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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Extreme Faith

September 12, 2025 | 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.
#Victory #Pastors #Salvation #Study #WordofGod #Faith #Faithfulness #Belief

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Extreme Faith | September 12, 2025
  • ♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with dr.
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  • Robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
  • 00:00:14.204 --> 00:00:16.272
  • 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
  • 00:02:07.884 --> 00:02:11.087
  • 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?"
  • 00:02:15.825 --> 00:02:20.697
  • That was the question.
  • 00:02:20.697 --> 00:02:22.632
  • And paul answered very, very simply: he said, "believe."
  • 00:02:22.632 --> 00:02:28.371
  • 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."
  • 00:03:07.343 --> 00:03:10.647
  • 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,
  • 00:03:20.523 --> 00:03:24.961
  • "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?
  • 00:03:58.127 --> 00:04:00.596
  • Wait a minute.
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  • James, the half brother of jesus, seems to say something
  • 00:04:01.931 --> 00:04:05.935
  • 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
  • 00:04:11.874 --> 00:04:17.046
  • 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."
  • 00:04:22.385 --> 00:04:26.189
  • Verse 24, "you see that a man is justified," made righteous, "by
  • 00:04:26.189 --> 00:04:31.794
  • 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
  • 00:04:54.617 --> 00:04:57.987
  • Word "righteous."
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  • When paul uses the word "justified," he uses the first
  • 00:05:00.256 --> 00:05:04.660
  • Meaning of justified: to make a person righteous.
  • 00:05:04.660 --> 00:05:08.264
  • We are made righteous by our faith in god's grace.
  • 00:05:08.264 --> 00:05:12.001
  • But the word "justified" can also mean to show to be
  • 00:05:12.001 --> 00:05:15.872
  • Righteous, to prove to others that you are righteous, and
  • 00:05:15.872 --> 00:05:20.443
  • That's what james was talking about.
  • 00:05:20.443 --> 00:05:23.012
  • When paul talks about the moment abraham was made righteous, it
  • 00:05:23.012 --> 00:05:26.449
  • Was in that moment he believed the promises of god.
  • 00:05:26.449 --> 00:05:29.986
  • 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.
  • 00:05:39.495 --> 00:05:42.265
  • 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
  • 00:05:46.402 --> 00:05:50.973
  • 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
  • 00:06:09.492 --> 00:06:13.563
  • 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."
  • 00:06:30.112 --> 00:06:32.381
  • "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?
  • 00:06:47.864 --> 00:06:49.332
  • 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
  • 00:07:01.410 --> 00:07:06.282
  • 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?"
  • 00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:46.589
  • This made absolutely no sense.
  • 00:07:46.589 --> 00:07:49.625
  • "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.
  • 00:07:59.769 --> 00:08:02.605
  • It doesn't make sense, god."
  • 00:08:02.605 --> 00:08:05.107
  • Most of us, after hearing such a command, would wonder if it was
  • 00:08:05.107 --> 00:08:08.110
  • Really the voice of god we had even heard.
  • 00:08:08.110 --> 00:08:11.881
  • 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
  • 00:08:15.084 --> 00:08:19.221
  • Test so unusual.
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  • Abraham obeyed immediately.
  • 00:08:21.991 --> 00:08:26.829
  • You know, abraham was surprised that this command came, but he
  • 00:08:26.829 --> 00:08:33.202
  • Understood it was certainly within god's right to ask for
  • 00:08:33.202 --> 00:08:36.205
  • 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
  • 00:08:49.051 --> 00:08:52.688
  • Than abraham loved his, but their superstition coupled with
  • 00:08:52.688 --> 00:08:57.293
  • 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
  • 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:08.004
  • Grateful that god had never asked him before to do such
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  • A thing.
  • 00:09:11.407 --> 00:09:12.742
  • But now that god had, look what his response was, verse 3: "so
  • 00:09:12.742 --> 00:09:16.779
  • Abraham rose early in the morning."
  • 00:09:16.779 --> 00:09:20.650
  • 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.
  • 00:09:24.186 --> 00:09:27.690
  • Not abraham.
