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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Developing A Trusting Heart (Part 1)

August 14, 2025 | S25 E389 | 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) | August 14, 2025
  • ♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
  • 00:00:06.162 --> 00:00:08.531
  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with dr.
  • 00:00:08.531 --> 00:00:11.701
  • Robert jeffress.
  • 00:00:11.701 --> 00:00:14.037
  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
  • 00:00:14.037 --> 00:00:15.805
  • Again to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:15.805 --> 00:00:17.907
  • Most of us will obey god when it's convenient or when we
  • 00:00:17.907 --> 00:00:20.910
  • Understand the reason behind his commands, but what happens when
  • 00:00:20.910 --> 00:00:25.115
  • God ask us to do something that doesn't make sense or requires a
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  • Significant sacrifice on our part?
  • 00:00:29.652 --> 00:00:32.522
  • 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.
  • 00:00:44.234 --> 00:00:47.137
  • My message is titled, "developing a trusting heart" on
  • 00:00:47.137 --> 00:00:51.241
  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:51.241 --> 00:01:01.551
  • Announcer: give your heart the encouragement it needs.
  • 00:01:02.652 --> 00:01:05.421
  • Start and end each day meditating on god's word with,
  • 00:01:05.421 --> 00:01:08.658
  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple."
  • 00:01:08.658 --> 00:01:11.127
  • 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.
  • 00:01:23.806 --> 00:01:26.776
  • 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.
  • 00:01:42.492 --> 00:01:48.298
  • I need a female volunteer.
  • 00:01:48.298 --> 00:01:50.600
  • Now, in the first service, one lady came downding down
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  • The aisle.
  • 00:01:53.703 --> 00:01:55.038
  • I think she thought this was "the price is right," but i do
  • 00:01:55.038 --> 00:01:57.106
  • Need a female volunteer.
  • 00:01:57.106 --> 00:01:59.609
  • So i--my childhood friend sally deboard, come on up.
  • 00:01:59.609 --> 00:02:07.383
  • Now, i want to be sure everybody knows
  • 00:02:07.383 --> 00:02:09.118
  • This was not a plant, was it?
  • 00:02:09.118 --> 00:02:10.553
  • Sally deboard: no, it was not.
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  • Jeffress: okay, come over here and stand on this side of me.
  • 00:02:11.888 --> 00:02:13.489
  • Sally: i can hit you with my purse too, if i need to.
  • 00:02:13.489 --> 00:02:15.258
  • Jeffress: she's kind of sassy too, okay.
  • 00:02:15.258 --> 00:02:19.162
  • Now, sally, you don't know what i'm gonna do, right?
  • 00:02:19.162 --> 00:02:21.464
  • 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
  • 00:02:32.809 --> 00:02:38.681
  • 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?
  • 00:02:43.686 --> 00:02:45.054
  • Sally: yes. [congregation laughing]
  • 00:02:45.054 --> 00:02:47.323
  • Jeffress: that was a little tentative, sally.
  • 00:02:47.323 --> 00:02:50.627
  • Well, again, i'm asking you to trust me that you're going to be
  • 00:02:50.627 --> 00:02:54.697
  • Better off.
  • 00:02:54.697 --> 00:02:56.065
  • Now, do you have a wallet?
  • 00:02:56.065 --> 00:02:57.934
  • Sally: yes.
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  • Jeffress: how much money have you got in there?
  • 00:03:03.139 --> 00:03:05.275
  • Sally: i have a credit card and some--something or other.
  • 00:03:05.275 --> 00:03:08.378
  • 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
  • 00:03:33.436 --> 00:03:35.938
  • 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
  • 00:03:55.458 --> 00:03:57.694
  • Any money and i didn't have enough money for a ring.
  • 00:03:57.694 --> 00:04:03.533
  • 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?
  • 00:04:47.410 --> 00:04:48.945
  • 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
  • 00:05:00.390 --> 00:05:04.527
  • 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.
  • 00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:13.970
  • And she was very trusting, wasn't she?
  • 00:05:13.970 --> 00:05:19.208
  • Now, besides being an idiot, why did sally do what i asked her
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  • To do?
  • 00:05:23.579 --> 00:05:25.715
  • 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.
  • 00:05:37.693 --> 00:05:40.296
  • 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?"
  • 00:05:51.441 --> 00:05:52.775
  • She said, "because it's more blessed to give than to receive,
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  • And i believe my pastor."
  • 00:05:56.746 --> 00:05:58.915
  • 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.
  • 00:06:04.086 --> 00:06:08.658
  • You know, god says that if we do what he ask us to do, we will be
  • 00:06:08.658 --> 00:06:13.729
  • 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
  • 00:07:00.142 --> 00:07:03.813
  • 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
  • 00:07:20.196 --> 00:07:24.834
  • Joyfully until we learn to trust god.
