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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Developing A Trusting Heart (Part 1)

July 17, 2025 | S25 E340 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - Developing A Trusting 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 #SpiritualGrowth #Heart #Disciples #Discipleship #Faith #TrustGod #Belief #Unbelief #Doubt #Believe #Peace #Jesus #LoveofGod

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Developing A Trusting Heart (Part 1) | July 17, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with dr.
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  • 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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  • Most of us will obey god when it's convenient or when we
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  • Understand the reason behind his commands, but what happens when
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  • God ask us to do something that doesn't make sense or requires a
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  • Significant sacrifice on our part?
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  • Today, i wanna show you that genuine obedience to god flows
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  • From a heart that completely trusts in his character.
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  • We'll never be the obedient disciples god wants us to be
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  • Until we learn to trust him fully.
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  • My message is titled, "developing a trusting heart" on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • Announcer: give your heart the encouragement it needs.
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  • Start and end each day meditating on god's word with,
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  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple."
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  • This brand-new, beautiful, full-color, padded hardcover
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  • Book by dr. robert jeffress features 80 breathtaking images
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  • Of creation paired with scripture, prayers, and insights
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  • You can read in under two minutes, perfect for your
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  • Coffee table or as a thoughtful gift for a loved one.
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  • Request, "encouragement for the heart of a disciple," when you
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  • Give a generous gift to pathway to victory.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: to begin with today, i need a volunteer.
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  • I need a female volunteer.
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  • Now, in the first service, one lady came downding down
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  • The aisle.
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  • I think she thought this was "the price is right," but i do
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  • Need a female volunteer.
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  • So i--my childhood friend sally deboard, come on up.
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  • Now, i want to be sure everybody knows
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  • This was not a plant, was it?
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  • Sally deboard: no, it was not.
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  • Jeffress: okay, come over here and stand on this side of me.
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  • Sally: i can hit you with my purse too, if i need to.
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  • Jeffress: she's kind of sassy too, okay.
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  • Now, sally, you don't know what i'm gonna do, right?
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  • Sally: no, i don't.
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  • Jeffress: okay, i wanna be sure to get that cleared up now.
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  • I'm gonna ask you to do some things in the next few moments,
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  • And if you do what i ask you to do, i promise that you will be
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  • Better off when you leave the stage than when you came on
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  • This stage.
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  • Do you believe me?
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  • Sally: yes. [congregation laughing]
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  • Jeffress: that was a little tentative, sally.
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  • Well, again, i'm asking you to trust me that you're going to be
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  • Better off.
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  • Now, do you have a wallet?
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  • Sally: yes.
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  • Jeffress: how much money have you got in there?
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  • Sally: i have a credit card and some--something or other.
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  • Jeffress: well, i want to see the "something or other."
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  • I'll get arrested for your credit card.
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  • How much money have you got in there?
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  • I'm a little short for lunch.
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  • It looks like you are too.
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  • Oh no, there's some 20s in there.
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  • Well, that's okay, there's a 20 and 10.
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  • All right, thank you very much.
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  • Now, that is a beautiful watch.
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  • Sally: thank you.
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  • Jeffress: and i think amy would like that watch, as i think
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  • About it.
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  • Could i have your watch as well?
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  • Sally: sure.
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  • Jeffress: now, that is-- that is a beautiful ring.
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  • What--is there a story behind that ring?
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  • Sally: that was my grandmother's engagement ring, and my mother
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  • Put guard bands around it and gave it to me.
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  • Jeffress: you know, when amy and i got married, we didn't have
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  • Any money and i didn't have enough money for a ring.
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  • Could i go ahead and could i have that ring as well?
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  • Sally: sure, sure, why not?
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  • Jeffress: now, why did you give me these things?
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  • Sally: because i'm an idiot. [congregation laughing]
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  • Jeffress: as we will see proven in just a moment.
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  • All right, thank you very much, sally.
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  • Appreciate it.
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  • Oh no, wait a minute, wait a minute, sally.
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  • Now, i made you a promise.
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  • I made you a promise that if you did what i asked you to do,
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  • You'd leave better off.
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  • Now, these are mine, and i can do whatever i want to with them,
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  • But being the gracious person that i am, i'm gonna give you
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  • Your ring back, okay?
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  • Sally: technically, they're amy's.
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  • Jeffress: all right, well, i'm speaking for amy here and i'm
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  • Gonna give you your watch back and i'm gonna give you your
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  • Money back, okay, because they're mine, i could do
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  • Whatever i wanted to, but because you trusted me, and i
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  • Made a promise to you, i also have a $100 bill that i'm gonna
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  • Give to you as well to go to lunch on as well.
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  • Sally: thank you. jeffress: you bet, you bet.
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  • And she was very trusting, wasn't she?
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  • Now, besides being an idiot, why did sally do what i asked her
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  • To do?
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  • At some level she knew she could trust me.
