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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Finding The Perfect Mate

May 29, 2025 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Finding The Perfect Mate
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Faith #Love #Marriage #Bible #Religion #Study #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Covenant

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Finding The Perfect Mate | May 29, 2025
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • [narrator] from the pulpit
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  • Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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  • This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Hi, am robert jeffress,
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  • And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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  • When two people who are engaged
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  • In a romantic relationship look into each other's eyes,
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  • How can they truly know
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  • Whether they're meant for one another?
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  • Of all the major decisions we make,
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  • Choosing a mate is one of the biggest.
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  • So what are the factors that should play
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  • Into that decision of this magnitude?
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  • My message is titled finding the perfect mate
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  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • [narrator] the bible is filled with stories about heroes,
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  • But abraham rises above the rest
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  • As a true champion of faith.
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  • In "walking by faith,"
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  • Dr. robert jeffress shares how to step forward in faith
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  • Even when the future appears uncertain.
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  • Your faith can thrive despite the challenges you face.
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  • Request your copy of "walking by faith"
  • 00:01:14.831 --> 00:01:17.400
  • When you give a generous gift
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  • To support the ministry of pathway to victory.
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • I saw a bumper sticker one time that said,
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  • Help lower the divorce rate.
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  • Stay single.
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  • You know, that would be funnier if it weren't true.
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  • I'm sure you're aware
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  • Of the latest divorce statistics last year.
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  • 44% of marriages ended in divorce.
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  • And what is really troubling is that that statistic,
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  • The rate of divorce is hardly any different at all
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  • Among professing christians.
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  • Christians divorce at the same rate as non-christians do.
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  • Why is that?
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  • I think one reason certainly
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  • Is there are a lot of christians
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  • Who don't know what the bible says
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  • About divorce and remarriage.
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  • They don't know that the bible says
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  • Only in the case of desertion or adultery
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  • Is somebody free to divorce and remarry.
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  • That's one reason.
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  • But i think another reason is,
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  • Many christians are ignorant about what the bible says
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  • About how to select the best god's choice for your mate.
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  • And that's what brings us to genesis 24.
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  • Today, in our continuing study of the life of abraham,
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  • We've come to a chapter that describes
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  • How abraham found a bride for his son, isaac.
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  • If you have your bibles, turn to genesis 24.
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  • You're going to learn today
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  • Four practical principles for finding a wife.
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  • Now, i know some of you aren't in the market right now,
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  • But your situation may change and you may be.
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  • And even if you'll never select another mate,
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  • You have children and grandchildren
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  • Who need to hear what is found in this passage.
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  • Genesis chapter 24.
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  • Now, it's interesting.
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  • Genesis 24 is the longest chapter
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  • In the entire book of genesis.
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  • It's interesting that more space is devoted
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  • To the subject of finding a mate
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  • Than any other topic in the book of genesis,
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  • Except the flood.
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  • There is more space devoted to finding a mate than there is
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  • About the creation of the universe in genesis 1,
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  • About the tower of babel, or the fall of mankind into sin.
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  • Why is it?
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  • Why does god spend so much time
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  • Talking about finding a mate?
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  • One reason is god is very interested
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  • In whom his children marry.
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  • Remember before god created government in genesis 9,
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  • Before he created the church in acts 2,
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  • He created the family.
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  • And the foundation of a family are the father and mother,
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  • The husband and wife.
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  • Today, marriage is not held in high esteem.
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  • It begins in genesis 24.
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  • "now abraham was old, advanced in age,
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  • And the lord had blessed abraham in every way.
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  • And abraham said to his servant,
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  • The oldest of his household,
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  • Who had charge of all that abraham owned,
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  • Please place your hand under my thigh
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  • And i'm going to make you swear by the lord,
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  • The god of heaven and earth,
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  • That you shall not take a wife for my son
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  • From the daughters of the canaanites, among whom i live."
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  • Abraham was old,
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  • I mean really old by this point.
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  • He had just buried his wife, sarah.
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  • Abraham was 137 years of age.
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  • Remember, he and sarah had given birth
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  • To isaac when abraham was 100.
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  • So by 137, he's lost his wife.
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  • He has this son whom he can't get to leave home.
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  • He's 37 years old and still living at home and unmarried.
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  • And he said, "you know what?
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  • If this covenant thing is going to work out at all,
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  • I'm not the only one who has to have a child.
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  • Isaac has to have a child.
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  • He doesn't have a child.
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  • He doesn't even have a bride yet.
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  • It's time to get with it."
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  • So abraham gives his servant eliezer the charge
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  • To go out and find a wife for isaac.
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  • This was in the days before match.com or eharmony.
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  • You had to do it this way.
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  • So eliezer gets ready to go, but abraham says,
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  • Now here's the one principle you have to follow.
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  • You can't choose a pagan wife.
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  • We're living in canaan, the promised land.
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  • By the way, who lived in canaan?
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  • Canaanites, very good.
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  • Seven years of seminary,
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  • I learned that canaanites lived in canaan.
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  • Now, the problem with the canaanites
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  • Was that they were pagan.
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  • They worship many gods.
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  • And so abraham says,
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  • "i don't want a wife from among the canaanites,
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  • Among whom we live.
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  • Go back to the home country.
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  • You will have a better chance there."
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  • Notice verse eight, what abraham adds.
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  • "if the woman is not willing to follow you,
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  • Then you'll be free from this oath."
