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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Heart Surgery 101 (Part 1) | July 9, 2025
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- ♪♪♪
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- Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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- Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
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- Dr. robert jeffress.
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- Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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- Again to "pathway to victory."
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- Have you ever thought about what makes christianity different
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- From every other religion?
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- It's not about trying harder or following a set of rules.
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- It's about transformation from the inside out.
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- Today we're going to explore how god changes us at the deepest
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- Level of our being, our hearts.
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- This internal transformation is essential to experience the
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- Kingdom benefits god intends for you.
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- My message is titled, "heart surgery 101," on today's edition
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- Of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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- Announcer: give your heart the encouragement it needs.
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- Start and end each day meditating on god's word with
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- "encouragement for the heart of a disciple."
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- This brand new beautiful full-color, padded, hardcover
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- Book by dr. robert jeffress features 80 breathtaking images
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- Of creation paired with scripture, prayers, and insights
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- You can read in under two minutes.
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- Perfect for your coffee table or as a thoughtful gift for a
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- Loved one.
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- Request "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" when you
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- Give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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- Jeffress: how many of you desire to live in the kingdom of god?
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- You say, "pastor, that is a dumb question.
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- I mean, especially when you consider the alternative: living
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- Outside the kingdom of god.
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- We know what jesus said outside the kingdom of god is.
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- It's a place where there's darkness, weeping, the gnashing
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- Of teeth.
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- Who would ever choose to live outside the kingdom of god?"
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- And yet many people are making that choice right now to live
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- Outside the kingdom of god.
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- You see, the kingdom of god is not a synonym for heaven.
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- Now, heaven is the ultimate expression of the kingdom
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- Of god.
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- It's where everybody will revere, respect, and obey
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- God's will.
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- Likewise, hell is the ultimate expression and destination of
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- Those who refuse to respect, revere, and submit to
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- God's will.
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- But that delineation between the kingdom of god and outside the
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- Kingdom of god is a delineation we see right now, here on earth.
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- You remember a monarch's kingdom is that area where everyone
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- Respects and reveres the king's will.
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- For example, queen elizabeth is the monarch over great britain.
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- People who live within a territory owned by great
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- Britain, they submit to the queen's will.
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- They are part of her kingdom.
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- Do you and i obey the queen of england?
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- No, we are not a part of her kingdom.
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- We are outside the kingdom of great britain.
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- It's the same way with the kingdom of heaven and those who
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- Are outside the kingdom.
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- Those who are living within god's kingdom right now are
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- Those who respect, revere, and obey the will of god.
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- Those who are outside the kingdom of god are those who are
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- Right now rejecting and refusing to obey god's will.
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- Heaven and hell are simply the continual eternity of the
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- Present choices people make right now.
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- Now, think about living in the kingdom of god.
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- Probably one reason you said you want to live in the kingdom of
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- God is you're thinking about those eternal benefits that
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- Await everybody who is gonna be a part of the kingdom of god.
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- We know what those eternal benefits are.
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- We spent a whole sermon series talking about them when we
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- Talked about heaven.
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- You know, bodies that never grow sick again, a reunion with our
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- Loved ones in heaven, freedom from sin, those are all part of
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- The eternal benefits of living in the kingdom of god.
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- But guess what?
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- You don't have to wait until you die to experience the benefits
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- Of god's kingdom.
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- Right now, right now, you can experience the benefits of
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- Living under god's rule.
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- When you submit, respect, revere the will of god in your life
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- Right now, there are some immediate benefits.
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- What are those benefits?
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- Think about freedom from worry.
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- Peace, no matter what is happening around you;
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- Contentment with your financial situation; harmony in all of
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- Your relationships; a freedom from bitterness toward those who
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- Wronged you.
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- You don't have to wait until you die to experience that.
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- Right now, those kingdom benefits belong to you.
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- Now, this is where a lot of christians get mixed up and
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- A lot of non-christians get mixed up.
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- They may say, "well, you know, that sounds good.
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- So how am i gonna start experiencing those kingdom
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- Benefits right now?
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- How do i become a part of the kingdom of god?"
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- Let's go back to our great britain illustration for just
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- A moment.
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- You know, amy and i have been watching "the crown" on netflix.
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- And let's just suppose one evening we're watching that and
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- We say, "you know what, that queen elizabeth, she's a pretty
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- Cool chick and you know, we'd like to be a part of
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- Her kingdom.
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- We would like to live under her reign."
