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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The First Commandment - Esteem God Alone | June 3, 2026
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- From the pulpit
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- Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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- This is "pathway to victory"
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- With dr. robert jeffress.
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- Hi, i'm robert jeffress
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- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- As you get to know a person,
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- You quickly discover what's most important to them.
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- For some, family always comes first.
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- Others are dedicated to their careers or financial goals,
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- But for christians, one thing should be at the top
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- Of our priority list.
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- Today, we're going to discover what it means
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- To have no other gods before god himself.
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- My message is titled,
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- "the first commandment: esteem god alone,"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- As our nation marks 250 years,
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- America stands at a crossroads.
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- Will we return to the god who blessed us
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- Or continue down a path that leads to ruin?
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- Through the in god we trust matching challenge,
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- Your gift today will be doubled in ministry impact.
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- For 30 years,
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- Pathway to victory has pierced the darkness of our nation
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- With the light of god's word by sharing biblical truth
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- That transforms hearts.
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- Join us in this critical hour
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- By giving toward the in god we trust
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- Matching challenge today.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- Pastor tim keller has said that idolatry
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- Is the sin beneath every other sin.
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- When i sin, i'm basically allowing some competing desire
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- To take god's rightful place in our life.
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- If keller's right, and i think he is, if if the root cause
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- Of every other sin is loving something
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- Or somebody more than we love god,
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- Then it's no surprise
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- That the very first commandment god gave had to deal
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- With rooting out idolatry from our lives.
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- You shall have no other gods before me.
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- How do we do that?
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- If you have your bibles, i want you
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- To turn to exodus chapter 20.
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- As we begin looking at the 10,
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- How to live and love in a world that has lost its way,
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- And we're going to begin today with the first
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- Of those 10 commandments.
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- "you shall have no other gods before me."
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- You know, i have done wedding ceremonies
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- For about 45 years
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- And i ask a couple to do a lot of things to commit
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- To a lot of things,
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- But one thing i ask them to commit to is
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- To love and cherish the other person
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- And forsaking all others to be faithful
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- To that other person alone.
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- What am i asking?
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- I'm asking them to esteem one another,
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- And that's really what the first commandment is about.
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- It's about esteeming god alone.
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- I want you to notice in these first three verses
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- What god says.
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- "then god spoke all these words saying,
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- I am the lord your god who brought you
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- Out of the land of egypt, out of the house of slavery.
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- You shall have no other god's before me."
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- Will you notice in verse two,
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- He gives us four reasons that we are
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- To have no other gods before him.
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- The reason is in verse two, the command is in verse three,
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- Four reasons to esteem god alone.
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- Two have to do with who god is.
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- The next two have to do with what god has done.
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- First of all, we're to put god in first place
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- Because god is our creator.
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- He said, i am the lord.
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- That word translated, lord is the word yahweh,
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- The hebrew word, yahweh, the most holy name for god.
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- Remember in exodus three when god first appeared
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- To moses in the burning bush
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- And commanded him to go to pharaoh
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- And tell pharaoh to let the israelites go,
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- And moses said, "well, who am i to tell pharaoh?
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- Who am i to tell him that sent me to give him that command?"
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- And what did god say?
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- He said, "you just tell him i am who sent you.
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- I am who i am."
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- That's what yahweh means.
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- "i am the self existent, the eternal,
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- The sovereign god."
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- That's who god is and that's why we're to esteem him alone.
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- Remember, the old saturday night live show,
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- The saturday night news update
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- When chevy chase was the lead comedian?
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- Remember how he opened that segment?
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- He said, "good evening, i'm chevy chase and you're not."
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- Well, you know that's what god is saying here.
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- "why are you to worship me alone?
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- I am self existent.
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- I am self-sustaining.
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- I am eternal.
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- I am sovereign, and you are not.
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- That's why you are to worship me.
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- I'm the creator."
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- Just think for a moment about the vastness of this creation.
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- If you want to see the power of god
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- And why we should esteem him alone,
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- Think about this universe.
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- You know, astronomers have been able
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- To use powerful telescopes
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- And see objects, planets, drones maybe in the sky,
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- I don't know, but they're probably planets
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- And stars that are 4 billion light years away.
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- Now that's an amazing thing.
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- How far is a light year?
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- A light year is how far light can travel in a year.
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- Now, you know, light travels at 186,000 miles a second.