  • 00:07:24.834 --> 00:07:29.705
  • 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
  • 00:07:39.682 --> 00:07:42.451
  • Chapter 3, colossians chapter 3.
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  • Today we're talking about trust, but in the bible, the word faith
  • 00:07:46.222 --> 00:07:50.560
  • Is the synonym for trust, and it's invaluable in a
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  • Disciple's life.
  • 00:07:54.797 --> 00:07:56.465
  • For example, habakkuk 2, verse 4 says: "the righteous person
  • 00:07:56.465 --> 00:08:00.403
  • Shall live by," what?
  • 00:08:00.403 --> 00:08:02.572
  • "by faith."
  • 00:08:02.572 --> 00:08:04.373
  • Or skip down to hebrews chapter 11, verse 6: "without faith, it
  • 00:08:04.373 --> 00:08:08.911
  • Is impossible to please god, for he who comes to god must believe
  • 00:08:08.911 --> 00:08:13.316
  • That he is and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him."
  • 00:08:13.316 --> 00:08:18.955
  • Faith is indispensable, learning to trust god, but what do we
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  • Mean by faith?
  • 00:08:23.326 --> 00:08:25.061
  • What does it mean to trust god?
  • 00:08:25.061 --> 00:08:27.196
  • I think the best way to understand what faith is, is by
  • 00:08:27.196 --> 00:08:31.000
  • Understanding what it isn't.
  • 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:33.369
  • First of all, faith is not the ability to predict the future.
  • 00:08:33.369 --> 00:08:39.642
  • Have you heard people say, "well, i'm trusting god that my
  • 00:08:39.642 --> 00:08:42.878
  • Marriage is gonna work out," or, "i'm trusting god that i'm gonna
  • 00:08:42.878 --> 00:08:46.882
  • Get this job that i want," or, "i'm trusting god that i'm gonna
  • 00:08:46.882 --> 00:08:52.054
  • Get the raise that i've been desiring for so long"?
  • 00:08:52.054 --> 00:08:56.359
  • They think that's what faith is, the ability to predict what's
  • 00:08:56.359 --> 00:08:59.829
  • Gonna happen.
  • 00:08:59.829 --> 00:09:01.197
  • And if we believe something long enough and hard enough, poof, it
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  • Comes to pass.
  • 00:09:04.166 --> 00:09:05.601
  • That's not faith, that's presumption, okay?
  • 00:09:05.601 --> 00:09:09.238
  • You know, faith is not the ability to predict the future.
  • 00:09:09.238 --> 00:09:12.875
  • Secondly, faith is not the absence of any doubt.
  • 00:09:12.875 --> 00:09:18.347
  • Sometimes we think faith means i can have zero doubt whatsoever.
  • 00:09:18.347 --> 00:09:23.819
  • That's not true.
  • 00:09:23.819 --> 00:09:25.187
  • You know, i think sally at some level, when she was up here, she
  • 00:09:25.187 --> 00:09:27.556
  • Was uncertain what was gonna happen, but she had enough faith
  • 00:09:27.556 --> 00:09:32.862
  • In order to give me what i asked her to give me.
  • 00:09:32.862 --> 00:09:35.965
  • A few weeks ago, as you know, i made a quick trip to
  • 00:09:35.965 --> 00:09:38.300
  • Israel for some meetings.
  • 00:09:38.300 --> 00:09:39.935
  • And, you know, i went on that trip.
  • 00:09:39.935 --> 00:09:43.239
  • The reason i got on the airplane was i believed it had been
  • 00:09:43.239 --> 00:09:46.042
  • Solidly built by the boeing company and some negligent
  • 00:09:46.042 --> 00:09:49.311
  • Worker didn't leave a couple of bolts off the engine that would
  • 00:09:49.311 --> 00:09:53.115
  • Cause it to fall off in the middle of the ocean.
  • 00:09:53.115 --> 00:09:55.918
  • I believed in the competency of the pilot, that he wouldn't try
  • 00:09:55.918 --> 00:09:59.055
  • To fly the jet while he was drunk and that he had a basic
  • 00:09:59.055 --> 00:10:02.491
  • Level of skill necessary to fly.
  • 00:10:02.491 --> 00:10:05.061
  • I believed that our counterterrorism experts both
  • 00:10:05.061 --> 00:10:07.730
  • Here and in israel had tried to do everything they could to
  • 00:10:07.730 --> 00:10:11.267
  • Screen away would-be terrorists.
  • 00:10:11.267 --> 00:10:13.402
  • I believed all of those things, but i didn't have 100% faith.
  • 00:10:13.402 --> 00:10:20.209
  • Before we left on the trip i redid my will, and amy and i
  • 00:10:20.209 --> 00:10:23.446
  • Went to the lawyer, and we redid the will because i knew i'd be
  • 00:10:23.446 --> 00:10:26.982
  • Flying over the golan heights, and i just wanted to prepare for
  • 00:10:26.982 --> 00:10:30.319
  • Any contingency.
