heart of every temptation that we face.
- 00:05:06.929 --> 00:05:11.067
- Can we really trust that god wants what is best for us?
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- You know, somebody has said, "all sin is basically contempt
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- For god."
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- Whenever we violate god's command, we're saying, "god, i
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- Don't trust you.
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- You may be more powerful than i am, but i don't really believe
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- What you've said is what is best for me."
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- Every time we sin, we are basically casting a no
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- Confidence vote in god.
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- That's the barrier to our obedience, our distrust of god.
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- How do we develop an obedient heart--a heart that reflexively
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- Obeys god completely, immediately, and joyfully?
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- It doesn't happen automatically.
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- We don't get one of those hearts the moment we are saved.
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- The key is we have to transform our hearts and it is a joint
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- Project between god and us.
- 00:06:05.855 --> 00:06:07.323
- Salvation is god's work alone, but sanctification, becoming
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- More like christ, is a joint effort between god and us.
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- Even jesus--you know, this is one of the most amazing verses
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- In the bible.
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- Hebrews 5, verse 8 says, "though jesus was a son, he learned
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- Obedience by the things that he suffered."
- 00:06:23.973 --> 00:06:27.477
- Now, think about this, if jesus, the perfect son of god had to
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- Learn how to obey his heavenly father, how much more do you and
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- I have to learn how to obey god?
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- How do we do it?
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- Let me suggest four practical ways to develop this
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- Obedient heart.
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- First of all, decide that obedience is a priority in
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- Your life.
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- Decide that obedience is a priority in your life.
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- I know that sounds simple, but let me just say, the reason most
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- Of us don't obey god regularly is because we have no intention
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- Of obeying god regularly.
- 00:07:01.611 --> 00:07:04.514
- One writer said it this way, "if you will stop and ask yourself
- 00:07:04.514 --> 00:07:08.317
- Why you are not as pious as the early christians were, your own
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- Heart will tell you that it is neither through ignorance nor
- 00:07:12.655 --> 00:07:16.092
- Inability, but purely because you never thoroughly
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- Intended it."
- 00:07:20.596 --> 00:07:23.266
- We have to intentionally decide that we're going to obey god.
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- We have to come to the point in our life when we say, "god, i
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- Believe what you say is true, and i really do believe you want
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- What is best for me."
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- Number of years ago i went to my gastroenterologist.
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- Having had both of my parents died at an early age from
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- Cancer, i decided i didn't wanna go that way and go that early.
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- So, i asked my doctor for some advice--what i could do from
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- Contracting colon cancer.
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- He said, "oh, that's real easy."
- 00:07:55.331 --> 00:07:57.066
- He said, "eat a bowl of bran flakes every morning with some
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- Unprocessed wheat bran on it.
- 00:08:00.870 --> 00:08:02.838
- And every night before you go to bed, have a glass of metamucil
- 00:08:02.838 --> 00:08:05.741
- And you'll be just fine.
- 00:08:05.741 --> 00:08:07.109
- And by the way, that'll be $120."
- 00:08:07.109 --> 00:08:11.714
- So, he took my money and i took his advice.
- 00:08:11.714 --> 00:08:14.684
- And i've been doing that every day for 35 years.
- 00:08:14.684 --> 00:08:19.488
- I gag down the bran flakes not because i like them.
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- There are many mornings i'd rather have a sausage biscuit
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- From mcdonald's.
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- Every night there are nights i'd rather have a milkshake than a
- 00:08:27.763 --> 00:08:30.499
- Metamucil shake, but i do it anyway, why?
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- Because i have an intention of doing it.
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- I've decided i trust my doctor, i believe he knows what's best
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- For me, and i really do wanna avoid that disease.
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- You know, it's the same way with obeying god.
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- We have to decide god knows what is best and we have to determine
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- We're going to follow him.
- 00:08:52.321 --> 00:08:54.223
- By the way, a great scripture passage to memorize that reminds
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- Us that god's will and god's word are perfect for us is the
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- Passage from psalm 19.
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- Read this and meditate upon it regularly.