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- So a light year is how far light travels in one year,
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- But we're able to see objects 4 billion light years away.
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- You know how far that is?
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- That is 25 septillion miles.
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- That is a 25 with 24 zeros behind it,
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- And that doesn't even measure the size of the universe.
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- That's just how far we can see right now.
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- To put it in another way, imagine you were able
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- To get in a spacecraft
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- That traveled 186,000 miles a second.
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- Can you imagine such a thing?
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- If you got in that spacecraft going 186 miles a second,
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- It would take you 1.3 seconds to get to the moon.
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- It would take you 8.3 seconds to get to the sun,
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- Which is 93 million miles away,
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- But it would take you 200,000 years
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- Going 186,000 miles a second just to get to the edge
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- Of our milky way galaxy.
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- And our milky way galaxy is just one
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- Of hundreds of millions,
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- Perhaps billions of galaxies in the universe.
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- Who in the world made all of that?
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- How did that happen?
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- Well, listen to the secularists and they've got an idea.
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- The late physicists, stephen hawking,
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- Remember stephen hawking?
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- He had what he called the theory of everything.
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- He said, my proposal is the statement
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- That the universe is a closed system.
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- We don't need to suppose that there's something
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- Outside the universe which is not subject to its law.
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- It is the claim that the laws of science are sufficient
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- To explain the universe.
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- In other words, all that exists can be explained
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- Through mathematical equations, hawking says.
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- Well, then where is god in all of this?
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- Hawking admitted that's one answer he didn't have.
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- He said, "even if we had a theory of everything,
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- We would be left with one final question.
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- What is it
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- That breathes fire into the mathematical equations
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- And makes a universe for them to describe?
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- If i knew that, then i would know everything important."
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- What is it that breathes fire into these equations?
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- The answer is not an it, it is a who.
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- It is jehovah god, yahweh, the creator of all.
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- Colossians 1:15-17 says,
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- "he is the image of the invisible god,
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- The firstborn of creation for by him jesus,
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- All things were created both in heaven
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- And on earth, visible and invisible,
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- Whether thrones, or rulers, or dominions, or authorities,
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- All things have been created by him and for him."
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- Why do we esteem god alone?
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- He is our creator, not just of the universe.
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- He is the creator of you and me.
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- Psalm 100:3 says," the lord, he himself is god.
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- It is he who made us and not we ourselves.
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- For we are his people and we are the sheep of his pasture."
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- God gives us another reason to put him in first place.
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- Not only is our creator, he is our covenant maker.
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- He is our covenant maker.
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- God is not just some distant deity.
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- He says to the israelites
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- And to us, "i am the lord your god."
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- I want a relationship with you.
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- God didn't just create this world and you
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- And leave us to our own.
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- He wants to have a friendship with us,
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- But he wants more than a friendship.
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- He wants an intimate relationship with every one of us,
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- And that is the most incomprehensible thing to me,
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- To think that the god who made all of this cares about you
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- And cares about me and wants a relationship with us,
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- And he took the first step
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- In establishing that relationship.
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- You know, i remember when i made my first
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- Move toward amy.
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- It was in the ninth grade,
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- And i decided i didn't want her just to be somebody
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- Who sat in front of me in math class.
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- I didn't want to just be her friend,
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- I wanted to be something more.
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- And so one day i screwed up the courage
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- To ask her out on a date in the ninth grade.
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- Now, do you remember dating in the ninth grade?
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- What it consisted of,
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- It would be parents taking you
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- And dropping you off at a restaurant.
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- Then picking you up
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- And dropping you off at a movie.
- 00:10:54.376 --> 00:10:56.245
- But i had it all planned out for that friday night.
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- First, i had my parents drive us to el phoenix at north park
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- And we had dinner while my parents sat at another table.
- 00:11:02.618 --> 00:11:06.288
- (people laughing)
- 00:11:06.288 --> 00:11:07.990
- Then we got into their car
- 00:11:07.990 --> 00:11:09.592
- And they drove us to the esquire theater
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- Where we walked into the movie
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- And sat there through the movie
- 00:11:15.131 --> 00:11:16.932
- And i realized i'd planned out the evening
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- That i was only going to have a few minutes
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- To talk to amy by myself.
- 00:11:21.303 --> 00:11:23.639
- So i'm sitting through that movie with her
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- And i'm starting to sweat profusely as i try
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- To think up exactly what i'm going to try to say
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- To lure her into a relationship with me.