  • 00:10:30.319 --> 00:10:32.354
  • I didn't have 100% faith, but i had just enough faith to get on
  • 00:10:32.354 --> 00:10:37.960
  • Board that airplane.
  • 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:39.929
  • You know, god says it's not the quantity of faith
  • 00:10:39.929 --> 00:10:42.932
  • That makes a difference.
  • 00:10:42.932 --> 00:10:44.266
  • Jesus said, "if you have the faith as that of a
  • 00:10:44.266 --> 00:10:46.902
  • Mustard seed."
  • 00:10:46.902 --> 00:10:48.237
  • A mustard seed was the tiniest seed in the vegetable world in
  • 00:10:48.237 --> 00:10:51.674
  • Jesus's day.
  • 00:10:51.674 --> 00:10:53.008
  • The faith of a mustard seed is enough to move mountains.
  • 00:10:53.008 --> 00:10:57.680
  • It's not the quantity of faith we have, it is the object of our
  • 00:10:57.680 --> 00:11:02.118
  • Faith.
  • 00:11:02.118 --> 00:11:03.552
  • So, what is faith?
  • 00:11:03.552 --> 00:11:05.855
  • Faith, i've defined as believing that god will do what he has
  • 00:11:05.855 --> 00:11:11.193
  • Promised to do and acting accordingly.
  • 00:11:11.193 --> 00:11:15.131
  • Acting accordingly.
  • 00:11:15.131 --> 00:11:16.499
  • Sally had enough faith, not 100%, but enough to give me what
  • 00:11:16.499 --> 00:11:21.170
  • I asked her to give me.
  • 00:11:21.170 --> 00:11:23.072
  • You know, when our girls, julia and dorothy, were younger and
  • 00:11:23.072 --> 00:11:25.975
  • Were at home, i wanted them to have confidence in me so that
  • 00:11:25.975 --> 00:11:30.713
  • They would follow my directions.
  • 00:11:30.713 --> 00:11:32.915
  • I wanted them to have confidence in my love for them, that i
  • 00:11:32.915 --> 00:11:36.852
  • Really did want what was best for them.
  • 00:11:36.852 --> 00:11:39.388
  • I wanted them to have confidence in my power, my ability to take
  • 00:11:39.388 --> 00:11:43.125
  • Care of them and watch over them so they'd be free from anxiety
  • 00:11:43.125 --> 00:11:46.929
  • About their future.
  • 00:11:46.929 --> 00:11:48.564
  • I wanted them to have confidence in my wisdom that i might know
  • 00:11:48.564 --> 00:11:52.735
  • Just a little bit more than they knew and they would follow
  • 00:11:52.735 --> 00:11:56.505
  • My direction.
  • 00:11:56.505 --> 00:11:58.007
  • I wanted them to have confidence in my love, in my power to take
  • 00:11:58.007 --> 00:12:03.145
  • Care of them, and in my wisdom.
  • 00:12:03.145 --> 00:12:06.081
  • Should we be surprised that god wants anything less than that
  • 00:12:06.081 --> 00:12:09.418
  • From us?
  • 00:12:09.418 --> 00:12:10.753
  • If we're going to obey god, and listen to this, if we're going
  • 00:12:10.753 --> 00:12:13.989
  • To obey god in everything he ask us to do, we have to have
  • 00:12:13.989 --> 00:12:19.094
  • Complete confidence in god's love for us, that he really
  • 00:12:19.094 --> 00:12:22.464
  • Wants what's best, in his power to take care of us no matter
  • 00:12:22.464 --> 00:12:26.135
  • What happens, and in his wisdom to know what is truly best.
  • 00:12:26.135 --> 00:12:31.607
  • That's what it means to trust god, and that leads to the
  • 00:12:31.607 --> 00:12:34.910
  • Definition of a trusting heart.
  • 00:12:34.910 --> 00:12:37.880
  • When we talk about developing a trusting heart as a disciple,
  • 00:12:37.880 --> 00:12:41.450
  • What does that mean?
  • 00:12:41.450 --> 00:12:42.785
  • A trusting heart is one that has or allows our confidence in
  • 00:12:42.785 --> 00:12:48.090
  • God's character to govern our inward emotions and our
  • 00:12:48.090 --> 00:12:52.962
  • Outward behavior.
  • 00:12:52.962 --> 00:12:54.730
  • A trusting heart, again, is a heart that allows our confidence
  • 00:12:54.730 --> 00:12:58.934
  • In god's character to govern our inward emotions and our
  • 00:12:58.934 --> 00:13:02.238
  • Outward behavior.