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- "the law of the lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the
- 00:09:08.170 --> 00:09:12.441
- Testimony of the lord is sure, making wise the simple.
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- The precepts of the lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the
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- Commandment of the lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
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- The fear of the lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments
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- Of the lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
- 00:09:27.990 --> 00:09:31.861
- They are more desirable than gold, yes, more than fine gold;
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- And sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb."
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- God's commands are not evil.
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- They're not bad, they're not going to hurt us.
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- They are good, they are pure, they are delightful.
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- Develop that intention.
- 00:09:51.614 --> 00:09:53.149
- Decide that obeying god is your intention.
- 00:09:53.149 --> 00:09:56.752
- Secondly, develop a "god is here" mindset.
- 00:09:56.752 --> 00:10:03.392
- Develop a "god is here" mindset.
- 00:10:03.392 --> 00:10:05.761
- If one reason we have trouble obeying god is because of our
- 00:10:05.761 --> 00:10:08.931
- Distance from god, we've got to develop what we call this "god
- 00:10:08.931 --> 00:10:12.601
- Is here" mindset.
- 00:10:12.601 --> 00:10:13.936
- "what do you mean by that, pastor?"
- 00:10:13.936 --> 00:10:15.304
- Think about king david for a moment.
- 00:10:15.304 --> 00:10:17.873
- Now, when we think about david, what do we think about?
- 00:10:17.873 --> 00:10:21.744
- The big mess up with bathsheba, right?
- 00:10:21.744 --> 00:10:25.147
- But other than that one flub up, you know, the bible says, "david
- 00:10:25.147 --> 00:10:29.251
- Was in fact a man after god's own heart."
- 00:10:29.251 --> 00:10:34.123
- Why was that?
- 00:10:34.123 --> 00:10:35.858
- The key to david's spiritual life was found in psalm 16,
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- Verse 8, this is so rich.
- 00:10:39.795 --> 00:10:42.231
- David said, "i have set the lord continually before me; because
- 00:10:42.231 --> 00:10:48.003
- He is at my right hand, i will not be shaken."
- 00:10:48.003 --> 00:10:52.041
- Now david, what do you mean you have set the lord before you?
- 00:10:52.041 --> 00:10:55.611
- I mean, you wrote in psalm 139, "where can i go and escape from
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- God's spirit?
- 00:10:59.181 --> 00:11:00.549
- He's everywhere that i am."
- 00:11:00.549 --> 00:11:01.884
- That's the omnipresence of god.
- 00:11:01.884 --> 00:11:03.452
- Yes, he is everywhere, we just don't realize he's everywhere.
- 00:11:03.452 --> 00:11:08.090
- We don't realize he's there, and watching us, and close to us, so
- 00:11:08.090 --> 00:11:11.861
- We have to continually develop the mindset that says, "god
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- Is here!"
- 00:11:15.631 --> 00:11:17.666
- He is here.
- 00:11:17.666 --> 00:11:19.001
- How did david do that?
- 00:11:19.001 --> 00:11:20.369
- One way he did it--psalm 1--was by meditating on god's law day
- 00:11:20.369 --> 00:11:24.540
- And night.
- 00:11:24.540 --> 00:11:26.008
- Reading the torah, the scriptures.
- 00:11:26.008 --> 00:11:29.245
- It reminded him that god is here and that's a key for us to
- 00:11:29.245 --> 00:11:33.582
- Remember god is here by continually reading his word.
- 00:11:33.582 --> 00:11:37.620
- You know, i'm gonna confess something to you.
- 00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:39.288
- You may want to throw me out as your pastor once you hear this.
- 00:11:39.288 --> 00:11:43.192
- But there are nights i don't wanna read my bible.
- 00:11:43.192 --> 00:11:47.997
- I'm going through the read the bible in a year program.
- 00:11:47.997 --> 00:11:50.499
- There are some nights i think, "oh, my gosh, not this."
- 00:11:50.499 --> 00:11:54.603
- I mean, especially when i get to leviticus, you know, numbers,
- 00:11:54.603 --> 00:11:58.040
- The begets, and so forth.
