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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Going Without Knowing (Part 2) | May 7, 2026
- ♪ music ♪
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- Ephesus, thessaloniki, the greek islands,
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- The apostle paul didn't just write about these places,
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- He lived in them!
- 00:00:07.230 --> 00:00:08.631
- And this may, so can you on the "pathway to victory"
- 00:00:08.631 --> 00:00:11.734
- Journeys of paul cruise.
- 00:00:11.734 --> 00:00:13.436
- I've read the book of acts my entire life,
- 00:00:13.436 --> 00:00:15.972
- But there's nothing like standing in ephesus,
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- Walking where paul walked,
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- And feeling the weight of what happened there.
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- Nine unforgettable nights aboard celebrity infinity,
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- Sailing round trip from athens, with stops in mykonos,
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- Rhodes, santorini, and more!
- 00:00:29.419 --> 00:00:31.821
- And there's an optional pre-cruise extension in athens!
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- Every port carries
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- The fingerprints of god's redemptive plan.
- 00:00:36.693 --> 00:00:39.295
- Every ancient stone tells a story.
- 00:00:39.295 --> 00:00:41.965
- This is truly the trip of a lifetime,
- 00:00:41.965 --> 00:00:44.367
- And i promise you
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- You will never read the bible the same way again.
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- Reserve your cabin today for the 2027
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- "pathway to victory" journeys of paul cruise.
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- Call 888-280-6747.
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- Or visit ptv.org.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- From the pulpit of
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- 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, i'm robert jeffress
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- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- When facing a major life decision with high stakes,
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- Wouldn't it be nice if god would simply come forward
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- And point you in the right direction?
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- Well, god rarely gives us a clear-cut answer,
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- But he does give us some principles
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- To help us make those decisions.
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- And today, we're going to look at
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- Two well-known figures in scripture
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- Who illustrate how faith enables us
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- To submit to god's will for our lives.
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- My message is titled "going without knowing,"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ i can see jesus ♪
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- ♪ high and exalted ♪
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- ♪ my eyes are fixed upon his face ♪
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- ♪ it shines like the sun ♪
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- ♪ i can see jesus ♪
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- ♪ clothed in glory ♪
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- ♪ he is high and lifted up ♪
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- ♪ and his faith is a temple ♪
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- ♪ and all of the angels cry holy ♪
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- ♪ all the saints cry holy ♪
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- ♪ all creation cries holy ♪
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- ♪ holy ♪
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- ♪ holy is the lamb ♪
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- ♪ all praise unto the lamb who sits on the throne ♪
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- ♪ honor and power, dominion and praise ♪
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- ♪ hallelujah ♪
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- ♪ unto the lamb who sits on the throne ♪
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- ♪ honor and power, dominion and praise ♪
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- ♪ hallelujah ♪
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- ♪ unto the lamb who sits on the throne ♪
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- -♪ honor and power ♪ -♪ hallelujah ♪
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- ♪ dominion and praise ♪
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- -♪ unto the lamb ♪ -♪ hallelujah ♪
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- ♪ who sits on the throne ♪
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- ♪ hallelujah ♪
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- ♪ dominion and praise ♪
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- -♪ hallelujah ♪ -(dramatic music)
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- ♪ hallelujah ♪
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- -♪ hallelujah ♪ -♪ oh, oh ♪
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- ♪ hallelujah ♪
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- -♪ hallelujah ♪ -♪ ah ♪
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- ♪ hallelujah ♪
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ all praise unto the lamb who sits on the throne ♪
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- ♪ honor and power, dominion and praise ♪
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- ♪ praise ♪
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- ♪ unto the lamb who was and is ♪
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- ♪ and is to come ♪
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- ♪ he is to come ♪
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- ♪ all praise unto the lamb who sits on the throne ♪
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- ♪ honor and power, dominion and praise ♪
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- ♪ praise to the lamb who was and is ♪
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- ♪ and is to come ♪
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- ♪ hallelujah ♪
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- ♪ jesus came, he rose again ♪
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ hallelujah ♪
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- -(congregants applauding) -(congregants cheering)
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- Each day, millions of lost people
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- Are searching for hope and truth.
- 00:05:07.530 --> 00:05:09.732
- Through "pathway to victory,"
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- God's word is reaching into homes across america
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- And around the world,
- 00:05:14.003 --> 00:05:15.338
- But there are still so many who haven't heard
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- The saving message of jesus christ.
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- You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner!
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- You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries
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- Who are sharing the gospel through television and radio.
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- Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide
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- With the life-changing power of the cross.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ music ♪
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- Just think! they left ur of the chaldeans.
