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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Heart Surgery 101 (Part 2)

August 7, 2025 | S25 E377 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - Heart Surgery 101 (Part 2)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#inActive #Heart #Salvation #Work #WorkofYourHands #Grace #Change #Transformation #Spirit #Desire #Heart'sDesire #Death #Gospel #Discipline

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Heart Surgery 101 (Part 2) | August 7, 2025
  • ♪♪
  • 00:00:00.256 --> 00:00:05.395
  • Announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
  • 00:00:00.256 --> 00:00:06.529
  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
  • 00:00:08.865 --> 00:00:11.568
  • With dr. robert jeffress.
  • 00:00:11.568 --> 00:00:13.436
  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress and welcome
  • 00:00:14.571 --> 00:00:15.905
  • Again to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:15.905 --> 00:00:18.074
  • The kingdom of god isn't just a far off destination we reach
  • 00:00:18.074 --> 00:00:21.711
  • After we die.
  • 00:00:21.711 --> 00:00:23.313
  • It's a reality we can experience right now.
  • 00:00:23.313 --> 00:00:26.716
  • When we submit to god's rule in our daily lives, we gain
  • 00:00:26.716 --> 00:00:30.386
  • Immediate access to his peace, freedom from worry, and
  • 00:00:30.386 --> 00:00:34.357
  • Contentment in all circumstances, but entering this
  • 00:00:34.357 --> 00:00:37.627
  • Kingdom requires more than just behavioral changes.
  • 00:00:37.627 --> 00:00:41.364
  • Today i want to show you that becoming a true disciple of
  • 00:00:41.364 --> 00:00:44.501
  • Christ begins with a transformed heart.
  • 00:00:44.501 --> 00:00:48.037
  • My message is titled, "heart surgery 101" on today's edition
  • 00:00:48.037 --> 00:00:53.443
  • Of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:53.443 --> 00:00:56.112
  • ♪♪
  • 00:00:56.112 --> 00:01:31.047
  • ♪ behold, hanging before you ♪
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  • ♪ is the sacrifice of god ♪
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  • ♪ the lamb pure and holy ♪
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  • ♪ creation stands in awe ♪
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  • ♪ removing all that hinders ♪
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  • ♪ for worship of our king ♪
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  • ♪ as he cries it is finished ♪
  • 00:02:11.087 --> 00:02:14.490
  • ♪ heaven sings ♪
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  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
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  • ♪ let the praise go up ♪
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  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
  • 00:02:26.469 --> 00:02:27.837
  • ♪ let the praise go up ♪
  • 00:02:27.837 --> 00:02:30.073
  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
  • 00:02:30.073 --> 00:02:32.642
  • ♪ we're in the presence of the lord ♪
  • 00:02:32.642 --> 00:02:37.247
  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
  • 00:02:37.247 --> 00:02:39.082
  • ♪ let the praise go up ♪
  • 00:02:39.082 --> 00:02:41.150
  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
  • 00:02:41.150 --> 00:02:42.652
  • ♪ let the praise go up ♪
  • 00:02:42.652 --> 00:02:44.787
  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
  • 00:02:44.787 --> 00:02:46.956
  • ♪ we're in the presence of the lord ♪
  • 00:02:46.956 --> 00:02:51.928
  • ♪ hosanna hosanna ♪
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  • ♪ in the highest ♪
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  • ♪ hosanna hosanna ♪
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  • ♪ in the highest ♪
  • 00:03:14.284 --> 00:03:21.391
  • ♪ hosanna hosanna ♪
  • 00:03:21.924 --> 00:03:29.065
  • ♪ in the highest ♪
  • 00:03:29.065 --> 00:03:36.973
  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
  • 00:03:36.973 --> 00:03:38.308
  • ♪ let the praise go up ♪
  • 00:03:38.308 --> 00:03:40.109
  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
  • 00:03:40.109 --> 00:03:41.678
  • ♪ let the praise go up ♪
  • 00:03:41.678 --> 00:03:43.813
  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
  • 00:03:43.813 --> 00:03:54.824
  • ♪ we're in the presence of the lord ♪
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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."
  • 00:04:31.194 --> 00:04:33.629
  • 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.
  • 00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:45.641
  • Perfect for your coffee table or as a thoughtful gift for a
  • 00:04:45.641 --> 00:04:48.511
  • Loved one.
  • 00:04:48.511 --> 00:04:49.879
  • Request "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" when you
  • 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:52.315
  • Give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪
  • 00:04:56.386 --> 00:05:04.594
  • Jeffress: we get the idea in christianity where if we exert
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  • Any effort, there's something wrong.
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  • It all has to be of god.
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  • No, grace and effort are not opposites, grace and earning
  • 00:05:10.933 --> 00:05:16.239
  • Are opposites.
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  • Working for your salvation is heresy.