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  • She knew at some level that i would do what i promised to do,
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  • That i would be sure that she was better off than she was when
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  • She came up here on the platform.
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  • In the early service, there was literally a member who came up
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  • And she had $5 left.
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  • She had given everything else in the offering and she gave me her
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  • Last $5.
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  • I said, "why did you do that?"
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  • She said, "because it's more blessed to give than to receive,
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  • And i believe my pastor."
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  • So, you know, our obedience has to do with our level of trust so
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  • Often, and it's the same in our relationship with god.
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  • You know, god says that if we do what he ask us to do, we will be
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  • Better off than if we don't do what he ask us to do.
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  • Most of us will believe that up to a point.
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  • We believe god enough that we don't commit murder
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  • Or embezzlement.
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  • We know that wouldn't be good for us.
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  • We may say no to certain temptations that we don't feel a
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  • Particular inclination to fall into.
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  • But there comes a level at which we begin to doubt whether we can
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  • Really trust god or not, and it's at that level of commitment
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  • When god asks us to abstain from a certain behavior or to give
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  • Something like our wedding ring or a watch or some--something
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  • Even more valuable to us, then we begin to wonder, can we
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  • Really trust god that we're gonna be better off if we
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  • Obey him?
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  • Last time, we talked about one of the marks of a disciple was
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  • An obedient heart, being willing to do everything god ask us to
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  • Do, not picking and choosing like a buffet what we're going
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  • To obey, but obeying all things.
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  • But ladies and gentlemen, we will never be that
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  • Obedient disciple.
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  • We will never obey god immediately, completely, and
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  • Joyfully until we learn to trust god.
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  • And that's what i want to talk about today, how to develop that
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  • Trusting heart that allows us to obey god in all things
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  • Whatsoever he has commanded us.
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  • If you have your bibles, i want you to turn to colossians
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  • Chapter 3, colossians chapter 3.
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  • Today we're talking about trust, but in the bible, the word faith
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  • Is the synonym for trust, and it's invaluable in a
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  • Disciple's life.
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  • For example, habakkuk 2, verse 4 says: "the righteous person
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  • Shall live by," what?
  • 00:08:01.070 --> 00:08:03.239
  • "by faith."
  • 00:08:03.239 --> 00:08:05.041
  • Or skip down to hebrews chapter 11, verse 6: "without faith, it
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  • Is impossible to please god, for he who comes to god must believe
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  • That he is and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him."
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  • Faith is indispensable, learning to trust god, but what do we
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  • Mean by faith?
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  • What does it mean to trust god?
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  • I think the best way to understand what faith is, is by
  • 00:08:27.863 --> 00:08:31.667
  • Understanding what it isn't.
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  • First of all, faith is not the ability to predict the future.
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  • Have you heard people say, "well, i'm trusting god that my
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  • Marriage is gonna work out," or, "i'm trusting god that i'm gonna
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  • Get this job that i want," or, "i'm trusting god that i'm gonna
  • 00:08:47.550 --> 00:08:52.722
  • Get the raise that i've been desiring for so long"?
  • 00:08:52.722 --> 00:08:57.026
  • They think that's what faith is, the ability to predict what's
  • 00:08:57.026 --> 00:09:00.496
  • Gonna happen.
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  • And if we believe something long enough and hard enough, poof, it
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  • Comes to pass.
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  • That's not faith, that's presumption, okay?
  • 00:09:06.268 --> 00:09:09.905
  • You know, faith is not the ability to predict the future.
  • 00:09:09.905 --> 00:09:13.542
  • Secondly, faith is not the absence of any doubt.
  • 00:09:13.542 --> 00:09:19.015
  • Sometimes we think faith means i can have zero doubt whatsoever.
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  • That's not true.
  • 00:09:24.487 --> 00:09:25.855
  • You know, i think sally at some level, when she was up here, she
  • 00:09:25.855 --> 00:09:28.224
  • Was uncertain what was gonna happen, but she had enough faith
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  • In order to give me what i asked her to give me.
  • 00:09:33.529 --> 00:09:36.632
  • A few weeks ago, as you know, i made a quick trip to
  • 00:09:36.632 --> 00:09:38.968
  • Israel for some meetings.
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  • And, you know, i went on that trip.
  • 00:09:40.603 --> 00:09:43.906
  • The reason i got on the airplane was i believed it had been
  • 00:09:43.906 --> 00:09:46.709
  • Solidly built by the boeing company and some negligent
  • 00:09:46.709 --> 00:09:49.979
  • Worker didn't leave a couple of bolts off the engine that would
  • 00:09:49.979 --> 00:09:53.783
  • Cause it to fall off in the middle of the ocean.
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  • I believed in the competency of the pilot, that he wouldn't try
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  • To fly the jet while he was drunk and that he had a basic
  • 00:09:59.722 --> 00:10:03.159
  • Level of skill necessary to fly.
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  • I believed that our counterterrorism experts both
  • 00:10:05.728 --> 00:10:08.397
  • Here and in israel had tried to do everything they could to
  • 00:10:08.397 --> 00:10:11.934
  • Screen away would-be terrorists.
