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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Extreme Faith

August 15, 2025 | S25 E390 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - Extreme Faith
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#inActive #Faith #Faithfulness #RelationshipwithGod #Pastors #Encouragement #Truth #Bible

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Extreme Faith | August 15, 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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  • What does it mean to have a faith that goes beyond mere
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  • Belief, the kind of faith that's willing to sacrifice everything
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  • For god?
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  • Today we're diving into one of the most challenging stories in
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  • All of scripture: when god asked abraham to offer his beloved
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  • Son, isaac, as a sacrifice.
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  • This defining moment reveals what extreme faith really
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  • Looks like.
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  • My message is titled "extreme faith," on today's edition of
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  • "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: where there's genuine faith, there will always be
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  • Visible fruit.
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  • In his brand-new book, "how to know if you're really saved,"
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  • Dr. robert jeffress helps you take stock of the evidence of
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  • Your faith, the spiritual fruit in your daily life.
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  • This outstanding verse-by-verse walk through the book of james
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  • Will help you cultivate the spiritual fruit that reflects
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  • Genuine faith.
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  • Request "how to know if you're really saved" when you give a
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  • Generous gift to support the ministry of pathway to victory.
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  • Jeffress: in acts 16:30, the philippian jailer asked two of
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  • His prisoners, the apostle paul and silas, perhaps the most
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  • Important question in life.
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  • The jailer wanted to know "what do i need to do to be saved?"
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  • And when you think about it, isn't that life's most
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  • Important question?
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  • "if there is something more than life in the here and now, if
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  • There is an existence beyond the grave, if there is a god who's
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  • Going to judge me one day, what do i have to do to escape the
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  • Horrors of eternal separation from god in hell?"
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  • That was the question.
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  • And paul answered very, very simply: he said, "believe."
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  • That means trust in, depend upon, lean upon.
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  • "believe on the lord jesus christ, and you shall be saved."
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  • How is a person saved from hell?
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  • By trusting in the grace of god--demonstrated when christ
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  • Died for our sins--trusting in what christ did for us.
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  • For our salvation is what brings us eternal security that, one
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  • Day, we'll be in heaven.
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  • If there is anything else that we need to do, then paul
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  • Should've said it.
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  • But he said there's only one thing to do: "believe on the
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  • Lord jesus christ, and you will be saved."
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  • Paul elaborates on that truth in romans 4.
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  • Look at verses 1 to 3:
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  • What do we say about abraham, our forefather, according to
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  • The flesh?
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  • "for if abraham was justified," that is, made right with god,
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  • "by works, he has something to boast about, but not before god.
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  • For what does the scripture say?
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  • Abraham believed god, and it was credited to him
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  • As righteousness."
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  • Abraham was declared righteous when he believed.
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  • It wasn't after he was circumcised.
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  • It wasn't after he was willing to offer isaac as a sacrifice.
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  • In that moment that abraham believed the promises of god,
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  • That's the moment he was declared not guilty in the
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  • Presence of god.
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  • That seems pretty clear, doesn't it?
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  • Wait a minute.
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  • James, the half brother of jesus, seems to say something
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  • Completely different and contradictory.
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  • In the passage we looked at last time, james wrote, "was not
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  • Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up isaac
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  • His son on the altar?
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  • You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result
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  • Of the works, his faith was perfected."
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  • Verse 24, "you see that a man is justified," made righteous, "by
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  • Works and not by faith alone."
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  • Last time, we looked at what appeared to be the greatest
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  • Contradiction of the bible: paul, who says we're justified
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  • By our faith in god's grace without works; james, who says
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  • We are saved by faith and works.
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  • You know, we better get this right if we're going to heaven,
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  • Hadn't we?
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  • Is it faith or is it works?
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  • Remember, last time, we saw that word "justified" is the key
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  • Word "righteous."
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  • When paul uses the word "justified," he uses the first
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  • Meaning of justified: to make a person righteous.
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  • We are made righteous by our faith in god's grace.
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  • But the word "justified" can also mean to show to be
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  • Righteous, to prove to others that you are righteous, and
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  • That's what james was talking about.
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  • When paul talks about the moment abraham was made righteous, it
  • 00:05:23.579 --> 00:05:27.016
  • Was in that moment he believed the promises of god.