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  • Now, he wasn't saying, if you can't find a believer,
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  • Go with plan b, an unbeliever.
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  • He was just saying,
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  • If you can't find a woman who meets this requirement,
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  • Then we'll trust god to bring it about in another way.
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  • And that leads to key number one
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  • For finding a mate or making any wise decision.
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  • Know god's principles.
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  • You know the most important thing to do
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  • If you're going to make a decision?
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  • Prayer is not the first thing to do.
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  • Prayer is not the most important thing to do.
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  • Prayer is important,
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  • But knowing god's principles are more important.
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  • Know what the bible says.
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  • Now, he made that commitment, eliezer.
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  • He said, "i will only find a believer."
  • 00:07:31.107 --> 00:07:33.175
  • And so he sets out on the 500-mile journey
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  • From canaan back to the home country of mesopotamia.
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  • And he ends up, eliezer ends up in the city of nahor,
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  • Which is close to haran
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  • Where abraham spent a long portion of his life.
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  • Now, eliezer is looking for a bride.
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  • Where does he go?
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  • The first stop he makes is at the well, a spring.
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  • Why does he go there?
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  • He's looking for a woman.
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  • You know, it reminds me of the old joke
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  • About the woman who was talking to her friend.
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  • She said, "my husband is driving me absolutely crazy."
  • 00:08:08.711 --> 00:08:13.015
  • And the friend said, "well, what do you mean?"
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  • Said, "he is obsessed with fishing.
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  • Every afternoon when he gets home from work,
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  • He runs into the bathroom, takes off his clothes,
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  • Puts on his fishing waders, jumps in the bathtub,
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  • And starts fishing out of the commode."
  • 00:08:23.926 --> 00:08:26.529
  • And the neighbor said, "well, that's horrible.
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  • Have you taken him to the psychiatrist yet?"
  • 00:08:29.065 --> 00:08:31.434
  • She said, "i don't have time.
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  • I'm too busy cleaning fish."
  • 00:08:32.702 --> 00:08:34.637
  • Well, you know, there's a principle in that old story,
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  • And that is, if you're going to fish,
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  • Go to where the fish are, go to where they're biting.
  • 00:08:40.943 --> 00:08:44.413
  • And it's the same thing with eliezer.
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  • He was fishing for a young girl
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  • Who could be a bride for isaac.
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  • So where would he go to find a woman?
  • 00:08:51.887 --> 00:08:54.457
  • Well, he decided to go
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  • Where all the hot chicks in nahor went.
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  • Literally all the very hot,
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  • Warm people who were thirsty and wanted water,
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  • The women would go to the well.
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  • Not only to satisfy their own thirst,
  • 00:09:07.970 --> 00:09:10.606
  • But they had the job of hauling water back home.
  • 00:09:10.606 --> 00:09:14.210
  • You see, in those days, in abraham's days,
  • 00:09:14.210 --> 00:09:16.445
  • It was the women who did all of the manual labor.
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  • Oh, for the good old days.
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  • -wouldn't that be great? -(congregration laughing)
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  • Well, that was the culture back then.
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  • So if you wanted to find a single woman,
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  • You would go to the well at nahor,
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  • And that's exactly what he did.
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  • So he went there.
  • 00:09:34.730 --> 00:09:35.765
  • But guess what?
  • 00:09:35.765 --> 00:09:37.166
  • There wasn't just one woman hanging around the well,
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  • There were multiple women there.
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  • He had options.
  • 00:09:41.871 --> 00:09:44.073
  • And that's the thing about determining god's will,
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  • Whether it's for a marriage partner
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  • Or for some other decision.
  • 00:09:48.778 --> 00:09:50.513
  • Most of the time,
  • 00:09:50.513 --> 00:09:51.814
  • We just don't have one decision or one choice,
  • 00:09:51.814 --> 00:09:53.883
  • We have multiple choices.
  • 00:09:53.883 --> 00:09:56.252
  • And that's when we've got to know what god's will is.
  • 00:09:56.252 --> 00:09:59.555
  • You know, there's an interesting verse
  • 00:09:59.555 --> 00:10:00.990
  • In 1 corinthians 7:39.
  • 00:10:00.990 --> 00:10:03.392
  • It's talking about widows,
  • 00:10:03.392 --> 00:10:04.827
  • Those who lose their mates and want to remarry.
  • 00:10:04.827 --> 00:10:08.764
  • And paul said that's absolutely fine.
  • 00:10:08.764 --> 00:10:10.733
  • He said in verse 39,
  • 00:10:10.733 --> 00:10:12.068
  • "a wife is bound as long as her husband lives,
  • 00:10:12.068 --> 00:10:15.538
  • But if her husband is dead,
  • 00:10:15.538 --> 00:10:18.007
  • She's free to be married to whom she wishes,
  • 00:10:18.007 --> 00:10:22.178
  • But only in the lord."
  • 00:10:22.178 --> 00:10:24.213
  • In other words, as long as they're a believer,
  • 00:10:24.213 --> 00:10:26.348
  • You can marry whomever you want to.
  • 00:10:26.348 --> 00:10:28.651
  • You've got multiple options.
  • 00:10:28.651 --> 00:10:30.319
  • But the point is you want to know god's best, the best choice.
  • 00:10:30.319 --> 00:10:34.056
  • And that leads to principle number two.
  • 00:10:34.056 --> 00:10:36.625
  • If you're trying to make a wise decision, engage in prayer.