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- And so what do we do?
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- Well, amy and i decide to start sipping tea every day at
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- 3 o'clock.
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- We have high tea.
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- Not only that, we work on developing our british accent,
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- And not only that we memorize the words to the british
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- National anthem and we sing it every morning at breakfast.
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- Does that make us a part of the queen's kingdom?
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- Does that automatically make us citizens of great britain?
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- Of course not.
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- In order to be under the king's reign, we have to become
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- Citizens of great britain.
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- It is the same way with becoming a part of god's kingdom.
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- Telling people to quit getting angry or to start forgiving or
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- Be pure in your relationships, that is useless because people
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- Can't do that naturally.
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- There has to be a transformation of our life that gives us the
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- Desire and the ability to submit to god's will.
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- We're in a series right now called "seven marks of
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- A disciple."
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- And we've said that the essence of being a disciple is a changed
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- Life that comes from a transformed heart.
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- If you haven't written that down yet, write it down across your
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- Outline, because that's what it means to be a disciple.
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- A disciple is somebody who experiences a changed life that
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- Comes from a transformed heart and today we're looking at that
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- First mark of a disciple, which is a transformed heart.
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- You will never become a citizen of god's kingdom, you will never
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- Enjoy the benefits of living as a citizen of god's kingdom,
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- Until you have that transformation of your heart,
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- And that's what we're going to talk about today.
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- Today, i'm gonna answer three questions about
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- Spiritual transformation.
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- Number one, why is it necessary?
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- Number two, who's responsible for it?
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- And number three, what is the process by which it happens in
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- Our life?
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- Let's first of all talk about spiritual transformation.
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- What--or why is it necessary?
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- Turn to 2 corinthians chapter 4.
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- We're gonna take about a 3-minute
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- Course on anatomy, according to the bible.
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- Because if you don't understand this, you'll never understand
- 00:08:07.599 --> 00:08:09.768
- What we're talking about needs to be transformed until you
- 00:08:09.768 --> 00:08:12.938
- Understand what the bible teaches about the heart.
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- You know, in our culture we have been influenced by
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- Greek philosophy.
- 00:08:19.844 --> 00:08:21.212
- Greek philosophy separates the mind from the heart.
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- The mind is the real us.
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- It's our intellect, it's our will.
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- The heart is simply that seat of emotions that can never really
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- Be trusted.
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- But according to the bible, the heart is the center of the
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- Real us.
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- It's the center of our intellect.
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- It's the center of our will and it's the center of our emotion.
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- For example, the bible teaches the heart is the center
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- Of intellect.
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- Proverbs 23:7: "as a man thinks in his," what?
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- "heart, so is he."
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- Where do we think?
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- It's in our heart.
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- It's also the center of our will, the choices that we make.
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- In mark 3:5, there's a description of the pharisees who
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- Rejected christ.
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- It says: "and looking around at them with anger, grieved at the
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- Hardness of their heart."
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- It was their heart that had made the decision to reject christ.
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- Even many times in the bible, the heart is the center
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- Of emotions.
- 00:09:24.009 --> 00:09:25.343
- Now sometimes, in the old testament especially, the seat
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- Of emotions were the bowels, the intestines, of a person, but in
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- The new testament they decided that for valentine's day you
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- Don't want to put a picture of somebody's intestines, so they
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- Started talking about the heart as being the place of emotion
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- And you see that throughout the new testament.
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- For example, luke 24, verse 32, remember there were two
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- Disciples of christ after the resurrection who were walking on
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- The road to emmaus and jesus appeared to them and started
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- Conversing with them, and at first they couldn't figure out
- 00:09:58.443 --> 00:10:00.945
- Who he was, but notice verse 32: "and they said to one another,
- 00:10:00.945 --> 00:10:05.050
- 'were our hearts not burning within us while he was speaking
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- To us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures
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- To us?'"
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- The heart in the bible is the center of our thought, our will,
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- And emotions.
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- Your heart is the real you.
- 00:10:19.864 --> 00:10:22.267
- Now, there is a visible you that everybody sees, but then there
- 00:10:22.267 --> 00:10:26.037
- Is the real you that god sees.
- 00:10:26.037 --> 00:10:28.473
- Man looks on the outward appearance, the physical, but
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- God looks at the heart.
- 00:10:31.876 --> 00:10:35.113
- Now, the bible teaches us that the visible us, that is our
- 00:10:35.113 --> 00:10:40.418
- Bodies, begin deteriorating the moment we draw our first breath.