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- They were leaving their family,
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- They were leaving their religious traditions,
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- They were leaving their friends,
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- Everything familiar to them,
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- To go to a place
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- That was unidentified at this point to them,
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- All because god said to go.
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- Perhaps you've felt that kind of loneliness too.
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- The loneliness of moving to a new city,
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- Moving to a new church, moving to a new job.
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- Even though you're surrounded by people, you feel all alone.
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- That's what it took for abraham.
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- Why did he do it?
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- Let me tell you why he didn't do it.
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- It's not because he calculated that
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- The new land was better than ur of the chaldeans.
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- He didn't study the housing market or the job market
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- Or the climate or anything else and say,
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- "i think i'd like to move there."
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- No, he went there by faith.
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- Look at verse nine.
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- This gives us great insight of what happened
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- Even after he got there, by faith!
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- Hebrews 11:9,
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- "by faith, abraham lived as an alien in the land of promise,
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- As in a foreign land dwelling in tents with isaac and jacob,
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- Fellow heirs of the same promise."
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- This is interesting.
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- Even when he finally got to the promised land,
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- The bible said he lived, he sojourned.
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- That word means to live as an alien, not a citizen.
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- In the old testament times,
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- An alien was one step above a slave.
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- Had very few rights,
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- Was not really tied to the country that he went to,
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- And that was abraham.
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- The whole time that he and sarah would live in canaan,
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- Did you know they never built a house?
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- They were wealthy, but they never built a house.
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- They lived in tents.
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- They never bought a piece of property
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- Except to be buried on.
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- Why would they do that?
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- Why would they live such detached lives?
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- Verse 10 says, "for he, abraham,
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- Was looking for the city which has foundations
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- Whose architect and builder is god."
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- Abraham was looking for a better city, a more lasting city.
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- He was looking for that new jerusalem.
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- He knew that's where his reward would be.
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- Let me just say this as simply as possible.
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- You know what it means to walk by faith?
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- Walk by faith means taking that next step
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- Even when you can't see the outcome.
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- Taking the next step you know god wants you to take.
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- There's some of you right now
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- Who are living in a fog of confusion,
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- Maybe about your profession, about your marriage,
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- About your children.
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- It's harder now than ever before
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- To see what's going to happen three months from now,
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- Six months from now.
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- God isn't calling you to see the future,
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- To know what's going to happen.
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- He's asking you to take that next step in obedience to him,
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- Walking by faith when you can't see the future.
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- That's what abraham illustrates.
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- His wife sarah illustrates
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- Another aspect of submissive faith.
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- Sometimes submitting to god's commands means
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- Walking with god when you can't see the future,
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- But sometimes it means waiting on god
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- When you can't hear his voice.
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- I remember so well in a previous church
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- We were having a great ministry there,
- 00:09:10.706 --> 00:09:12.475
- But the possibility of going to another church opened up
- 00:09:12.475 --> 00:09:16.412
- And amy and i were really considering
- 00:09:16.412 --> 00:09:18.180
- Whether or not to go to this new church.
- 00:09:18.180 --> 00:09:22.284
- And we tried to keep it quiet, but we couldn't keep it quiet
- 00:09:22.284 --> 00:09:26.322
- And other people in the congregation began knowing that
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- We were considering leaving.
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- And so, i'll never forget a senior adult woman, very wise,
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- She slipped me a note one day that i'll never forget.
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- She said, "pastor, remember,
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- Sometimes it takes more faith to stay in a place
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- Than to go to a new place."
- 00:09:46.075 --> 00:09:48.344
- And we ended up staying for a number of more years
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- And had a great ministry there.
- 00:09:51.514 --> 00:09:53.916
- But that's really true.
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- Faith doesn't always mean going.
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- Sometimes it means staying where you are,
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- Staying in that job,
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- Staying in that marriage,
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- Staying in that church,
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- Or wherever god has you.
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- Waiting on god without hearing.
- 00:10:09.365 --> 00:10:11.767
- Sarah's a great illustration of that.
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- Look at verses 11 and 12.
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- "by faith, even sarah herself received ability to conceive
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- Even beyond the proper time of life,
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- Since she considered him faithful who had promised!
- 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:26.282
- Therefore, there was born even of one man, abraham,
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- And him as good as dead at that,
- 00:10:29.151 --> 00:10:31.053
- As many descendants as the stars of heaven in number
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- And innumerable as the sand, which is by the seashore."
- 00:10:35.257 --> 00:10:39.729
- When this promise came that abraham
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- And sarah were going to be
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- The progenitors of a great nation,
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- Abraham was 75 years old, sarah was 65 years old.