  • 00:13:02.238 --> 00:13:03.606
  • That is, we are so convinced of god's love, power, and wisdom
  • 00:13:03.606 --> 00:13:07.576
  • That it frees us from inner turmoil and frees us to
  • 00:13:07.576 --> 00:13:10.946
  • Outwardly obey god.
  • 00:13:10.946 --> 00:13:12.848
  • Now, i want you to look at colossians 3, verse 15.
  • 00:13:12.848 --> 00:13:16.285
  • This is exactly the kind of heart that jesus had.
  • 00:13:16.285 --> 00:13:21.290
  • Jesus was completely confident in god's love, power, and
  • 00:13:21.290 --> 00:13:26.562
  • Wisdom, and that's why he obeyed him completely.
  • 00:13:26.562 --> 00:13:29.999
  • And he wants that same peace and confidence to govern our lives
  • 00:13:29.999 --> 00:13:34.103
  • As well.
  • 00:13:34.103 --> 00:13:35.437
  • Look at colossians 3:15.
  • 00:13:35.437 --> 00:13:37.473
  • Paul says, "and let the peace of christ rule in your hearts, to
  • 00:13:37.473 --> 00:13:42.945
  • Which you indeed were called in one body; and be thankful."
  • 00:13:42.945 --> 00:13:48.050
  • Now, there are two key phrases here we've got to understand.
  • 00:13:48.050 --> 00:13:51.287
  • First of all, the phrase "the peace of christ."
  • 00:13:51.287 --> 00:13:55.858
  • What does he mean, "the peace of christ"?
  • 00:13:55.858 --> 00:13:57.526
  • Well, he's talking about the peace that comes from christ,
  • 00:13:57.526 --> 00:13:59.895
  • But he's also talking about the peace that characterized the
  • 00:13:59.895 --> 00:14:03.098
  • Life of jesus.
  • 00:14:03.098 --> 00:14:05.301
  • God wants us to be free from inner turmoil and outer
  • 00:14:05.301 --> 00:14:10.439
  • Hostility so we can be completely at peace with god and
  • 00:14:10.439 --> 00:14:14.176
  • Obey him freely.
  • 00:14:14.176 --> 00:14:16.045
  • That's what he's talking about, the peace that characterized the
  • 00:14:16.045 --> 00:14:18.847
  • Life of jesus.
  • 00:14:18.847 --> 00:14:20.382
  • Look at colossians 3:5.
  • 00:14:20.382 --> 00:14:22.451
  • You know, the reason people chase after immorality and greed
  • 00:14:22.451 --> 00:14:26.522
  • Is because they don't have that peace.
  • 00:14:26.522 --> 00:14:28.958
  • Paul says, "therefore consider the members of your earthly body
  • 00:14:28.958 --> 00:14:32.294
  • As dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed,
  • 00:14:32.294 --> 00:14:36.966
  • Which amounts to idolatry."
  • 00:14:36.966 --> 00:14:39.301
  • People chase after these new sexual experiences or more money
  • 00:14:39.301 --> 00:14:43.472
  • Because they lack this inner peace.
  • 00:14:43.472 --> 00:14:45.641
  • They're looking for something more.
  • 00:14:45.641 --> 00:14:48.110
  • Likewise, look at verse 8, a second list of negative
  • 00:14:48.110 --> 00:14:51.246
  • Behaviors: "but now you also, put them all aside: anger,
  • 00:14:51.246 --> 00:14:54.783
  • Wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth."
  • 00:14:54.783 --> 00:14:58.787
  • People lash out at other people.
  • 00:14:58.787 --> 00:15:00.456
  • They try to get even with their enemies all because of this lack
  • 00:15:00.456 --> 00:15:04.193
  • Of inner peace, a confidence that god is in control.
  • 00:15:04.193 --> 00:15:08.564
  • Contrast that to the life of jesus.
  • 00:15:08.564 --> 00:15:11.166
  • He completely was at peace with obeying god because he felt
  • 00:15:11.166 --> 00:15:15.804
  • Confidence in god's love and wisdom.
  • 00:15:15.804 --> 00:15:18.874
  • John 4:34, "jesus said to them, 'my food is to do the will of
  • 00:15:18.874 --> 00:15:23.178
  • Him who sent me and to accomplish his work.'"
  • 00:15:23.178 --> 00:15:25.848
  • He said, "i live for one thing, and that is to obey god, to
  • 00:15:25.848 --> 00:15:29.385
  • Follow his will for my life."
  • 00:15:29.385 --> 00:15:31.053
  • And the reason he does that is because he has confidence in
  • 00:15:31.053 --> 00:15:34.490
  • God's love, his power, and his wisdom.
  • 00:15:34.490 --> 00:15:37.493
  • In the same way when jesus was hanging on the cross, being
  • 00:15:37.493 --> 00:15:41.263
  • Tormented by those who wanted to take his life, he didn't lash
  • 00:15:41.263 --> 00:15:45.367
  • Out in anger.