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- Did you know that?
- 00:10:46.591 --> 00:10:47.926
- The moment you're born, your body starts deteriorating, and
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- Then when you hit age 50, it hits warp speed.
- 00:10:51.863 --> 00:10:56.534
- Do i hear an amen on that?
- 00:10:56.534 --> 00:10:59.270
- But here's the good news.
- 00:10:59.270 --> 00:11:00.905
- Even though we are decaying physically, we can be
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- Transformed spiritually.
- 00:11:04.075 --> 00:11:06.144
- 2 corinthians 4:16 says: "therefore we do not lose heart,
- 00:11:06.144 --> 00:11:11.015
- But though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is
- 00:11:11.015 --> 00:11:15.687
- Being renewed day by day."
- 00:11:15.687 --> 00:11:18.957
- Now when we talk about spiritual transformation to allow us to
- 00:11:18.957 --> 00:11:23.895
- Live the kind of life we want to live, we're talking about the
- 00:11:23.895 --> 00:11:27.265
- Transformation of our heart, our mind, our will, and
- 00:11:27.265 --> 00:11:31.803
- Our emotions.
- 00:11:31.803 --> 00:11:33.605
- Why is that transformation necessary?
- 00:11:33.605 --> 00:11:35.774
- Well, look at what the bible tells us about the heart.
- 00:11:35.774 --> 00:11:38.610
- There are three insights the bible gives us about our hearts.
- 00:11:38.610 --> 00:11:41.880
- First of all, our hearts determine our behavior.
- 00:11:41.880 --> 00:11:46.484
- Our hearts determine our behavior.
- 00:11:46.484 --> 00:11:48.720
- Acts of sexual immorality, outbursts of anger, greed that
- 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:53.825
- Would cause us to steal.
- 00:11:53.825 --> 00:11:55.160
- These are not involuntary responses.
- 00:11:55.160 --> 00:11:58.997
- They are all the fruit, the manifestation, of what is in
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- Our heart.
- 00:12:03.568 --> 00:12:04.936
- Jesus said in matthew 12, verse 35: "the good man out of his
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- Good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of
- 00:12:09.307 --> 00:12:13.978
- His evil treasure brings forth what is evil."
- 00:12:13.978 --> 00:12:18.316
- To try to change somebody's behavior without changing their
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- Heart is absolutely futile.
- 00:12:21.586 --> 00:12:24.789
- You know, it used to be popular in youth groups a few years ago
- 00:12:24.789 --> 00:12:29.027
- To have these campaigns for sexual abstinence.
- 00:12:29.027 --> 00:12:35.767
- In order to encourage teenagers to say no to premarital sex,
- 00:12:35.767 --> 00:12:41.906
- There would be programs on abstinence and you'd actually
- 00:12:41.906 --> 00:12:44.876
- Have a ceremony where people would put on a ring to make
- 00:12:44.876 --> 00:12:48.746
- A pledge that they were gonna remain sexually pure until they
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- Got married: a wonderful goal, something everybody should
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- Desire to do.
- 00:12:57.922 --> 00:13:00.058
- The problem with those programs though was people went through
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- The ceremony and then that was sunday, then came friday night.
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- And they're in the backseat of somebody's car and the hormones
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- Start to rage and they give in to their desire for immorality
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- And they end up breaking that pledge so they come back and
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- They make a new vow.
- 00:13:22.780 --> 00:13:24.282
- "lord, this time i really mean it and i'm gonna do it."
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- Maybe they put on another ring, but they fail again.
- 00:13:27.018 --> 00:13:31.422
- Now i'm not ridiculing that desire to do that.
- 00:13:31.422 --> 00:13:33.691
- It is a worthy goal, but here's the problem.
- 00:13:33.691 --> 00:13:37.061
- After a couple of failures, the teenager comes to the
- 00:13:37.061 --> 00:13:39.631
- Conclusion, this just isn't working.
- 00:13:39.631 --> 00:13:42.867
- It is impossible for me to ever have any victory over these
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- Desires in my life, and they give up completely.
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- To try to instigate, eliminate or modify your behavior without
- 00:13:50.441 --> 00:13:55.213
- The change of a heart is futile, and it leads to frustration and
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- A life of defeat.