  • 00:10:36.625 --> 00:10:39.895
  • Look at verse 12.
  • 00:10:39.895 --> 00:10:41.464
  • "and eliezer said, 'oh lord, the god of my master abraham,
  • 00:10:41.464 --> 00:10:45.735
  • Please bring me success today
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  • And show loving kindness to my master abraham.'"
  • 00:10:47.903 --> 00:10:53.242
  • Did you know that outside of abraham's conversation
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  • With god about sodom and gomorrah,
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  • Which was more of a conversation,
  • 00:10:59.515 --> 00:11:02.084
  • This is the first recorded prayer in the bible,
  • 00:11:02.084 --> 00:11:06.055
  • Came from a servant who wanted wisdom
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  • And success in what he was about to do.
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  • Now, you have to ask the question,
  • 00:11:12.161 --> 00:11:14.163
  • Where did eliezer learn how to pray?
  • 00:11:14.163 --> 00:11:17.366
  • Well, he watched abraham.
  • 00:11:17.933 --> 00:11:20.469
  • He saw that abraham walk with god.
  • 00:11:20.469 --> 00:11:22.638
  • Don't ever underestimate
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  • The impact you have on other people,
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  • On your employees or your boss or your coworkers
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  • Or your children by the things you do.
  • 00:11:31.213 --> 00:11:34.316
  • Some things are better caught than taught,
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  • And that's true of prayer.
  • 00:11:36.952 --> 00:11:39.021
  • He observed abraham praying.
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  • He emulated that.
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  • He prayed for wisdom.
  • 00:11:42.091 --> 00:11:44.226
  • You know, over and over again,
  • 00:11:44.226 --> 00:11:45.528
  • The bible promises if we will seek wisdom,
  • 00:11:45.528 --> 00:11:48.731
  • God will give it to us.
  • 00:11:48.731 --> 00:11:50.366
  • You know, the only person more interested
  • 00:11:50.366 --> 00:11:52.434
  • In your finding god's will than you are is god.
  • 00:11:52.434 --> 00:11:55.571
  • He wants you to know his will.
  • 00:11:55.571 --> 00:11:57.673
  • Proverbs 3, 5, and 6 says,
  • 00:11:57.673 --> 00:11:59.942
  • "trust in the lord with all of your heart,
  • 00:11:59.942 --> 00:12:01.944
  • And don't lean in your own understanding.
  • 00:12:01.944 --> 00:12:04.380
  • In all your ways acknowledge god,
  • 00:12:04.380 --> 00:12:06.448
  • And he will make your paths straight."
  • 00:12:06.448 --> 00:12:08.551
  • Or john 14:18, jesus said,
  • 00:12:08.551 --> 00:12:11.720
  • "i am not going to leave you as an orphan in this world."
  • 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:16.358
  • I'm not going to leave you all alone to fend for yourself.
  • 00:12:16.358 --> 00:12:18.627
  • If you ask for wisdom, i'll give it to you.
  • 00:12:18.627 --> 00:12:21.997
  • So he engaged in prayer,
  • 00:12:21.997 --> 00:12:24.433
  • But i want you to notice something he did beside praying.
  • 00:12:24.433 --> 00:12:28.437
  • And that is, he exercised practicality.
  • 00:12:28.437 --> 00:12:32.541
  • He exercised practicality.
  • 00:12:32.541 --> 00:12:34.810
  • Now, let me show you what i mean in verse 14.
  • 00:12:34.810 --> 00:12:37.012
  • Look at this prayer, he said to god,
  • 00:12:37.012 --> 00:12:38.681
  • "now may it be that the girl to whom i say,
  • 00:12:38.681 --> 00:12:42.284
  • 'please let down your jar so that i may drink,'
  • 00:12:42.284 --> 00:12:46.188
  • And the one who answers,
  • 00:12:46.188 --> 00:12:47.456
  • 'drink and i'll water your camels also,'
  • 00:12:47.456 --> 00:12:50.125
  • May she be the one whom you have appointed
  • 00:12:50.125 --> 00:12:52.494
  • For your servant isaac.
  • 00:12:52.494 --> 00:12:54.129
  • And by this,
  • 00:12:54.129 --> 00:12:55.064
  • I will know that you have shown
  • 00:12:55.064 --> 00:12:56.332
  • Loving kindness to my master."
  • 00:12:56.332 --> 00:12:58.267
  • In other words, god, here's what i want.
  • 00:12:58.267 --> 00:12:59.969
  • Here's the sign i'm asking for.
  • 00:12:59.969 --> 00:13:01.804
  • The first girl who says,
  • 00:13:01.804 --> 00:13:03.739
  • "i'm going to give you water to drink eliezer,
  • 00:13:03.739 --> 00:13:06.141
  • And not only that, i'll water your camels,"
  • 00:13:06.141 --> 00:13:08.344
  • She's the one.
  • 00:13:08.344 --> 00:13:09.645
  • Now, it sounds like eliezer
  • 00:13:09.645 --> 00:13:13.782
  • Was asking for a sign, doesn't it?
  • 00:13:13.782 --> 00:13:15.818
  • That sounds like a sign to me.
  • 00:13:15.818 --> 00:13:17.686
  • But what i want to show you in this passage is,
  • 00:13:17.686 --> 00:13:20.089
  • Eliezer's sign was really wisdom in disguise.