- 00:11:32.915 --> 00:11:36.485
- The movie finally comes to an end.
- 00:11:36.485 --> 00:11:40.189
- The end and i knew, boy, this is it, buddy.
- 00:11:40.189 --> 00:11:43.759
- You better go for it.
- 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.827
- This is your only chance.
- 00:11:44.827 --> 00:11:46.629
- So we're walking out of the movie theater.
- 00:11:46.629 --> 00:11:48.697
- My parents are waiting out in the station wagon
- 00:11:48.697 --> 00:11:51.700
- And i stop in the foyer before we go through the doors
- 00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:55.671
- And i said, "amy, could i talk to you about something?"
- 00:11:55.671 --> 00:11:58.874
- She said, "sure."
- 00:11:58.874 --> 00:12:00.576
- And i said, "well, i've got a problem
- 00:12:00.576 --> 00:12:02.978
- And i don't know what to do about it."
- 00:12:02.978 --> 00:12:05.247
- And she's so kind and sympathetic.
- 00:12:06.015 --> 00:12:08.484
- She looked real concerned.
- 00:12:08.484 --> 00:12:09.652
- She said, "oh, what's the problem?"
- 00:12:09.652 --> 00:12:12.321
- I said, "well, i like this girl in our class
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- And i don't know how to tell her that i like her."
- 00:12:16.258 --> 00:12:19.962
- And she said, "well, who is it?"
- 00:12:19.962 --> 00:12:21.864
- And i said, "her name is amy."
- 00:12:21.864 --> 00:12:24.066
- And she said, "oh, amy,
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- And she named another girl in the class."
- 00:12:25.534 --> 00:12:27.937
- (people laughing)
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- I said, "no, it's amy renard.
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- It's you."
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- Cue the violin.
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- Everybody say aw.
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- [audience] aw.
- 00:12:37.446 --> 00:12:40.816
- Now she could have at that moment,
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- She could of,
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- As the country western song says, stomped on my aorta.
- 00:12:46.689 --> 00:12:50.226
- She could of.
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- She could have said,
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- "oh, robert, i like you too as a friend."
- 00:12:52.995 --> 00:12:57.399
- Those are three words no adolescent boy ever wants to hear.
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- No adolescent boy wants a friend.
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- They want something more.
- 00:13:04.506 --> 00:13:06.642
- But she didn't say that.
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- She didn't say, i like you as a friend.
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- You know what she said?
- 00:13:10.446 --> 00:13:12.114
- It's none of your business.
- 00:13:12.715 --> 00:13:14.483
- (people laughing)
- 00:13:14.917 --> 00:13:18.320
- But trust me, she was interested in being more than a friend
- 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:22.758
- And she certainly has become much more than a friend.
- 00:13:22.758 --> 00:13:26.395
- You know, that was taking a risk
- 00:13:27.029 --> 00:13:29.298
- To establish a relationship.
- 00:13:29.298 --> 00:13:30.900
- I didn't know exactly how she was going to respond.
- 00:13:30.900 --> 00:13:33.969
- Now in a much more serious way, god has done that.
- 00:13:33.969 --> 00:13:37.406
- He has set his affection on us.
- 00:13:37.406 --> 00:13:40.242
- Romans 5:8 says, god demonstrated his love toward us
- 00:13:40.242 --> 00:13:43.579
- And that while we were yet sinners, he made the first move.
- 00:13:43.579 --> 00:13:47.917
- He sent christ to die for us.
- 00:13:47.917 --> 00:13:50.986
- He is our covenant maker.
- 00:13:50.986 --> 00:13:53.822
- Notice what he's done for us.
- 00:13:53.822 --> 00:13:55.391
- Two things, he is our redeemer.
- 00:13:55.391 --> 00:13:58.661
- We see this again in verse two of exodus 21.
- 00:13:58.661 --> 00:14:00.996
- God said, "i am the one who brought you
- 00:14:00.996 --> 00:14:03.599
- Out of the land of egypt, out of the house of slavery."
- 00:14:03.599 --> 00:14:09.204
- God has released us from the prison house
- 00:14:10.105 --> 00:14:12.942
- Of slavery to sin and to satan.
- 00:14:12.942 --> 00:14:16.679
- Paul expressed it this way in colossians 1:13-14,
- 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:20.215
- "for he rescued us from the domain of darkness
- 00:14:20.215 --> 00:14:24.086
- And transferred us to the kingdom
- 00:14:24.086 --> 00:14:25.854
- Of his beloved son in whom we have redemption,
- 00:14:25.854 --> 00:14:29.959
- The forgiveness of sins."
