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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Heart Surgery 101 (Part 2)

July 10, 2025 | S25 E328 | 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 #Victory #Heart #Actions #Choices #RelationshipwithGod #WalkwithGod #SpiritualFoundation

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Heart Surgery 101 (Part 2) | July 10, 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"
  • 00:00:09.099 --> 00:00:11.801
  • With 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."
  • 00:00:16.139 --> 00:00:18.308
  • The kingdom of god isn't just a far off destination we reach
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  • After we die.
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  • It's a reality we can experience right now.
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  • When we submit to god's rule in our daily lives, we gain
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  • Immediate access to his peace, freedom from worry, and
  • 00:00:30.620 --> 00:00:34.591
  • Contentment in all circumstances, but entering this
  • 00:00:34.591 --> 00:00:37.861
  • Kingdom requires more than just behavioral changes.
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  • Today i want to show you that becoming a true disciple of
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  • Christ begins with a transformed heart.
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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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  • ♪ 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 ♪
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  • ♪ 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 ♪
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  • ♪ let the praise go up ♪
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  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
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  • ♪ we're in the presence of the lord ♪
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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 ♪
  • 00:02:41.384 --> 00:02:42.885
  • ♪ let the praise go up ♪
  • 00:02:42.885 --> 00:02:45.021
  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
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  • ♪ we're in the presence of the lord ♪
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  • ♪ hosanna hosanna ♪
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  • ♪ in the highest ♪
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  • ♪ hosanna hosanna ♪
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  • ♪ in the highest ♪
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  • ♪ hosanna hosanna ♪
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  • ♪ in the highest ♪
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  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
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  • ♪ let the praise go up ♪
  • 00:03:38.541 --> 00:03:40.343
  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
  • 00:03:40.343 --> 00:03:41.911
  • ♪ let the praise go up ♪
  • 00:03:41.911 --> 00:03:44.047
  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
  • 00:03:44.047 --> 00:03:47.750
  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
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  • ♪ let the veil down ♪
  • 00:03:51.688 --> 00:03:55.058
  • ♪ we're in the presence of the lord ♪
  • 00:03:55.058 --> 00:04:05.768
  • ♪ 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."
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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: 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
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  • 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.
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  • 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,
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  • Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,
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  • Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
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  • "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
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  • 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.
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  • Then he goes on to say verse 13, "for it is god who is at work in
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  • 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
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  • Your house.
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  • You know, inside that electrical socket is all kind of
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  • Amazing energy.
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  • There's energy to power an oven to cook a fabulous meal.
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  • There's the energy to power a saw, an electric saw that will
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  • Help you create a beautiful piece of furniture.
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  • 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
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  • Takes your effort combined with the spirit of god, his power to
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  • Become that person you dream of becoming.
  • 00:08:15.484 --> 00:08:18.321
  • "work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is god
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  • Who is working within you."
  • 00:08:22.091 --> 00:08:24.927
  • If you think this is bordering on heresy--say, "well, we ought
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  • To partner with god and god's power is not enough?"
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  • Just think about the scripture passage we read this morning.
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  • 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?
  • 00:08:49.518 --> 00:08:54.123
  • 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.
  • 00:09:06.702 --> 00:09:09.905
  • 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."
  • 00:09:15.177 --> 00:09:16.545
  • And you can have another experience where you get more
  • 00:09:16.545 --> 00:09:18.814
  • The expe--of the power of god.
  • 00:09:18.814 --> 00:09:20.650
  • No, the moment you're saved, that fertilized egg is planted
  • 00:09:20.650 --> 00:09:24.987
  • Within you that has all of the energy necessary to grow into
  • 00:09:24.987 --> 00:09:29.925
  • The kind of person god has planned for you to be.
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  • It's the same way spiritually.
  • 00:09:32.662 --> 00:09:34.730
  • The holy spirit has all the power necessary for us to become
  • 00:09:34.730 --> 00:09:39.201
  • The people we want to be, but it's not enough.