  • 00:15:45.367 --> 00:15:46.702
  • Instead, 1 peter 2:23 says: "while being reviled, he did not
  • 00:15:46.702 --> 00:15:51.273
  • Revile in return; while suffering, he uttered no
  • 00:15:51.273 --> 00:15:55.044
  • Threats, but he kept entrusting himself to him who
  • 00:15:55.044 --> 00:15:59.114
  • Judges righteously."
  • 00:15:59.114 --> 00:16:01.683
  • Jesus was so convinced of god's justice that he knew he didn't
  • 00:16:01.683 --> 00:16:05.687
  • Have to get even with his enemies.
  • 00:16:05.687 --> 00:16:07.122
  • He knew god would take care of it in his time.
  • 00:16:07.122 --> 00:16:10.426
  • Do you see what i'm saying?
  • 00:16:10.426 --> 00:16:12.394
  • Having a confidence in god's love, his power, his wisdom, his
  • 00:16:12.394 --> 00:16:15.964
  • Character, that frees us from inner turmoil inside.
  • 00:16:15.964 --> 00:16:21.236
  • It allows us to experience the peace of christ.
  • 00:16:21.236 --> 00:16:25.974
  • A trusting heart is one that allows our confidence in god's
  • 00:16:25.974 --> 00:16:30.012
  • Character to control our inward emotions and our
  • 00:16:30.012 --> 00:16:33.849
  • Outward behavior.
  • 00:16:33.849 --> 00:16:35.250
  • Now, the second key phrase in that verse, colossians 3:15, is
  • 00:16:35.250 --> 00:16:39.254
  • "rule in your hearts."
  • 00:16:39.254 --> 00:16:41.223
  • Let the peace of god rule in your heart.
  • 00:16:41.223 --> 00:16:45.828
  • That word "rule" in greek is the word we get umpire from.
  • 00:16:45.828 --> 00:16:49.998
  • You know what an umpire does in an athletic contest.
  • 00:16:49.998 --> 00:16:52.668
  • He makes certain calls.
  • 00:16:52.668 --> 00:16:55.904
  • I read the story about an umpires's convention that was
  • 00:16:55.904 --> 00:16:59.007
  • Taking place, and after one of the evening sessions, a group of
  • 00:16:59.007 --> 00:17:02.077
  • Umpires got together for one of those late night bull sessions
  • 00:17:02.077 --> 00:17:05.914
  • In one of the attendees's rooms, and they were talking about how
  • 00:17:05.914 --> 00:17:09.284
  • They made difficult calls in a baseball game.
  • 00:17:09.284 --> 00:17:12.621
  • And one umpire said, "well, i call them the way i see them."
  • 00:17:12.621 --> 00:17:18.026
  • None--other umpire said, "no, that's not right.
  • 00:17:18.026 --> 00:17:20.863
  • You don't call them the way you see them."
  • 00:17:20.863 --> 00:17:22.798
  • He said, "i call them the way they are."
  • 00:17:22.798 --> 00:17:26.602
  • Third umpire spoke up, he said, "they ain't nothing until i
  • 00:17:26.602 --> 00:17:30.339
  • Call them."
  • 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:32.441
  • You know, that's the way life's circumstances are.
  • 00:17:32.441 --> 00:17:35.410
  • We have all of these adverse circumstances that get thrown at
  • 00:17:35.410 --> 00:17:39.715
  • Us every day.
  • 00:17:39.715 --> 00:17:41.216
  • Are they good?
  • 00:17:41.216 --> 00:17:42.584
  • Are they bad?
  • 00:17:42.584 --> 00:17:43.919
  • Well, the fact is life's circumstances, especially
  • 00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:46.655
  • Adversities, are nothing until we call them.
  • 00:17:46.655 --> 00:17:49.491
  • We get to umpire.
  • 00:17:49.491 --> 00:17:51.093
  • We get to determine whether we're going to allow that
  • 00:17:51.093 --> 00:17:53.729
  • Adversity to completely upend our life or we're going to allow
  • 00:17:53.729 --> 00:17:57.699
  • It to be used for good.
  • 00:17:57.699 --> 00:17:59.668
  • And what paul is saying here is when difficulties come into your
  • 00:17:59.668 --> 00:18:03.071
  • Life, let the peace that comes from jesus christ have the
  • 00:18:03.071 --> 00:18:07.075
  • Final say.
  • 00:18:07.075 --> 00:18:09.044
  • Allow your confidence in god's love, wisdom, and power to free
  • 00:18:09.044 --> 00:18:13.515
  • You from anxiety about the future.
  • 00:18:13.515 --> 00:18:16.185
  • Let the peace of christ rule in your hearts.