- 00:14:29.959 --> 00:14:32.061
- When i think about this idea of redemption,
- 00:14:32.061 --> 00:14:35.297
- I think about the story of the little boy
- 00:14:35.297 --> 00:14:37.199
- Who spent weeks working on a model sailboat,
- 00:14:37.199 --> 00:14:41.070
- A little red sailboat,
- 00:14:41.070 --> 00:14:42.738
- And the day came that he had finished the project
- 00:14:42.738 --> 00:14:45.574
- And he was eager to test it out,
- 00:14:45.574 --> 00:14:47.309
- So he took it down to the local pond.
- 00:14:47.309 --> 00:14:49.345
- He put it into the water
- 00:14:49.345 --> 00:14:51.113
- To see if it floated.
- 00:14:51.113 --> 00:14:53.215
- A gust of wind came and caught the sails
- 00:14:53.215 --> 00:14:56.251
- And took that sailboat far from him.
- 00:14:56.251 --> 00:14:59.455
- The little boy was heartbroken, something he had spent
- 00:14:59.455 --> 00:15:01.957
- So much time building was now lost forever.
- 00:15:01.957 --> 00:15:06.362
- A few weeks later, he was walking down the street
- 00:15:06.362 --> 00:15:09.365
- And he saw in the window of the toy store his red sailboat.
- 00:15:09.365 --> 00:15:14.603
- He couldn't believe it.
- 00:15:15.104 --> 00:15:16.038
- He was overjoyed.
- 00:15:16.038 --> 00:15:17.406
- He thought he would never see it again.
- 00:15:17.406 --> 00:15:19.241
- And he went in and explained
- 00:15:19.241 --> 00:15:20.542
- To the store owner that that was his sailboat
- 00:15:20.542 --> 00:15:23.312
- And could he please have it back?
- 00:15:23.312 --> 00:15:25.948
- The store owner said he didn't know anything about that.
- 00:15:25.948 --> 00:15:29.318
- All he knew was he had paid for the boat himself,
- 00:15:29.318 --> 00:15:31.954
- And if the little boy wanted it,
- 00:15:31.954 --> 00:15:33.989
- It would cost him, it was $14.
- 00:15:33.989 --> 00:15:36.258
- So the boy reached into his pocket,
- 00:15:36.992 --> 00:15:38.994
- Pulled out a sweaty wad of dollar bills,
- 00:15:38.994 --> 00:15:41.697
- Counted out $14, gave it to the man,
- 00:15:41.697 --> 00:15:45.401
- And he took that sailboat and he held it close to his chest
- 00:15:45.401 --> 00:15:49.805
- And as he walked down the sidewalk, he said,
- 00:15:49.805 --> 00:15:52.875
- "you're mine twice now.
- 00:15:52.875 --> 00:15:56.011
- Once because i made you and now because i bought you."
- 00:15:57.112 --> 00:16:02.651
- That's what god says to us.
- 00:16:03.252 --> 00:16:05.454
- You belong to me, first because i made you,
- 00:16:05.454 --> 00:16:10.259
- But even though the winds
- 00:16:10.826 --> 00:16:12.361
- Of sin carried you away far from me,
- 00:16:12.361 --> 00:16:15.030
- I never gave up hope and i purchased you.
- 00:16:15.030 --> 00:16:19.134
- I bought you, not with dollar bills,
- 00:16:19.134 --> 00:16:22.071
- I bought you with the blood of my son,
- 00:16:22.071 --> 00:16:24.473
- The lord jesus christ.
- 00:16:24.473 --> 00:16:26.442
- That's why paul says in 1 corinthians six,
- 00:16:26.442 --> 00:16:28.444
- "do you not know you're not your own?
- 00:16:28.444 --> 00:16:31.880
- You've been bought with a price."
- 00:16:31.880 --> 00:16:36.118
- That's why we worship god alone, because he made us
- 00:16:36.118 --> 00:16:39.288
- And he redeemed us.
- 00:16:39.288 --> 00:16:40.722
- He bought us and finally we're to esteem god alone
- 00:16:40.722 --> 00:16:44.693
- Because he is our rewarder.