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  • But when james says abraham was made righteous, he means he was
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  • Shown to be righteous by his willingness to offer his son,
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  • Isaac, as a sacrifice.
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  • And it's that story that we're going to look at today.
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  • When we studied abraham's life a few years ago, we looked at this
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  • Incident, but it's worth looking at again because it teaches us a
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  • Very important truth about what extreme faith actually
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  • Looks like.
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  • So, this morning, i want you to take your bibles and turn not to
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  • James 2 but to genesis chapter 22.
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  • Notice the preparation, first of all, for this event, the
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  • Preparation for the test.
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  • Genesis 22:1, "now it came about after these things..."
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  • Whenever you see that phrase, "after these things," you have
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  • To ask yourself, "after what things?"
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  • Well, moses is talking about "after everything that had
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  • Happened to abraham so far."
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  • "now it came about after these things, that god
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  • Tested abraham."
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  • Tested abraham?
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  • Why would abraham need to be tested?
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  • Hadn't he proven himself to be faithful after all of
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  • These years?
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  • Why did god test abraham?
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  • Why does he test any of us, who are followers of christ?
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  • F. b. meyer, the great scholar, has this helpful word
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  • About testing.
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  • He writes, "satan tempts us that he may bring out the evil that
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  • Is in our hearts, but god tries or tests us that he may bring
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  • Out all the good.
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  • Trials are therefore god's vote of confidence in us."
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  • I love that: testing is god's vote of confidence in you.
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  • Look at the test itself in verse 2.
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  • "god said, 'abraham, take
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  • Your son, your only son, whom you love, isaac, and go to the
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  • Land of moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one
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  • Of the mountains which i will tell you.'"
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  • "kill my son?"
  • 00:07:45.187 --> 00:07:47.156
  • This made absolutely no sense.
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  • "why, to sacrifice isaac would not only devastate me and sara.
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  • It would mean the end of this vision before it ever got off
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  • The ground of a great nation.
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  • It doesn't make sense, god."
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  • Most of us, after hearing such a command, would wonder if it was
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  • Really the voice of god we had even heard.
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  • But abraham had heard god's voice too often to mistake it
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  • For anything else, and that's what makes the response to this
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  • Test so unusual.
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  • Abraham obeyed immediately.
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  • You know, abraham was surprised that this command came, but he
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  • Understood it was certainly within god's right to ask for
  • 00:08:33.769 --> 00:08:36.772
  • Such a sacrifice.
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  • No doubt for many years abraham had witnessed canaanite fathers
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  • Offering their children as burnt sacrifices to appease the
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  • Angry gods.
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  • It's not that the canaanites loved their children any less
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  • Than abraham loved his, but their superstition coupled with
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  • Their sinfulness made them desperate to appease their angry
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  • Gods they had imagined.
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  • I'm sure as abraham walked by and saw those sacrifices, he was
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  • Grateful that god had never asked him before to do such
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  • A thing.
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  • But now that god had, look what his response was, verse 3: "so
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  • Abraham rose early in the morning."
  • 00:09:17.346 --> 00:09:21.217
  • Well, i would've found a reason to sleep in that day--wouldn't
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  • You?--or to linger or to come up with excuses.
  • 00:09:24.754 --> 00:09:28.257
  • Not abraham.
  • 00:09:28.257 --> 00:09:29.625
  • "he rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took
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  • Two of his young men with him and isaac his son; and he split
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  • Wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place
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  • Which god had told him."
  • 00:09:41.971 --> 00:09:44.073
  • The journey to the place of sacrifice, moriah, was about
  • 00:09:44.073 --> 00:09:47.777
  • 50 miles.
  • 00:09:47.777 --> 00:09:49.178
  • It would take three days to travel there by foot.
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  • One commentator imagines what it must've been like for isaac, now
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  • A teenager, at the time.
  • 00:09:57.953 --> 00:10:00.756
  • What it must have been like is he and his dad walked together
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  • Toward moriah.
  • 00:10:04.627 --> 00:10:06.195
  • I'm sure isaac tried to engage himself and abraham in
  • 00:10:06.195 --> 00:10:11.434
  • Conversation, but abraham was strangely silent.