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  • But working out your salvation is basic bible.
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  • Grace and effort are allies, not enemies.
  • 00:05:26.015 --> 00:05:30.553
  • Let me show you that in scripture.
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  • Turn over to philippians chapter 2, verses 12 to 13.
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  • Philippians chapter 2, verses 12 to 13.
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  • Paul says, "so then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed,
  • 00:05:43.099 --> 00:05:48.271
  • Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,
  • 00:05:48.271 --> 00:05:52.909
  • Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
  • 00:05:52.909 --> 00:05:57.346
  • "oh, paul, i can't believe you said that."
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  • We're not supposed to work for salvation, "it's a free gift of
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  • God, not of works lest any man should boast."
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  • Hey, read it again.
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  • He didn't say work for your salvation.
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  • He said, "work out your salvation."
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  • When he talks about salvation, he's not just talking about our
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  • Ticket to heaven.
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  • Salvation in the fullest extent is becoming the person god wants
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  • You to be.
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  • Yes, it includes going to heaven, but it includes right
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  • Now living as that person who experiences the benefits of
  • 00:06:26.409 --> 00:06:29.812
  • Living under god's rule.
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  • He said that is something that we work out, not that we work
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  • For, we work out.
  • 00:06:33.950 --> 00:06:35.284
  • Then he goes on to say verse 13, "for it is god who is at work in
  • 00:06:35.284 --> 00:06:39.422
  • You, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
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  • God is the one who is in you, giving you the power to become
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  • The person he wants you to be.
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  • To illustrate this, just imagine an electrical socket in
  • 00:06:52.435 --> 00:06:57.773
  • Your house.
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  • You know, inside that electrical socket is all kind of
  • 00:06:59.642 --> 00:07:03.613
  • Amazing energy.
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  • There's energy to power an oven to cook a fabulous meal.
  • 00:07:05.948 --> 00:07:11.521
  • There's the energy to power a saw, an electric saw that will
  • 00:07:11.521 --> 00:07:15.992
  • Help you create a beautiful piece of furniture.
  • 00:07:15.992 --> 00:07:19.462
  • Inside that electrical outlet is the energy to power your
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  • Computer to write a new book that will bless millions
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  • Of people.
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  • But none of those things happen just because the energy
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  • Is there.
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  • That energy has to be combined with your effort.
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  • Without your effort, that energy produces nothing.
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  • It takes your effort to produce that fabulous meal, or that
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  • Beautiful piece of furniture, or that book.
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  • That's what paul is saying here.
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  • The moment you become a christian, god not only forgives
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  • You of your sin, but he places a power source in you.
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  • It's a person he's called the holy spirit of god.
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  • And the holy spirit of god has all of the energy necessary for
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  • You to live the kind of life god wants you to experience, but it
  • 00:08:06.075 --> 00:08:10.713
  • Takes your effort combined with the spirit of god, his power to
  • 00:08:10.713 --> 00:08:15.251
  • Become that person you dream of becoming.
  • 00:08:15.251 --> 00:08:18.087
  • "work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is god
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  • Who is working within you."
  • 00:08:21.857 --> 00:08:24.694
  • If you think this is bordering on heresy--say, "well, we ought
  • 00:08:24.694 --> 00:08:27.897
  • To partner with god and god's power is not enough?"
  • 00:08:27.897 --> 00:08:31.400
  • Just think about the scripture passage we read this morning.
  • 00:08:31.400 --> 00:08:34.236
  • 2 peter chapter 1, verses 3 and 4, verse 3, "seeing that god's
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  • Divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life
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  • And godliness, through the true knowledge of him who has called
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  • Us by his own glory and excellence," see that?
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  • The moment you become a christian, god gives you his
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  • Holy spirit.
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  • And according to peter, that holy spirit is everything we
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  • Need to live a godly life.
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  • God doesn't shortchange you when you become a christian.
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  • He doesn't say, "well, i'm gonna give you a little bit of
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  • The spirit.
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  • And then later if you act right, i'll give you some more of
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  • The spirit."
  • 00:09:14.944 --> 00:09:16.312
  • And you can have another experience where you get more
  • 00:09:16.312 --> 00:09:18.581
  • The expe--of the power of god.
  • 00:09:18.581 --> 00:09:20.416
  • No, the moment you're saved, that fertilized egg is planted
  • 00:09:20.416 --> 00:09:24.754
  • Within you that has all of the energy necessary to grow into
  • 00:09:24.754 --> 00:09:29.692
  • The kind of person god has planned for you to be.
  • 00:09:29.692 --> 00:09:32.428
  • It's the same way spiritually.
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  • The holy spirit has all the power necessary for us to become
  • 00:09:34.497 --> 00:09:38.968
  • The people we want to be, but it's not enough.