- 00:16:44.693 --> 00:16:47.696
- In verse 12 of exodus 20, he tells us
- 00:16:47.696 --> 00:16:50.599
- That he not only delivered us out of the house of slavery,
- 00:16:50.599 --> 00:16:54.303
- But he's delivered us into the land
- 00:16:54.303 --> 00:16:56.438
- Which the lord, your god, gives you.
- 00:16:56.438 --> 00:16:58.807
- He's rewarding us with a promise of heaven one day,
- 00:16:58.807 --> 00:17:03.112
- That eternal dwelling place that we'll enjoy
- 00:17:03.112 --> 00:17:05.514
- With god forever.
- 00:17:05.514 --> 00:17:08.750
- What does it mean to esteem god alone?
- 00:17:08.750 --> 00:17:13.155
- What does that mean exactly?
- 00:17:13.155 --> 00:17:15.724
- I want you to notice in verse three,
- 00:17:15.724 --> 00:17:17.359
- Two components to this command, this most basic command.
- 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:21.864
- "you shall have no other gods before me."
- 00:17:21.864 --> 00:17:25.200
- First of all, shall have.
- 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:27.202
- Let's break it down.
- 00:17:27.202 --> 00:17:29.037
- Shall have.
- 00:17:29.037 --> 00:17:30.873
- When i have a couple
- 00:17:30.873 --> 00:17:35.077
- Repeat the vows at a wedding ceremony
- 00:17:35.077 --> 00:17:38.280
- They say "to have and to hold from this day forward."
- 00:17:39.314 --> 00:17:44.186
- What does it mean to have somebody?
- 00:17:44.987 --> 00:17:46.155
- Well, it means to possess them,
- 00:17:46.155 --> 00:17:48.457
- To possess something of them exclusively.
- 00:17:48.457 --> 00:17:52.461
- For example, i have a car.
- 00:17:52.461 --> 00:17:54.596
- You heard about my car last week.
- 00:17:54.596 --> 00:17:56.398
- I have a car.
- 00:17:56.398 --> 00:17:58.066
- Nobody has a right to drive
- 00:17:58.066 --> 00:17:59.568
- That car except me, without my permission.
- 00:17:59.568 --> 00:18:02.070
- It is my car.
- 00:18:02.070 --> 00:18:04.306
- I have a house, it's my house.
- 00:18:04.306 --> 00:18:06.775
- Nobody has a right to wander in
- 00:18:06.775 --> 00:18:08.644
- Or wander out of it without my permission.
- 00:18:08.644 --> 00:18:11.446
- It is my possession, it is my house.
- 00:18:11.446 --> 00:18:13.949
- I have a wife now,
- 00:18:13.949 --> 00:18:16.218
- Amy, nobody has a right to her affection except me.
- 00:18:16.218 --> 00:18:21.523
- She is my wife, and the same is true for me.
- 00:18:22.424 --> 00:18:24.493
- Nobody has a right to my affection except her.
- 00:18:24.493 --> 00:18:28.497
- When we say we are to have no other gods,
- 00:18:28.497 --> 00:18:31.200
- We are to have god and god exclusively.
- 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:33.869
- He said, "i want to be the sole focus of your affection."
- 00:18:33.869 --> 00:18:39.208
- You see, the problem with the israelites,
- 00:18:40.075 --> 00:18:41.009
- This is important to understand,
- 00:18:41.009 --> 00:18:42.177
- Was they never abandoned the true god,
- 00:18:42.177 --> 00:18:45.881
- They just added to the true god with many false gods.
- 00:18:45.881 --> 00:18:50.052
- God said, nope, doesn't work that way.
- 00:18:50.052 --> 00:18:53.088
- Either you love me and serve me exclusively
- 00:18:53.088 --> 00:18:56.358
- Or you don't have me at all.
- 00:18:56.358 --> 00:18:58.627
- That's what it means to have.
- 00:18:58.627 --> 00:19:01.196
- And then the second phrase,
- 00:19:01.196 --> 00:19:02.631
- "no other gods before me."
- 00:19:02.631 --> 00:19:04.933
- You're to have no other gods before me.
- 00:19:04.933 --> 00:19:08.637
- You know, the israelites had spent 430 years
- 00:19:08.637 --> 00:19:13.141
- In egyptian slavery
- 00:19:13.141 --> 00:19:15.077
- And they had developed a habit of worshiping false gods.