  • 00:13:20.089 --> 00:13:25.361
  • When he says,
  • 00:13:25.728 --> 00:13:27.229
  • "whoever offers to give me water and my camels as well,
  • 00:13:27.229 --> 00:13:30.499
  • Let her be the one."
  • 00:13:30.499 --> 00:13:32.401
  • First of all,
  • 00:13:32.401 --> 00:13:33.936
  • An offer to do that would be a demonstration of kindness.
  • 00:13:33.936 --> 00:13:37.006
  • And it was very important
  • 00:13:37.006 --> 00:13:38.307
  • For whomever was going to be isaac's wife,
  • 00:13:38.307 --> 00:13:40.910
  • The head of the new household after abraham passed on,
  • 00:13:40.910 --> 00:13:43.946
  • To be somebody who was kind.
  • 00:13:43.946 --> 00:13:46.315
  • But she also had to be somebody in great physical shape
  • 00:13:46.315 --> 00:13:50.686
  • To make that 500-mile journey
  • 00:13:50.686 --> 00:13:52.788
  • On the back of a camel back to canaan.
  • 00:13:52.788 --> 00:13:55.991
  • To water 10 camels would take a lot of strength.
  • 00:13:56.926 --> 00:14:01.630
  • You know, dr. henry morris,
  • 00:14:01.630 --> 00:14:03.232
  • The late dr. morris in his genesis commentary notes,
  • 00:14:03.232 --> 00:14:06.802
  • That a dry camel can take 20 gallons of water.
  • 00:14:06.802 --> 00:14:12.041
  • If you've got 10 camels,
  • 00:14:12.541 --> 00:14:14.343
  • That is 200 gallons of water
  • 00:14:14.343 --> 00:14:17.279
  • This woman would have to draw and put in the cistern.
  • 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:20.749
  • That would take a very healthy woman to do that.
  • 00:14:20.749 --> 00:14:24.286
  • So what i'm showing you is that really,
  • 00:14:24.286 --> 00:14:26.855
  • This wasn't an unrelated sign.
  • 00:14:26.855 --> 00:14:31.527
  • This was wisdom in disguise.
  • 00:14:31.527 --> 00:14:34.129
  • By the way,
  • 00:14:34.129 --> 00:14:35.097
  • Reason and practicality alone
  • 00:14:35.097 --> 00:14:37.967
  • Is not the reason to do something.
  • 00:14:37.967 --> 00:14:40.336
  • I realize sometimes god calls us
  • 00:14:40.336 --> 00:14:43.305
  • To do things that don't seem to make sense.
  • 00:14:43.305 --> 00:14:46.008
  • Remember he spoke to abraham and said,
  • 00:14:46.008 --> 00:14:48.477
  • "abraham, offer your son, your only son, isaac."
  • 00:14:48.477 --> 00:14:51.714
  • That contradicted wisdom.
  • 00:14:51.714 --> 00:14:53.983
  • But the point i'm making to you is this.
  • 00:14:53.983 --> 00:14:56.852
  • If you are obeying god's principles,
  • 00:14:56.852 --> 00:14:59.855
  • If you have prayed and you've got two choices for you,
  • 00:14:59.855 --> 00:15:04.326
  • One that seems to make perfect sense
  • 00:15:04.326 --> 00:15:06.628
  • And the one that makes no sense whatsoever,
  • 00:15:06.628 --> 00:15:10.232
  • Choose wisdom over nonsense.
  • 00:15:10.232 --> 00:15:13.335
  • Choose practicality over impracticality.
  • 00:15:13.335 --> 00:15:17.039
  • There's some people out there that get the idea that,
  • 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:19.541
  • Oh, god's will must be the most ludicrous, senseless,
  • 00:15:19.541 --> 00:15:24.847
  • Foolish thing i could possibly do.
  • 00:15:25.581 --> 00:15:27.216
  • I'm going to be a fool for christ.
  • 00:15:27.216 --> 00:15:29.084
  • No.
  • 00:15:29.084 --> 00:15:30.686
  • If you've got something before you and you've got the choice
  • 00:15:30.686 --> 00:15:34.189
  • Between the practical and the impractical,
  • 00:15:34.189 --> 00:15:36.392
  • And your obeying god's will,
  • 00:15:36.392 --> 00:15:38.093
  • Choose practicality over impracticality.
  • 00:15:38.093 --> 00:15:41.964
  • Verse 21.
  • 00:15:41.964 --> 00:15:42.998
  • Now, notice what happens.
  • 00:15:42.998 --> 00:15:44.800
  • Here is the woman.
  • 00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:47.336
  • She's done exactly what eliezer prayed,
  • 00:15:47.336 --> 00:15:51.573
  • But verse 21, meanwhile,
  • 00:15:51.573 --> 00:15:53.342
  • The man was gazing at her in silence to know
  • 00:15:53.342 --> 00:15:56.678
  • Whether the lord had made his journey successful or not.
  • 00:15:56.678 --> 00:16:00.115
  • Isn't that just like most people, like us sometimes?
  • 00:16:00.115 --> 00:16:03.252
  • We pray and pray and pray for something,
  • 00:16:03.252 --> 00:16:05.921
  • And when god gives us the answer,
  • 00:16:05.921 --> 00:16:07.623
  • We wonder now, is this really god's will or not?
  • 00:16:07.623 --> 00:16:10.759
  • That was eliezer.
  • 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:12.227
  • Is this really the answer
  • 00:16:12.227 --> 00:16:13.896
  • Even though she met all of the criteria?