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  • I believed all of those things, but i didn't have 100% faith.
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  • Before we left on the trip i redid my will, and amy and i
  • 00:10:20.876 --> 00:10:24.113
  • Went to the lawyer, and we redid the will because i knew i'd be
  • 00:10:24.113 --> 00:10:27.650
  • Flying over the golan heights, and i just wanted to prepare for
  • 00:10:27.650 --> 00:10:30.986
  • Any contingency.
  • 00:10:30.986 --> 00:10:33.022
  • I didn't have 100% faith, but i had just enough faith to get on
  • 00:10:33.022 --> 00:10:38.627
  • Board that airplane.
  • 00:10:38.627 --> 00:10:40.596
  • You know, god says it's not the quantity of faith
  • 00:10:40.596 --> 00:10:43.599
  • That makes a difference.
  • 00:10:43.599 --> 00:10:44.934
  • Jesus said, "if you have the faith as that of a
  • 00:10:44.934 --> 00:10:47.570
  • Mustard seed."
  • 00:10:47.570 --> 00:10:48.904
  • A mustard seed was the tiniest seed in the vegetable world in
  • 00:10:48.904 --> 00:10:52.341
  • Jesus's day.
  • 00:10:52.341 --> 00:10:53.676
  • The faith of a mustard seed is enough to move mountains.
  • 00:10:53.676 --> 00:10:58.347
  • It's not the quantity of faith we have, it is the object of our
  • 00:10:58.347 --> 00:11:02.785
  • Faith.
  • 00:11:02.785 --> 00:11:04.220
  • So, what is faith?
  • 00:11:04.220 --> 00:11:06.522
  • Faith, i've defined as believing that god will do what he has
  • 00:11:06.522 --> 00:11:11.861
  • Promised to do and acting accordingly.
  • 00:11:11.861 --> 00:11:15.798
  • Acting accordingly.
  • 00:11:15.798 --> 00:11:17.166
  • Sally had enough faith, not 100%, but enough to give me what
  • 00:11:17.166 --> 00:11:21.837
  • I asked her to give me.
  • 00:11:21.837 --> 00:11:23.739
  • You know, when our girls, julia and dorothy, were younger and
  • 00:11:23.739 --> 00:11:26.642
  • Were at home, i wanted them to have confidence in me so that
  • 00:11:26.642 --> 00:11:31.380
  • They would follow my directions.
  • 00:11:31.380 --> 00:11:33.582
  • I wanted them to have confidence in my love for them, that i
  • 00:11:33.582 --> 00:11:37.520
  • Really did want what was best for them.
  • 00:11:37.520 --> 00:11:40.055
  • I wanted them to have confidence in my power, my ability to take
  • 00:11:40.055 --> 00:11:43.793
  • Care of them and watch over them so they'd be free from anxiety
  • 00:11:43.793 --> 00:11:47.596
  • About their future.
  • 00:11:47.596 --> 00:11:49.231
  • I wanted them to have confidence in my wisdom that i might know
  • 00:11:49.231 --> 00:11:53.402
  • Just a little bit more than they knew and they would follow
  • 00:11:53.402 --> 00:11:57.173
  • My direction.
  • 00:11:57.173 --> 00:11:58.674
  • I wanted them to have confidence in my love, in my power to take
  • 00:11:58.674 --> 00:12:03.813
  • Care of them, and in my wisdom.
  • 00:12:03.813 --> 00:12:06.749
  • Should we be surprised that god wants anything less than that
  • 00:12:06.749 --> 00:12:10.085
  • From us?
  • 00:12:10.085 --> 00:12:11.420
  • If we're going to obey god, and listen to this, if we're going
  • 00:12:11.420 --> 00:12:14.657
  • To obey god in everything he ask us to do, we have to have
  • 00:12:14.657 --> 00:12:19.762
  • Complete confidence in god's love for us, that he really
  • 00:12:19.762 --> 00:12:23.132
  • Wants what's best, in his power to take care of us no matter
  • 00:12:23.132 --> 00:12:26.802
  • What happens, and in his wisdom to know what is truly best.
  • 00:12:26.802 --> 00:12:32.274
  • That's what it means to trust god, and that leads to the
  • 00:12:32.274 --> 00:12:35.578
  • Definition of a trusting heart.
  • 00:12:35.578 --> 00:12:38.547
  • When we talk about developing a trusting heart as a disciple,
  • 00:12:38.547 --> 00:12:42.117
  • What does that mean?
  • 00:12:42.117 --> 00:12:43.452
  • A trusting heart is one that has or allows our confidence in
  • 00:12:43.452 --> 00:12:48.757
  • God's character to govern our inward emotions and our
  • 00:12:48.757 --> 00:12:53.629
  • Outward behavior.