  • 00:09:38.968 --> 00:09:45.007
  • God's given us everything he has, but notice verse 5, "now
  • 00:09:45.007 --> 00:09:49.412
  • For this very reason, also applying all diligence, in your
  • 00:09:49.412 --> 00:09:54.583
  • Faith you supply moral excellence, knowledge,
  • 00:09:54.583 --> 00:09:59.855
  • Self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness,
  • 00:09:59.855 --> 00:10:04.193
  • And love."
  • 00:10:04.193 --> 00:10:05.928
  • You see what peter is saying?
  • 00:10:05.928 --> 00:10:07.463
  • God's given you everything you need for a godly life.
  • 00:10:07.463 --> 00:10:10.599
  • He's done his part.
  • 00:10:10.599 --> 00:10:11.934
  • Now, this is what you need to supply.
  • 00:10:11.934 --> 00:10:15.571
  • Not for your passage to heaven.
  • 00:10:15.571 --> 00:10:19.241
  • This is what you need to supply in order to have the benefits of
  • 00:10:19.241 --> 00:10:24.213
  • Living in god's kingdom right now.
  • 00:10:24.213 --> 00:10:27.850
  • The bible says, our salvation is something god does by himself."
  • 00:10:27.850 --> 00:10:32.488
  • "for by grace you have been saved through faith, that not of
  • 00:10:32.488 --> 00:10:35.257
  • Yourselves, it's a gift of god not of works lest any man
  • 00:10:35.257 --> 00:10:38.260
  • Should boast."
  • 00:10:38.260 --> 00:10:39.595
  • But our transformation is a joint project between god
  • 00:10:39.595 --> 00:10:44.033
  • And us.
  • 00:10:44.033 --> 00:10:45.468
  • Okay, we've talked about spiritual transformation, why
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  • It's necessary.
  • 00:10:48.003 --> 00:10:49.538
  • Because we have defective parts.
  • 00:10:49.538 --> 00:10:51.574
  • Secondly, we've answered the question, who's responsible
  • 00:10:51.574 --> 00:10:54.009
  • For it?
  • 00:10:54.009 --> 00:10:55.377
  • It's not just god, it's not just us.
  • 00:10:55.377 --> 00:10:57.613
  • You know, without god's power, we cannot be transformed.
  • 00:10:57.613 --> 00:11:01.283
  • Without our effort, we will not be transformed.
  • 00:11:01.283 --> 00:11:05.621
  • Thirdly, okay, what is the process?
  • 00:11:05.621 --> 00:11:08.424
  • How does it happen?
  • 00:11:08.424 --> 00:11:10.659
  • For your heart to be transformed to become the person god wants
  • 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:14.263
  • You to be, there are three essential components to that
  • 00:11:14.263 --> 00:11:17.967
  • Spiritual transformation.
  • 00:11:17.967 --> 00:11:19.335
  • Write them down, number one, there has to be a desire.
  • 00:11:19.335 --> 00:11:23.739
  • There has to be a desire for spiritual transformation.
  • 00:11:23.739 --> 00:11:28.043
  • I remember growing up in this church, there's a little chorus
  • 00:11:28.043 --> 00:11:30.713
  • We used to sing a lot.
  • 00:11:30.713 --> 00:11:32.248
  • I bet some of you remember it.
  • 00:11:32.248 --> 00:11:34.617
  • Lord, i want to be a christian in my heart, there it is, in
  • 00:11:34.617 --> 00:11:43.626
  • My heart.
  • 00:11:43.626 --> 00:11:45.761
  • Lord, i want to be a christian in my heart.
  • 00:11:45.761 --> 00:11:52.001
  • If i remember the second verse, lord, i want to be like jesus in
  • 00:11:52.001 --> 00:11:58.707
  • My heart, in my heart, lord, i want to be like jesus in
  • 00:11:58.707 --> 00:12:07.049
  • My heart.
  • 00:12:07.049 --> 00:12:08.450
  • Aren't you grateful i'm not the minister of music?
  • 00:12:08.450 --> 00:12:13.088
  • But in that simple chorus is a profound truth.
  • 00:12:13.088 --> 00:12:17.960
  • We will never be a christian, we will never be like jesus without
  • 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:23.199
  • That desire that comes from our heart.
  • 00:12:23.199 --> 00:12:26.735
  • For example, in romans 10:9, the desire to be saved comes from
  • 00:12:26.735 --> 00:12:30.406
  • The heart.
  • 00:12:30.406 --> 00:12:31.774
  • "if you confess with your mouth jesus as lord, and believe
  • 00:12:31.774 --> 00:12:34.276
  • In your,"--where?
  • 00:12:34.276 --> 00:12:35.644
  • "in your heart that god has raised him from the dead, you'll
  • 00:12:35.644 --> 00:12:37.479
  • Be saved."