  • 00:09:27.690 --> 00:09:29.058
  • "he rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took
  • 00:09:29.058 --> 00:09:33.095
  • Two of his young men with him and isaac his son; and he split
  • 00:09:33.095 --> 00:09:37.600
  • Wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place
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  • Which god had told him."
  • 00:09:41.404 --> 00:09:43.506
  • The journey to the place of sacrifice, moriah, was about
  • 00:09:43.506 --> 00:09:47.209
  • 50 miles.
  • 00:09:47.209 --> 00:09:48.611
  • It would take three days to travel there by foot.
  • 00:09:48.611 --> 00:09:53.115
  • One commentator imagines what it must've been like for isaac, now
  • 00:09:53.115 --> 00:09:57.386
  • A teenager, at the time.
  • 00:09:57.386 --> 00:10:00.189
  • What it must have been like is he and his dad walked together
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  • Toward moriah.
  • 00:10:04.060 --> 00:10:05.628
  • I'm sure isaac tried to engage himself and abraham in
  • 00:10:05.628 --> 00:10:10.866
  • Conversation, but abraham was strangely silent.
  • 00:10:10.866 --> 00:10:14.870
  • Isaac didn't know that abraham was probably praying for
  • 00:10:14.870 --> 00:10:18.307
  • Strength to take every next step.
  • 00:10:18.307 --> 00:10:22.445
  • Finally, they arrived at the place of sacrifice.
  • 00:10:22.445 --> 00:10:26.048
  • Verse 5 says, "abraham said to the young men with him, 'stay
  • 00:10:26.048 --> 00:10:29.719
  • Here with the donkey, and i and the lad will go over there; and
  • 00:10:29.719 --> 00:10:35.791
  • We will worship, and we will return to you.'"
  • 00:10:35.791 --> 00:10:41.931
  • That is amazing.
  • 00:10:41.931 --> 00:10:45.301
  • "we will return to you"?
  • 00:10:45.301 --> 00:10:47.570
  • How is that going to happen if abraham had killed isaac?
  • 00:10:47.570 --> 00:10:51.073
  • Abraham didn't understand everything, but this is what he
  • 00:10:51.073 --> 00:10:54.744
  • Did understand.
  • 00:10:54.744 --> 00:10:56.078
  • Hebrews 11, verses 17 to 19 give us the commentary on this event.
  • 00:10:56.078 --> 00:11:01.183
  • "by faith abraham, when he was tested, offered up isaac; and he
  • 00:11:01.183 --> 00:11:06.188
  • Who had received the promises was offering up his only
  • 00:11:06.188 --> 00:11:09.625
  • Begotten son; for it was to he whom it was said, 'in isaac your
  • 00:11:09.625 --> 00:11:14.630
  • Descendants shall be called.'
  • 00:11:14.630 --> 00:11:16.599
  • But abraham considered that god is able to raise people even
  • 00:11:16.599 --> 00:11:22.138
  • From the dead, from which he also received him back as
  • 00:11:22.138 --> 00:11:25.808
  • A type."
  • 00:11:25.808 --> 00:11:27.176
  • He did maybe what i often do and perhaps you've done: develop a
  • 00:11:27.176 --> 00:11:32.148
  • List of pros and cons for engaging in a certain action.
  • 00:11:32.148 --> 00:11:37.119
  • I imagine there are plenty of cons, reasons not to obey god.
  • 00:11:37.119 --> 00:11:41.323
  • It would mean the death of this vision.
  • 00:11:41.323 --> 00:11:43.826
  • It would destroy the family.
  • 00:11:43.826 --> 00:11:45.327
  • It would ruin the reputation of god.
  • 00:11:45.327 --> 00:11:47.797
  • There were all kind of reasons not to obey god, but there were
  • 00:11:47.797 --> 00:11:52.101
  • Some pros as well.
  • 00:11:52.101 --> 00:11:54.503
  • God had been faithful to keep every other promise he had made.
  • 00:11:54.503 --> 00:11:57.940
  • God miraculously brought about the birth of isaac.
  • 00:11:57.940 --> 00:12:02.111
  • And as he added up the plus and the minuses, he considered that
  • 00:12:02.111 --> 00:12:06.949
  • God is able.