  • 00:18:16.185 --> 00:18:20.722
  • That's what it means to have a trusting heart.
  • 00:18:20.722 --> 00:18:24.059
  • And what i want to show you in the few moments we have left
  • 00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:26.528
  • Here today is how having confidence in god's love, his
  • 00:18:26.528 --> 00:18:32.568
  • Power, and his wisdom affects your past, your present, and
  • 00:18:32.568 --> 00:18:37.306
  • Your future.
  • 00:18:37.306 --> 00:18:38.807
  • First of all, write this down: "trusting god's love provides
  • 00:18:38.807 --> 00:18:43.979
  • Freedom from guilt over past sins."
  • 00:18:43.979 --> 00:18:47.416
  • When you trust in god's love for you, it gives you a freedom from
  • 00:18:47.416 --> 00:18:51.787
  • Guilt over your past sins.
  • 00:18:51.787 --> 00:18:54.890
  • You know, i remember reading years ago a biography of walt
  • 00:18:54.890 --> 00:18:57.726
  • Disney, 500-page biography.
  • 00:18:57.726 --> 00:19:00.429
  • And far from being the cuddly uncle walt that everybody
  • 00:19:00.429 --> 00:19:04.166
  • Thought he was, nice guy, he was really a monster to work
  • 00:19:04.166 --> 00:19:08.470
  • For, apparently.
  • 00:19:08.470 --> 00:19:10.272
  • He had a habit of firing all of his employees about once a
  • 00:19:10.272 --> 00:19:14.443
  • Month, completely firing everybody and then hiring them
  • 00:19:14.443 --> 00:19:17.512
  • Back a couple of weeks later.
  • 00:19:17.512 --> 00:19:19.314
  • And the reason he did that, he said, was to keep his employees
  • 00:19:19.314 --> 00:19:21.817
  • On their toes, that they would work harder if they had the fear
  • 00:19:21.817 --> 00:19:25.053
  • That they were gonna lose their job.
  • 00:19:25.053 --> 00:19:27.289
  • Well, that might motivate some workers for a short-term period
  • 00:19:27.289 --> 00:19:31.226
  • Of time, but that doesn't work in the long term.
  • 00:19:31.226 --> 00:19:35.264
  • The fact is, whenever we are motivated by fear, it never
  • 00:19:35.264 --> 00:19:40.736
  • Helps our relationship with our superior.
  • 00:19:40.736 --> 00:19:43.972
  • It's the same thing in our relationship with god.
  • 00:19:43.972 --> 00:19:46.508
  • If we're always wondering, does god love us, does he hate us,
  • 00:19:46.508 --> 00:19:49.411
  • Are we in his family, are we out of our family, that is no way to
  • 00:19:49.411 --> 00:19:52.881
  • Build intimacy with god.
  • 00:19:52.881 --> 00:19:54.616
  • In john 15:9, jesus said he wants us to be assured of god's
  • 00:19:54.616 --> 00:19:58.954
  • Love for us: "just as the father has loved me, i have also loved
  • 00:19:58.954 --> 00:20:03.425
  • You; abide," rest, "in my love."
  • 00:20:03.425 --> 00:20:09.965
  • How can we know for sure that god doesn't hate us?
  • 00:20:09.965 --> 00:20:13.435
  • How can we know for sure that at the judgment one day, god is not
  • 00:20:13.435 --> 00:20:16.705
  • Gonna dredge up our past sins and hold us accountable
  • 00:20:16.705 --> 00:20:19.875
  • For them?
  • 00:20:19.875 --> 00:20:21.243
  • Romans 5:1 has the answer to that question.
  • 00:20:21.243 --> 00:20:24.513
  • Paul says, "therefore, having been justified by faith, we have
  • 00:20:24.513 --> 00:20:30.252
  • Peace with god through our lord jesus christ."
  • 00:20:30.252 --> 00:20:35.857
  • If you saw, leading up to billy graham's funeral, there were a
  • 00:20:35.857 --> 00:20:38.827
  • Number of clips of some of billy's past messages, but one
  • 00:20:38.827 --> 00:20:42.364
  • They played repeatedly was a clip of his message that he
  • 00:20:42.364 --> 00:20:45.734
  • Preached here at our church some years ago, and in that clip
  • 00:20:45.734 --> 00:20:49.738
  • Billy was saying, "the world has no peace.
  • 00:20:49.738 --> 00:20:53.342
  • There is no peace in the world.
  • 00:20:53.342 --> 00:20:55.410
  • We will never have peace in the world.
  • 00:20:55.410 --> 00:20:57.612
  • We'll never have peace with other people.
  • 00:20:57.612 --> 00:20:59.781
  • We'll never have peace in ourselves until we are at peace
  • 00:20:59.781 --> 00:21:03.952
  • With god."