  • 00:12:53.629 --> 00:12:55.397
  • A trusting heart, again, is a heart that allows our confidence
  • 00:12:55.397 --> 00:12:59.602
  • In god's character to govern our inward emotions and our
  • 00:12:59.602 --> 00:13:02.905
  • Outward behavior.
  • 00:13:02.905 --> 00:13:04.273
  • That is, we are so convinced of god's love, power, and wisdom
  • 00:13:04.273 --> 00:13:08.244
  • That it frees us from inner turmoil and frees us to
  • 00:13:08.244 --> 00:13:11.614
  • Outwardly obey god.
  • 00:13:11.614 --> 00:13:13.515
  • Now, i want you to look at colossians 3, verse 15.
  • 00:13:13.515 --> 00:13:16.952
  • This is exactly the kind of heart that jesus had.
  • 00:13:16.952 --> 00:13:21.957
  • Jesus was completely confident in god's love, power, and
  • 00:13:21.957 --> 00:13:27.229
  • Wisdom, and that's why he obeyed him completely.
  • 00:13:27.229 --> 00:13:30.666
  • And he wants that same peace and confidence to govern our lives
  • 00:13:30.666 --> 00:13:34.770
  • As well.
  • 00:13:34.770 --> 00:13:36.105
  • Look at colossians 3:15.
  • 00:13:36.105 --> 00:13:38.140
  • Paul says, "and let the peace of christ rule in your hearts, to
  • 00:13:38.140 --> 00:13:43.612
  • Which you indeed were called in one body; and be thankful."
  • 00:13:43.612 --> 00:13:48.717
  • Now, there are two key phrases here we've got to understand.
  • 00:13:48.717 --> 00:13:51.954
  • First of all, the phrase "the peace of christ."
  • 00:13:51.954 --> 00:13:56.525
  • What does he mean, "the peace of christ"?
  • 00:13:56.525 --> 00:13:58.193
  • Well, he's talking about the peace that comes from christ,
  • 00:13:58.193 --> 00:14:00.562
  • But he's also talking about the peace that characterized the
  • 00:14:00.562 --> 00:14:03.766
  • Life of jesus.
  • 00:14:03.766 --> 00:14:05.968
  • God wants us to be free from inner turmoil and outer
  • 00:14:05.968 --> 00:14:11.106
  • Hostility so we can be completely at peace with god and
  • 00:14:11.106 --> 00:14:14.843
  • Obey him freely.
  • 00:14:14.843 --> 00:14:16.712
  • That's what he's talking about, the peace that characterized the
  • 00:14:16.712 --> 00:14:19.515
  • Life of jesus.
  • 00:14:19.515 --> 00:14:21.050
  • Look at colossians 3:5.
  • 00:14:21.050 --> 00:14:23.118
  • You know, the reason people chase after immorality and greed
  • 00:14:23.118 --> 00:14:27.189
  • Is because they don't have that peace.
  • 00:14:27.189 --> 00:14:29.625
  • Paul says, "therefore consider the members of your earthly body
  • 00:14:29.625 --> 00:14:32.962
  • As dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed,
  • 00:14:32.962 --> 00:14:37.633
  • Which amounts to idolatry."
  • 00:14:37.633 --> 00:14:39.969
  • People chase after these new sexual experiences or more money
  • 00:14:39.969 --> 00:14:44.139
  • Because they lack this inner peace.
  • 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:46.308
  • They're looking for something more.
  • 00:14:46.308 --> 00:14:48.777
  • Likewise, look at verse 8, a second list of negative
  • 00:14:48.777 --> 00:14:51.914
  • Behaviors: "but now you also, put them all aside: anger,
  • 00:14:51.914 --> 00:14:55.451
  • Wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth."
  • 00:14:55.451 --> 00:14:59.455
  • People lash out at other people.
  • 00:14:59.455 --> 00:15:01.123
  • They try to get even with their enemies all because of this lack
  • 00:15:01.123 --> 00:15:04.860
  • Of inner peace, a confidence that god is in control.
  • 00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:09.231
  • Contrast that to the life of jesus.
  • 00:15:09.231 --> 00:15:11.834
  • He completely was at peace with obeying god because he felt
  • 00:15:11.834 --> 00:15:16.472
  • Confidence in god's love and wisdom.
  • 00:15:16.472 --> 00:15:19.541
  • John 4:34, "jesus said to them, 'my food is to do the will of
  • 00:15:19.541 --> 00:15:23.846
  • Him who sent me and to accomplish his work.'"
  • 00:15:23.846 --> 00:15:26.515
  • He said, "i live for one thing, and that is to obey god, to
  • 00:15:26.515 --> 00:15:30.052
  • Follow his will for my life."
  • 00:15:30.052 --> 00:15:31.720
  • And the reason he does that is because he has confidence in
  • 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:35.157
  • God's love, his power, and his wisdom.
  • 00:15:35.157 --> 00:15:38.160
  • In the same way when jesus was hanging on the cross, being
  • 00:15:38.160 --> 00:15:41.930
  • Tormented by those who wanted to take his life, he didn't lash
  • 00:15:41.930 --> 00:15:46.035
  • Out in anger.