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  • Isaac didn't know that abraham was probably praying for
  • 00:10:15.438 --> 00:10:18.874
  • Strength to take every next step.
  • 00:10:18.874 --> 00:10:23.012
  • Finally, they arrived at the place of sacrifice.
  • 00:10:23.012 --> 00:10:26.615
  • Verse 5 says, "abraham said to the young men with him, 'stay
  • 00:10:26.615 --> 00:10:30.286
  • Here with the donkey, and i and the lad will go over there; and
  • 00:10:30.286 --> 00:10:36.358
  • We will worship, and we will return to you.'"
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  • That is amazing.
  • 00:10:42.498 --> 00:10:45.868
  • "we will return to you"?
  • 00:10:45.868 --> 00:10:48.137
  • How is that going to happen if abraham had killed isaac?
  • 00:10:48.137 --> 00:10:51.640
  • Abraham didn't understand everything, but this is what he
  • 00:10:51.640 --> 00:10:55.311
  • Did understand.
  • 00:10:55.311 --> 00:10:56.645
  • Hebrews 11, verses 17 to 19 give us the commentary on this event.
  • 00:10:56.645 --> 00:11:01.751
  • "by faith abraham, when he was tested, offered up isaac; and he
  • 00:11:01.751 --> 00:11:06.756
  • Who had received the promises was offering up his only
  • 00:11:06.756 --> 00:11:10.192
  • Begotten son; for it was to he whom it was said, 'in isaac your
  • 00:11:10.192 --> 00:11:15.197
  • Descendants shall be called.'
  • 00:11:15.197 --> 00:11:17.166
  • But abraham considered that god is able to raise people even
  • 00:11:17.166 --> 00:11:22.705
  • From the dead, from which he also received him back as
  • 00:11:22.705 --> 00:11:26.375
  • A type."
  • 00:11:26.375 --> 00:11:27.743
  • He did maybe what i often do and perhaps you've done: develop a
  • 00:11:27.743 --> 00:11:32.715
  • List of pros and cons for engaging in a certain action.
  • 00:11:32.715 --> 00:11:37.686
  • I imagine there are plenty of cons, reasons not to obey god.
  • 00:11:37.686 --> 00:11:41.891
  • It would mean the death of this vision.
  • 00:11:41.891 --> 00:11:44.393
  • It would destroy the family.
  • 00:11:44.393 --> 00:11:45.895
  • It would ruin the reputation of god.
  • 00:11:45.895 --> 00:11:48.364
  • There were all kind of reasons not to obey god, but there were
  • 00:11:48.364 --> 00:11:52.668
  • Some pros as well.
  • 00:11:52.668 --> 00:11:55.070
  • God had been faithful to keep every other promise he had made.
  • 00:11:55.070 --> 00:11:58.507
  • God miraculously brought about the birth of isaac.
  • 00:11:58.507 --> 00:12:02.678
  • And as he added up the plus and the minuses, he considered that
  • 00:12:02.678 --> 00:12:07.516
  • God is able.
  • 00:12:07.516 --> 00:12:08.851
  • He calculated he could take the risk and obey god because god is
  • 00:12:08.851 --> 00:12:12.988
  • Able to even raise people from the dead.
  • 00:12:12.988 --> 00:12:16.425
  • If he killed isaac, god could raise him from the dead and
  • 00:12:16.425 --> 00:12:19.595
  • Bring him back.
  • 00:12:19.595 --> 00:12:20.930
  • Now, what was amazing about that was nobody had ever been raised
  • 00:12:20.930 --> 00:12:24.567
  • From the dead before at this point--nobody, nobody.
  • 00:12:24.567 --> 00:12:29.605
  • Abraham never had gone to an easter service--do you realize
  • 00:12:29.605 --> 00:12:32.441
  • That?--because there had been no jesus christ and no
  • 00:12:32.441 --> 00:12:35.744
  • Resurrection from the dead.
  • 00:12:35.744 --> 00:12:37.646
  • There had been no 1 corinthians 15 about the power of
  • 00:12:37.646 --> 00:12:40.516
  • The resurrection.
  • 00:12:40.516 --> 00:12:41.851
  • He knew none of that, but he knew god was able to keep his
  • 00:12:41.851 --> 00:12:46.488
  • Promises, and so he obeyed god.