- 00:13:59.884 --> 00:14:01.653
- If you're gonna teach sexual abstinence, and we do here at
- 00:14:01.653 --> 00:14:04.789
- First baptist dallas, we also have to go along and say, how do
- 00:14:04.789 --> 00:14:08.359
- You change your thoughts, your will and your emotions to allow
- 00:14:08.359 --> 00:14:11.729
- You to say no to those things that are displeasing to god?
- 00:14:11.729 --> 00:14:16.467
- The bible says our heart is where all behavior
- 00:14:16.467 --> 00:14:19.037
- Emanates from.
- 00:14:19.037 --> 00:14:20.672
- Secondly, the bible teaches our hearts have been polluted.
- 00:14:20.672 --> 00:14:25.243
- We have all inherited a polluted heart.
- 00:14:25.243 --> 00:14:29.080
- Did you know that's true of how god views every person who
- 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:31.582
- Is born?
- 00:14:31.582 --> 00:14:32.951
- The moment we are born into this world, we are born with
- 00:14:32.951 --> 00:14:35.687
- Defective hearts, and the only thing that comes out of our
- 00:14:35.687 --> 00:14:39.090
- Minds are evil thoughts in god's eyes.
- 00:14:39.090 --> 00:14:42.460
- Through jeremiah the prophet, god said in jeremiah 17:9: "the
- 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:46.764
- Heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick;
- 00:14:46.764 --> 00:14:53.438
- Who can understand it?"
- 00:14:53.438 --> 00:14:55.406
- People today want to talk about the goodness of the human heart.
- 00:14:55.406 --> 00:14:58.609
- That's not god's point of view.
- 00:14:58.609 --> 00:15:00.578
- By god's absolute pure standards, every heart is
- 00:15:00.578 --> 00:15:04.649
- Desperately wicked.
- 00:15:04.649 --> 00:15:07.018
- How did that happen?
- 00:15:07.018 --> 00:15:08.386
- How did our hearts become wicked?
- 00:15:08.386 --> 00:15:10.488
- Romans 5:12 tells us this virus that infects our heart came
- 00:15:10.488 --> 00:15:16.127
- Through adam.
- 00:15:16.127 --> 00:15:17.462
- "therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and
- 00:15:17.462 --> 00:15:21.165
- Death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because
- 00:15:21.165 --> 00:15:25.870
- All sinned."
- 00:15:25.870 --> 00:15:28.339
- From adam, we inherited this defective heart.
- 00:15:28.339 --> 00:15:33.011
- And paul describes exactly what the result of that heart is in
- 00:15:33.011 --> 00:15:38.182
- Romans 5:6.
- 00:15:38.182 --> 00:15:39.517
- He says, "for while we were still helpless, at the right
- 00:15:39.517 --> 00:15:42.920
- Time christ died for the ungodly."
- 00:15:42.920 --> 00:15:47.658
- The phrase or the word "ungodly" describes the condition of our
- 00:15:47.658 --> 00:15:52.230
- Life because of our defective heart.
- 00:15:52.230 --> 00:15:54.799
- Do you know in the english language that prefix "un"
- 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:58.936
- Means not.
- 00:15:58.936 --> 00:16:01.973
- For example, we think of an unattractive person as somebody
- 00:16:01.973 --> 00:16:06.244
- Who is not attractive.
- 00:16:06.244 --> 00:16:09.013
- A person who is unintelligent is a person who is not intelligent.
- 00:16:09.013 --> 00:16:14.419
- So we assume that when we see the word here "ungodly," that
- 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:19.123
- Means somebody who is not godly.
- 00:16:19.123 --> 00:16:23.094
- But in the greek language that prefix "un" actually
- 00:16:23.094 --> 00:16:26.330
- Means against.
- 00:16:26.330 --> 00:16:29.000
- An ungodly person is not just somebody who is unlike god,
- 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:32.403
- Well, duh, we're all unlike god, but that phrase actually means
- 00:16:32.403 --> 00:16:35.973
- Somebody who is against god.
- 00:16:35.973 --> 00:16:38.910
- And the bible says christ came to die for all of us who
- 00:16:38.910 --> 00:16:42.814
- Are ungodly.
- 00:16:42.814 --> 00:16:44.215
- That is our state in god's eyes.
- 00:16:44.215 --> 00:16:46.017
- We are against god and that's why every time god says no,
- 00:16:46.017 --> 00:16:52.990
- Our first inclination is to say yes.
- 00:16:52.990 --> 00:16:56.594
- And when god says yes to something, our first inclination
- 00:16:56.594 --> 00:16:59.931
- Is to say no.