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- Now, to be honest,
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- Their faith wavered at times
- 00:10:55.111 --> 00:10:57.880
- Like the time that abraham and sarah
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- Decided to fulfill god's promise in their way
- 00:10:59.548 --> 00:11:02.952
- By having abraham have relations with haggai,
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- The maid servant of sarai,
- 00:11:05.821 --> 00:11:09.658
- And that didn't work out well.
- 00:11:09.658 --> 00:11:11.761
- That was a complete disaster.
- 00:11:11.761 --> 00:11:13.796
- Then there was the time the angelic visitors came
- 00:11:13.796 --> 00:11:16.232
- And announced it, and the very next year,
- 00:11:16.232 --> 00:11:17.833
- Sarah, when she was 90 years old,
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- Would give birth and she laughed at god.
- 00:11:19.869 --> 00:11:22.505
- Yeah, they had some momentary lapses in their faith,
- 00:11:22.505 --> 00:11:26.142
- But they still believed god most of the time.
- 00:11:27.076 --> 00:11:30.045
- By the way, aren't you glad that god doesn't judge us
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- By one or two slip-ups in our life?
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- That he doesn't judge us because we stumble here and there?
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- Instead, god evaluates our life by the general direction
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- In which we're headed.
- 00:11:46.896 --> 00:11:47.897
- Are we headed toward god?
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- Are we headed away from god?
- 00:11:49.732 --> 00:11:52.768
- Abraham and sarah believed god,
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- Even though they had lapses of faith.
- 00:11:55.371 --> 00:11:57.940
- And you have to understand what a tremendous thing it was
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- To believe god.
- 00:12:00.109 --> 00:12:01.644
- I mean, today, for a woman to have a baby when she's 60,
- 00:12:01.644 --> 00:12:06.582
- I mean, that's thought of as just outrageous, miraculous.
- 00:12:07.716 --> 00:12:10.553
- It doesn't happen!
- 00:12:10.553 --> 00:12:12.087
- Imagine a 90-year-old woman having a baby.
- 00:12:12.087 --> 00:12:15.791
- I mean, that would be something for the supermarket tabloid
- 00:12:15.791 --> 00:12:18.627
- Right below the latest sighting of elvis presley.
- 00:12:18.627 --> 00:12:21.497
- I mean, you just don't hear about that!
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- 90-year-old women having babies!
- 00:12:23.232 --> 00:12:26.001
- And think about abraham! abraham, 100 years of age!
- 00:12:26.001 --> 00:12:31.373
- The bible says in verse 12, "he was as good as dead."
- 00:12:32.474 --> 00:12:37.146
- (congregants laugh)
- 00:12:37.146 --> 00:12:38.781
- Now, some of you ladies know what it means
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- To be married to somebody who is as good as dead.
- 00:12:40.583 --> 00:12:44.186
- You can't tell the difference.
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- That was sarah!
- 00:12:45.988 --> 00:12:47.690
- Doesn't god have a great sense of humor?
- 00:12:47.690 --> 00:12:49.992
- But god said when they were 75 and 65,
- 00:12:49.992 --> 00:12:54.063
- "you are going to be parents."
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- He gave the promise
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- And then they didn't hear another word the next year,
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- The next year, the next year,
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- Until the year before the birth.
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- They waited 24 years,
- 00:13:06.675 --> 00:13:09.144
- Believed god without ever hearing a word from god.
- 00:13:09.144 --> 00:13:13.983
- Waiting on god when he is silent.
- 00:13:14.717 --> 00:13:17.920
- Some of you know what that's like as well.
- 00:13:17.920 --> 00:13:21.757
- You're waiting on god
- 00:13:22.258 --> 00:13:23.392
- To do something miraculous in your life.
- 00:13:23.392 --> 00:13:26.362
- You're waiting on god to turn your child
- 00:13:27.229 --> 00:13:30.966
- Or grandchild's heart back to the lord again.
- 00:13:30.966 --> 00:13:33.802
- You're waiting on god to change the heart of your husband
- 00:13:34.937 --> 00:13:39.341
- Or wife toward you.
- 00:13:39.341 --> 00:13:41.477
- You're waiting on god to bring healing to yourself
- 00:13:42.511 --> 00:13:46.148
- Or somebody you care about.
- 00:13:46.148 --> 00:13:48.284
- Faith means believing god will do what he has promised to do
- 00:13:49.485 --> 00:13:53.255
- And acting accordingly.
- 00:13:53.255 --> 00:13:55.457
- And sometimes acting accordingly means waiting on god.