  • 00:16:13.896 --> 00:16:16.465
  • Finally, eliezer's good sense took over.
  • 00:16:16.465 --> 00:16:19.068
  • Verse 26,
  • 00:16:19.068 --> 00:16:20.335
  • "then the man bowed low
  • 00:16:20.335 --> 00:16:22.438
  • And he worshiped the lord and he said,
  • 00:16:22.438 --> 00:16:24.673
  • 'blessed be the lord, the god of my master abraham,
  • 00:16:24.673 --> 00:16:27.576
  • Who has not forsaken his loving kindness
  • 00:16:27.576 --> 00:16:30.279
  • And his truth toward my master.
  • 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:32.314
  • As for me,
  • 00:16:32.314 --> 00:16:33.482
  • The lord has guided me in the way
  • 00:16:33.482 --> 00:16:36.151
  • To the house of my master's brothers.
  • 00:16:36.151 --> 00:16:39.188
  • So eliezer finds rebekah, he puts her on the camel,
  • 00:16:39.188 --> 00:16:44.526
  • They hightail it 500 miles back to canaan.
  • 00:16:45.427 --> 00:16:47.162
  • She meets isaac and they live happily ever after, right?
  • 00:16:47.162 --> 00:16:50.966
  • That's not how this story quite ends.
  • 00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:54.436
  • You see, eliezer, now that he found rebekah
  • 00:16:54.436 --> 00:16:57.339
  • Had to ask permission of rebekah's family.
  • 00:16:57.339 --> 00:17:01.910
  • Now, look at their response in verses 50 and 51,
  • 00:17:01.910 --> 00:17:05.047
  • "then laban and bethuel replied,
  • 00:17:05.047 --> 00:17:08.016
  • 'the matter comes from the lord,
  • 00:17:08.016 --> 00:17:10.152
  • So we cannot speak to you bad or good.
  • 00:17:10.152 --> 00:17:13.422
  • Here's rebekah before you, take her and go,
  • 00:17:13.422 --> 00:17:16.191
  • And let her be the wife of your master's son,
  • 00:17:16.191 --> 00:17:19.128
  • As the lord has spoken.'"
  • 00:17:19.128 --> 00:17:22.498
  • Everybody seems convinced after hearing the story,
  • 00:17:22.498 --> 00:17:25.567
  • This must be god.
  • 00:17:25.567 --> 00:17:28.337
  • Everybody except rebekah's mom, she still has a question.
  • 00:17:28.337 --> 00:17:32.441
  • She says, "well, couldn't our daughter stay with us
  • 00:17:32.441 --> 00:17:35.077
  • For 10 more days since we'll never see her again?"
  • 00:17:35.077 --> 00:17:38.914
  • Eliezer says, "nope, the lord has spoken.
  • 00:17:38.914 --> 00:17:42.050
  • We must go."
  • 00:17:42.050 --> 00:17:42.885
  • By the way,
  • 00:17:42.885 --> 00:17:44.119
  • Where did eliezer learn the principle
  • 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:46.622
  • To obey god immediately?
  • 00:17:46.622 --> 00:17:49.391
  • He learned it, again, by his employer, abraham.
  • 00:17:50.325 --> 00:17:53.295
  • When abraham was told by god
  • 00:17:53.295 --> 00:17:55.297
  • To circumcise himself into servants,
  • 00:17:55.297 --> 00:17:57.399
  • Abraham obeyed immediately.
  • 00:17:57.399 --> 00:17:59.468
  • When god said,
  • 00:17:59.468 --> 00:18:00.602
  • Take your son isaac to mount moriah
  • 00:18:00.602 --> 00:18:02.704
  • Offering him as a sacrifice,
  • 00:18:02.704 --> 00:18:04.339
  • Abraham obeyed immediately.
  • 00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:06.542
  • That influenced eliezer.
  • 00:18:06.542 --> 00:18:08.877
  • But there was one last thing
  • 00:18:08.877 --> 00:18:10.279
  • They had to do before they left.
  • 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:12.314
  • They had to get rebekah's response.
  • 00:18:12.314 --> 00:18:15.317
  • Verse 58.
  • 00:18:15.317 --> 00:18:16.552
  • "then they called rebekah and said to her,
  • 00:18:16.552 --> 00:18:19.154
  • 'will you go with this man?'
  • 00:18:19.154 --> 00:18:21.823
  • And she said, 'i will go.'"
  • 00:18:21.823 --> 00:18:26.428
  • Remember in verse eight, abraham had said,
  • 00:18:26.428 --> 00:18:28.630
  • If she's unwilling to go,
  • 00:18:28.630 --> 00:18:30.532
  • Then we'll have to find another way.
  • 00:18:30.532 --> 00:18:33.135
  • You know, eliezer had done everything right.
  • 00:18:33.135 --> 00:18:35.904
  • He obeyed the principles, he engaged in prayer,
  • 00:18:35.904 --> 00:18:38.273
  • He engaged in practicality,
  • 00:18:38.273 --> 00:18:40.142
  • But ultimately the decision was rebekah's.
  • 00:18:40.142 --> 00:18:44.913
  • "do you want to go?"
  • 00:18:44.913 --> 00:18:46.782
  • And she said, "i will go."
  • 00:18:46.782 --> 00:18:50.552
  • And that leads us to the fourth principle in finding a maid
  • 00:18:50.552 --> 00:18:53.722
  • Or making any decision that's according to god's will,
  • 00:18:53.722 --> 00:18:57.059
  • And that is trust in god's providence.