  • 00:12:46.488 --> 00:12:49.158
  • Look at verses 6 and 7: "abraham took the wood of the burnt
  • 00:12:49.158 --> 00:12:52.728
  • Offering and laid it on isaac his son."
  • 00:12:52.728 --> 00:12:55.898
  • Picture that.
  • 00:12:55.898 --> 00:12:57.433
  • "and he took in his hand the fire and the knife.
  • 00:12:57.433 --> 00:13:00.002
  • So the two of them walked on together.
  • 00:13:00.002 --> 00:13:02.838
  • Isaac spoke to his father and said, 'my father!
  • 00:13:02.838 --> 00:13:06.542
  • Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the
  • 00:13:06.542 --> 00:13:11.914
  • Burnt offering?'"
  • 00:13:11.914 --> 00:13:13.782
  • Isaac had watched abraham perform many sacrifices.
  • 00:13:13.782 --> 00:13:17.553
  • He knew what you had to have, but primarily you had to have
  • 00:13:17.553 --> 00:13:20.789
  • Something to sacrifice.
  • 00:13:20.789 --> 00:13:22.458
  • "where is the sacrifice, dad?"
  • 00:13:22.458 --> 00:13:25.961
  • That question might--must've been like a knife plunged in the
  • 00:13:25.961 --> 00:13:29.765
  • Heart of abraham.
  • 00:13:29.765 --> 00:13:32.468
  • Instead, he kept going forward with isaac.
  • 00:13:32.468 --> 00:13:35.504
  • Verse 8, "and abraham said, 'god will provide for himself the
  • 00:13:35.504 --> 00:13:41.143
  • Lamb for the burnt offering.'
  • 00:13:41.143 --> 00:13:43.279
  • So the two of them walked on together."
  • 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:46.649
  • And then the moment of revelation came.
  • 00:13:46.649 --> 00:13:48.717
  • Verse 9, "they came to the place of which god had told him; and
  • 00:13:48.717 --> 00:13:52.554
  • Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and he
  • 00:13:52.554 --> 00:13:57.326
  • Bound his son isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of
  • 00:13:57.326 --> 00:14:01.830
  • The wood."
  • 00:14:01.830 --> 00:14:03.465
  • F. b. meyer notes that, at this point, the scriptures draw a
  • 00:14:03.465 --> 00:14:08.304
  • Curtain around this event, in this very private event, as
  • 00:14:08.304 --> 00:14:12.608
  • Abraham explains to isaac what the plan is, and isaac willingly
  • 00:14:12.608 --> 00:14:18.580
  • Submits to his father's will and places himself on the altar
  • 00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:23.585
  • Of sacrifice.
  • 00:14:23.585 --> 00:14:26.155
  • At this point, if we haven't already, we become aware of the
  • 00:14:26.155 --> 00:14:29.258
  • Great foreshadowing this event is, of another sacrifice that
  • 00:14:29.258 --> 00:14:34.596
  • Would take place in that very same mountain region of moriah
  • 00:14:34.596 --> 00:14:38.400
  • 2,000 years later.
  • 00:14:38.400 --> 00:14:41.837
  • Like the strong and able isaac, jesus, the begotten son of god,
  • 00:14:41.837 --> 00:14:47.676
  • Could've resisted his father, but he didn't.
  • 00:14:47.676 --> 00:14:51.380
  • He voluntarily offered his life.
  • 00:14:51.380 --> 00:14:54.383
  • What are the results of what happened, of that extreme faith
  • 00:14:54.383 --> 00:14:59.221
  • That james says is what proved abraham to be in a right
  • 00:14:59.221 --> 00:15:03.325
  • Relationship with god?
  • 00:15:03.325 --> 00:15:05.194
  • Notice three things that happened: first of all, god
  • 00:15:05.194 --> 00:15:08.030
  • Himself provided the sacrifice.
  • 00:15:08.030 --> 00:15:11.166
  • Verses 13 and 14, "then abraham raised his eyes and looked, and
  • 00:15:11.166 --> 00:15:15.437
  • Behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and
  • 00:15:15.437 --> 00:15:20.709
  • Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up as a burnt
  • 00:15:20.709 --> 00:15:24.580
  • Offering in the place of his son.