- 00:13:55.457 --> 00:13:59.495
- Abraham demonstrates that a submissive faith walks with god
- 00:13:59.495 --> 00:14:03.399
- When you can't see the future.
- 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:05.334
- Sarah illustrates that submissive faith means waiting on god
- 00:14:06.602 --> 00:14:09.672
- When you can't hear his voice.
- 00:14:09.672 --> 00:14:11.907
- Why were abraham
- 00:14:11.907 --> 00:14:13.409
- And sarah able to exercise this kind of profound faith?
- 00:14:13.409 --> 00:14:17.179
- Remember, they had no bible, old or new testament.
- 00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:21.116
- They didn't have thousands of years of church history of men
- 00:14:21.116 --> 00:14:24.353
- And women who had gone before them.
- 00:14:24.353 --> 00:14:26.455
- What is it that allowed them
- 00:14:26.455 --> 00:14:29.124
- To exercise this invaluable quality of faith?
- 00:14:29.124 --> 00:14:32.561
- Remember hebrews 11:6?
- 00:14:32.561 --> 00:14:34.330
- "without faith, it's impossible to please god."
- 00:14:34.330 --> 00:14:38.467
- How did they do it?
- 00:14:38.467 --> 00:14:39.935
- Let me give you three reasons
- 00:14:39.935 --> 00:14:41.570
- They were able to exercise a submissive, obedient faith.
- 00:14:41.570 --> 00:14:45.941
- Number one, they released their grip on the present.
- 00:14:45.941 --> 00:14:51.280
- They released their grip on the present.
- 00:14:52.147 --> 00:14:53.048
- Look at verses 13 and 14.
- 00:14:53.048 --> 00:14:54.717
- "all these died in faith without receiving the promises,
- 00:14:54.717 --> 00:14:58.554
- But having seen them
- 00:14:58.554 --> 00:14:59.822
- And having welcomed them from a distance
- 00:14:59.822 --> 00:15:01.890
- And having confessed that they were strangers
- 00:15:01.890 --> 00:15:05.127
- And exiles on the earth.
- 00:15:05.127 --> 00:15:06.962
- For those who say such things make it clear that
- 00:15:06.962 --> 00:15:09.298
- They are seeking a country of their own."
- 00:15:09.298 --> 00:15:12.735
- Even after they arrived in the promise land,
- 00:15:12.735 --> 00:15:15.571
- They never got too comfortable there.
- 00:15:15.571 --> 00:15:18.107
- They never built the house, they never owned the property.
- 00:15:18.107 --> 00:15:21.276
- Why? they knew this world is not their home.
- 00:15:21.276 --> 00:15:24.179
- They were just passing through.
- 00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:26.682
- And they realized how easily their lives could be uprooted.
- 00:15:26.682 --> 00:15:30.085
- After all, when they were 60 and 50,
- 00:15:30.085 --> 00:15:32.755
- God had uprooted them from ur of the chaldeans.
- 00:15:32.755 --> 00:15:35.824
- How did they know
- 00:15:36.258 --> 00:15:37.526
- God wouldn't do the same thing to them again?
- 00:15:37.526 --> 00:15:39.661
- They knew the best way to go through life walking with god
- 00:15:39.661 --> 00:15:43.565
- Is to hold onto life loosely,
- 00:15:43.565 --> 00:15:46.935
- Holding onto their possessions, their plans loosely.
- 00:15:47.970 --> 00:15:52.107
- That's why they were able to walk with faith.
- 00:15:52.107 --> 00:15:54.943
- They released their grip on their present circumstances.
- 00:15:54.943 --> 00:15:58.580
- Paul said it this way in philippians 3:20,
- 00:15:58.580 --> 00:16:01.316
- "for our citizenship is in heaven
- 00:16:01.316 --> 00:16:05.020
- From which we eagerly await for a savior,
- 00:16:05.020 --> 00:16:08.123
- The lord jesus christ."
- 00:16:08.123 --> 00:16:10.192
- Our citizenship is up there.
- 00:16:10.192 --> 00:16:12.728
- Now, some christians take that to the extreme.
- 00:16:12.728 --> 00:16:15.330
- They think because our citizenship is up there,
- 00:16:15.330 --> 00:16:17.699
- We can forsake all our responsibilities here.
- 00:16:17.699 --> 00:16:20.135
- No, we live on earth too.
- 00:16:20.135 --> 00:16:22.137
- We have responsibilities to our family, to our work,
- 00:16:22.137 --> 00:16:25.274
- To our government.
- 00:16:25.274 --> 00:16:26.775
- We have responsibilities, but we're never to get
- 00:16:26.775 --> 00:16:29.678
- Too tied up with those responsibilities
- 00:16:29.678 --> 00:16:32.514
- To the point that we forget where our real citizenship is.