  • 00:18:57.059 --> 00:19:01.597
  • Trust in god's providence.
  • 00:19:01.597 --> 00:19:04.533
  • I read a book years ago called,
  • 00:19:04.533 --> 00:19:06.301
  • "all you can do is all you can do."
  • 00:19:06.301 --> 00:19:09.938
  • It's a great title for a book,
  • 00:19:09.938 --> 00:19:11.406
  • But it applies to god's will too.
  • 00:19:11.406 --> 00:19:13.875
  • After you have done everything you know to do,
  • 00:19:13.875 --> 00:19:16.812
  • After you've sought to find what god's word says,
  • 00:19:16.812 --> 00:19:20.315
  • After you have prayed,
  • 00:19:20.315 --> 00:19:21.450
  • After you've tried to be practical,
  • 00:19:21.450 --> 00:19:23.585
  • You have to go ahead and make a decision.
  • 00:19:24.453 --> 00:19:26.488
  • You need to go ahead and make a decision.
  • 00:19:26.488 --> 00:19:28.724
  • And if you have made a mistake,
  • 00:19:28.724 --> 00:19:30.993
  • That's when you trust in the sovereignty of god.
  • 00:19:30.993 --> 00:19:34.363
  • And so after 500 miles,
  • 00:19:34.363 --> 00:19:36.932
  • She finally makes it back to canaan.
  • 00:19:36.932 --> 00:19:40.602
  • Meanwhile, we're told in verse 63
  • 00:19:40.602 --> 00:19:42.738
  • That isaac was out in the field working,
  • 00:19:42.738 --> 00:19:45.907
  • Surveying the horizon,
  • 00:19:45.907 --> 00:19:48.143
  • Waiting and waiting for eliezer to return with the bride,
  • 00:19:48.143 --> 00:19:51.913
  • And curious to see who it would be.
  • 00:19:51.913 --> 00:19:54.716
  • So notice what happens.
  • 00:19:54.716 --> 00:19:55.984
  • Verse 64, "rebekah lifted up her eyes,
  • 00:19:55.984 --> 00:19:58.954
  • And when she saw isaac,
  • 00:19:58.954 --> 00:20:00.522
  • She dismounted from the camel.
  • 00:20:00.522 --> 00:20:02.524
  • She said to eliezer,
  • 00:20:02.524 --> 00:20:03.892
  • 'who is that man walking in the field to meet us?'
  • 00:20:03.892 --> 00:20:06.962
  • And the servant said, 'he is my master.'
  • 00:20:06.962 --> 00:20:09.464
  • Then she took her veil and covered herself.
  • 00:20:09.464 --> 00:20:12.968
  • The servant told isaac all the things that he had done.
  • 00:20:12.968 --> 00:20:17.673
  • Then isaac brought her into his mother sarah's tent,
  • 00:20:17.673 --> 00:20:21.109
  • And he took rebekah and she became his wife.
  • 00:20:21.109 --> 00:20:25.280
  • And he loved her.
  • 00:20:25.280 --> 00:20:26.948
  • Thus isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
  • 00:20:26.948 --> 00:20:31.320
  • You know, i think the order's interesting there.
  • 00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:33.221
  • She became his wife and then he loved her.
  • 00:20:33.221 --> 00:20:38.560
  • Now, don't make more of this than i intend for you to,
  • 00:20:39.661 --> 00:20:41.496
  • But you know in our culture we put so much emphasis
  • 00:20:41.496 --> 00:20:45.267
  • On there's got to be that magic spark.
  • 00:20:45.267 --> 00:20:48.203
  • When i meet the right one,
  • 00:20:48.203 --> 00:20:49.404
  • The violins will start playing
  • 00:20:49.404 --> 00:20:51.940
  • And the fireworks will explode in the sky,
  • 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:55.377
  • And that's how i will know.
  • 00:20:55.377 --> 00:20:57.879
  • You know, many times it's love that comes
  • 00:20:58.747 --> 00:21:02.584
  • After we make the commitment.
  • 00:21:02.584 --> 00:21:04.186
  • Now, i understand there has to be a spark,
  • 00:21:04.186 --> 00:21:06.521
  • There has to be an attraction, there has to be a love.
  • 00:21:06.521 --> 00:21:10.392
  • But once we make that commitment
  • 00:21:10.392 --> 00:21:12.160
  • To sometimes to somebody else,
  • 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:14.963
  • Sometimes the love grows and grows
  • 00:21:14.963 --> 00:21:18.300
  • And grows and grows after the commitment,
  • 00:21:18.300 --> 00:21:21.069
  • Not before the commitment.
  • 00:21:21.069 --> 00:21:22.504
  • That's exactly what happened with isaac and rebekah.
  • 00:21:22.504 --> 00:21:27.376
  • You know, we could end the story here,
  • 00:21:28.210 --> 00:21:31.747
  • And we would've learned some important principles
  • 00:21:31.747 --> 00:21:34.216
  • About knowing god's will.
  • 00:21:34.216 --> 00:21:36.385
  • We will have discovered an interesting chapter in the life
  • 00:21:36.385 --> 00:21:39.354
  • Of abraham and the formation of that nation of israel,
  • 00:21:39.354 --> 00:21:44.226
  • But it would be negligence to stop here
  • 00:21:44.226 --> 00:21:46.928
  • Without pointing out the obvious.