  • 00:12:37.479 --> 00:12:38.848
  • Not only that, our desire to live like a christian and be
  • 00:12:38.848 --> 00:12:41.817
  • Like jesus comes from the heart.
  • 00:12:41.817 --> 00:12:43.619
  • Ephesians 6:6 talks about doing the will of god from the heart.
  • 00:12:43.619 --> 00:12:49.725
  • But here's the problem, when we are born into this world, we are
  • 00:12:49.725 --> 00:12:53.362
  • Born not just with a defective heart, we are born with a heart
  • 00:12:53.362 --> 00:12:57.032
  • That is absolutely dead.
  • 00:12:57.032 --> 00:13:00.936
  • It doesn't beat.
  • 00:13:00.936 --> 00:13:02.271
  • If you believe that's an overstatement, look at ephesians
  • 00:13:02.271 --> 00:13:05.140
  • Chapter 2, verses 1 through 3, where paul describes our
  • 00:13:05.140 --> 00:13:09.812
  • Spiritual condition apart from christ.
  • 00:13:09.812 --> 00:13:13.315
  • He says, "and you were dead in your trespasses and sin, in
  • 00:13:13.315 --> 00:13:17.920
  • Which you formerly walked according to the course of
  • 00:13:17.920 --> 00:13:21.023
  • This world.
  • 00:13:21.023 --> 00:13:22.825
  • Our state apart from christ is we are spiritually dead.
  • 00:13:22.825 --> 00:13:28.898
  • Now, i don't know if you've been around a lot of dead
  • 00:13:28.898 --> 00:13:30.699
  • People before.
  • 00:13:30.699 --> 00:13:33.102
  • My line of work requires me to hang around corpses quite a bit.
  • 00:13:33.102 --> 00:13:37.640
  • And a lot of times i'll be standing down at a funeral
  • 00:13:37.640 --> 00:13:40.709
  • Service next to the open casket, and people proceed by to see the
  • 00:13:40.709 --> 00:13:45.381
  • Dearly departed, and every now and then somebody lean over and
  • 00:13:45.381 --> 00:13:48.217
  • Say, "oh, doesn't he look good?"
  • 00:13:48.217 --> 00:13:51.987
  • Good?
  • 00:13:51.987 --> 00:13:53.355
  • I think he's dead.
  • 00:13:53.355 --> 00:13:54.690
  • There's nothing good about that.
  • 00:13:54.690 --> 00:13:56.358
  • Oh, sure, he may have a head and have arms and legs.
  • 00:13:56.358 --> 00:13:59.495
  • He has a heart still inside of him, but that heart is
  • 00:13:59.495 --> 00:14:02.464
  • Not beating.
  • 00:14:02.464 --> 00:14:03.832
  • It has stopped and that's why he is dead.
  • 00:14:03.832 --> 00:14:08.270
  • That's the way you and i are without christ.
  • 00:14:08.270 --> 00:14:12.207
  • We are spiritually dead.
  • 00:14:12.207 --> 00:14:14.243
  • I think i've told you this before, but one day i was
  • 00:14:14.243 --> 00:14:17.179
  • Staying by a corpse, and before people started proceeding down,
  • 00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:22.084
  • I saw a giant fly land on the nose of the corpse.
  • 00:14:22.084 --> 00:14:26.889
  • I thought--and he wouldn't leave.
  • 00:14:26.889 --> 00:14:28.524
  • I thought, "what am i gonna do?"
  • 00:14:28.524 --> 00:14:29.858
  • So, without anybody looking, hopefully, i just went over and
  • 00:14:29.858 --> 00:14:32.628
  • I kinda flicked the fly off the nose of the corpse.
  • 00:14:32.628 --> 00:14:37.933
  • That corpse said, "what are you doing?"
  • 00:14:37.933 --> 00:14:41.770
  • That corpse sneezed?
  • 00:14:41.770 --> 00:14:43.138
  • Of course not, he was absolutely incapable of responding to any
  • 00:14:43.138 --> 00:14:46.875
  • External stimulus.
  • 00:14:46.875 --> 00:14:48.711
  • That's what happens when you're dead, you can't respond.
  • 00:14:48.711 --> 00:14:52.014
  • Now here's the point, you and i are spiritually dead.
  • 00:14:52.014 --> 00:14:56.986
  • Our heart doesn't beat.
  • 00:14:56.986 --> 00:14:59.288
  • That means we will never on our own have a desire to be
  • 00:14:59.288 --> 00:15:03.392
  • A christian.
  • 00:15:03.392 --> 00:15:04.960
  • We will never have a desire to live like jesus because our
  • 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:08.964
  • Hearts are dead and we're dead.
  • 00:15:08.964 --> 00:15:12.001
  • You say, "well, then how does anybody ever have a desire to
  • 00:15:12.001 --> 00:15:14.403
  • Become a christian?