  • 00:15:46.035 --> 00:15:47.369
  • Instead, 1 peter 2:23 says: "while being reviled, he did not
  • 00:15:47.369 --> 00:15:51.940
  • Revile in return; while suffering, he uttered no
  • 00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:55.711
  • Threats, but he kept entrusting himself to him who
  • 00:15:55.711 --> 00:15:59.782
  • Judges righteously."
  • 00:15:59.782 --> 00:16:02.351
  • Jesus was so convinced of god's justice that he knew he didn't
  • 00:16:02.351 --> 00:16:06.355
  • Have to get even with his enemies.
  • 00:16:06.355 --> 00:16:07.790
  • He knew god would take care of it in his time.
  • 00:16:07.790 --> 00:16:11.093
  • Do you see what i'm saying?
  • 00:16:11.093 --> 00:16:13.062
  • Having a confidence in god's love, his power, his wisdom, his
  • 00:16:13.062 --> 00:16:16.632
  • Character, that frees us from inner turmoil inside.
  • 00:16:16.632 --> 00:16:21.904
  • It allows us to experience the peace of christ.
  • 00:16:21.904 --> 00:16:26.642
  • A trusting heart is one that allows our confidence in god's
  • 00:16:26.642 --> 00:16:30.679
  • Character to control our inward emotions and our
  • 00:16:30.679 --> 00:16:34.516
  • Outward behavior.
  • 00:16:34.516 --> 00:16:35.918
  • Now, the second key phrase in that verse, colossians 3:15, is
  • 00:16:35.918 --> 00:16:39.922
  • "rule in your hearts."
  • 00:16:39.922 --> 00:16:41.890
  • Let the peace of god rule in your heart.
  • 00:16:41.890 --> 00:16:46.495
  • That word "rule" in greek is the word we get umpire from.
  • 00:16:46.495 --> 00:16:50.666
  • You know what an umpire does in an athletic contest.
  • 00:16:50.666 --> 00:16:53.335
  • He makes certain calls.
  • 00:16:53.335 --> 00:16:56.572
  • I read the story about an umpires's convention that was
  • 00:16:56.572 --> 00:16:59.675
  • Taking place, and after one of the evening sessions, a group of
  • 00:16:59.675 --> 00:17:02.744
  • Umpires got together for one of those late night bull sessions
  • 00:17:02.744 --> 00:17:06.582
  • In one of the attendees's rooms, and they were talking about how
  • 00:17:06.582 --> 00:17:09.952
  • They made difficult calls in a baseball game.
  • 00:17:09.952 --> 00:17:13.288
  • And one umpire said, "well, i call them the way i see them."
  • 00:17:13.288 --> 00:17:18.694
  • None--other umpire said, "no, that's not right.
  • 00:17:18.694 --> 00:17:21.530
  • You don't call them the way you see them."
  • 00:17:21.530 --> 00:17:23.465
  • He said, "i call them the way they are."
  • 00:17:23.465 --> 00:17:27.269
  • Third umpire spoke up, he said, "they ain't nothing until i
  • 00:17:27.269 --> 00:17:31.006
  • Call them."
  • 00:17:31.006 --> 00:17:33.108
  • You know, that's the way life's circumstances are.
  • 00:17:33.108 --> 00:17:36.078
  • We have all of these adverse circumstances that get thrown at
  • 00:17:36.078 --> 00:17:40.382
  • Us every day.
  • 00:17:40.382 --> 00:17:41.884
  • Are they good?
  • 00:17:41.884 --> 00:17:43.252
  • Are they bad?
  • 00:17:43.252 --> 00:17:44.586
  • Well, the fact is life's circumstances, especially
  • 00:17:44.586 --> 00:17:47.322
  • Adversities, are nothing until we call them.
  • 00:17:47.322 --> 00:17:50.159
  • We get to umpire.
  • 00:17:50.159 --> 00:17:51.760
  • We get to determine whether we're going to allow that
  • 00:17:51.760 --> 00:17:54.396
  • Adversity to completely upend our life or we're going to allow
  • 00:17:54.396 --> 00:17:58.367
  • It to be used for good.
  • 00:17:58.367 --> 00:18:00.335
  • And what paul is saying here is when difficulties come into your
  • 00:18:00.335 --> 00:18:03.739
  • Life, let the peace that comes from jesus christ have the
  • 00:18:03.739 --> 00:18:07.743
  • Final say.
  • 00:18:07.743 --> 00:18:09.711
  • Allow your confidence in god's love, wisdom, and power to free
  • 00:18:09.711 --> 00:18:14.183
  • You from anxiety about the future.
  • 00:18:14.183 --> 00:18:16.852
  • Let the peace of christ rule in your hearts.
  • 00:18:16.852 --> 00:18:21.390
  • That's what it means to have a trusting heart.