- 00:11:58.040 --> 00:12:00.109
- I tell you it's like gagging down a bowl of bran
- 00:12:00.109 --> 00:12:02.678
- Flakes sometimes.
- 00:12:02.678 --> 00:12:05.014
- Now, i shouldn't confess--does anybody feel that way ever?
- 00:12:05.014 --> 00:12:08.517
- Does--do you feel that way?
- 00:12:08.517 --> 00:12:10.219
- But i do it anyway.
- 00:12:10.219 --> 00:12:11.754
- And you know what the benefit of it is?
- 00:12:11.754 --> 00:12:13.823
- If i don't get one thing, one application out of it, it
- 00:12:13.823 --> 00:12:18.727
- Reminds me as acts 17:28 says, that there is a god in whom we
- 00:12:18.727 --> 00:12:24.533
- Move, live, and have our existence.
- 00:12:24.533 --> 00:12:27.503
- There's just something about reading scripture that reminds
- 00:12:27.503 --> 00:12:29.872
- Us that god is here.
- 00:12:29.872 --> 00:12:32.241
- You know, david also used music.
- 00:12:32.241 --> 00:12:33.943
- He was a harpist and he used music not only, i think, to
- 00:12:33.943 --> 00:12:37.012
- Comfort saul, but also to remind him of the presence of god.
- 00:12:37.012 --> 00:12:41.250
- Some ways you can set god before you, some simple things.
- 00:12:41.250 --> 00:12:44.620
- Scripture plaques around your home that have bible verses on
- 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:48.190
- Them that remind you of god's word.
- 00:12:48.190 --> 00:12:52.361
- That's a powerful way.
- 00:12:52.361 --> 00:12:53.963
- Listening to christian messages while you're in the car, while
- 00:12:53.963 --> 00:12:58.133
- You're exercising.
- 00:12:58.133 --> 00:12:59.702
- Probably through the internet, you can get all kinds of
- 00:12:59.702 --> 00:13:01.370
- Great messages.
- 00:13:01.370 --> 00:13:02.738
- Go to ptv.org or go to some other website.
- 00:13:02.738 --> 00:13:05.541
- Don't waste that time.
- 00:13:05.541 --> 00:13:06.876
- All of these things help us develop a "god is here" mindset.
- 00:13:06.876 --> 00:13:10.412
- Maybe have some mementos on your desk at work that reminds you of
- 00:13:10.412 --> 00:13:15.684
- Milestones in your spiritual life like your baptism.
- 00:13:15.684 --> 00:13:18.487
- Maybe a baptismal certificate.
- 00:13:18.487 --> 00:13:20.155
- Or a picture at a christian conference or something else
- 00:13:20.155 --> 00:13:23.092
- That was especially meaningful to you.
- 00:13:23.092 --> 00:13:25.628
- We need to work at reminding ourselves that god is here.
- 00:13:25.628 --> 00:13:30.399
- You see, there's an inseparable link between thinking about god
- 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:35.504
- And obeying god.
- 00:13:35.504 --> 00:13:37.973
- Frank laubach was a man who developed what he called the
- 00:13:37.973 --> 00:13:43.045
- Game of minutes.
- 00:13:43.045 --> 00:13:44.580
- In which he decided he was gonna see how quickly he could turn
- 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:48.884
- His thoughts, whatever they were, back toward god.
- 00:13:48.884 --> 00:13:52.554
- And it completely revolutionized his christian life when he
- 00:13:52.554 --> 00:13:56.158
- Started learning how to think about god continually.
- 00:13:56.158 --> 00:14:00.195
- He wrote, "as for me, i never lived.
- 00:14:00.195 --> 00:14:03.966
- I was half-dead.
- 00:14:03.966 --> 00:14:05.301
- I was a rotting tree until i reached the place where i wholly
- 00:14:05.301 --> 00:14:10.272
- With utter honesty resolved and then re-resolved that i would
- 00:14:10.272 --> 00:14:15.210
- Find god's will and i would do that will through every fiber in
- 00:14:15.210 --> 00:14:20.115
- Me that said no.