  • 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:27.149
  • Abraham called the name of that place the lord will provide, as
  • 00:15:27.149 --> 00:15:32.187
  • It is said to this day, 'in the mount of the lord it will
  • 00:15:32.187 --> 00:15:36.291
  • Be provided.'"
  • 00:15:36.291 --> 00:15:38.260
  • God was teaching abraham and every one of us an important
  • 00:15:38.260 --> 00:15:41.997
  • Lesson: there has to be a sacrifice for our sins.
  • 00:15:41.997 --> 00:15:46.335
  • Somebody has to pay.
  • 00:15:46.335 --> 00:15:47.736
  • Somebody has to bear the penalty of our sin.
  • 00:15:47.736 --> 00:15:51.206
  • We can't provide the sacrifice.
  • 00:15:51.206 --> 00:15:53.876
  • God has already provided the sacrifice.
  • 00:15:53.876 --> 00:15:56.912
  • John called him the lamb of god, who takes away the sin of
  • 00:15:56.912 --> 00:16:01.750
  • The world.
  • 00:16:01.750 --> 00:16:03.285
  • You and i can't provide the sacrifice but--thank god--he
  • 00:16:03.285 --> 00:16:07.356
  • Has provided the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
  • 00:16:07.356 --> 00:16:11.994
  • Secondly, god renews his covenant with abraham.
  • 00:16:11.994 --> 00:16:15.531
  • God had made him a great promise back in genesis 12.
  • 00:16:15.531 --> 00:16:19.001
  • But now beyond promising, he swore that he would fulfill
  • 00:16:19.001 --> 00:16:23.405
  • His promise.
  • 00:16:23.405 --> 00:16:24.740
  • And since he couldn't think of a better name to swear by, he
  • 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:27.743
  • Swore by his own name.
  • 00:16:27.743 --> 00:16:29.845
  • Verse 16, "by myself i have sworn, declares the lord,
  • 00:16:29.845 --> 00:16:34.550
  • Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son,
  • 00:16:34.550 --> 00:16:37.686
  • Indeed, i will greatly bless you."
  • 00:16:37.686 --> 00:16:41.623
  • We find the third result of this event in our passage from
  • 00:16:41.623 --> 00:16:46.028
  • James 2:23.
  • 00:16:46.028 --> 00:16:48.097
  • Look at it with me, beginning with verse 21: "was not abraham
  • 00:16:48.097 --> 00:16:52.067
  • Our father justified by works that is shown to be righteous
  • 00:16:52.067 --> 00:16:57.172
  • When he offered up isaac his son on the altar?
  • 00:16:57.172 --> 00:17:00.142
  • You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result
  • 00:17:00.142 --> 00:17:03.812
  • Of the works, faith was perfected; and the scripture was
  • 00:17:03.812 --> 00:17:07.382
  • Fulfilled which says, 'abraham believed god, and it was
  • 00:17:07.382 --> 00:17:11.286
  • Reckoned to him as righteousness.'"
  • 00:17:11.286 --> 00:17:13.155
  • Now, notice this last phrase: "and he was called the friend
  • 00:17:13.155 --> 00:17:18.494
  • Of god."
  • 00:17:18.494 --> 00:17:21.130
  • Isn't that an amazing title?
  • 00:17:21.130 --> 00:17:23.565
  • Wouldn't you like to be known as the friend of god?
  • 00:17:23.565 --> 00:17:28.871
  • That is the name that followed abraham the rest of his life and
  • 00:17:28.871 --> 00:17:33.709
  • Throughout eternity: "abraham, my friend, abraham, my friend."
  • 00:17:33.709 --> 00:17:41.917
  • Jesus said, "you are my friends if you obey my commandments."
  • 00:17:41.917 --> 00:17:49.591
  • What does this story have to do with us?
  • 00:17:49.591 --> 00:17:53.462
  • Let me in closing today share three timeless truths about
  • 00:17:53.462 --> 00:17:57.533
  • Testing--not if it comes into your life but when it comes into
  • 00:17:57.533 --> 00:18:01.603
  • Your life.