  • 00:12:06.949 --> 00:12:08.284
  • He calculated he could take the risk and obey god because god is
  • 00:12:08.284 --> 00:12:12.421
  • Able to even raise people from the dead.
  • 00:12:12.421 --> 00:12:15.858
  • If he killed isaac, god could raise him from the dead and
  • 00:12:15.858 --> 00:12:19.028
  • Bring him back.
  • 00:12:19.028 --> 00:12:20.362
  • Now, what was amazing about that was nobody had ever been raised
  • 00:12:20.362 --> 00:12:23.999
  • From the dead before at this point--nobody, nobody.
  • 00:12:23.999 --> 00:12:29.038
  • Abraham never had gone to an easter service--do you realize
  • 00:12:29.038 --> 00:12:31.874
  • That?--because there had been no jesus christ and no
  • 00:12:31.874 --> 00:12:35.177
  • Resurrection from the dead.
  • 00:12:35.177 --> 00:12:37.079
  • There had been no 1 corinthians 15 about the power of
  • 00:12:37.079 --> 00:12:39.949
  • The resurrection.
  • 00:12:39.949 --> 00:12:41.283
  • He knew none of that, but he knew god was able to keep his
  • 00:12:41.283 --> 00:12:45.921
  • Promises, and so he obeyed god.
  • 00:12:45.921 --> 00:12:48.591
  • Look at verses 6 and 7: "abraham took the wood of the burnt
  • 00:12:48.591 --> 00:12:52.161
  • Offering and laid it on isaac his son."
  • 00:12:52.161 --> 00:12:55.331
  • Picture that.
  • 00:12:55.331 --> 00:12:56.866
  • "and he took in his hand the fire and the knife.
  • 00:12:56.866 --> 00:12:59.435
  • So the two of them walked on together.
  • 00:12:59.435 --> 00:13:02.271
  • Isaac spoke to his father and said, 'my father!
  • 00:13:02.271 --> 00:13:05.975
  • Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the
  • 00:13:05.975 --> 00:13:11.347
  • Burnt offering?'"
  • 00:13:11.347 --> 00:13:13.215
  • Isaac had watched abraham perform many sacrifices.
  • 00:13:13.215 --> 00:13:16.986
  • He knew what you had to have, but primarily you had to have
  • 00:13:16.986 --> 00:13:20.222
  • Something to sacrifice.
  • 00:13:20.222 --> 00:13:21.891
  • "where is the sacrifice, dad?"
  • 00:13:21.891 --> 00:13:25.394
  • That question might--must've been like a knife plunged in the
  • 00:13:25.394 --> 00:13:29.198
  • Heart of abraham.
  • 00:13:29.198 --> 00:13:31.901
  • Instead, he kept going forward with isaac.
  • 00:13:31.901 --> 00:13:34.937
  • Verse 8, "and abraham said, 'god will provide for himself the
  • 00:13:34.937 --> 00:13:40.576
  • Lamb for the burnt offering.'
  • 00:13:40.576 --> 00:13:42.711
  • So the two of them walked on together."
  • 00:13:42.711 --> 00:13:46.081
  • And then the moment of revelation came.
  • 00:13:46.081 --> 00:13:48.150
  • Verse 9, "they came to the place of which god had told him; and
  • 00:13:48.150 --> 00:13:51.987
  • Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and he
  • 00:13:51.987 --> 00:13:56.759
  • Bound his son isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of
  • 00:13:56.759 --> 00:14:01.263
  • The wood."
  • 00:14:01.263 --> 00:14:02.898
  • F. b. meyer notes that, at this point, the scriptures draw a
  • 00:14:02.898 --> 00:14:07.736
  • Curtain around this event, in this very private event, as
  • 00:14:07.736 --> 00:14:12.041
  • Abraham explains to isaac what the plan is, and isaac willingly
  • 00:14:12.041 --> 00:14:18.013
  • Submits to his father's will and places himself on the altar
  • 00:14:18.013 --> 00:14:23.018
  • Of sacrifice.
  • 00:14:23.018 --> 00:14:25.587
  • At this point, if we haven't already, we become aware of the
  • 00:14:25.587 --> 00:14:28.691
  • Great foreshadowing this event is, of another sacrifice that
  • 00:14:28.691 --> 00:14:34.029
  • Would take place in that very same mountain region of moriah
  • 00:14:34.029 --> 00:14:37.833
  • 2,000 years later.