- 00:16:59.931 --> 00:17:02.100
- We are born ungodly.
- 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:06.037
- Our hearts are the center of our actions.
- 00:17:06.037 --> 00:17:08.840
- Our hearts have been polluted.
- 00:17:08.840 --> 00:17:10.208
- Thirdly, our hearts can be transformed.
- 00:17:10.208 --> 00:17:14.145
- That's the good news.
- 00:17:14.145 --> 00:17:15.646
- Now, in ezekiel 11, verses 19 to 20, god points to that day when
- 00:17:15.646 --> 00:17:20.918
- We're going to receive a brand-new heart.
- 00:17:20.918 --> 00:17:23.788
- Look at verses 19 and 20: "and i shall give them one heart, and
- 00:17:23.788 --> 00:17:27.892
- Shall put a new spirit within them.
- 00:17:27.892 --> 00:17:29.660
- And i shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and
- 00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:32.663
- Give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and
- 00:17:32.663 --> 00:17:36.968
- Keep my ordinances, and do them.
- 00:17:36.968 --> 00:17:39.070
- Then they will be my people, and i will be their god."
- 00:17:39.070 --> 00:17:43.407
- Did you know one day you're gonna have a heart transplant?
- 00:17:43.407 --> 00:17:47.111
- God's gonna give you a brand-new heart that is free from any
- 00:17:47.111 --> 00:17:50.748
- Defect whatsoever, a heart that automatically wants to please
- 00:17:50.748 --> 00:17:55.419
- God, a heart that is never tempted with evil again.
- 00:17:55.419 --> 00:17:58.789
- How many of you are ready for that kind of heart?
- 00:17:58.789 --> 00:18:01.926
- Well, the good news is it's coming.
- 00:18:01.926 --> 00:18:04.362
- The bad news is you have to wait for it.
- 00:18:04.362 --> 00:18:07.231
- That heart transplant one day is coming.
- 00:18:07.231 --> 00:18:10.434
- Does that mean then i have to walk around with this defective
- 00:18:10.434 --> 00:18:14.705
- Heart that is opposed to god and keeps me from benefiting from
- 00:18:14.705 --> 00:18:18.609
- The kingdom of god?
- 00:18:18.609 --> 00:18:19.977
- No, even though we don't receive a new heart right now, we can
- 00:18:19.977 --> 00:18:24.148
- Experience a transformed heart.
- 00:18:24.148 --> 00:18:27.118
- Again, think about your physical heart.
- 00:18:27.118 --> 00:18:29.787
- Maybe what you'd really like is a brand-new heart, but you can't
- 00:18:29.787 --> 00:18:34.025
- Afford that right now.
- 00:18:34.025 --> 00:18:35.993
- So do you have to walk around with a completely
- 00:18:35.993 --> 00:18:38.262
- Defective heart?
- 00:18:38.262 --> 00:18:39.630
- No, the doctor will say there's some things we can do to
- 00:18:39.630 --> 00:18:42.166
- Strengthen the heart that you have right now.
- 00:18:42.166 --> 00:18:44.869
- We can give you some tablets that will help reduce the plaque
- 00:18:44.869 --> 00:18:48.272
- Buildup in your arteries that restrict the blood flow to
- 00:18:48.272 --> 00:18:50.608
- Your heart.
- 00:18:50.608 --> 00:18:51.976
- Here are some exercises you can perform to strengthen your
- 00:18:51.976 --> 00:18:54.512
- Heart muscles.
- 00:18:54.512 --> 00:18:55.880
- You can have a transformed heart right now.
- 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:59.283
- God says the same thing to us.
- 00:18:59.283 --> 00:19:01.452
- We don't have to live as citizens outside the kingdom
- 00:19:01.452 --> 00:19:04.288
- Of god.
- 00:19:04.288 --> 00:19:05.623
- We can experience the benefits of obeying god from a heart that
- 00:19:05.623 --> 00:19:09.760
- Wants to know him.
- 00:19:09.760 --> 00:19:11.596
- We can have a spiritually transformed heart.
- 00:19:11.596 --> 00:19:14.732
- Well then, that brings up the second question.
- 00:19:14.732 --> 00:19:16.434
- We understand why it's necessary to have something change in our
- 00:19:16.434 --> 00:19:20.071
- Heart, but who is responsible for that spiritual
- 00:19:20.071 --> 00:19:23.808
- Transformation of our heart?