  • 00:18:01.603 --> 00:18:02.971
  • There's some of you going through a very difficult time
  • 00:18:02.971 --> 00:18:05.174
  • Right now and may be something as extreme as losing the mates
  • 00:18:05.174 --> 00:18:10.379
  • You love so much.
  • 00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:12.314
  • It may be a health crisis.
  • 00:18:12.314 --> 00:18:13.882
  • It may be a broken relationship, a financial need that you have.
  • 00:18:13.882 --> 00:18:18.820
  • But remember these truths about testing: first of all, god's
  • 00:18:18.820 --> 00:18:24.193
  • Tests may contradict reason.
  • 00:18:24.193 --> 00:18:27.829
  • Sometimes they seem to make no sense at all.
  • 00:18:27.829 --> 00:18:30.299
  • They seem contradictory to god's purpose, but it's only because
  • 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:34.002
  • We have a limited perspective.
  • 00:18:34.002 --> 00:18:37.105
  • William barclay, the commentator, has written, "for
  • 00:18:37.105 --> 00:18:40.576
  • Everyone, at some time, there comes something for which there
  • 00:18:40.576 --> 00:18:44.913
  • Seems to be no reason and defies explanation.
  • 00:18:44.913 --> 00:18:49.017
  • It is then that a person is faced with life's hardest
  • 00:18:49.017 --> 00:18:52.921
  • Battle: to accept what he cannot understand.
  • 00:18:52.921 --> 00:18:57.459
  • At such a time, there is only one thing to do: obey, and to do
  • 00:18:57.459 --> 00:19:02.297
  • So without resentment, saying, 'god, you are love, and i build
  • 00:19:02.297 --> 00:19:08.403
  • My faith on that.'"
  • 00:19:08.403 --> 00:19:11.840
  • Somebody has said, "faith means believing in advance, but only
  • 00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:17.679
  • Makes sense in reverse."
  • 00:19:17.679 --> 00:19:20.949
  • God's tests sometimes contradict reason.
  • 00:19:20.949 --> 00:19:24.186
  • Secondly, god's tests affect the tender parts of our lives.
  • 00:19:24.186 --> 00:19:30.325
  • God's tests affect the tender parts of our lives.
  • 00:19:30.325 --> 00:19:33.362
  • Have you ever said what i've said on occasion to god?
  • 00:19:33.362 --> 00:19:36.732
  • "god, i'm willing to do whatever you ask me to do, except.
  • 00:19:36.732 --> 00:19:45.040
  • God, i'm willing to give you anything and everything in my
  • 00:19:45.040 --> 00:19:48.243
  • Life, except."
  • 00:19:48.243 --> 00:19:51.513
  • Have you ever noticed how god goes right past those any
  • 00:19:51.513 --> 00:19:54.650
  • Anythings and everythings and goes to that one except?
  • 00:19:54.650 --> 00:20:00.656
  • If you don't remember anything i say today, remember this: god's
  • 00:20:00.656 --> 00:20:06.995
  • Tests never deal with those things that are trivial to us
  • 00:20:06.995 --> 00:20:12.801
  • But those things that are treasure to us.
  • 00:20:12.801 --> 00:20:16.972
  • God's tests never deal with those things that are trivial to
  • 00:20:16.972 --> 00:20:20.542
  • Us but those things that are treasure to us.
  • 00:20:20.542 --> 00:20:24.513
  • And, finally, god's tests are designed for our strengthening.
  • 00:20:24.513 --> 00:20:30.886
  • God's tests were designed for our strengthening.
  • 00:20:30.886 --> 00:20:33.422
  • When god tests you, it's not because he hates you.
  • 00:20:33.422 --> 00:20:36.124
  • It's because he loves you.
  • 00:20:36.124 --> 00:20:38.026
  • He's trying to form something beautiful: the image of himself
  • 00:20:38.026 --> 00:20:42.097
  • In your life.
  • 00:20:42.097 --> 00:20:43.498
  • You know, in biblical times when a craftsman wanted to make a
  • 00:20:43.498 --> 00:20:47.636
  • Piece of gold jewelry, he would take solid gold and melt it down
  • 00:20:47.636 --> 00:20:52.441
  • Into its liquid state so that the impurities could rise to the
  • 00:20:52.441 --> 00:20:56.545
  • Top and be skimmed off.