- 00:14:20.115 --> 00:14:21.850
- And that i would win the battle in my thoughts.
- 00:14:21.850 --> 00:14:26.255
- It was as though some deep artesian well had been struck in
- 00:14:26.255 --> 00:14:29.758
- My soul.
- 00:14:29.758 --> 00:14:31.226
- Money, praise, poverty, opposition, these make no
- 00:14:31.226 --> 00:14:36.031
- Difference, for they will all alike be forgotten in a
- 00:14:36.031 --> 00:14:39.368
- Thousand years.
- 00:14:39.368 --> 00:14:41.070
- But this spirit which comes to a mind set upon a continuous
- 00:14:41.070 --> 00:14:45.774
- Surrender, this spirit is timeless life."
- 00:14:45.774 --> 00:14:52.214
- A third key to developing that obedient heart is, obey all that
- 00:14:52.214 --> 00:14:58.487
- You know to be true.
- 00:14:58.487 --> 00:15:00.322
- Obey all that you know to be true.
- 00:15:00.322 --> 00:15:03.392
- Let's go back to the physician patient analogy for just
- 00:15:03.392 --> 00:15:07.396
- A moment.
- 00:15:07.396 --> 00:15:08.831
- Suppose that you go to your doctor and you're saying, "you
- 00:15:08.831 --> 00:15:10.966
- Know, i'm feeling sluggish."
- 00:15:10.966 --> 00:15:12.334
- He says, "well, let me run some tests on you."
- 00:15:12.334 --> 00:15:14.370
- He comes back and says, "oh, you know what the problem is?
- 00:15:14.370 --> 00:15:17.473
- Your arteries are filled up with plaque.
- 00:15:17.473 --> 00:15:20.242
- And not only that, your cholesterol is through the roof.
- 00:15:20.242 --> 00:15:23.479
- And not only that, you've got a weak heart muscle.
- 00:15:23.479 --> 00:15:26.248
- If you really wanna get well, you need to do three things.
- 00:15:26.248 --> 00:15:29.752
- You need to go on a low fat diet, you need to take this
- 00:15:29.752 --> 00:15:32.254
- Cholesterol tablet to reduce your cholesterol, and you need
- 00:15:32.254 --> 00:15:35.290
- To start exercising."
- 00:15:35.290 --> 00:15:36.625
- You say, "okay, i'm for it, doctor."
- 00:15:36.625 --> 00:15:38.861
- But after a week, you think the exercise thing, "forget that.
- 00:15:38.861 --> 00:15:41.864
- I'm not getting up early."
- 00:15:41.864 --> 00:15:43.265
- So, you give that up.
- 00:15:43.265 --> 00:15:45.034
- Couple of weeks later, you say, "i can't take this low fat diet
- 00:15:45.034 --> 00:15:48.504
- Any longer," so you get off of that.
- 00:15:48.504 --> 00:15:51.073
- But you continue taking that cholesterol tablet.
- 00:15:51.073 --> 00:15:54.643
- Now, what are the results of making that decision?
- 00:15:54.643 --> 00:15:58.647
- There's one result that is obvious.
- 00:15:58.647 --> 00:16:01.483
- You're missing the benefit of exercise and the low-fat diet,
- 00:16:01.483 --> 00:16:04.987
- But you are at least gaining the benefit of taking that little
- 00:16:04.987 --> 00:16:08.190
- Pill once a day.
- 00:16:08.190 --> 00:16:10.359
- But the second consequence is much more serious.
- 00:16:10.359 --> 00:16:14.930
- That is, you have made a habit of selective obedience.
- 00:16:14.930 --> 00:16:20.736
- By saying to yourself, "i'm gonna obey one thing the doctor
- 00:16:20.736 --> 00:16:24.173
- Says, but i'm gonna disobey two other things he says," you're
- 00:16:24.173 --> 00:16:27.476
- Cultivating a habit of disobedience.
- 00:16:27.476 --> 00:16:30.279
- And what happens in a month or two if you decide, "you
- 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:32.614
- Know what?