  • 00:18:21.390 --> 00:18:24.726
  • And what i want to show you in the few moments we have left
  • 00:18:24.726 --> 00:18:27.196
  • Here today is how having confidence in god's love, his
  • 00:18:27.196 --> 00:18:33.235
  • Power, and his wisdom affects your past, your present, and
  • 00:18:33.235 --> 00:18:37.973
  • Your future.
  • 00:18:37.973 --> 00:18:39.474
  • First of all, write this down: "trusting god's love provides
  • 00:18:39.474 --> 00:18:44.646
  • Freedom from guilt over past sins."
  • 00:18:44.646 --> 00:18:48.083
  • When you trust in god's love for you, it gives you a freedom from
  • 00:18:48.083 --> 00:18:52.454
  • Guilt over your past sins.
  • 00:18:52.454 --> 00:18:55.557
  • You know, i remember reading years ago a biography of walt
  • 00:18:55.557 --> 00:18:58.393
  • Disney, 500-page biography.
  • 00:18:58.393 --> 00:19:01.096
  • And far from being the cuddly uncle walt that everybody
  • 00:19:01.096 --> 00:19:04.833
  • Thought he was, nice guy, he was really a monster to work
  • 00:19:04.833 --> 00:19:09.137
  • For, apparently.
  • 00:19:09.137 --> 00:19:10.939
  • He had a habit of firing all of his employees about once a
  • 00:19:10.939 --> 00:19:15.110
  • Month, completely firing everybody and then hiring them
  • 00:19:15.110 --> 00:19:18.180
  • Back a couple of weeks later.
  • 00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:19.982
  • And the reason he did that, he said, was to keep his employees
  • 00:19:19.982 --> 00:19:22.484
  • On their toes, that they would work harder if they had the fear
  • 00:19:22.484 --> 00:19:25.721
  • That they were gonna lose their job.
  • 00:19:25.721 --> 00:19:27.956
  • Well, that might motivate some workers for a short-term period
  • 00:19:27.956 --> 00:19:31.893
  • Of time, but that doesn't work in the long term.
  • 00:19:31.893 --> 00:19:35.931
  • The fact is, whenever we are motivated by fear, it never
  • 00:19:35.931 --> 00:19:41.403
  • Helps our relationship with our superior.
  • 00:19:41.403 --> 00:19:44.640
  • It's the same thing in our relationship with god.
  • 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:47.175
  • If we're always wondering, does god love us, does he hate us,
  • 00:19:47.175 --> 00:19:50.078
  • Are we in his family, are we out of our family, that is no way to
  • 00:19:50.078 --> 00:19:53.548
  • Build intimacy with god.
  • 00:19:53.548 --> 00:19:55.284
  • In john 15:9, jesus said he wants us to be assured of god's
  • 00:19:55.284 --> 00:19:59.621
  • Love for us: "just as the father has loved me, i have also loved
  • 00:19:59.621 --> 00:20:04.092
  • You; abide," rest, "in my love."
  • 00:20:04.092 --> 00:20:10.632
  • How can we know for sure that god doesn't hate us?
  • 00:20:10.632 --> 00:20:14.102
  • How can we know for sure that at the judgment one day, god is not
  • 00:20:14.102 --> 00:20:17.372
  • Gonna dredge up our past sins and hold us accountable
  • 00:20:17.372 --> 00:20:20.542
  • For them?
  • 00:20:20.542 --> 00:20:21.910
  • Romans 5:1 has the answer to that question.
  • 00:20:21.910 --> 00:20:25.180
  • Paul says, "therefore, having been justified by faith, we have
  • 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:30.919
  • Peace with god through our lord jesus christ."
  • 00:20:30.919 --> 00:20:36.525
  • If you saw, leading up to billy graham's funeral, there were a
  • 00:20:36.525 --> 00:20:39.494
  • Number of clips of some of billy's past messages, but one
  • 00:20:39.494 --> 00:20:43.031
  • They played repeatedly was a clip of his message that he
  • 00:20:43.031 --> 00:20:46.401
  • Preached here at our church some years ago, and in that clip
  • 00:20:46.401 --> 00:20:50.405
  • Billy was saying, "the world has no peace.
  • 00:20:50.405 --> 00:20:54.009
  • There is no peace in the world.
  • 00:20:54.009 --> 00:20:56.078
  • We will never have peace in the world.
  • 00:20:56.078 --> 00:20:58.280
  • We'll never have peace with other people.
  • 00:20:58.280 --> 00:21:00.449
  • We'll never have peace in ourselves until we are at peace
  • 00:21:00.449 --> 00:21:04.619
  • With god."
  • 00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:06.688
  • And that became the title of, perhaps, his bestselling book,
  • 00:21:06.688 --> 00:21:10.192
  • "peace with god."
  • 00:21:10.192 --> 00:21:13.161
  • Until you know all is right between you and your creator,
  • 00:21:13.161 --> 00:21:16.431
  • You will never experience peace.