- 00:19:23.808 --> 00:19:26.644
- Who is responsible?
- 00:19:26.644 --> 00:19:28.379
- I don't know if you've ever been in a meeting like this before.
- 00:19:28.379 --> 00:19:31.048
- There's a group, maybe you're part of a club or a church or
- 00:19:31.048 --> 00:19:34.452
- Even at your company and as a team, you get all excited about
- 00:19:34.452 --> 00:19:37.688
- Some future goals.
- 00:19:37.688 --> 00:19:39.056
- "yeah, that's what we want to do in our organization.
- 00:19:39.056 --> 00:19:40.825
- That would be great."
- 00:19:40.825 --> 00:19:42.159
- Everybody gets excited, but the moderator ends the meeting
- 00:19:42.159 --> 00:19:45.363
- Before ever delegating the responsibilities.
- 00:19:45.363 --> 00:19:48.733
- Who's responsible for what?
- 00:19:48.733 --> 00:19:51.569
- And nothing ends up getting done because the truth is,
- 00:19:51.569 --> 00:19:55.940
- Everybody's business becomes nobody's business.
- 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:59.677
- Unless there's a clear understanding of who is
- 00:19:59.677 --> 00:20:01.879
- Responsible for what assignment, nothing ever gets done.
- 00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:05.549
- It's the same way in the spiritual transformation of
- 00:20:05.549 --> 00:20:08.519
- Our heart.
- 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:09.854
- Who's responsible for that?
- 00:20:09.854 --> 00:20:11.355
- Is god responsible or am i responsible?
- 00:20:11.355 --> 00:20:15.559
- We better understand it if it's going to happen.
- 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:18.362
- Now there are some people who would say, "oh well, that's
- 00:20:18.362 --> 00:20:20.097
- God's responsibility, pastor.
- 00:20:20.097 --> 00:20:21.699
- Surely you know that?
- 00:20:21.699 --> 00:20:23.467
- Just as we can't save ourselves, god alone can save us, only god
- 00:20:23.467 --> 00:20:28.272
- Alone is capable of transforming our hearts to become the kind of
- 00:20:28.272 --> 00:20:32.443
- People we want to become."
- 00:20:32.443 --> 00:20:34.178
- In fact, people who believe that will actually point to
- 00:20:34.178 --> 00:20:36.547
- Scripture: galatians 3, verse 3.
- 00:20:36.547 --> 00:20:38.416
- Paul said, "are you so foolish?
- 00:20:38.416 --> 00:20:41.118
- Having begun by the spirit, are you now being perfected by
- 00:20:41.118 --> 00:20:44.722
- The flesh?"
- 00:20:44.722 --> 00:20:46.090
- They say, "paul is very clear.
- 00:20:46.090 --> 00:20:48.359
- If you were saved by grace, do you think you can become more
- 00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:51.929
- Like jesus through the flesh through human effort?"
- 00:20:51.929 --> 00:20:55.533
- But an examination of the context here shows you that's
- 00:20:55.533 --> 00:20:58.569
- Not what paul is talking about.
- 00:20:58.569 --> 00:21:00.538
- He's not talking about how we become like jesus as christians,
- 00:21:00.538 --> 00:21:03.974
- He's talking about salvation.
- 00:21:03.974 --> 00:21:06.077
- He said if you begin by trusting in christ's grace alone for your
- 00:21:06.077 --> 00:21:12.650
- Salvation, why would you switch horses in the middle of the
- 00:21:12.650 --> 00:21:15.619
- Street, so to speak, and start depending on your flesh,
- 00:21:15.619 --> 00:21:19.457
- Your good works, to save you?
- 00:21:19.457 --> 00:21:21.392
- If you begin by trusting in the spirit of god, why not keep on
- 00:21:21.392 --> 00:21:25.796
- Trusting in the spirit of god for your justification?
- 00:21:25.796 --> 00:21:29.433
- He's not talking about how we transform our lives here.
- 00:21:29.433 --> 00:21:33.704
- You know, dallas willard has a great insight on this.
- 00:21:33.704 --> 00:21:37.408
- He says, "grace and effort are not opposites."
- 00:21:37.408 --> 00:21:42.713
- We get the idea in christianity, "oh, if we exert any effort,
- 00:21:42.713 --> 00:21:46.450
- There's something wrong.
- 00:21:46.450 --> 00:21:47.785
- It all has to be of god."