- 00:16:32.614 --> 00:16:33.982
- This cholesterol tablet, it's too expensive," or "it's too
- 00:16:33.982 --> 00:16:36.552
- Much trouble.
- 00:16:36.552 --> 00:16:37.886
- I'm gonna quit doing that as well just as i quit doing the
- 00:16:37.886 --> 00:16:40.055
- Other things."
- 00:16:40.055 --> 00:16:41.623
- Or what if in a few months your doctor says, "you need to have a
- 00:16:41.623 --> 00:16:45.294
- Heart operation?"
- 00:16:45.294 --> 00:16:46.895
- Are you gonna decide, "i don't think i'll do that either?"
- 00:16:46.895 --> 00:16:51.033
- That's the downside of selectively obeying
- 00:16:51.033 --> 00:16:54.670
- God's commands.
- 00:16:54.670 --> 00:16:56.004
- When you decide, "yes, i'll do this, but no, i don't think i'll
- 00:16:56.004 --> 00:16:59.508
- Do that," we cultivate the habit of disobedience.
- 00:16:59.508 --> 00:17:04.113
- And that's why god says he demands obedience to all of
- 00:17:04.113 --> 00:17:08.617
- His commands.
- 00:17:08.617 --> 00:17:09.952
- Deuteronomy 30, verse 2, "and you return to the lord your god
- 00:17:09.952 --> 00:17:13.222
- And obey him with all of your heart and soul according to all
- 00:17:13.222 --> 00:17:18.327
- That i command you today, you and your sons."
- 00:17:18.327 --> 00:17:21.930
- Or deuteronomy 32:46, he said to them, "take to your heart all
- 00:17:21.930 --> 00:17:26.535
- The words with which i am warning you today, which you
- 00:17:26.535 --> 00:17:30.239
- Shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the
- 00:17:30.239 --> 00:17:34.143
- Words of this law."
- 00:17:34.143 --> 00:17:37.980
- A fourth essential for developing an obedient heart is
- 00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:42.184
- Remember the reward for obedience.
- 00:17:42.184 --> 00:17:48.757
- Listen to hebrews 11:6.
- 00:17:45.621 --> 00:17:50.325
- I want you to listen to this and look at it carefully.
- 00:17:50.325 --> 00:17:52.961
- "without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes
- 00:17:52.961 --> 00:17:57.766
- To god must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of
- 00:17:57.766 --> 00:18:04.940
- Those who seek him."
- 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:07.376
- If you're going to obey god continually, yes, you must
- 00:18:07.376 --> 00:18:11.380
- Believe that god exists.
- 00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:12.714
- That's kind of a no brainer, isn't it?
- 00:18:12.714 --> 00:18:14.850
- You must believe that god is, but believing god is is
- 00:18:14.850 --> 00:18:18.053
- Not enough.
- 00:18:18.053 --> 00:18:19.421
- For consistently obeying god, you have to believe that one day
- 00:18:19.421 --> 00:18:24.193
- There's a payoff for your obedience.
- 00:18:24.193 --> 00:18:26.728
- That one day he is going to reward you for your obedience
- 00:18:26.728 --> 00:18:30.365
- To him.
- 00:18:30.365 --> 00:18:31.733
- You know, we look at that kind of skeptically.
- 00:18:31.733 --> 00:18:35.103
- For example, a parent who rewards his child, gives him a
- 00:18:35.103 --> 00:18:39.274
- Quarter or a dollar every time the child obeys the parent, we
- 00:18:39.274 --> 00:18:43.178
- Think, "oh, you're messed up.
- 00:18:43.178 --> 00:18:45.180
- You ought to teach your kids to do the right thing because it's
- 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:47.716
- The right thing to do."
- 00:18:47.716 --> 00:18:49.518
- Or a first grade teacher who gives out candy to the students
- 00:18:49.518 --> 00:18:52.187
- Who do well on a test, "oh, no, no, no, no, you need to teach
- 00:18:52.187 --> 00:18:55.257
- Them to do well in school just for the joy of learning.