  • 00:21:03.952 --> 00:21:06.021
  • And that became the title of, perhaps, his bestselling book,
  • 00:21:06.021 --> 00:21:09.524
  • "peace with god."
  • 00:21:09.524 --> 00:21:12.494
  • Until you know all is right between you and your creator,
  • 00:21:12.494 --> 00:21:15.764
  • You will never experience peace.
  • 00:21:15.764 --> 00:21:17.766
  • How can you have that peace?
  • 00:21:17.766 --> 00:21:19.101
  • Paul says we have that peace by being justified by faith through
  • 00:21:19.101 --> 00:21:24.706
  • Our lord jesus christ.
  • 00:21:24.706 --> 00:21:26.408
  • Now, that word translated "by" in your english bible, the
  • 00:21:26.408 --> 00:21:30.245
  • Preposition is better translated "through."
  • 00:21:30.245 --> 00:21:33.148
  • We have been justified through faith through our lord
  • 00:21:33.148 --> 00:21:37.853
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:21:37.853 --> 00:21:39.221
  • It's the same thought that you find in ephesians 2:8-10, "for
  • 00:21:39.221 --> 00:21:44.226
  • By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
  • 00:21:44.226 --> 00:21:48.764
  • Yourselves, it is a gift of god; not of works, lest any man
  • 00:21:48.764 --> 00:21:53.001
  • Should boast."
  • 00:21:53.001 --> 00:21:54.803
  • How are we saved?
  • 00:21:54.803 --> 00:21:56.671
  • We're not saved by faith.
  • 00:21:56.671 --> 00:21:59.374
  • There's no amount of faith we could conjure up that could ever
  • 00:21:59.374 --> 00:22:02.244
  • Wipe away our sins.
  • 00:22:02.244 --> 00:22:03.578
  • People say, "i'm saved by faith."
  • 00:22:03.578 --> 00:22:04.946
  • No, you're not.
  • 00:22:04.946 --> 00:22:06.281
  • You don't have enough faith to save yourself.
  • 00:22:06.281 --> 00:22:08.350
  • We are saved by god's grace that we receive through faith.
  • 00:22:08.350 --> 00:22:18.994
  • Jeffress: i hope today's message has helped you understand what
  • 00:22:20.195 --> 00:22:23.432
  • It truly means to trust god.
  • 00:22:23.432 --> 00:22:26.168
  • I have much more to share on this topic, so please make plans
  • 00:22:26.168 --> 00:22:29.104
  • To join me again next time for "pathway to victory."
  • 00:22:29.104 --> 00:22:33.341
  • Now, in closing today, i want to share a note i received from a
  • 00:22:33.341 --> 00:22:36.344
  • Friend named israel.
  • 00:22:36.344 --> 00:22:38.146
  • He said, "i listen to pathway to victory every day to receive
  • 00:22:38.146 --> 00:22:42.050
  • The solid teaching of god's word.
  • 00:22:42.050 --> 00:22:44.686
  • You have encouraged me to keep moving forward regardless of
  • 00:22:44.686 --> 00:22:48.590
  • What this culture feels about my christian faith.
  • 00:22:48.590 --> 00:22:51.726
  • In response to your teaching, i have chosen to live for christ
  • 00:22:51.726 --> 00:22:56.264
  • In a time when people believe my convictions are wrong.
  • 00:22:56.264 --> 00:22:59.901
  • This is why i'm partnering with pathway to victory.
  • 00:22:59.901 --> 00:23:03.071
  • I want to help others like myself become salt and light to
  • 00:23:03.071 --> 00:23:07.042
  • This world!"
  • 00:23:07.042 --> 00:23:08.376
  • Well, israel, thank you for your faithful partnership and for
  • 00:23:08.376 --> 00:23:12.013
  • Becoming a bright light in these dark days.
  • 00:23:12.013 --> 00:23:15.317
  • And thanks to everyone who supports us, especially our
  • 00:23:15.317 --> 00:23:18.920
  • Pathway partners, because you allow us to courageously pierce
  • 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:23.558
  • The darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:23.558 --> 00:23:26.928
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:23:26.928 --> 00:23:28.263
  • I'll be back with more in just a moment.
  • 00:23:28.263 --> 00:23:31.733
  • Announcer: we all need god's strength to make it through
  • 00:23:32.868 --> 00:23:35.170
  • The day.
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  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple," by dr. robert
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  • Jeffress provides the spiritual refreshment you need.
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  • In a large-print format, every page bursts with breathtaking
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  • Imagery that draws you toward the beauty of god's creation.
  • 00:23:46.281 --> 00:23:50.051
  • Jeffress: i know how challenging it can be to stay connected with
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  • God in our busy lives.
  • 00:23:53.154 --> 00:23:54.990
  • In my new devotional, i provide personal reflections and
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  • Practical insights that will help you experience god's
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  • Presence and encouragement throughout your day.