- 00:21:47.785 --> 00:21:49.153
- No, grace and effort are not opposites; grace and earning
- 00:21:49.153 --> 00:21:54.392
- Are opposites.
- 00:21:54.392 --> 00:21:56.127
- Working for your salvation is heresy.
- 00:21:56.127 --> 00:21:59.330
- But working out your salvation is basic bible.
- 00:21:59.330 --> 00:22:04.135
- Grace and effort are allies, not enemies.
- 00:22:04.135 --> 00:22:08.706
- Let me show you that in scripture.
- 00:22:08.706 --> 00:22:10.141
- Turn over to philippians chapter 2, verses 12 to 13.
- 00:22:10.141 --> 00:22:15.279
- Philippians chapter 2, verses 12 to 13.
- 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:21.218
- Paul says, "so then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed,
- 00:22:21.218 --> 00:22:26.390
- Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,
- 00:22:26.390 --> 00:22:31.028
- Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
- 00:22:31.028 --> 00:22:36.400
- Jeffress: working out your salvation may seem heavy and
- 00:22:40.538 --> 00:22:44.074
- Difficult, but believe me when i say the spirit of god is your
- 00:22:44.074 --> 00:22:48.345
- Companion, and he will provide everything you need.
- 00:22:48.345 --> 00:22:52.783
- Now, in closing, i want to share a note i received from alan in
- 00:22:52.783 --> 00:22:55.886
- Virginia, who shared, "through 'pathway to victory's' ministry,
- 00:22:55.886 --> 00:23:00.291
- I have grown into a new level of maturity and conviction
- 00:23:00.291 --> 00:23:03.928
- Of the spirit.
- 00:23:03.928 --> 00:23:05.262
- The materials i receive and the daily messages i hear are a
- 00:23:05.262 --> 00:23:09.099
- Great part of my instruction, edification, correction, and
- 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:13.571
- Sanctification.
- 00:23:13.571 --> 00:23:15.272
- Gratefully, my wife has also joined me in receiving god's
- 00:23:15.272 --> 00:23:18.642
- Word and what it truly means to be a christian."
- 00:23:18.642 --> 00:23:22.947
- Well, thank you, alan, for sharing this tremendous letter
- 00:23:22.947 --> 00:23:25.816
- Of encouragement.
- 00:23:25.816 --> 00:23:27.384
- And friends, thank you for helping me proclaim the truth of
- 00:23:27.384 --> 00:23:30.354
- God's word through your faithful support and for standing with me
- 00:23:30.354 --> 00:23:34.658
- To continue this bold, biblical, and practical ministry that
- 00:23:34.658 --> 00:23:39.163
- Transforms lives.
- 00:23:39.163 --> 00:23:40.931
- Now, stay right there.
- 00:23:40.931 --> 00:23:42.266
- I'll be back in a moment with more "pathway to victory."
- 00:23:42.266 --> 00:23:45.202
- Announcer: we all need god's strength to make it through
- 00:23:47.638 --> 00:23:49.840
- The day.
- 00:23:49.840 --> 00:23:51.175
- "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" by dr. robert
- 00:23:51.175 --> 00:23:53.677
- Jeffress provides the spiritual refreshment you need.
- 00:23:53.677 --> 00:23:56.881
- In a large print format, every page bursts with breathtaking
- 00:23:56.881 --> 00:24:00.851
- Imagery that draws you toward the beauty of god's creation.
- 00:24:00.851 --> 00:24:04.655
- Jeffress: i know how challenging it can be to stay connected with
- 00:24:04.655 --> 00:24:07.758
- God in our busy lives.
- 00:24:07.758 --> 00:24:09.593
- In my new devotional, i provide personal reflections and
- 00:24:09.593 --> 00:24:13.097
- Practical insights that will help you experience god's
- 00:24:13.097 --> 00:24:16.500
- Presence and encouragement throughout your day.
- 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:19.770
- Announcer: filled with stunning images of creation, scripture
- 00:24:19.770 --> 00:24:22.506
- Verses, and prayers you can read in under two minutes, this
- 00:24:22.506 --> 00:24:25.876
- Padded hardcover book is the perfect daily companion to help
- 00:24:25.876 --> 00:24:29.346
- Refresh your spirit, morning and night.
- 00:24:29.346 --> 00:24:32.116
- It also makes a thoughtful gift to encourage a friend or
- 00:24:32.116 --> 00:24:34.952
- Loved one.