- 00:16:32.514 --> 00:16:36.785
- You know, every now and then we get a reminder
- 00:16:36.785 --> 00:16:40.956
- That helps us loosen our grip on the present.
- 00:16:41.857 --> 00:16:44.860
- Have you ever had a doctor say,
- 00:16:45.494 --> 00:16:47.062
- "there's something suspicious on that x-ray?
- 00:16:47.062 --> 00:16:52.301
- We need to run some more tests."
- 00:16:52.935 --> 00:16:54.970
- And sometimes you go for weeks or days,
- 00:16:55.804 --> 00:16:59.241
- Wondering what the outcome is going to be.
- 00:16:59.241 --> 00:17:02.244
- When you're confronted with the possibility of your death,
- 00:17:02.244 --> 00:17:05.314
- It's interesting how those things that seemed urgent
- 00:17:05.314 --> 00:17:09.451
- Are now unimportant,
- 00:17:09.451 --> 00:17:11.253
- And those things a few days earlier
- 00:17:11.253 --> 00:17:12.955
- That had seemed unimportant now seem urgent.
- 00:17:12.955 --> 00:17:16.658
- That's what the possibility of death does for you,
- 00:17:16.658 --> 00:17:19.528
- Makes you prioritize the things that are essential.
- 00:17:19.528 --> 00:17:24.366
- I think one of the benefits, frankly, of this pandemic
- 00:17:24.366 --> 00:17:28.103
- Has been that it's cut through the illusion
- 00:17:28.103 --> 00:17:30.239
- That we're in control of our life.
- 00:17:30.239 --> 00:17:32.841
- It was just an illusion anyway. we don't control our life.
- 00:17:32.841 --> 00:17:36.745
- We've been forced to confront our own mortality.
- 00:17:36.745 --> 00:17:40.516
- It's helped us release our grip
- 00:17:40.516 --> 00:17:42.584
- On our present circumstances.
- 00:17:42.584 --> 00:17:44.153
- That's key to walking or waiting in faith.
- 00:17:44.153 --> 00:17:48.056
- But not only did they release their grip on the present,
- 00:17:48.056 --> 00:17:50.659
- Secondly, they renounced their past.
- 00:17:50.659 --> 00:17:53.695
- Look at verse 15.
- 00:17:53.695 --> 00:17:55.130
- "and indeed, if they had been thinking of that country
- 00:17:55.130 --> 00:17:57.733
- From which they went out,
- 00:17:57.733 --> 00:17:59.635
- They could have had an opportunity to return."
- 00:17:59.635 --> 00:18:02.437
- You know, as they made their way to canaan,
- 00:18:03.338 --> 00:18:04.773
- They faced some real struggles, abraham and sarah,
- 00:18:04.773 --> 00:18:08.010
- And it would've been tempting to think,
- 00:18:08.010 --> 00:18:09.545
- "oh, for the good old days of ur of the chaldeans.
- 00:18:09.545 --> 00:18:13.582
- How i long for being with my friends
- 00:18:13.582 --> 00:18:16.518
- And fellow idol worshipers.
- 00:18:16.518 --> 00:18:18.620
- How i wish i could go back home."
- 00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:21.523
- That's a common temptation
- 00:18:22.090 --> 00:18:23.659
- For anybody who's trying to walk forward in faith.
- 00:18:23.659 --> 00:18:27.162
- I think about that song that our friends the hoppers sing.
- 00:18:27.162 --> 00:18:30.766
- "i've come too far to look back again.
- 00:18:30.766 --> 00:18:33.902
- There is nothing behind me.
- 00:18:33.902 --> 00:18:36.305
- All the treasures i used to love have faded from view.
- 00:18:36.305 --> 00:18:39.808
- There's a new day ahead of me.
- 00:18:39.808 --> 00:18:41.577
- All my heartache is over,
- 00:18:41.577 --> 00:18:43.478
- For i left it at calvary where my new life began."
- 00:18:43.478 --> 00:18:48.217
- Those who want to please god, walk with god,
- 00:18:49.117 --> 00:18:52.154
- Cannot afford the luxury of looking back.
- 00:18:52.154 --> 00:18:56.258
- For some of you, god has called you out of a certain city.
- 00:18:57.392 --> 00:19:02.130
- He's called you out of a certain profession.
- 00:19:02.130 --> 00:19:04.733
- Maybe he's called you out of a certain lifestyle.
- 00:19:04.733 --> 00:19:07.869
- Don't look back.