  • 00:21:46.928 --> 00:21:50.232
  • This story is real, it's historical.
  • 00:21:50.232 --> 00:21:53.568
  • These are real people,
  • 00:21:53.568 --> 00:21:55.203
  • But they are also a type of foreshadowing
  • 00:21:55.203 --> 00:21:58.940
  • Of an even greater story.
  • 00:21:58.940 --> 00:22:01.309
  • Abraham is a type,
  • 00:22:01.743 --> 00:22:04.513
  • He's a picture of god the father
  • 00:22:04.513 --> 00:22:07.682
  • Who is seeking a bride for his son,
  • 00:22:07.682 --> 00:22:10.619
  • The lord jesus christ.
  • 00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:13.021
  • Isaac, hebrews 11 says,
  • 00:22:13.021 --> 00:22:15.757
  • Is a type of jesus christ
  • 00:22:15.757 --> 00:22:18.226
  • Who is waiting in that far country,
  • 00:22:18.226 --> 00:22:20.262
  • Waiting for his bride to come home.
  • 00:22:20.262 --> 00:22:23.565
  • Eliezer is a type, a picture of the holy spirit of god,
  • 00:22:23.565 --> 00:22:29.004
  • Whom god sends to woo and invite people
  • 00:22:29.871 --> 00:22:34.176
  • To become the bride of the groom,
  • 00:22:34.176 --> 00:22:36.545
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:22:36.545 --> 00:22:38.246
  • And rebekah is a type of the church of jesus christ.
  • 00:22:38.246 --> 00:22:42.918
  • Individual believers who have said to god,
  • 00:22:42.918 --> 00:22:46.655
  • I will, i do trust in christ,
  • 00:22:46.655 --> 00:22:51.092
  • And we await our journey back to heaven to meet the groom.
  • 00:22:51.092 --> 00:22:55.864
  • That's the picture you find in this great story.
  • 00:22:55.864 --> 00:22:59.301
  • And it's why jesus said,
  • 00:22:59.301 --> 00:23:00.535
  • "let not your heart be troubled,
  • 00:23:00.535 --> 00:23:02.838
  • Neither let it be afraid.
  • 00:23:02.838 --> 00:23:04.172
  • You believe in god.
  • 00:23:04.172 --> 00:23:05.173
  • Believe also in me.
  • 00:23:05.173 --> 00:23:07.075
  • For in my father's house are many mansions.
  • 00:23:07.075 --> 00:23:10.312
  • If it were not so, i would've told you.
  • 00:23:10.312 --> 00:23:13.415
  • For i go to prepare a place for you.
  • 00:23:13.415 --> 00:23:17.285
  • And if i go and prepare a place for you,
  • 00:23:17.285 --> 00:23:19.955
  • I will come again to take you under myself.
  • 00:23:19.955 --> 00:23:23.458
  • That where i am, there you may be also."
  • 00:23:23.458 --> 00:23:26.761
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:23:26.761 --> 00:23:31.299
  • Even in the pages of the old testament,
  • 00:23:32.133 --> 00:23:34.569
  • We can see god's magnificent plan
  • 00:23:34.569 --> 00:23:36.938
  • For his children laid out in plain view.
  • 00:23:36.938 --> 00:23:40.475
  • Now, in closing today,
  • 00:23:40.475 --> 00:23:41.977
  • I want to share a note i received from a friend
  • 00:23:41.977 --> 00:23:44.079
  • Of "pathway to victory" named jeremy.
  • 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:47.115
  • Jeremy wrote,
  • 00:23:47.115 --> 00:23:48.517
  • "'pathway to victory' has been a great lifeline
  • 00:23:48.517 --> 00:23:51.052
  • In a sea of cultural relativity and decline.
  • 00:23:51.052 --> 00:23:54.556
  • Through personal hardships,
  • 00:23:54.556 --> 00:23:56.157
  • This ministry has been there to help keep me grounded
  • 00:23:56.157 --> 00:24:00.362
  • And to remind me that there are others
  • 00:24:00.362 --> 00:24:02.030
  • Who recognize that things are not well in america.
  • 00:24:02.030 --> 00:24:05.667
  • Of course, the answer to that problem is biblical truth."
  • 00:24:05.667 --> 00:24:09.971
  • Jeremy, you are absolutely correct.
  • 00:24:09.971 --> 00:24:13.008
  • Nothing in our nation will change for the better
  • 00:24:13.008 --> 00:24:15.877
  • Until our citizens allow god to transform our hearts.
  • 00:24:15.877 --> 00:24:19.948
  • And that's why i'm dedicated
  • 00:24:19.948 --> 00:24:21.516
  • To presenting biblical truth every day on television,
  • 00:24:21.516 --> 00:24:25.287
  • Radio, and the internet through "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:25.287 --> 00:24:28.890
  • Thanks to all of you who partner with us
  • 00:24:28.890 --> 00:24:31.293
  • As we pierce the darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:24:31.293 --> 00:24:35.297
  • Now, please stay right there.
  • 00:24:35.297 --> 00:24:36.631
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
  • 00:24:36.631 --> 00:24:39.034
  • In just a moment.
  • 00:24:39.034 --> 00:24:40.969
  • [narrator] in the midst of our chaotic world
  • 00:24:41.870 --> 00:24:44.139
  • And the personal problems that we face,
  • 00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:46.441
  • Is it possible to find peace and contentment?
  • 00:24:46.441 --> 00:24:49.411
  • Abraham did, and so can you.