- 00:24:34.952 --> 00:24:36.320
- Request your copy of "encouragement for the heart of
- 00:24:36.320 --> 00:24:38.589
- A disciple" when you give a generous gift to support the
- 00:24:38.589 --> 00:24:41.458
- Ministry of "pathway to victory," or when you become a
- 00:24:41.458 --> 00:24:44.595
- Pathway partner.
- 00:24:44.595 --> 00:24:45.963
- With your ministry gift of $100 or more, we'll send you the
- 00:24:45.963 --> 00:24:49.900
- Encouragement resource set containing the new devotional,
- 00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:53.203
- Six clutter-free prayer cards, the clutter-free christianity
- 00:24:53.203 --> 00:24:56.807
- Book and life application guide, and the "7 marks of a disciple"
- 00:24:56.807 --> 00:25:00.811
- Message series on both cd and dvd.
- 00:25:00.811 --> 00:25:03.881
- Thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
- 00:25:03.881 --> 00:25:06.417
- Your generous partnership helps us impact you and your family
- 00:25:06.417 --> 00:25:09.920
- And a nation in deep spiritual need with the transforming truth
- 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:13.991
- Of god's word.
- 00:25:13.991 --> 00:25:15.492
- Jeffress: the heart is the center of our thought life, our
- 00:25:17.261 --> 00:25:20.297
- Will, and our emotions.
- 00:25:20.297 --> 00:25:22.700
- It is also the center for spiritual transformation, and
- 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:26.537
- The great news is you can have a transformed heart right now.
- 00:25:26.537 --> 00:25:31.008
- But that brings up another question.
- 00:25:31.008 --> 00:25:32.943
- We understand why it's necessary to change our hearts, but who is
- 00:25:32.943 --> 00:25:37.147
- Responsible for that spiritual transformation?
- 00:25:37.147 --> 00:25:40.584
- And what is the process by which our hearts are changed?
- 00:25:40.584 --> 00:25:44.455
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
- 00:25:44.455 --> 00:25:46.991
- Series, "7 marks of a disciple."
- 00:25:46.991 --> 00:25:51.195
- Jeffress: being the person god wants you to become takes
- 00:25:51.195 --> 00:25:54.665
- Hard work.
- 00:25:54.665 --> 00:25:56.033
- It takes holy sweat.
- 00:25:56.033 --> 00:25:58.102
- But the end result is well worth the effort.
- 00:25:58.102 --> 00:26:02.139
- Bodily discipline, yes, it has benefits, but spiritual
- 00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:06.443
- Discipline, it benefits you not just in this life.
- 00:26:06.443 --> 00:26:11.815
- But it benefits you beginning right now and extending past the
- 00:26:11.815 --> 00:26:16.320
- Grave through all eternity.
- 00:26:16.320 --> 00:26:19.023
- Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part 2 of the
- 00:26:19.023 --> 00:26:21.892
- Message, "heart surgery 101," here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:21.892 --> 00:26:26.363
- Announcer: step away from your daily routine and immerse
- 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:32.069
- Yourself in god's masterpiece on the "pathway to victory" cruise
- 00:26:32.069 --> 00:26:35.773
- To alaska, june 13 through 20, 2026.
- 00:26:35.773 --> 00:26:39.677
- Jeffress: imagine starting each day immersed in god's word, then
- 00:26:39.677 --> 00:26:43.080
- Stepping out to witness god's grandeur, from the majestic
- 00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:46.550
- Glaciers to soaring eagles.
- 00:26:46.550 --> 00:26:49.286
- These moments in god's creation will deepen your faith in
- 00:26:49.286 --> 00:26:52.656
- Powerful ways.
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- Announcer: experience 5-star dining, luxurious state rooms,
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- And exceptional service while visiting iconic ports like
- 00:26:57.261 --> 00:27:00.130
- Juneau, ketchikan, and skagway.
- 00:27:00.130 --> 00:27:02.700
- Jeffress: we'll explore god's word together against the
- 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:05.135
- Backdrop of his most impressive handiwork.
- 00:27:05.135 --> 00:27:08.472
- I promise, you'll return home with memories that will last a
- 00:27:08.472 --> 00:27:11.842
- Lifetime and a heart renewed by god's presence.
- 00:27:11.842 --> 00:27:16.180
- Announcer: to book your spot on the 2026 "pathway to victory"
- 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:18.982
- Cruise to alaska, call... or go to ptv.org.
- 00:27:18.982 --> 00:27:18.982