- 00:19:07.869 --> 00:19:10.339
- Don't long for the good old days because, frankly,
- 00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:13.075
- The good old days aren't as good as we remember anyway.
- 00:19:13.075 --> 00:19:16.979
- God wants us to set our hearts on the future,
- 00:19:16.979 --> 00:19:19.948
- And that leads to the third principle of submissive faith.
- 00:19:19.948 --> 00:19:23.418
- That is abraham and sarah refocused their affection
- 00:19:23.418 --> 00:19:27.789
- On the future.
- 00:19:27.789 --> 00:19:29.157
- Look at verse 16.
- 00:19:29.157 --> 00:19:30.425
- "but as it is, they desire a better country,
- 00:19:30.425 --> 00:19:33.428
- That is a heavenly one.
- 00:19:33.428 --> 00:19:35.297
- Therefore, god is not ashamed to be called their god
- 00:19:35.297 --> 00:19:38.634
- For he has prepared a city for them."
- 00:19:38.634 --> 00:19:41.870
- Their focus was not just on canaan, but it was on heaven,
- 00:19:41.870 --> 00:19:46.074
- The new city, the new jerusalem.
- 00:19:46.074 --> 00:19:49.244
- Have you ever heard the expression,
- 00:19:49.244 --> 00:19:51.380
- "people who are just too heavenly minded
- 00:19:52.247 --> 00:19:55.350
- To be of any earthly good?"
- 00:19:55.350 --> 00:19:57.052
- Have you ever heard that before?
- 00:19:57.052 --> 00:19:58.987
- People who are always thinking about heaven.
- 00:19:58.987 --> 00:20:01.723
- There's no such thing as a person
- 00:20:02.457 --> 00:20:04.092
- Who thinks too much about heaven.
- 00:20:04.092 --> 00:20:06.461
- In fact, c.s. lewis said,
- 00:20:06.461 --> 00:20:08.030
- "the problem is not that we think too much about heaven,
- 00:20:08.030 --> 00:20:11.133
- It's that we think too little of it."
- 00:20:11.133 --> 00:20:14.102
- And he went on to say, "history has shown that
- 00:20:14.102 --> 00:20:16.104
- Those who have made the greatest difference for god
- 00:20:16.104 --> 00:20:18.707
- Are those who thought most about the next life
- 00:20:18.707 --> 00:20:24.313
- While doing the most in this life."
- 00:20:25.080 --> 00:20:27.916
- And that was the secret to abraham and sarah.
- 00:20:28.850 --> 00:20:30.519
- They were focusing on the future.
- 00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:34.189
- Ladies and gentlemen,
- 00:20:34.690 --> 00:20:36.291
- Before you will ever refocus your affection on the future,
- 00:20:36.291 --> 00:20:40.262
- There is an issue you have to get settled in your heart
- 00:20:41.363 --> 00:20:43.799
- Once and for all.
- 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:45.634
- Are you living your life to please yourself?
- 00:20:46.535 --> 00:20:51.640
- Or are you living your life to please jesus christ?
- 00:20:52.674 --> 00:20:57.212
- Is the focus of your life in acquiring as many possessions
- 00:20:57.212 --> 00:21:01.783
- And achievements and pleasures as you possibly can?
- 00:21:01.783 --> 00:21:06.221
- Or is the focus of your life doing everything you can
- 00:21:07.255 --> 00:21:11.059
- To build the kingdom of god?
- 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:13.362
- Your focus is one or the other. it can't be both.
- 00:21:14.296 --> 00:21:19.000
- You know, when i think about this idea of abraham
- 00:21:20.001 --> 00:21:23.472
- And sarah focusing on the future
- 00:21:23.472 --> 00:21:25.741
- Because they believe that god is a rewarder of those
- 00:21:25.741 --> 00:21:29.077
- Who diligently follow after him.
- 00:21:29.077 --> 00:21:31.279
- When i think about that,
- 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.481
- I think about the scottish brothers,
- 00:21:32.481 --> 00:21:34.583
- John and david livingston,
- 00:21:34.583 --> 00:21:36.218
- Who lived more than 200 years ago.
- 00:21:36.218 --> 00:21:39.588
- John livingston had as his life's goal
- 00:21:40.422 --> 00:21:44.459
- To accumulate as much money as he possibly could,
- 00:21:44.459 --> 00:21:48.897
- And he did.
- 00:21:48.897 --> 00:21:50.232
- He achieved a pile of money with his life.
- 00:21:50.232 --> 00:21:54.236
- But if you looked up the name john livingston
- 00:21:54.236 --> 00:21:56.872
- In the old encyclopedia...
- 00:21:56.872 --> 00:21:59.574
- Remember encyclopedias? remember those?