  • 00:15:14.403 --> 00:15:15.771
  • How does anybody ever want to be like jesus?"
  • 00:15:15.771 --> 00:15:17.539
  • Well, here's the good news, verse 4 of ephesians 2, "but
  • 00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:20.042
  • God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with
  • 00:15:20.042 --> 00:15:24.213
  • Which he loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions,
  • 00:15:24.213 --> 00:15:28.283
  • He made us alive together with christ (for by grace you have
  • 00:15:28.283 --> 00:15:32.988
  • Been saved.)"
  • 00:15:32.988 --> 00:15:35.357
  • I was watching the other night an old episode of "24" with jack
  • 00:15:35.357 --> 00:15:38.660
  • Bauer, remember "24?"
  • 00:15:38.660 --> 00:15:40.162
  • And one of the episodes, jack bauer had flatlined.
  • 00:15:40.162 --> 00:15:44.433
  • And a little instrument started just, beep.
  • 00:15:44.433 --> 00:15:50.539
  • And the doctor yelled, "get the paddle, get the paddles."
  • 00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:53.742
  • And so, he rips open jack's shirt, and they get the paddles,
  • 00:15:53.742 --> 00:15:57.246
  • And put them on his heart, and send the electrical surge and,
  • 00:15:57.246 --> 00:16:00.816
  • He jolts up, you know, and his eyes open, his heart starts
  • 00:16:00.816 --> 00:16:03.685
  • Beating, guaranteeing next week's episode is gonna be here
  • 00:16:03.685 --> 00:16:06.822
  • On schedule.
  • 00:16:06.822 --> 00:16:09.191
  • You know what it took was an external stimulus to get that
  • 00:16:09.191 --> 00:16:13.195
  • Heart beating again.
  • 00:16:13.195 --> 00:16:14.963
  • And the bible says that is exactly what god has done
  • 00:16:14.963 --> 00:16:17.800
  • For us.
  • 00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:19.134
  • When we were spiritually dead, god got the spiritual paddles
  • 00:16:19.134 --> 00:16:22.604
  • And he put them on our heart and he gave us life.
  • 00:16:22.604 --> 00:16:27.109
  • He made those of us who were spiritually dead, spiritually
  • 00:16:27.109 --> 00:16:30.145
  • Alive so that we could respond to the gospel.
  • 00:16:30.145 --> 00:16:33.048
  • I want to be clear here.
  • 00:16:33.048 --> 00:16:34.383
  • I don't believe that act of making somebody who was
  • 00:16:34.383 --> 00:16:37.686
  • Spiritually dead, spiritually alive, that makes them a
  • 00:16:37.686 --> 00:16:40.722
  • Christian automatically.
  • 00:16:40.722 --> 00:16:42.224
  • I don't think god forces anybody to be a christian.
  • 00:16:42.224 --> 00:16:45.661
  • We are not a christian until we personally believe and trust in
  • 00:16:45.661 --> 00:16:49.465
  • Jesus for our salvation.
  • 00:16:49.465 --> 00:16:51.133
  • But what paul is saying is, you and i wouldn't even have any
  • 00:16:51.133 --> 00:16:54.603
  • Awareness of our sin.
  • 00:16:54.603 --> 00:16:56.205
  • You and i would not understand the gospel were it not for the
  • 00:16:56.205 --> 00:17:00.175
  • Spirit of god who makes us alive and aware of god and our need
  • 00:17:00.175 --> 00:17:04.580
  • For a savior.
  • 00:17:04.580 --> 00:17:05.914
  • That desire to be a christian comes from god.
  • 00:17:05.914 --> 00:17:10.152
  • That's where that desire comes from.
  • 00:17:10.152 --> 00:17:12.387
  • "for by grace you have been saved through faith and that not
  • 00:17:12.387 --> 00:17:15.924
  • Of yourselves, it is a gift of god."
  • 00:17:15.924 --> 00:17:18.260
  • Likewise, once we're spiritually alive, we will never have that
  • 00:17:18.260 --> 00:17:22.331
  • Transformed life god wants for us unless we have that desire to
  • 00:17:22.331 --> 00:17:27.269
  • Have a transformed life.
  • 00:17:27.269 --> 00:17:29.438
  • So, it all begins with desire, but that's not enough.
  • 00:17:29.438 --> 00:17:33.642
  • Secondly, we have to have a detailed plan.
  • 00:17:33.642 --> 00:17:37.212
  • We have to have a detailed plan.
  • 00:17:37.212 --> 00:17:39.915
  • Talking about awakenings, about a few months ago, i had my
  • 00:17:39.915 --> 00:17:43.585
  • Own awakening.
  • 00:17:43.585 --> 00:17:46.288
  • I discovered it was the oddest thing that my pants
  • 00:17:46.288 --> 00:17:49.992
  • Were shrinking.