  • 00:14:37.833 --> 00:14:41.270
  • Like the strong and able isaac, jesus, the begotten son of god,
  • 00:14:41.270 --> 00:14:47.109
  • Could've resisted his father, but he didn't.
  • 00:14:47.109 --> 00:14:50.813
  • He voluntarily offered his life.
  • 00:14:50.813 --> 00:14:53.816
  • What are the results of what happened, of that extreme faith
  • 00:14:53.816 --> 00:14:58.654
  • That james says is what proved abraham to be in a right
  • 00:14:58.654 --> 00:15:02.758
  • Relationship with god?
  • 00:15:02.758 --> 00:15:04.626
  • Notice three things that happened: first of all, god
  • 00:15:04.626 --> 00:15:07.463
  • Himself provided the sacrifice.
  • 00:15:07.463 --> 00:15:10.599
  • Verses 13 and 14, "then abraham raised his eyes and looked, and
  • 00:15:10.599 --> 00:15:14.870
  • Behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and
  • 00:15:14.870 --> 00:15:20.142
  • Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up as a burnt
  • 00:15:20.142 --> 00:15:24.013
  • Offering in the place of his son.
  • 00:15:24.013 --> 00:15:26.582
  • Abraham called the name of that place the lord will provide, as
  • 00:15:26.582 --> 00:15:31.620
  • It is said to this day, 'in the mount of the lord it will
  • 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:35.724
  • Be provided.'"
  • 00:15:35.724 --> 00:15:37.693
  • God was teaching abraham and every one of us an important
  • 00:15:37.693 --> 00:15:41.430
  • Lesson: there has to be a sacrifice for our sins.
  • 00:15:41.430 --> 00:15:45.768
  • Somebody has to pay.
  • 00:15:45.768 --> 00:15:47.169
  • Somebody has to bear the penalty of our sin.
  • 00:15:47.169 --> 00:15:50.639
  • We can't provide the sacrifice.
  • 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:53.308
  • God has already provided the sacrifice.
  • 00:15:53.308 --> 00:15:56.345
  • John called him the lamb of god, who takes away the sin of
  • 00:15:56.345 --> 00:16:01.183
  • The world.
  • 00:16:01.183 --> 00:16:02.718
  • You and i can't provide the sacrifice but--thank god--he
  • 00:16:02.718 --> 00:16:06.789
  • Has provided the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
  • 00:16:06.789 --> 00:16:11.427
  • Secondly, god renews his covenant with abraham.
  • 00:16:11.427 --> 00:16:14.963
  • God had made him a great promise back in genesis 12.
  • 00:16:14.963 --> 00:16:18.434
  • But now beyond promising, he swore that he would fulfill
  • 00:16:18.434 --> 00:16:22.838
  • His promise.
  • 00:16:22.838 --> 00:16:24.173
  • And since he couldn't think of a better name to swear by, he
  • 00:16:24.173 --> 00:16:27.176
  • Swore by his own name.
  • 00:16:27.176 --> 00:16:29.278
  • Verse 16, "by myself i have sworn, declares the lord,
  • 00:16:29.278 --> 00:16:33.982
  • Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son,
  • 00:16:33.982 --> 00:16:37.119
  • Indeed, i will greatly bless you."
  • 00:16:37.119 --> 00:16:41.056
  • We find the third result of this event in our passage from
  • 00:16:41.056 --> 00:16:45.461
  • James 2:23.
  • 00:16:45.461 --> 00:16:47.529
  • Look at it with me, beginning with verse 21: "was not abraham
  • 00:16:47.529 --> 00:16:51.500
  • Our father justified by works that is shown to be righteous
  • 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:56.605
  • When he offered up isaac his son on the altar?
  • 00:16:56.605 --> 00:16:59.575
  • You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result
  • 00:16:59.575 --> 00:17:03.245
  • Of the works, faith was perfected; and the scripture was
  • 00:17:03.245 --> 00:17:06.815
  • Fulfilled which says, 'abraham believed god, and it was
  • 00:17:06.815 --> 00:17:10.719
  • Reckoned to him as righteousness.'"