- 00:21:59.574 --> 00:22:03.078
- If you had looked up the name john livingston
- 00:22:03.078 --> 00:22:05.180
- In the "encyclopedia britannica,"
- 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:07.249
- It would've had one line about him.
- 00:22:07.249 --> 00:22:09.117
- "john livingston, brother of david livingston."
- 00:22:09.117 --> 00:22:14.389
- And who was david livingston?
- 00:22:15.023 --> 00:22:16.491
- He was that scottish minister, missionary,
- 00:22:16.491 --> 00:22:20.462
- Medical doctor who spent his life in africa,
- 00:22:20.462 --> 00:22:24.166
- Died in africa, sharing the gospel of jesus christ
- 00:22:24.166 --> 00:22:27.669
- With as many people as possible.
- 00:22:27.669 --> 00:22:30.272
- Why would somebody give their life to do that?
- 00:22:30.272 --> 00:22:33.341
- Early in his ministry,
- 00:22:33.341 --> 00:22:34.643
- David livingston knelt before god, saying,
- 00:22:34.643 --> 00:22:37.412
- "i will place no value on anything i have or may possess
- 00:22:37.412 --> 00:22:42.751
- Unless it's in relationship to the kingdom of god."
- 00:22:43.785 --> 00:22:48.256
- Today, if you travel to westminster abbey in london
- 00:22:49.291 --> 00:22:52.060
- And look at the plaque above his burial spot,
- 00:22:52.060 --> 00:22:55.030
- It says this,
- 00:22:55.030 --> 00:22:56.531
- "for 30 years his life was spent
- 00:22:56.531 --> 00:23:00.135
- In an unwearied effort to evangelize."
- 00:23:00.135 --> 00:23:04.873
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:04.873 --> 00:23:05.707
- Why?
- 00:23:05.707 --> 00:23:06.808
- Because david livingston
- 00:23:06.808 --> 00:23:08.043
- Was looking for that better country,
- 00:23:08.043 --> 00:23:10.779
- That more lasting country.
- 00:23:11.346 --> 00:23:13.515
- And like abraham and sarah,
- 00:23:14.115 --> 00:23:16.318
- He believed that god is a rewarder
- 00:23:16.318 --> 00:23:19.654
- Of those who diligently seek after him.
- 00:23:19.654 --> 00:23:23.625
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:23.625 --> 00:23:27.929
- Yes, god rewards those who diligently seek after him,
- 00:23:28.997 --> 00:23:33.268
- And that truth is etched into scripture
- 00:23:33.268 --> 00:23:35.337
- As an irrevocable promise of god.
- 00:23:35.337 --> 00:23:38.473
- Well, in the time remaining today,
- 00:23:38.473 --> 00:23:40.141
- I want to remind you that
- 00:23:40.141 --> 00:23:41.376
- When you invest in "pathway to victory"
- 00:23:41.376 --> 00:23:43.111
- By giving a generous gift,
- 00:23:43.111 --> 00:23:45.113
- You're making an eternal impact
- 00:23:45.113 --> 00:23:47.382
- In the lives of those who benefit from this ministry.
- 00:23:47.382 --> 00:23:50.785
- We use every single gift to shine the bright light of truth
- 00:23:50.785 --> 00:23:54.956
- Into the places of darkness.
- 00:23:54.956 --> 00:23:57.192
- In doing so, we're reaching christians across america
- 00:23:57.192 --> 00:24:00.262
- And around the world, just like you,
- 00:24:00.262 --> 00:24:02.664
- Who want to bolster their faith
- 00:24:02.664 --> 00:24:04.633
- Even when the future feels uncertain.
- 00:24:04.633 --> 00:24:07.669
- So, thank you for partnering with us
- 00:24:07.669 --> 00:24:09.738
- As together we pierce the darkness
- 00:24:09.738 --> 00:24:12.474
- With the light of god's word.
- 00:24:12.474 --> 00:24:14.576
- Now, please stay right there.
- 00:24:14.576 --> 00:24:16.111
- I'll be back with one final word for today in just a moment.
- 00:24:16.111 --> 00:24:19.915
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:24:19.915 --> 00:24:21.149
- Dr. robert jeffress has written a book
- 00:24:21.149 --> 00:24:22.884
- To help you rediscover the joy of time with god.
- 00:24:22.884 --> 00:24:26.221
- It's called "spiritual essentials."
- 00:24:26.221 --> 00:24:28.490
- In "spiritual essentials,"
- 00:24:28.490 --> 00:24:30.091
- I share three simple,
- 00:24:30.091 --> 00:24:31.960
- Deeply personal ways you can make god's word
- 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:34.996
- A meaningful part of your everyday life,
- 00:24:34.996 --> 00:24:37.866
- Including a practical plan to help you get started today.