  • 00:17:49.992 --> 00:17:53.529
  • Have you ever had that happen?
  • 00:17:53.529 --> 00:17:55.164
  • It's the oddest thing.
  • 00:17:55.164 --> 00:17:56.565
  • I couldn't figure out if the dry cleaner were putting some new
  • 00:17:56.565 --> 00:17:59.268
  • Chemical in there.
  • 00:17:59.268 --> 00:18:00.636
  • What was causing my waistline to shrink?
  • 00:18:00.636 --> 00:18:03.405
  • I got on the scales and figured it out.
  • 00:18:03.405 --> 00:18:06.208
  • My pants weren't shrinking, i was expanding.
  • 00:18:06.208 --> 00:18:10.078
  • And so, i decided, "i don't wanna look like this.
  • 00:18:10.078 --> 00:18:13.448
  • I don't wanna feel like this.
  • 00:18:13.448 --> 00:18:14.816
  • I want to get rid of that weight."
  • 00:18:14.816 --> 00:18:16.151
  • I had the desire, but guess what?
  • 00:18:16.151 --> 00:18:18.086
  • Desire alone won't take off the weight.
  • 00:18:18.086 --> 00:18:20.856
  • I had to come up with a plan.
  • 00:18:20.856 --> 00:18:23.091
  • A few more minutes on the treadmill every day.
  • 00:18:23.091 --> 00:18:25.427
  • Eliminating, you know, some food from my diet.
  • 00:18:25.427 --> 00:18:29.331
  • It wasn't going to happen automatically.
  • 00:18:29.331 --> 00:18:31.333
  • Now, in the same way, if a physical transformation requires
  • 00:18:31.333 --> 00:18:35.103
  • A plan to make it happen in addition to desire, should we be
  • 00:18:35.103 --> 00:18:39.741
  • Any--be surprised that a spiritual transformation of our
  • 00:18:39.741 --> 00:18:43.612
  • Heart also requires a detailed plan?
  • 00:18:43.612 --> 00:18:48.083
  • We're gonna talk about those detailed plans in the weeks
  • 00:18:48.083 --> 00:18:51.019
  • Ahead, but if you're gonna have a spiritual transformation in
  • 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:53.822
  • Your life, it starts with a desire.
  • 00:18:53.822 --> 00:18:56.325
  • Secondly, it requires a detailed plan, but thirdly, it requires
  • 00:18:56.325 --> 00:19:00.896
  • Discipline, discipline.
  • 00:19:00.896 --> 00:19:03.298
  • You know, i can desire to lose weight, i can have my detailed
  • 00:19:03.298 --> 00:19:06.735
  • Plan to lose weight, but what happens on those mornings when i
  • 00:19:06.735 --> 00:19:09.738
  • Decide i'd rather pull the cover over my head instead of get on
  • 00:19:09.738 --> 00:19:12.774
  • The treadmill?
  • 00:19:12.774 --> 00:19:14.309
  • What happens when i've had a particularly tough day and
  • 00:19:14.309 --> 00:19:17.312
  • Decide, "i need some comfort food that evening to kinda help
  • 00:19:17.312 --> 00:19:23.418
  • Maintain my equilibrium?"
  • 00:19:23.418 --> 00:19:25.254
  • What do i do?
  • 00:19:25.254 --> 00:19:26.622
  • It's at that point that in addition to a detailed plan and
  • 00:19:26.622 --> 00:19:30.392
  • Desire, i need discipline, discipline.
  • 00:19:30.392 --> 00:19:35.998
  • A great definition for discipline.
  • 00:19:35.998 --> 00:19:37.866
  • Discipline is doing what you know you should do when you
  • 00:19:37.866 --> 00:19:41.203
  • Don't feel like doing it.
  • 00:19:41.203 --> 00:19:43.572
  • Discipline, doing what you know you should do when you don't
  • 00:19:43.572 --> 00:19:46.708
  • Feel like doing it.
  • 00:19:46.708 --> 00:19:48.043
  • Many of you know the great late baseball player, ted williams.
  • 00:19:48.043 --> 00:19:52.714
  • Ted williams was known as a natural hitter.
  • 00:19:52.714 --> 00:19:56.852
  • Whenever he heard that, he scoffed at the idea.
  • 00:19:56.852 --> 00:20:00.355
  • He said, "there's no such thing as a natural born hitter.
  • 00:20:00.355 --> 00:20:05.694
  • I became a good hitter because i paid the price of constant
  • 00:20:05.694 --> 00:20:10.265
  • Practice, constant practice."
  • 00:20:10.265 --> 00:20:13.802
  • And the calluses on his hand prove that.
  • 00:20:13.802 --> 00:20:17.839
  • It's the same way with becoming the person god wants you to be.