- 00:18:55.257 --> 00:18:58.360
- You don't need to give them a reward."
- 00:18:58.360 --> 00:19:00.862
- But you know what?
- 00:19:00.862 --> 00:19:02.197
- God knows us better than we know ourselves.
- 00:19:02.197 --> 00:19:04.933
- God says, "unless there is a promised reward in the future,
- 00:19:04.933 --> 00:19:11.406
- You're not gonna stay in that troubled marriage.
- 00:19:11.406 --> 00:19:15.177
- You're not gonna say no consistently to temptations.
- 00:19:15.177 --> 00:19:19.581
- You're not gonna continue at a difficult ministry unless you
- 00:19:19.581 --> 00:19:24.453
- Believe there is a payoff at the end."
- 00:19:24.453 --> 00:19:27.589
- And that's why we have to believe that there is a reward
- 00:19:27.589 --> 00:19:30.692
- For obedience.
- 00:19:30.692 --> 00:19:32.094
- Think about hebrews chapter 11, the great roll call of faith.
- 00:19:32.094 --> 00:19:36.064
- What was their motivation to obey god?
- 00:19:36.064 --> 00:19:38.433
- It was the promise of a future reward that kept them going.
- 00:19:38.433 --> 00:19:42.504
- Hebrews 11, verse 13 says, "all of these died in faith, without
- 00:19:42.504 --> 00:19:47.042
- Receiving the promises."
- 00:19:47.042 --> 00:19:49.278
- They didn't get the payoff in this life.
- 00:19:49.278 --> 00:19:51.546
- They died without receiving the promises, "but having seen them
- 00:19:51.546 --> 00:19:55.250
- And having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed
- 00:19:55.250 --> 00:19:59.154
- That they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
- 00:19:59.154 --> 00:20:02.624
- But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a
- 00:20:02.624 --> 00:20:06.428
- Heavenly one."
- 00:20:06.428 --> 00:20:07.996
- They obeyed god in this life because of the belief that they
- 00:20:07.996 --> 00:20:12.067
- Had a better life that was coming.
- 00:20:12.067 --> 00:20:15.203
- Even jesus did that.
- 00:20:15.203 --> 00:20:17.673
- Again, remember, it was because of the joy that was set before
- 00:20:17.673 --> 00:20:21.843
- Him that jesus endured the agony of calvary to experience the
- 00:20:21.843 --> 00:20:27.082
- Ecstasy of his unending rewards from god.
- 00:20:27.082 --> 00:20:32.454
- No act of obedience is small in god's eyes.
- 00:20:32.454 --> 00:20:37.092
- Whether it's saying no to a temptation or yes to the
- 00:20:37.092 --> 00:20:40.729
- Ultimate sacrifice, we obey god believing that one day he is
- 00:20:40.729 --> 00:20:47.035
- Going to reward us for doing so.
- 00:20:47.035 --> 00:20:50.138
- And remember, no act of obedience is inconsequential in
- 00:20:50.138 --> 00:20:55.877
- God's eyes.
- 00:20:55.877 --> 00:20:57.646
- Philip yancey, the great christian writer talks about
- 00:20:57.646 --> 00:21:00.182
- Seeing a documentary on television about some of the
- 00:21:00.182 --> 00:21:04.319
- Survivors of world war ii.
- 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:07.656
- Listen to what he says.
- 00:21:07.656 --> 00:21:08.990
- This is so fascinating.
- 00:21:08.990 --> 00:21:10.359
- He said, "the soldiers recalled how they spent a particular day.
- 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:15.263
- One sat in the foxhole all day.
- 00:21:15.263 --> 00:21:17.799
- Once or twice a german tank drove by and he shot at it.
- 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:21.670
- Others played cards and frittered away the time.
- 00:21:21.670 --> 00:21:25.006
- A few got involved in a furious firefight.
- 00:21:25.006 --> 00:21:28.110
- Mostly, the day passed like any other day for an infantryman on
- 00:21:28.110 --> 00:21:33.081
- The front.