- 00:24:37.866 --> 00:24:42.103
- These are the same strategies i use in my own bible study.
- 00:24:42.103 --> 00:24:46.174
- I'll also show you how to pray with purpose
- 00:24:46.174 --> 00:24:48.743
- And confidence for your children and grandchildren.
- 00:24:48.743 --> 00:24:52.447
- Whether you've been walking with god for decades
- 00:24:52.447 --> 00:24:54.516
- Or you're just getting started,
- 00:24:54.516 --> 00:24:55.750
- "spiritual essentials" will help you
- 00:24:55.750 --> 00:24:57.586
- Get back to the basics of your faith
- 00:24:57.586 --> 00:24:59.788
- And experience god's presence in a fresh new way.
- 00:24:59.788 --> 00:25:03.592
- Request your copy of "spiritual essentials"
- 00:25:03.592 --> 00:25:05.927
- When you give a generous gift
- 00:25:05.927 --> 00:25:07.362
- To support the ministry of "pathway to victory."
- 00:25:07.362 --> 00:25:10.031
- And when you give $50 or more, we'll also send you
- 00:25:10.031 --> 00:25:13.301
- The complete "spiritual fitness" teaching series
- 00:25:13.301 --> 00:25:16.071
- On both cd and dvd.
- 00:25:16.071 --> 00:25:18.073
- When we go through fiery problems in our life,
- 00:25:18.073 --> 00:25:22.143
- Sometimes those problems can strengthen us,
- 00:25:22.143 --> 00:25:26.514
- But sometimes they can cause our faith to shatter.
- 00:25:26.514 --> 00:25:30.018
- Thank you for giving generously to "pathway to victory!"
- 00:25:30.018 --> 00:25:33.421
- Every day, your support makes it possible to reach people
- 00:25:33.421 --> 00:25:36.491
- Across the nation and around the world
- 00:25:36.491 --> 00:25:38.593
- With the practical life-changing truth of god's word,
- 00:25:38.593 --> 00:25:42.364
- Transforming lives, strengthening families,
- 00:25:42.364 --> 00:25:45.667
- And pointing a lost world toward hope in jesus christ.
- 00:25:45.667 --> 00:25:51.139
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:25:51.473 --> 00:25:52.707
- Maybe for you,
- 00:25:52.707 --> 00:25:54.209
- Faith means taking that next step of obedience to god.
- 00:25:54.209 --> 00:25:57.379
- Are you willing to step forward
- 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:59.080
- Even if you can't see the future?
- 00:25:59.080 --> 00:26:01.416
- Or maybe faith for you means waiting on god
- 00:26:01.416 --> 00:26:03.918
- And not losing hope, even though you can't hear god's voice.
- 00:26:03.918 --> 00:26:08.189
- Abraham and sarah had plenty of reasons not to believe,
- 00:26:08.189 --> 00:26:11.793
- Yet they chose to walk with god in submissive faith.
- 00:26:11.793 --> 00:26:16.665
- Well, if you're a christian parent,
- 00:26:16.665 --> 00:26:18.500
- Your most important responsibility
- 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:20.835
- Is your child's spiritual development.
- 00:26:20.835 --> 00:26:23.538
- So, how can mothers and fathers teach their children
- 00:26:23.538 --> 00:26:26.641
- To love and obey jesus christ?
- 00:26:26.641 --> 00:26:29.110
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
- 00:26:29.110 --> 00:26:31.780
- On "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:31.780 --> 00:26:34.449
- For better or for worse,
- 00:26:34.949 --> 00:26:36.851
- Your faith or lack of faith will be multiplied
- 00:26:36.851 --> 00:26:42.190
- And amplified through the generations that follow you.
- 00:26:43.291 --> 00:26:46.561
- Let me ask you this morning:
- 00:26:47.162 --> 00:26:48.463
- What kind of legacy are you building right now
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- That is going to be left for your children,
- 00:26:52.801 --> 00:26:55.637
- Your grandchildren,
- 00:26:55.637 --> 00:26:57.038
- And the great-grandchildren that you have?
- 00:26:57.038 --> 00:26:59.741
- Are you teaching them by your example that
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- The most important thing in life is to know, love,
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- And serve jesus christ?
- 00:27:06.948 --> 00:27:09.484
- Set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
- 00:27:09.484 --> 00:27:12.554
- "a legacy of faith" here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:27:12.554 --> 00:27:16.091
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:27:16.091 --> 00:27:16.091