  • 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:22.944
  • It requires discipline.
  • 00:20:22.944 --> 00:20:25.180
  • It requires hard work.
  • 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:27.849
  • The great elton trueblood, great christian writer, said,
  • 00:20:27.849 --> 00:20:32.621
  • "acceptance of discipline is the price of freedom."
  • 00:20:32.621 --> 00:20:38.427
  • Now i want you to tune in to this for the last 3 minutes of
  • 00:20:38.427 --> 00:20:40.896
  • The sermon.
  • 00:20:40.896 --> 00:20:42.264
  • I want you to write down this phrase: discipline is the price
  • 00:20:42.264 --> 00:20:45.767
  • Of freedom.
  • 00:20:45.767 --> 00:20:47.769
  • Discipline is the price of freedom.
  • 00:20:47.769 --> 00:20:50.739
  • He goes on to say, "the pole vaulter is not free to go over
  • 00:20:50.739 --> 00:20:55.344
  • The high bar, except as he disciplines himself rigorously
  • 00:20:55.344 --> 00:21:00.215
  • Day after day."
  • 00:21:00.215 --> 00:21:02.117
  • The freedom of the surgeon to use his drill to cut away bony
  • 00:21:02.117 --> 00:21:06.521
  • Structure close to a tiny nerve without severing it, that
  • 00:21:06.521 --> 00:21:10.625
  • Freedom arises from discipline.
  • 00:21:10.625 --> 00:21:14.763
  • It is doubtful if excellence in any field comes in any other way
  • 00:21:14.763 --> 00:21:20.302
  • Than through discipline.
  • 00:21:20.302 --> 00:21:24.039
  • Discipline is the price we for the freedom to live as god wants
  • 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:29.811
  • Us to live.
  • 00:21:29.811 --> 00:21:31.580
  • If you think that's a lot of positive thinking mumbo jumbo,
  • 00:21:31.580 --> 00:21:37.252
  • Listen to what paul says in 1 timothy 4:7.
  • 00:21:37.252 --> 00:21:40.822
  • He says, "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness,
  • 00:21:40.822 --> 00:21:45.293
  • For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is
  • 00:21:45.293 --> 00:21:50.132
  • Profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present
  • 00:21:50.132 --> 00:21:54.436
  • Life and also for the life to come."
  • 00:21:54.436 --> 00:21:57.639
  • That word discipline paul uses, it's the greek word "gymnaze,"
  • 00:21:57.639 --> 00:22:02.811
  • "gymnaze," sound familiar?
  • 00:22:02.811 --> 00:22:06.314
  • It's the word we get gymnasium from?
  • 00:22:06.314 --> 00:22:10.252
  • Discipline yourself for godliness.
  • 00:22:10.252 --> 00:22:14.289
  • Just reading that, i mean, when you think of a gymnasium, you
  • 00:22:14.289 --> 00:22:17.526
  • Think of that aroma of sweat, don't you?
  • 00:22:17.526 --> 00:22:22.831
  • I mean, you've got sweat all over this verse that paul is
  • 00:22:22.831 --> 00:22:26.501
  • Writing here.
  • 00:22:26.501 --> 00:22:28.003
  • He said, "being the person god wants you to become, it takes
  • 00:22:28.003 --> 00:22:32.607
  • Hard work.
  • 00:22:32.607 --> 00:22:33.942
  • It takes holy sweat.
  • 00:22:33.942 --> 00:22:35.944
  • But the end result is well worth the effort."
  • 00:22:35.944 --> 00:22:39.948
  • Bodily discipline, yes, it has benefits.
  • 00:22:39.948 --> 00:22:43.452
  • Admiring glances you get from other people, a longer life,
  • 00:22:43.452 --> 00:22:48.089
  • Winning the athletic contest.
  • 00:22:48.089 --> 00:22:50.926
  • But spiritual discipline, it benefits you not just in
  • 00:22:50.926 --> 00:22:55.530
  • This life.
  • 00:22:55.530 --> 00:22:57.132
  • But it benefits you beginning right now and extending past the
  • 00:22:57.132 --> 00:23:01.703
  • Grave through all eternity.
  • 00:23:01.703 --> 00:23:04.840
  • Discipline is the price we pay to become the people we've
  • 00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:09.344
  • Dreamed of becoming and experiencing the kind of life
  • 00:23:09.344 --> 00:23:13.949
  • That is beyond imagination.
  • 00:23:13.949 --> 00:23:16.518
  • ♪♪
  • 00:23:16.518 --> 00:23:21.890
  • Jeffress: and in that spirit, let me commend you
  • 00:23:21.890 --> 00:23:23.859
  • For watching today.
  • 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:25.527
  • Becoming the person god wants you to be takes
  • 00:23:25.527 --> 00:23:27.462
  • Hard work.