  • 00:24:49.411 --> 00:24:51.846
  • In "walking by faith,"
  • 00:24:51.846 --> 00:24:53.214
  • Dr. robert jeffress shows you
  • 00:24:53.214 --> 00:24:55.050
  • How to make courageous decisions,
  • 00:24:55.050 --> 00:24:56.952
  • Ones that are far outside your comfort zone.
  • 00:24:56.952 --> 00:25:00.055
  • In doing so, god will prove faithful.
  • 00:25:00.055 --> 00:25:02.958
  • Abraham was far from perfect.
  • 00:25:02.958 --> 00:25:04.926
  • He made mistakes, including some really big ones,
  • 00:25:04.926 --> 00:25:08.129
  • But through it all, he walked with god in faith,
  • 00:25:08.129 --> 00:25:11.499
  • And you can too.
  • 00:25:11.499 --> 00:25:12.867
  • [narrator] in this dynamic book,
  • 00:25:12.867 --> 00:25:14.436
  • Dr. jeffress explains how to walk by faith
  • 00:25:14.436 --> 00:25:17.305
  • In a faithless world squarely founded
  • 00:25:17.305 --> 00:25:19.941
  • On the wisdom gained from the story of abraham.
  • 00:25:19.941 --> 00:25:23.244
  • Request your copy of "walking by faith"
  • 00:25:23.244 --> 00:25:25.880
  • When you give a generous gift to pathway to victory.
  • 00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:28.917
  • And when you give $75 or more,
  • 00:25:28.917 --> 00:25:31.586
  • We'll also send you all 11 messages
  • 00:25:31.586 --> 00:25:34.122
  • For the "walking by faith" series
  • 00:25:34.122 --> 00:25:35.991
  • On dvd video and mp3 format audio disc,
  • 00:25:35.991 --> 00:25:39.928
  • Along with the personal and group study guidebook.
  • 00:25:39.928 --> 00:25:43.098
  • If the story of abraham tells us anything,
  • 00:25:43.098 --> 00:25:45.400
  • It tells us this.
  • 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:46.835
  • It doesn't matter how old you are,
  • 00:25:46.835 --> 00:25:48.370
  • It doesn't matter how far you've drifted away from god,
  • 00:25:48.370 --> 00:25:51.139
  • You can come back.
  • 00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:52.674
  • [narrator] your gift today is important and appreciated,
  • 00:25:52.674 --> 00:25:55.410
  • As we impact your home and reach a nation
  • 00:25:55.410 --> 00:25:58.113
  • And world in spiritual need.
  • 00:25:58.113 --> 00:26:00.382
  • God is clearly using "pathway to victory"
  • 00:26:00.382 --> 00:26:03.151
  • To fulfill his mandate,
  • 00:26:03.151 --> 00:26:04.653
  • To pierce the darkness with the light of his word.
  • 00:26:04.653 --> 00:26:07.856
  • Thank you for investing in this important gospel work.
  • 00:26:07.856 --> 00:26:12.994
  • Maybe as you were watching today,
  • 00:26:13.728 --> 00:26:15.363
  • You were mulling over an important decision
  • 00:26:15.363 --> 00:26:17.732
  • That's before you.
  • 00:26:17.732 --> 00:26:19.401
  • I hope the principles found in the story of isaac
  • 00:26:19.401 --> 00:26:22.103
  • And rebekah help give you direction
  • 00:26:22.103 --> 00:26:24.806
  • On which way you need to go.
  • 00:26:24.806 --> 00:26:27.575
  • Well, next time,
  • 00:26:27.575 --> 00:26:29.044
  • We'll have come to the end of our series on abraham.
  • 00:26:29.044 --> 00:26:32.180
  • As we look at abraham's final years,
  • 00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:34.449
  • We're going to discover the secrets
  • 00:26:34.449 --> 00:26:36.651
  • For leaving this world satisfied with life.
  • 00:26:36.651 --> 00:26:40.722
  • Stay tuned for a preview
  • 00:26:40.722 --> 00:26:42.257
  • Of what's coming up next in our series, "walking by faith."
  • 00:26:42.257 --> 00:26:47.095
  • You know, people like that,
  • 00:26:47.696 --> 00:26:49.564
  • You just feel the bitterness oozing out
  • 00:26:49.564 --> 00:26:52.867
  • Of their body whenever you're around them.
  • 00:26:52.867 --> 00:26:54.402
  • I don't know about you,
  • 00:26:54.402 --> 00:26:55.770
  • But when i'm around those people,
  • 00:26:55.770 --> 00:26:57.572
  • I want to run as far and as fast from them as i can.
  • 00:26:57.572 --> 00:27:01.409
  • But more importantly,
  • 00:27:01.409 --> 00:27:02.944
  • I want to make sure i don't become like them.
  • 00:27:02.944 --> 00:27:06.681
  • Instead, i want to face life and death
  • 00:27:06.681 --> 00:27:09.451
  • Just like our character,
  • 00:27:09.451 --> 00:27:10.885
  • Our friend abraham.
  • 00:27:10.885 --> 00:27:13.288
  • [narrator] set your dvr
  • 00:27:13.788 --> 00:27:14.956
  • And join us next time for the message,
  • 00:27:14.956 --> 00:27:17.025
  • How to die with a smile on your face,
  • 00:27:17.025 --> 00:27:19.527
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:19.527 --> 00:27:19.527