  • 00:17:10.719 --> 00:17:12.588
  • Now, notice this last phrase: "and he was called the friend
  • 00:17:12.588 --> 00:17:17.926
  • Of god."
  • 00:17:17.926 --> 00:17:20.562
  • Isn't that an amazing title?
  • 00:17:20.562 --> 00:17:22.998
  • Wouldn't you like to be known as the friend of god?
  • 00:17:22.998 --> 00:17:28.303
  • That is the name that followed abraham the rest of his life and
  • 00:17:28.303 --> 00:17:33.142
  • Throughout eternity: "abraham, my friend, abraham, my friend."
  • 00:17:33.142 --> 00:17:41.350
  • Jesus said, "you are my friends if you obey my commandments."
  • 00:17:41.350 --> 00:17:49.024
  • What does this story have to do with us?
  • 00:17:49.024 --> 00:17:52.895
  • Let me in closing today share three timeless truths about
  • 00:17:52.895 --> 00:17:56.965
  • Testing--not if it comes into your life but when it comes into
  • 00:17:56.965 --> 00:18:01.036
  • Your life.
  • 00:18:01.036 --> 00:18:02.404
  • There's some of you going through a very difficult time
  • 00:18:02.404 --> 00:18:04.606
  • Right now and may be something as extreme as losing the mates
  • 00:18:04.606 --> 00:18:09.811
  • You love so much.
  • 00:18:09.811 --> 00:18:11.747
  • It may be a health crisis.
  • 00:18:11.747 --> 00:18:13.315
  • It may be a broken relationship, a financial need that you have.
  • 00:18:13.315 --> 00:18:18.253
  • But remember these truths about testing: first of all, god's
  • 00:18:18.253 --> 00:18:23.625
  • Tests may contradict reason.
  • 00:18:23.625 --> 00:18:27.262
  • Sometimes they seem to make no sense at all.
  • 00:18:27.262 --> 00:18:29.731
  • They seem contradictory to god's purpose, but it's only because
  • 00:18:29.731 --> 00:18:33.435
  • We have a limited perspective.
  • 00:18:33.435 --> 00:18:36.538
  • William barclay, the commentator, has written, "for
  • 00:18:36.538 --> 00:18:40.008
  • Everyone, at some time, there comes something for which there
  • 00:18:40.008 --> 00:18:44.346
  • Seems to be no reason and defies explanation.
  • 00:18:44.346 --> 00:18:48.450
  • It is then that a person is faced with life's hardest
  • 00:18:48.450 --> 00:18:52.354
  • Battle: to accept what he cannot understand.
  • 00:18:52.354 --> 00:18:56.892
  • At such a time, there is only one thing to do: obey, and to do
  • 00:18:56.892 --> 00:19:01.730
  • So without resentment, saying, 'god, you are love, and i build
  • 00:19:01.730 --> 00:19:07.836
  • My faith on that.'"
  • 00:19:07.836 --> 00:19:11.273
  • Somebody has said, "faith means believing in advance, but only
  • 00:19:11.273 --> 00:19:17.112
  • Makes sense in reverse."
  • 00:19:17.112 --> 00:19:20.382
  • God's tests sometimes contradict reason.
  • 00:19:20.382 --> 00:19:23.619
  • Secondly, god's tests affect the tender parts of our lives.
  • 00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:29.758
  • God's tests affect the tender parts of our lives.
  • 00:19:29.758 --> 00:19:32.794
  • Have you ever said what i've said on occasion to god?
  • 00:19:32.794 --> 00:19:36.164
  • "god, i'm willing to do whatever you ask me to do, except.
  • 00:19:36.164 --> 00:19:44.473
  • God, i'm willing to give you anything and everything in my
  • 00:19:44.473 --> 00:19:47.676
  • Life, except."
  • 00:19:47.676 --> 00:19:50.946
  • Have you ever noticed how god goes right past those any
  • 00:19:50.946 --> 00:19:54.082
  • Anythings and everythings and goes to that one except?
  • 00:19:54.082 --> 00:20:00.088
  • If you don't remember anything i say today, remember this: god's
  • 00:20:00.088 --> 00:20:06.428
  • Tests never deal with those things that are trivial to us
  • 00:20:06.428 --> 00:20:12.234
  • But those things that are treasure to us.