- 00:19:15.077 --> 00:19:18.580
- And during those 10 plagues,
- 00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:20.315
- Right before the exodus, god showed how he was superior
- 00:19:20.315 --> 00:19:23.986
- To all the other egyptian gods,
- 00:19:23.986 --> 00:19:26.121
- Which the israelites had
- 00:19:26.121 --> 00:19:28.023
- Become accustomed to and even began to worship.
- 00:19:28.023 --> 00:19:31.526
- But there was a second reason they faced
- 00:19:31.526 --> 00:19:33.428
- An even greater temptation.
- 00:19:33.428 --> 00:19:35.297
- It was because of the false gods' powerful appeal.
- 00:19:35.297 --> 00:19:39.234
- These new false gods they would face in canaan would have
- 00:19:39.234 --> 00:19:42.838
- Much more appeal than the egyptian gods.
- 00:19:42.838 --> 00:19:45.474
- Now let's get real practical for a moment.
- 00:19:45.474 --> 00:19:48.110
- How do you know if god really has first place?
- 00:19:48.110 --> 00:19:51.880
- He's sitting in that first chair in your life?
- 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:56.018
- In a little book called "laws that liberate,"
- 00:19:56.952 --> 00:19:59.921
- One writer suggests three questions to ask yourself
- 00:20:00.989 --> 00:20:04.826
- To know if god has first place in your life.
- 00:20:04.826 --> 00:20:08.297
- Let me elaborate on these for just a moment.
- 00:20:08.297 --> 00:20:11.166
- Question number one, this is so simple.
- 00:20:11.166 --> 00:20:13.735
- What do you think about most often?
- 00:20:13.735 --> 00:20:16.672
- What do you think about most often?
- 00:20:17.472 --> 00:20:19.174
- That will tell you what your god is.
- 00:20:19.174 --> 00:20:21.943
- In those quiet moments while you're driving
- 00:20:21.943 --> 00:20:24.012
- Or standing in a checkout line
- 00:20:24.012 --> 00:20:26.248
- Or maybe drifting off to sleep at night,
- 00:20:26.248 --> 00:20:29.551
- Where do your thoughts naturally turn?
- 00:20:29.551 --> 00:20:33.488
- You know how a compass works.
- 00:20:34.122 --> 00:20:35.757
- You can shake up a compass and the needle bounces around,
- 00:20:35.757 --> 00:20:38.493
- But very quickly it goes to true north, doesn't it?
- 00:20:38.493 --> 00:20:42.531
- When your thoughts finally settle down,
- 00:20:43.365 --> 00:20:46.535
- Where are they directed?
- 00:20:47.035 --> 00:20:49.338
- Money, pleasure,
- 00:20:49.705 --> 00:20:53.875
- A relationship,
- 00:20:54.242 --> 00:20:56.211
- Or do your thoughts naturally go to god
- 00:20:57.079 --> 00:21:00.315
- Who has given you all of those blessings?
- 00:21:00.315 --> 00:21:03.218
- What do you think about most often?
- 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.654
- Second question to ask yourself,
- 00:21:05.654 --> 00:21:07.723
- Whom are you trying to impress?
- 00:21:07.723 --> 00:21:12.661
- Let's be honest.
- 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:13.929
- All of us are trying to impress somebody,
- 00:21:13.929 --> 00:21:15.964
- Maybe a mate, maybe a friend, and maybe a work associate.
- 00:21:15.964 --> 00:21:20.435
- You may be trying to impress yourself
- 00:21:20.435 --> 00:21:22.270
- That you can climb the ladder
- 00:21:22.270 --> 00:21:24.139
- And reach the pinnacle of success.
- 00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:27.442
- During the great reformation,
- 00:21:27.442 --> 00:21:29.878
- The battle cry was coram deo,
- 00:21:30.512 --> 00:21:33.482
- Latin for before the eyes of god.
- 00:21:34.149 --> 00:21:38.320
- Martin luther and the great reformers were willing
- 00:21:38.320 --> 00:21:40.822
- To give their life
- 00:21:40.822 --> 00:21:42.491
- Because they knew, ultimately, they were living their life
- 00:21:42.491 --> 00:21:45.961
- For an audience of one
- 00:21:45.961 --> 00:21:48.864
- And the end all really that mattered is pleasing god,
- 00:21:48.864 --> 00:21:54.102
- Impressing god.
- 00:21:54.469 --> 00:21:56.138
- That's not an original thought.