  • 00:20:56.545 --> 00:20:58.747
  • How did the craftsman know when the refining process
  • 00:20:58.747 --> 00:21:03.352
  • Was completed?
  • 00:21:03.352 --> 00:21:04.720
  • When he could look into that liquid gold and see the
  • 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:08.323
  • Reflection of his own face, then he knew the gold was pure.
  • 00:21:08.323 --> 00:21:13.395
  • Peter uses that image in 1 peter 1, verses 6 and 7,
  • 00:21:13.395 --> 00:21:18.166
  • When he said, "in this you greatly rejoice," talking about
  • 00:21:18.166 --> 00:21:21.203
  • Trials, "even though now for a little while, if necessary,
  • 00:21:21.203 --> 00:21:25.607
  • You've been distressed by various trials, so that the
  • 00:21:25.607 --> 00:21:29.211
  • Proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is
  • 00:21:29.211 --> 00:21:33.849
  • Perishable even though tested by fire, may be found to result in
  • 00:21:33.849 --> 00:21:39.187
  • The praise and glory and honor at the revelation of christ."
  • 00:21:39.187 --> 00:21:43.825
  • William wiersbe has written about this verse: "when you go
  • 00:21:43.825 --> 00:21:47.396
  • Through the furnace of god's trials, remember: god has his
  • 00:21:47.396 --> 00:21:52.167
  • Eye on the clock and his hand on the thermostat.
  • 00:21:52.167 --> 00:21:56.705
  • He knows how long and how much."
  • 00:21:56.705 --> 00:22:01.576
  • Let me ask you that question again: do you desire to be used
  • 00:22:01.576 --> 00:22:05.814
  • Greatly by god?
  • 00:22:05.814 --> 00:22:08.517
  • A. w. tozer said, "it's doubtful god can use any person greatly
  • 00:22:08.517 --> 00:22:14.022
  • Until he has hurt him deeply."
  • 00:22:14.022 --> 00:22:17.859
  • If you're gonna be used by god and blessed by god, it involves
  • 00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:21.830
  • A time of testing, not to destroy your faith but to
  • 00:22:21.830 --> 00:22:25.500
  • Strengthen your faith.
  • 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.835
  • And if you submit yourself to god's testing, don't be
  • 00:22:26.835 --> 00:22:30.972
  • Surprised if that test involves that thing that is most
  • 00:22:30.972 --> 00:22:35.343
  • Important to you--a relationship, a possession,
  • 00:22:35.343 --> 00:22:40.315
  • A dream.
  • 00:22:40.315 --> 00:22:42.617
  • And it's your response to that test that determines and reveals
  • 00:22:42.617 --> 00:22:49.090
  • Whether or not you truly have saving faith.
  • 00:22:49.090 --> 00:22:53.662
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:22:53.662 --> 00:22:59.201
  • Jeffress: god's tests never deal with those things that are
  • 00:22:59.201 --> 00:23:02.003
  • Trivial to us, but those things that are treasure to us.
  • 00:23:02.003 --> 00:23:06.875
  • Perhaps you're facing such a test right now.
  • 00:23:06.875 --> 00:23:09.845
  • Remember abraham's example, and trust that god is able.
  • 00:23:09.845 --> 00:23:15.617
  • In closing, i want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone
  • 00:23:15.617 --> 00:23:19.788
  • Who supports pathway to victory.
  • 00:23:19.788 --> 00:23:22.090
  • Your faithful partnership enables us to bring biblical
  • 00:23:22.090 --> 00:23:25.126
  • Truth to millions of people who desperately need to hear it.
  • 00:23:25.126 --> 00:23:29.498
  • Every day, we receive messages from viewers whose lives have
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  • Been transformed by the teaching they receive through
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  • This ministry.
  • 00:23:36.404 --> 00:23:37.973
  • Your generosity makes it possible for us to meet them
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  • Right where they are with god's word.
  • 00:23:41.476 --> 00:23:43.778
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  • And digital platforms, we're seeing unprecedented
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  • Opportunities to share the gospel, and it's all because of
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  • Ministry partners like you, who believe in our mission.
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  • Together we are piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:23:58.727 --> 00:24:02.364
  • God's word.