  • 00:20:12.234 --> 00:20:16.405
  • God's tests never deal with those things that are trivial to
  • 00:20:16.405 --> 00:20:19.975
  • Us but those things that are treasure to us.
  • 00:20:19.975 --> 00:20:23.945
  • And, finally, god's tests are designed for our strengthening.
  • 00:20:23.945 --> 00:20:30.319
  • God's tests were designed for our strengthening.
  • 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:32.854
  • When god tests you, it's not because he hates you.
  • 00:20:32.854 --> 00:20:35.557
  • It's because he loves you.
  • 00:20:35.557 --> 00:20:37.459
  • He's trying to form something beautiful: the image of himself
  • 00:20:37.459 --> 00:20:41.530
  • In your life.
  • 00:20:41.530 --> 00:20:42.931
  • You know, in biblical times when a craftsman wanted to make a
  • 00:20:42.931 --> 00:20:47.069
  • Piece of gold jewelry, he would take solid gold and melt it down
  • 00:20:47.069 --> 00:20:51.873
  • Into its liquid state so that the impurities could rise to the
  • 00:20:51.873 --> 00:20:55.977
  • Top and be skimmed off.
  • 00:20:55.977 --> 00:20:58.180
  • How did the craftsman know when the refining process
  • 00:20:58.180 --> 00:21:02.784
  • Was completed?
  • 00:21:02.784 --> 00:21:04.152
  • When he could look into that liquid gold and see the
  • 00:21:04.152 --> 00:21:07.756
  • Reflection of his own face, then he knew the gold was pure.
  • 00:21:07.756 --> 00:21:12.828
  • Peter uses that image in 1 peter 1, verses 6 and 7,
  • 00:21:12.828 --> 00:21:17.599
  • When he said, "in this you greatly rejoice," talking about
  • 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:20.635
  • Trials, "even though now for a little while, if necessary,
  • 00:21:20.635 --> 00:21:25.040
  • You've been distressed by various trials, so that the
  • 00:21:25.040 --> 00:21:28.643
  • Proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is
  • 00:21:28.643 --> 00:21:33.281
  • Perishable even though tested by fire, may be found to result in
  • 00:21:33.281 --> 00:21:38.620
  • The praise and glory and honor at the revelation of christ."
  • 00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:43.258
  • William wiersbe has written about this verse: "when you go
  • 00:21:43.258 --> 00:21:46.828
  • Through the furnace of god's trials, remember: god has his
  • 00:21:46.828 --> 00:21:51.600
  • Eye on the clock and his hand on the thermostat.
  • 00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:56.138
  • He knows how long and how much."
  • 00:21:56.138 --> 00:22:01.009
  • Let me ask you that question again: do you desire to be used
  • 00:22:01.009 --> 00:22:05.247
  • Greatly by god?
  • 00:22:05.247 --> 00:22:07.949
  • A. w. tozer said, "it's doubtful god can use any person greatly
  • 00:22:07.949 --> 00:22:13.455
  • Until he has hurt him deeply."
  • 00:22:13.455 --> 00:22:17.292
  • If you're gonna be used by god and blessed by god, it involves
  • 00:22:17.292 --> 00:22:21.263
  • A time of testing, not to destroy your faith but to
  • 00:22:21.263 --> 00:22:24.933
  • Strengthen your faith.
  • 00:22:24.933 --> 00:22:26.268
  • And if you submit yourself to god's testing, don't be
  • 00:22:26.268 --> 00:22:30.405
  • Surprised if that test involves that thing that is most
  • 00:22:30.405 --> 00:22:34.776
  • Important to you--a relationship, a possession,
  • 00:22:34.776 --> 00:22:39.748
  • A dream.
  • 00:22:39.748 --> 00:22:42.050
  • And it's your response to that test that determines and reveals
  • 00:22:42.050 --> 00:22:48.523
  • Whether or not you truly have saving faith.
  • 00:22:48.523 --> 00:22:53.094
  • ♪♪
  • 00:22:53.094 --> 00:22:58.633
  • Jeffress: god's tests never deal with those things that are
  • 00:22:58.633 --> 00:23:01.436
  • Trivial to us, but those things that are treasure to us.