- 00:21:56.138 --> 00:21:58.306
- Paul voiced it 1500 years
- 00:21:58.306 --> 00:22:00.375
- Before the reformation.
- 00:22:00.375 --> 00:22:02.144
- In 2 corinthians 5:9-10, he said,
- 00:22:02.144 --> 00:22:05.414
- "for we had as our ambition, our goal,
- 00:22:05.414 --> 00:22:09.384
- Whether here or absent, to be pleasing to god,
- 00:22:09.384 --> 00:22:13.522
- For we must all appear
- 00:22:13.522 --> 00:22:14.990
- Before the judgment seat of christ,
- 00:22:14.990 --> 00:22:17.392
- That each one of us may be rewarded
- 00:22:17.392 --> 00:22:19.394
- For what we've done in the body,
- 00:22:19.394 --> 00:22:21.263
- Whether it be good or worthless."
- 00:22:21.263 --> 00:22:24.599
- What do you think about most often?
- 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:26.134
- Whom are you trying to impress?
- 00:22:26.134 --> 00:22:28.069
- And the final question, what are you living for?
- 00:22:28.069 --> 00:22:33.074
- What are you living for?
- 00:22:33.575 --> 00:22:34.976
- Remember the old soap opera "one life to live?"
- 00:22:34.976 --> 00:22:38.713
- Never watched it, but i thought the title was intriguing.
- 00:22:38.713 --> 00:22:41.783
- "one life to live.
- 00:22:41.783 --> 00:22:43.285
- That's an important truth.
- 00:22:43.285 --> 00:22:44.486
- We all only have one life to live.
- 00:22:44.486 --> 00:22:47.689
- What is your ultimate goal in life?
- 00:22:47.689 --> 00:22:50.358
- Again, is it measured in possessions
- 00:22:51.126 --> 00:22:53.028
- Or pleasures or relationships?
- 00:22:53.028 --> 00:22:56.665
- If god truly has first place in your life,
- 00:22:56.665 --> 00:23:00.669
- You're living for one thing,
- 00:23:00.669 --> 00:23:03.205
- To discover god's will
- 00:23:03.705 --> 00:23:05.307
- For your life and then do it with all of your heart.
- 00:23:05.307 --> 00:23:11.146
- The christian mystic, madame guyon said,
- 00:23:12.013 --> 00:23:14.716
- "there are really only two principles,
- 00:23:14.716 --> 00:23:18.787
- Competing principles that govern this universe,
- 00:23:18.787 --> 00:23:22.290
- One principle is the one that has me
- 00:23:22.290 --> 00:23:25.160
- At the center of my universe.
- 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:28.029
- The other is the one that has god at the center
- 00:23:28.029 --> 00:23:30.932
- Of the universe.
- 00:23:30.932 --> 00:23:32.801
- It's one or the other.
- 00:23:33.301 --> 00:23:35.303
- It can't be both."
- 00:23:35.303 --> 00:23:36.805
- The person who has god at the center of his universe
- 00:23:37.873 --> 00:23:42.110
- Will have thoughts that turn to him naturally.
- 00:23:42.110 --> 00:23:45.280
- We'll be living to impress him and him alone
- 00:23:45.280 --> 00:23:48.617
- And will seek to do his will whatever the cost.
- 00:23:48.617 --> 00:23:54.422
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:54.756 --> 00:23:58.226
- Who or what is the center of your universe?
- 00:23:59.094 --> 00:24:02.631
- God or something, or someone else?
- 00:24:02.631 --> 00:24:05.867
- I hope today's message prompts you
- 00:24:05.867 --> 00:24:07.569
- To make a careful evaluation of your top priority.
- 00:24:07.569 --> 00:24:11.973
- Well, now more than ever,
- 00:24:11.973 --> 00:24:13.375
- We need men and women across america to step up
- 00:24:13.375 --> 00:24:15.810
- And be salt and light for the gospel of jesus christ.
- 00:24:15.810 --> 00:24:19.481
- And you can join this movement
- 00:24:19.481 --> 00:24:21.416
- By giving toward the $1.5 million
- 00:24:21.416 --> 00:24:24.352
- In god we trust matching challenge.
- 00:24:24.352 --> 00:24:27.188
- A group of generous friends have made it possible
- 00:24:27.188 --> 00:24:29.491
- For your gift today to be matched,
- 00:24:29.491 --> 00:24:31.359
- And therefore, doubled in impact.