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  • Announcer: filled with stunning images of creation, scripture
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  • Verses, and prayers you can read in under two minutes, this
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  • Padded hardcover book is the perfect daily companion to help
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  • Refresh your spirit, morning and night.
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  • It also makes a thoughtful gift to encourage a friend or
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  • Loved one.
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  • Request your copy of, "encouragement for the heart of
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  • A disciple," when you give a generous gift to support the
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  • Ministry of pathway to victory or when you become 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
  • 00:24:55.317 --> 00:24:59.387
  • Of god's word.
  • 00:24:59.387 --> 00:25:01.590
  • Jeffress: when we allow our confidence in god's character to
  • 00:25:02.724 --> 00:25:06.027
  • Govern our emotions and behavior, we can experience the
  • 00:25:06.027 --> 00:25:09.965
  • Peace of christ that ruled in jesus's heart.
  • 00:25:09.965 --> 00:25:13.702
  • But how does trusting god actually affect our daily lives?
  • 00:25:13.702 --> 00:25:17.939
  • Next time, i'm going to show you three specific ways that
  • 00:25:17.939 --> 00:25:21.676
  • Confidence in god's character transforms us.
  • 00:25:21.676 --> 00:25:25.113
  • We'll discover how trusting god's love frees us from guilt
  • 00:25:25.113 --> 00:25:28.583
  • Over past sins, how trusting god's power frees us from panic
  • 00:25:28.583 --> 00:25:33.054
  • About present circumstances, and how trusting god's wisdom frees
  • 00:25:33.054 --> 00:25:37.759
  • Us from worry about future possibilities.
  • 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:41.096
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:41.096 --> 00:25:43.732
  • Series, "7 marks of a disciple."
  • 00:25:43.732 --> 00:25:48.136
  • Jeffress: "pastor, if i just knew that i was going through
  • 00:25:48.136 --> 00:25:51.373
  • This tunnel and there would be five monsters i would have to
  • 00:25:51.373 --> 00:25:54.943
  • Fight, but at least there was light at the end of the tunnel,
  • 00:25:54.943 --> 00:25:57.746
  • I think i could make it through this experience."
  • 00:25:57.746 --> 00:26:00.982
  • Well, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
  • 00:26:00.982 --> 00:26:02.917
  • That light is the presence of god.
  • 00:26:02.917 --> 00:26:04.819
  • God says, "i will walk with you through the tunnel and i'll be
  • 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:09.224
  • With you at the other side."
  • 00:26:09.224 --> 00:26:11.159
  • And that's what trust means.
  • 00:26:11.159 --> 00:26:12.827
  • Trusting in god's power frees us from panic about our
  • 00:26:12.827 --> 00:26:17.766
  • Present circumstances.
  • 00:26:17.766 --> 00:26:19.701
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two of the
  • 00:26:19.701 --> 00:26:22.671
  • Message, "developing a trusting heart," here on "pathway
  • 00:26:22.671 --> 00:26:26.241
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:26.241 --> 00:26:29.678
  • Announcer: step away from your daily routine and immerse
  • 00:26:30.745 --> 00:26:33.448
  • Yourself in god's masterpiece on the pathway to victory cruise
  • 00:26:33.448 --> 00:26:36.851
  • To alaska, june 13 through 20, 2026.
  • 00:26:36.851 --> 00:26:40.588
  • Jeffress: imagine starting each day immersed in god's word, then
  • 00:26:40.588 --> 00:26:44.159
  • Stepping out to witness god's grandeur from the majestic
  • 00:26:44.159 --> 00:26:47.562
  • Glaciers to soaring eagles.
  • 00:26:47.562 --> 00:26:50.165
  • These moments in god's creation will deepen your faith in
  • 00:26:50.165 --> 00:26:53.735
  • Powerful ways.
  • 00:26:53.735 --> 00:26:55.070
  • Announcer: experience five-star dining, luxurious staterooms,
  • 00:26:55.070 --> 00:26:58.139
  • And exceptional service while visiting iconic ports like juno,
  • 00:26:58.139 --> 00:27:01.876
  • Ketchikan, and skagway.
  • 00:27:01.876 --> 00:27:03.778
  • Jeffress: we'll explore god's word together against the
  • 00:27:03.778 --> 00:27:06.214
  • Backdrop of his most impressive handiwork.
  • 00:27:06.214 --> 00:27:09.617
  • I promise you'll return home with memories that will last a
  • 00:27:09.617 --> 00:27:12.954
  • Lifetime and a heart renewed by god's presence.
  • 00:27:12.954 --> 00:27:17.125
  • Announcer: to book your spot on the 2026 pathway to victory
  • 00:27:17.125 --> 00:27:20.128
  • Cruise to alaska, call... or go to ptv.org.
  • 00:27:20.128 --> 00:27:29.010