- 00:21:33.081 --> 00:21:34.750
- Later, these soldiers learned that they had just participated
- 00:21:34.750 --> 00:21:38.987
- In one of the largest, most decisive engagements of the war,
- 00:21:38.987 --> 00:21:43.658
- The battle of the bulge.
- 00:21:43.658 --> 00:21:46.061
- It didn't feel like it was decisive to any of them at the
- 00:21:46.061 --> 00:21:49.197
- Time because none of them had the big picture of what was
- 00:21:49.197 --> 00:21:53.902
- Happening elsewhere."
- 00:21:53.902 --> 00:21:56.104
- And then yancey adds, "great victories are won when ordinary
- 00:21:56.104 --> 00:22:01.443
- People execute their assigned tasks.
- 00:22:01.443 --> 00:22:04.813
- And a faithful person does not debate each day whether he's in
- 00:22:04.813 --> 00:22:09.184
- The mood to follow the sergeant's orders or to show up
- 00:22:09.184 --> 00:22:12.154
- At a boring job.
- 00:22:12.154 --> 00:22:14.089
- We exercise faith by responding to the task that lies before us.
- 00:22:14.089 --> 00:22:19.594
- For we have control only over our actions in the
- 00:22:19.594 --> 00:22:24.399
- Present moment."
- 00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:27.702
- What is god asking you to do today?
- 00:22:27.702 --> 00:22:32.674
- It may be something monumental.
- 00:22:32.674 --> 00:22:35.877
- It may seem inconsequential.
- 00:22:35.877 --> 00:22:39.481
- But whatever god is asking you to do today, saying yes is the
- 00:22:39.481 --> 00:22:46.388
- First step in developing an obedient heart.
- 00:22:46.388 --> 00:22:50.492
- ♪♪
- 00:22:50.492 --> 00:22:55.664
- Jeffress: saying yes to god is such a simple step.
- 00:22:55.664 --> 00:22:59.568
- But when you find yourself doing that immediately, completely,
- 00:22:59.568 --> 00:23:03.872
- And joyfully, you're on your way to developing an obedient heart.
- 00:23:03.872 --> 00:23:09.578
- Well, i thought you'd be encouraged to hear a story that
- 00:23:09.578 --> 00:23:11.980
- Describes how god is using "pathway to victory" to bring
- 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:15.250
- Light to the dark places of our world.
- 00:23:15.250 --> 00:23:18.386
- One gentleman wrote, "i'm a recovering alcoholic and drug
- 00:23:18.386 --> 00:23:21.990
- Addict, and i've been sober for more than ten years.
- 00:23:21.990 --> 00:23:25.627
- Gratefully, god has taken away my desire to drink or
- 00:23:25.627 --> 00:23:28.763
- Take drugs.
- 00:23:28.763 --> 00:23:30.098
- And now i've become a part of a ministry group that mentors
- 00:23:30.098 --> 00:23:33.201
- Others who struggle with addiction.
- 00:23:33.201 --> 00:23:36.004
- Every day when i'm driving home from work, i listen to "pathway
- 00:23:36.004 --> 00:23:39.341
- To victory" on the radio and often receive something i can
- 00:23:39.341 --> 00:23:43.144
- Share with my men.
- 00:23:43.144 --> 00:23:44.746
- Thanks for all you do!"
- 00:23:44.746 --> 00:23:47.048
- Well, truly this man's gratitude belongs to you.
- 00:23:47.048 --> 00:23:50.652
- Your generous support allows us to reach people in their darkest
- 00:23:50.652 --> 00:23:54.189
- Moments and point them toward the hope found in jesus christ.
- 00:23:54.189 --> 00:23:58.760
- Thank you for being an essential part of this ministry.
- 00:23:58.760 --> 00:24:02.931
- Now stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
- 00:24:02.931 --> 00:24:05.634
- Victory" in just a moment.
- 00:24:05.634 --> 00:24:08.937
- Announcer: we all need god's strength to make it through
- 00:24:10.071 --> 00:24:12.374
- The day.