- 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:33.895
- The only hope for our nation is the transforming power
- 00:24:33.895 --> 00:24:37.332
- Of the gospel of jesus christ.
- 00:24:37.332 --> 00:24:39.601
- And your generosity will help us broadcast
- 00:24:39.601 --> 00:24:42.170
- God's word across america.
- 00:24:42.170 --> 00:24:44.839
- Stay right there and i'll be back
- 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:46.308
- With more "pathway to victory," in just a moment.
- 00:24:46.308 --> 00:24:49.678
- Most of us grew up seeing the 10 commandments posted
- 00:24:50.745 --> 00:24:53.081
- In our schools and courthouses,
- 00:24:53.081 --> 00:24:55.150
- So why don't we seem
- 00:24:55.150 --> 00:24:56.418
- To follow those 10 commandments anymore?
- 00:24:56.418 --> 00:24:59.120
- In "the 10," dr. robert jeffress shows us
- 00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:01.990
- These ancient truths were not given
- 00:25:01.990 --> 00:25:03.892
- To us to take away our freedom,
- 00:25:03.892 --> 00:25:06.094
- They were given to enhance our happiness,
- 00:25:06.094 --> 00:25:08.663
- And to invite us into a deeper love relationship with god.
- 00:25:08.663 --> 00:25:12.334
- In a culture where moral confusion reigns
- 00:25:12.334 --> 00:25:15.303
- For what's right is wrong
- 00:25:15.303 --> 00:25:16.871
- And what's wrong is right, we desperately need to get back
- 00:25:16.871 --> 00:25:20.175
- To the basics of morality.
- 00:25:20.175 --> 00:25:22.177
- And that's exactly what the 10 commandments help us do.
- 00:25:22.177 --> 00:25:25.847
- "the 10," by dr. robert jeffress.
- 00:25:25.847 --> 00:25:28.617
- A copy is yours today
- 00:25:28.617 --> 00:25:30.051
- When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
- 00:25:30.051 --> 00:25:32.954
- And when your ministry gift is $125 or more,
- 00:25:32.954 --> 00:25:36.491
- You'll receive not only the book,
- 00:25:36.491 --> 00:25:38.326
- But a personal and group study guide,
- 00:25:38.326 --> 00:25:40.528
- "the 10" encouragement cards,
- 00:25:40.528 --> 00:25:42.364
- A colorful children's book called
- 00:25:42.364 --> 00:25:44.132
- "the 10 commandments for kids"
- 00:25:44.132 --> 00:25:46.301
- And the complete series on dvd, video, and audio disc.
- 00:25:46.301 --> 00:25:50.305
- You will never make it to heaven
- 00:25:50.305 --> 00:25:52.273
- By keeping the 10 commandments,
- 00:25:52.273 --> 00:25:54.609
- But you will have a much better life here
- 00:25:54.609 --> 00:25:57.178
- On earth if you do.
- 00:25:57.178 --> 00:25:58.446
- That is the promise that god is making.
- 00:25:58.446 --> 00:26:01.249
- For 30 years, "pathway to victory"
- 00:26:01.249 --> 00:26:03.551
- Has been sharing god's truth with a world
- 00:26:03.551 --> 00:26:05.954
- That needs it now more than ever.
- 00:26:05.954 --> 00:26:08.089
- And when you give today, your gift will be doubled in impact
- 00:26:08.089 --> 00:26:11.760
- Through the in god we trust matching challenge.
- 00:26:11.760 --> 00:26:14.996
- Thank you for helping us pierce the darkness
- 00:26:14.996 --> 00:26:17.632
- With the light of god's word.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- Perhaps as you've been watching today,
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- You realize that god isn't first in your life.
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- Oh, sure you love god and you're grateful for his blessings,
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- But he's not the center of your world.
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- Let today be the day you change that.
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- Well, the first commandment tells us whom we are to worship,
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- And the second commandment tells us how are
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- To worship the one true god.
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- Stay tuned for a preview
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- Of what's coming up next in our series, "the 10."
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- It's everything normal for us
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- To desire physical representations of our faith.
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- The downside of seeking physical representations
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- Of our faith is that if we're not careful,
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- We start to worship the objects of faith,
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- Rather than the god whom those objects represent.
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- Set your dvr and join us next time
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- For the message, the second commandment:
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- Worship the true god," here on "pathway to victory."
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