  • 00:21:16.431 --> 00:21:18.433
  • How can you have that peace?
  • 00:21:18.433 --> 00:21:19.768
  • Paul says we have that peace by being justified by faith through
  • 00:21:19.768 --> 00:21:25.374
  • Our lord jesus christ.
  • 00:21:25.374 --> 00:21:27.075
  • Now, that word translated "by" in your english bible, the
  • 00:21:27.075 --> 00:21:30.912
  • Preposition is better translated "through."
  • 00:21:30.912 --> 00:21:33.815
  • We have been justified through faith through our lord
  • 00:21:33.815 --> 00:21:38.520
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:21:38.520 --> 00:21:39.888
  • It's the same thought that you find in ephesians 2:8-10, "for
  • 00:21:39.888 --> 00:21:44.893
  • By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
  • 00:21:44.893 --> 00:21:49.431
  • Yourselves, it is a gift of god; not of works, lest any man
  • 00:21:49.431 --> 00:21:53.668
  • Should boast."
  • 00:21:53.668 --> 00:21:55.470
  • How are we saved?
  • 00:21:55.470 --> 00:21:57.339
  • We're not saved by faith.
  • 00:21:57.339 --> 00:22:00.041
  • There's no amount of faith we could conjure up that could ever
  • 00:22:00.041 --> 00:22:02.911
  • Wipe away our sins.
  • 00:22:02.911 --> 00:22:04.246
  • People say, "i'm saved by faith."
  • 00:22:04.246 --> 00:22:05.614
  • No, you're not.
  • 00:22:05.614 --> 00:22:06.948
  • You don't have enough faith to save yourself.
  • 00:22:06.948 --> 00:22:09.017
  • We are saved by god's grace that we receive through faith.
  • 00:22:09.017 --> 00:22:16.658
  • Jeffress: i hope today's message has helped you understand what
  • 00:22:20.862 --> 00:22:24.099
  • It truly means to trust god.
  • 00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:26.835
  • I have much more to share on this topic, so please make plans
  • 00:22:26.835 --> 00:22:29.771
  • To join me again next time for "pathway to victory."
  • 00:22:29.771 --> 00:22:34.009
  • Now, in closing today, i want to share a note i received from a
  • 00:22:34.009 --> 00:22:37.012
  • Friend named israel.
  • 00:22:37.012 --> 00:22:38.814
  • He said, "i listen to pathway to victory every day to receive
  • 00:22:38.814 --> 00:22:42.717
  • The solid teaching of god's word.
  • 00:22:42.717 --> 00:22:45.353
  • You have encouraged me to keep moving forward regardless of
  • 00:22:45.353 --> 00:22:49.257
  • What this culture feels about my christian faith.
  • 00:22:49.257 --> 00:22:52.394
  • In response to your teaching, i have chosen to live for christ
  • 00:22:52.394 --> 00:22:56.932
  • In a time when people believe my convictions are wrong.
  • 00:22:56.932 --> 00:23:00.569
  • This is why i'm partnering with pathway to victory.
  • 00:23:00.569 --> 00:23:03.738
  • I want to help others like myself become salt and light to
  • 00:23:03.738 --> 00:23:07.709
  • This world!"
  • 00:23:07.709 --> 00:23:09.044
  • Well, israel, thank you for your faithful partnership and for
  • 00:23:09.044 --> 00:23:12.681
  • Becoming a bright light in these dark days.
  • 00:23:12.681 --> 00:23:15.984
  • And thanks to everyone who supports us, especially our
  • 00:23:15.984 --> 00:23:19.588
  • Pathway partners, because you allow us to courageously pierce
  • 00:23:19.588 --> 00:23:24.226
  • The darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:24.226 --> 00:23:27.596
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:23:27.596 --> 00:23:28.930
  • I'll be back with more in just a moment.
  • 00:23:28.930 --> 00:23:31.166
  • Announcer: we all need god's strength to make it through
  • 00:23:33.535 --> 00:23:35.837
  • The day.
  • 00:23:35.837 --> 00:23:37.205
  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple," by dr. robert
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  • Jeffress provides the spiritual refreshment you need.
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  • In a large-print format, every page bursts with breathtaking
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  • Imagery that draws you toward the beauty of god's creation.
  • 00:23:46.948 --> 00:23:50.719
  • Jeffress: i know how challenging it can be to stay connected with
  • 00:23:50.719 --> 00:23:53.822
  • God in our busy lives.
  • 00:23:53.822 --> 00:23:55.657
  • In my new devotional, i provide personal reflections and
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  • Practical insights that will help you experience god's
  • 00:23:59.160 --> 00:24:02.564
  • Presence and encouragement throughout your day.
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  • Announcer: filled with stunning images of creation, scripture
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  • Verses, and prayers you can read in under two minutes, this
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  • Padded hardcover book is the perfect daily companion to help
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  • Refresh your spirit, morning and night.