  • 00:24:02.364 --> 00:24:03.732
  • Now, please stay right there.
  • 00:24:03.732 --> 00:24:05.066
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:05.066 --> 00:24:08.770
  • Announcer: every believer wants to see clear evidence of their
  • 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:13.942
  • Spiritual growth and discover the fruit that god is producing
  • 00:24:13.942 --> 00:24:17.512
  • In their lives.
  • 00:24:17.512 --> 00:24:18.847
  • Dr. robert jeffress shows you exactly how to recognize that
  • 00:24:18.847 --> 00:24:22.384
  • Fruit in his brand-new book, "how to know if you're
  • 00:24:22.384 --> 00:24:25.287
  • Really saved."
  • 00:24:25.287 --> 00:24:26.655
  • Jeffress: the book of james teaches us that the christian
  • 00:24:26.655 --> 00:24:28.924
  • Life is about more than just knowing god's word.
  • 00:24:28.924 --> 00:24:32.527
  • It's about living it out.
  • 00:24:32.527 --> 00:24:34.195
  • In my new book, "how to know if you're really saved," i'll walk
  • 00:24:34.195 --> 00:24:37.399
  • You through what it truly means to be a doer of the word,
  • 00:24:37.399 --> 00:24:41.202
  • Showing you how to respond to trials, control your speech,
  • 00:24:41.202 --> 00:24:44.973
  • Endure hardships, resist temptation, and so much more.
  • 00:24:44.973 --> 00:24:50.011
  • Announcer: this outstanding 232-page book will help you
  • 00:24:50.011 --> 00:24:52.981
  • Examine the evidence of your faith and see the spiritual
  • 00:24:52.981 --> 00:24:56.351
  • Fruit that should be growing in your daily life.
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  • Request your copy of "how to know if you're really saved"
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  • When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of pathway
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  • To victory or when you become a pathway partner.
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  • Jeffress: if you are truly saved, there's gonna be
  • 00:25:20.075 --> 00:25:22.844
  • Evidence of it.
  • 00:25:22.844 --> 00:25:24.179
  • There are some tests that you need to apply to your life.
  • 00:25:24.179 --> 00:25:28.049
  • Announcer: thank you for your generous support of pathway
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  • To victory.
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  • Your partnership helps us bring bold, biblical, and practical
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  • Teaching into homes across the nation and around the world.
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  • Jeffress: abraham calculated that god was able, even able to
  • 00:25:41.563 --> 00:25:46.635
  • Raise the dead.
  • 00:25:46.635 --> 00:25:48.169
  • And god calls us to have that same kind of extreme faith, the
  • 00:25:48.169 --> 00:25:52.440
  • Kind of faith that trusts god even when his commands seem to
  • 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:56.077
  • Contradict reason.
  • 00:25:56.077 --> 00:25:58.279
  • Well, next time, we'll tackle another important aspect of
  • 00:25:58.279 --> 00:26:01.249
  • Spiritual maturity: controlling our tongue.
  • 00:26:01.249 --> 00:26:04.853
  • I'll show you four practical commitments that will help you
  • 00:26:04.853 --> 00:26:08.390
  • Fireproof your speech before destructive words do
  • 00:26:08.390 --> 00:26:12.027
  • Irreparable damage.
  • 00:26:12.027 --> 00:26:14.129
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:14.129 --> 00:26:16.564
  • Series "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:26:16.564 --> 00:26:21.069
  • Jeffress: but the truth is the difficulty in controlling our
  • 00:26:21.069 --> 00:26:24.239
  • Tongue's movement goes far beyond a mere speech exercise
  • 00:26:24.239 --> 00:26:29.644
  • And extends to every word we speak.
  • 00:26:29.644 --> 00:26:33.882
  • It was the greek sage publius who said, "i've often regretted
  • 00:26:33.882 --> 00:26:38.787
  • My speech, but never my silence."
  • 00:26:38.787 --> 00:26:42.791
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join
  • 00:26:42.791 --> 00:26:44.159
  • Us next time for the message
  • 00:26:44.159 --> 00:26:45.794
  • "fireproofing your speech," here
  • 00:26:45.794 --> 00:26:48.063
  • On "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:48.063 --> 00:26:49.464
  • Announcer: witness god's glory on display in america's
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