  • 00:23:01.436 --> 00:23:06.308
  • Perhaps you're facing such a test right now.
  • 00:23:06.308 --> 00:23:09.277
  • Remember abraham's example, and trust that god is able.
  • 00:23:09.277 --> 00:23:15.050
  • In closing, i want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone
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  • Who supports pathway to victory.
  • 00:23:19.221 --> 00:23:21.523
  • Your faithful partnership enables us to bring biblical
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  • Your generosity makes it possible for us to meet them
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  • God's word.
  • 00:24:01.796 --> 00:24:03.164
  • Now, please stay right there.
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  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:04.499 --> 00:24:09.304
  • Announcer: every believer wants to see clear evidence of their
  • 00:24:10.472 --> 00:24:13.375
  • Spiritual growth and discover the fruit that god is producing
  • 00:24:13.375 --> 00:24:16.945
  • In their lives.
  • 00:24:16.945 --> 00:24:18.280
  • Dr. robert jeffress shows you exactly how to recognize that
  • 00:24:18.280 --> 00:24:21.816
  • Fruit in his brand-new book, "how to know if you're
  • 00:24:21.816 --> 00:24:24.719
  • Really saved."
  • 00:24:24.719 --> 00:24:26.087
  • Jeffress: the book of james teaches us that the christian
  • 00:24:26.087 --> 00:24:28.356
  • Life is about more than just knowing god's word.
  • 00:24:28.356 --> 00:24:31.960
  • It's about living it out.
  • 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:33.628
  • In my new book, "how to know if you're really saved," i'll walk
  • 00:24:33.628 --> 00:24:36.831
  • You through what it truly means to be a doer of the word,
  • 00:24:36.831 --> 00:24:40.635
  • Showing you how to respond to trials, control your speech,
  • 00:24:40.635 --> 00:24:44.406
  • Endure hardships, resist temptation, and so much more.
  • 00:24:44.406 --> 00:24:49.444
  • Announcer: this outstanding 232-page book will help you
  • 00:24:49.444 --> 00:24:52.414
  • Examine the evidence of your faith and see the spiritual
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  • 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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  • Jeffress: if you are truly saved, there's gonna be
  • 00:25:19.507 --> 00:25:22.277
  • Evidence of it.
  • 00:25:22.277 --> 00:25:23.612
  • There are some tests that you need to apply to your life.
  • 00:25:23.612 --> 00:25:27.482
  • Announcer: thank you for your generous support of pathway
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  • To victory.
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  • Jeffress: abraham calculated that god was able, even able to
  • 00:25:40.996 --> 00:25:46.067
  • Raise the dead.
  • 00:25:46.067 --> 00:25:47.602
  • And god calls us to have that same kind of extreme faith, the
  • 00:25:47.602 --> 00:25:51.873
  • Kind of faith that trusts god even when his commands seem to
  • 00:25:51.873 --> 00:25:55.510
  • Contradict reason.
  • 00:25:55.510 --> 00:25:57.712
  • Well, next time, we'll tackle another important aspect of
  • 00:25:57.712 --> 00:26:00.682
  • Spiritual maturity: controlling our tongue.
  • 00:26:00.682 --> 00:26:04.285
  • I'll show you four practical commitments that will help you
  • 00:26:04.285 --> 00:26:07.822
  • Fireproof your speech before destructive words do
  • 00:26:07.822 --> 00:26:11.459
  • Irreparable damage.
  • 00:26:11.459 --> 00:26:13.561
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:13.561 --> 00:26:15.997
  • Series "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:26:15.997 --> 00:26:20.502
  • Jeffress: but the truth is the difficulty in controlling our
  • 00:26:20.502 --> 00:26:23.672
  • Tongue's movement goes far beyond a mere speech exercise
  • 00:26:23.672 --> 00:26:29.077
  • And extends to every word we speak.
  • 00:26:29.077 --> 00:26:33.314
  • It was the greek sage publius who said, "i've often regretted
  • 00:26:33.314 --> 00:26:38.219
  • My speech, but never my silence."
  • 00:26:38.219 --> 00:26:42.223
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join
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  • On "pathway to victory."
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