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  • It also makes a thoughtful gift to encourage a friend or
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  • Loved one.
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  • Request your copy of, "encouragement for the heart of
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  • A disciple," when you give a generous gift to support the
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  • Ministry of pathway to victory or when you become a
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  • Pathway partner.
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  • With your ministry gift of $100 or more, we'll send you the
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  • "encouragement" resource set containing the new devotional,
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  • Christianity," book and life application guide, and the "7
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  • Marks of a disciple" message series on both cd and dvd.
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  • Your generous partnership helps us impact you and your family
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  • And a nation in deep spiritual need with the transforming truth
  • 00:24:55.984 --> 00:25:00.055
  • Of god's word.
  • 00:25:00.055 --> 00:25:01.423
  • Jeffress: when we allow our confidence in god's character to
  • 00:25:03.391 --> 00:25:06.695
  • Govern our emotions and behavior, we can experience the
  • 00:25:06.695 --> 00:25:10.632
  • Peace of christ that ruled in jesus's heart.
  • 00:25:10.632 --> 00:25:14.369
  • But how does trusting god actually affect our daily lives?
  • 00:25:14.369 --> 00:25:18.607
  • Next time, i'm going to show you three specific ways that
  • 00:25:18.607 --> 00:25:22.344
  • Confidence in god's character transforms us.
  • 00:25:22.344 --> 00:25:25.780
  • We'll discover how trusting god's love frees us from guilt
  • 00:25:25.780 --> 00:25:29.250
  • Over past sins, how trusting god's power frees us from panic
  • 00:25:29.250 --> 00:25:33.722
  • About present circumstances, and how trusting god's wisdom frees
  • 00:25:33.722 --> 00:25:38.426
  • Us from worry about future possibilities.
  • 00:25:38.426 --> 00:25:41.763
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:41.763 --> 00:25:44.399
  • Series, "7 marks of a disciple."
  • 00:25:44.399 --> 00:25:48.803
  • Jeffress: "pastor, if i just knew that i was going through
  • 00:25:48.803 --> 00:25:52.040
  • This tunnel and there would be five monsters i would have to
  • 00:25:52.040 --> 00:25:55.610
  • Fight, but at least there was light at the end of the tunnel,
  • 00:25:55.610 --> 00:25:58.413
  • I think i could make it through this experience."
  • 00:25:58.413 --> 00:26:01.650
  • Well, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
  • 00:26:01.650 --> 00:26:03.585
  • That light is the presence of god.
  • 00:26:03.585 --> 00:26:05.487
  • God says, "i will walk with you through the tunnel and i'll be
  • 00:26:05.487 --> 00:26:09.891
  • With you at the other side."
  • 00:26:09.891 --> 00:26:11.826
  • And that's what trust means.
  • 00:26:11.826 --> 00:26:13.495
  • Trusting in god's power frees us from panic about our
  • 00:26:13.495 --> 00:26:18.433
  • Present circumstances.
  • 00:26:18.433 --> 00:26:20.368
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two of the
  • 00:26:20.368 --> 00:26:23.338
  • Message, "developing a trusting heart," here on "pathway
  • 00:26:23.338 --> 00:26:26.908
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:26.908 --> 00:26:28.276
  • Announcer: step away from your daily routine and immerse
  • 00:26:31.413 --> 00:26:34.115
  • Yourself in god's masterpiece on the pathway to victory cruise
  • 00:26:34.115 --> 00:26:37.519
  • To alaska, june 13 through 20, 2026.
  • 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:41.256
  • Jeffress: imagine starting each day immersed in god's word, then
  • 00:26:41.256 --> 00:26:44.826
  • Stepping out to witness god's grandeur from the majestic
  • 00:26:44.826 --> 00:26:48.229
  • Glaciers to soaring eagles.
  • 00:26:48.229 --> 00:26:50.832
  • These moments in god's creation will deepen your faith in
  • 00:26:50.832 --> 00:26:54.402
  • Powerful ways.
  • 00:26:54.402 --> 00:26:55.737
  • Announcer: experience five-star dining, luxurious staterooms,
  • 00:26:55.737 --> 00:26:58.807
  • And exceptional service while visiting iconic ports like juno,
  • 00:26:58.807 --> 00:27:02.544
  • Ketchikan, and skagway.
  • 00:27:02.544 --> 00:27:04.446
  • Jeffress: we'll explore god's word together against the
  • 00:27:04.446 --> 00:27:06.881
  • Backdrop of his most impressive handiwork.
  • 00:27:06.881 --> 00:27:10.285
  • I promise you'll return home with memories that will last a
  • 00:27:10.285 --> 00:27:13.621
  • Lifetime and a heart renewed by god's presence.
  • 00:27:13.621 --> 00:27:17.792
  • Announcer: to book your spot on the 2026 pathway to victory
  • 00:27:17.792 --> 00:27:20.795
  • Cruise to alaska, call... or go to ptv.org.
  • 00:27:20.795 --> 00:27:27.836