  • 00:23:27.462 --> 00:23:28.797
  • And the fact that you're engaged with today's study shows me that
  • 00:23:28.797 --> 00:23:31.933
  • You're on the "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:31.933 --> 00:23:34.803
  • Now in closing, i want to thank every one of you who invest in
  • 00:23:34.803 --> 00:23:37.906
  • God's kingdom by supporting "pathway to victory,"
  • 00:23:37.906 --> 00:23:41.009
  • Especially our pathway partners.
  • 00:23:41.009 --> 00:23:43.712
  • You make it possible for us to bring the light of god's word
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  • Into the dark places of our country.
  • 00:23:47.182 --> 00:23:50.051
  • We hear from viewers and listeners who tell us how much
  • 00:23:50.051 --> 00:23:53.054
  • They appreciate the unfiltered presentation of god's word, and
  • 00:23:53.054 --> 00:23:57.225
  • It's all made possible because of friends just like you.
  • 00:23:57.225 --> 00:24:00.896
  • Thank you so much for your generosity and faithfulness.
  • 00:24:00.896 --> 00:24:04.466
  • Now stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
  • 00:24:04.466 --> 00:24:07.502
  • Victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:07.502 --> 00:24:10.939
  • Announcer: we all need god's strength to make it through
  • 00:24:12.073 --> 00:24:14.276
  • The day.
  • 00:24:14.276 --> 00:24:15.610
  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" by dr. robert
  • 00:24:15.610 --> 00:24:18.113
  • Jeffress provides the spiritual refreshment you need.
  • 00:24:18.113 --> 00:24:21.316
  • In a large print format, every page bursts with breathtaking
  • 00:24:21.316 --> 00:24:25.287
  • Imagery that draws you toward the beauty of god's creation.
  • 00:24:25.287 --> 00:24:29.090
  • Jeffress: i know how challenging it can be to stay connected with
  • 00:24:29.090 --> 00:24:32.193
  • God in our busy lives.
  • 00:24:32.193 --> 00:24:34.029
  • In my new devotional, i provide personal reflections and
  • 00:24:34.029 --> 00:24:37.532
  • Practical insights that will help you experience god's
  • 00:24:37.532 --> 00:24:40.936
  • Presence and encouragement throughout your day.
  • 00:24:40.936 --> 00:24:44.205
  • Announcer: filled with stunning images of creation, scripture
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  • Verses, and prayers you can read in under two minutes, this
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  • Padded hardcover book is the perfect daily companion to help
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  • Refresh your spirit, morning and night.
  • 00:24:53.782 --> 00:24:56.551
  • It also makes a thoughtful gift to encourage a friend or
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  • Loved one.
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  • Request your copy of "encouragement for the heart of
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  • A disciple" when you give a generous gift to support the
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  • Ministry of "pathway to victory," or when you become a
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  • Pathway partner.
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  • Of god's word.
  • 00:25:38.426 --> 00:25:40.729
  • Jeffress: you will never change your behavior without first
  • 00:25:41.896 --> 00:25:44.532
  • Changing your heart.
  • 00:25:44.532 --> 00:25:46.234
  • But when you desire it, when you plan for it, and when you
  • 00:25:46.234 --> 00:25:49.270
  • Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness, heart
  • 00:25:49.270 --> 00:25:53.141
  • Transformation is possible.
  • 00:25:53.141 --> 00:25:56.077
  • Well, many christians admit to feeling somewhat guilty
  • 00:25:56.077 --> 00:25:59.014
  • About their lack of prayer.
  • 00:25:59.014 --> 00:26:01.049
  • And if you, like me, identify with that statement,
  • 00:26:01.049 --> 00:26:04.252
  • You're not alone.
  • 00:26:04.252 --> 00:26:05.687
  • Next time we're going to learn how to develop a praying heart.
  • 00:26:05.687 --> 00:26:09.624
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:09.624 --> 00:26:12.093
  • Series, "7 marks of a disciple."
  • 00:26:12.093 --> 00:26:15.664
  • Jeffress: all of my questions about the value of prayer
  • 00:26:16.798 --> 00:26:20.835
  • Melt away when i look at the example of jesus christ.
  • 00:26:20.835 --> 00:26:25.674
  • To jesus, prayer was not optional, it was
  • 00:26:25.674 --> 00:26:29.611
  • Absolutely necessary for his spiritual survival.
  • 00:26:29.611 --> 00:26:35.183
  • And if we are going to be a disciple, a follower
  • 00:26:35.183 --> 00:26:38.687
  • Of christ, one of the marks of our life
  • 00:26:38.687 --> 00:26:42.123
  • Is going to be to develop a praying heart.
  • 00:26:42.123 --> 00:26:46.561
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:26:46.561 --> 00:26:49.698
  • "developing a praying heart," here on "pathway to victory."
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