- 00:24:12.374 --> 00:24:13.742
- "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" by dr. robert
- 00:24:13.742 --> 00:24:16.278
- Jeffress provides the spiritual refreshment you need.
- 00:24:16.278 --> 00:24:19.447
- In a large print format, every page bursts with breathtaking
- 00:24:19.447 --> 00:24:23.451
- Imagery that draws you toward the beauty of god's creation.
- 00:24:23.451 --> 00:24:27.255
- Jeffress: i know how challenging it can be to stay connected with
- 00:24:27.255 --> 00:24:30.358
- God in our busy lives.
- 00:24:30.358 --> 00:24:32.193
- In my new devotional, i provide personal reflections and
- 00:24:32.193 --> 00:24:35.697
- Practical insights that will help you experience god's
- 00:24:35.697 --> 00:24:39.100
- Presence and encouragement throughout your day.
- 00:24:39.100 --> 00:24:42.337
- 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
- 00:24:54.716 --> 00:24:57.552
- Loved one.
- 00:24:57.552 --> 00:24:58.887
- Request your copy of "encouragement for the heart of
- 00:24:58.887 --> 00:25:01.189
- A disciple" when you give a generous gift to support the
- 00:25:01.189 --> 00:25:04.059
- Ministry of "pathway to victory" or when you become a
- 00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:07.195
- Pathway partner.
- 00:25:07.195 --> 00:25:08.563
- 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
- 00:25:15.804 --> 00:25:19.407
- Book and life application guide, and the "7 marks of a disciple"
- 00:25:19.407 --> 00:25:23.445
- Message series on both cd and dvd.
- 00:25:23.445 --> 00:25:26.481
- Thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
- 00:25:26.481 --> 00:25:28.984
- Your generous partnership helps us impact you and your family
- 00:25:28.984 --> 00:25:32.587
- And a nation in deep spiritual need with the transforming truth
- 00:25:32.587 --> 00:25:36.591
- Of god's word.
- 00:25:36.591 --> 00:25:38.994
- Jeffress: sometimes people trust god to take care of them in the
- 00:25:40.195 --> 00:25:42.931
- Next life without obeying him in this life.
- 00:25:42.931 --> 00:25:46.801
- But the bible shows us the inseparable link between trust
- 00:25:46.801 --> 00:25:50.605
- And obedience.
- 00:25:50.605 --> 00:25:52.273
- In short, we can't believe in christ without obeying christ.
- 00:25:52.273 --> 00:25:57.379
- Obedience is the fourth mark of a true follower of jesus christ.
- 00:25:57.379 --> 00:26:02.617
- And next time i'll show you how to obey god immediately,
- 00:26:02.617 --> 00:26:06.221
- Completely, and joyfully.
- 00:26:06.221 --> 00:26:08.523
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
- 00:26:08.523 --> 00:26:11.026
- Series, "7 marks of a disciple."
- 00:26:11.026 --> 00:26:15.196
- Jeffress: you know, god says that if we do what he asked us
- 00:26:15.196 --> 00:26:18.600
- To do, we will be better off than if we don't do what he
- 00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:22.237
- Asked us to do.
- 00:26:22.237 --> 00:26:24.072
- Most of us will believe that up to a point.
- 00:26:24.072 --> 00:26:27.308
- We believe god enough that we don't commit murder
- 00:26:27.308 --> 00:26:30.478
- Or embezzlement.
- 00:26:30.478 --> 00:26:31.813
- We know that wouldn't be good for us.
- 00:26:31.813 --> 00:26:34.015
- We may say no to certain temptations that we don't feel a
- 00:26:34.015 --> 00:26:37.852
- Particular inclination to fall into.
- 00:26:37.852 --> 00:26:40.755
- But there comes a level at which we begin to doubt whether we can
- 00:26:40.755 --> 00:26:44.392
- Really trust god or not.
- 00:26:44.392 --> 00:26:46.528
- Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
- 00:26:46.528 --> 00:26:49.531
- "developing a trusting heart" here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:49.531 --> 00:26:56.337
- Announcer: witness god's glory on display in america's
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- Last frontier.
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