  • 00:09:39.201 --> 00:09:45.241
  • God's given us everything he has, but notice verse 5, "now
  • 00:09:45.241 --> 00:09:49.645
  • For this very reason, also applying all diligence, in your
  • 00:09:49.645 --> 00:09:54.817
  • Faith you supply moral excellence, knowledge,
  • 00:09:54.817 --> 00:10:00.089
  • Self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness,
  • 00:10:00.089 --> 00:10:04.427
  • And love."
  • 00:10:04.427 --> 00:10:06.162
  • You see what peter is saying?
  • 00:10:06.162 --> 00:10:07.697
  • God's given you everything you need for a godly life.
  • 00:10:07.697 --> 00:10:10.833
  • He's done his part.
  • 00:10:10.833 --> 00:10:12.168
  • Now, this is what you need to supply.
  • 00:10:12.168 --> 00:10:15.805
  • Not for your passage to heaven.
  • 00:10:15.805 --> 00:10:19.475
  • This is what you need to supply in order to have the benefits of
  • 00:10:19.475 --> 00:10:24.447
  • Living in god's kingdom right now.
  • 00:10:24.447 --> 00:10:28.084
  • The bible says, our salvation is something god does by himself."
  • 00:10:28.084 --> 00:10:32.722
  • "for by grace you have been saved through faith, that not of
  • 00:10:32.722 --> 00:10:35.491
  • Yourselves, it's a gift of god not of works lest any man
  • 00:10:35.491 --> 00:10:38.494
  • Should boast."
  • 00:10:38.494 --> 00:10:39.829
  • But our transformation is a joint project between god
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  • And us.
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  • Okay, we've talked about spiritual transformation, why
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  • It's necessary.
  • 00:10:48.237 --> 00:10:49.772
  • Because we have defective parts.
  • 00:10:49.772 --> 00:10:51.807
  • Secondly, we've answered the question, who's responsible
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  • For it?
  • 00:10:54.243 --> 00:10:55.611
  • It's not just god, it's not just us.
  • 00:10:55.611 --> 00:10:57.847
  • You know, without god's power, we cannot be transformed.
  • 00:10:57.847 --> 00:11:01.517
  • Without our effort, we will not be transformed.
  • 00:11:01.517 --> 00:11:05.855
  • Thirdly, okay, what is the process?
  • 00:11:05.855 --> 00:11:08.657
  • How does it happen?
  • 00:11:08.657 --> 00:11:10.893
  • For your heart to be transformed to become the person god wants
  • 00:11:10.893 --> 00:11:14.497
  • You to be, there are three essential components to that
  • 00:11:14.497 --> 00:11:18.200
  • Spiritual transformation.
  • 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:19.568
  • Write them down, number one, there has to be a desire.
  • 00:11:19.568 --> 00:11:23.973
  • There has to be a desire for spiritual transformation.
  • 00:11:23.973 --> 00:11:28.277
  • I remember growing up in this church, there's a little chorus
  • 00:11:28.277 --> 00:11:30.946
  • We used to sing a lot.
  • 00:11:30.946 --> 00:11:32.481
  • I bet some of you remember it.
  • 00:11:32.481 --> 00:11:34.850
  • Lord, i want to be a christian in my heart, there it is, in
  • 00:11:34.850 --> 00:11:43.859
  • My heart.
  • 00:11:43.859 --> 00:11:45.995
  • Lord, i want to be a christian in my heart.
  • 00:11:45.995 --> 00:11:52.234
  • If i remember the second verse, lord, i want to be like jesus in
  • 00:11:52.234 --> 00:11:58.941
  • My heart, in my heart, lord, i want to be like jesus in
  • 00:11:58.941 --> 00:12:07.283
  • My heart.
  • 00:12:07.283 --> 00:12:08.684
  • Aren't you grateful i'm not the minister of music?
  • 00:12:08.684 --> 00:12:13.322
  • But in that simple chorus is a profound truth.
  • 00:12:13.322 --> 00:12:18.194
  • We will never be a christian, we will never be like jesus without
  • 00:12:18.194 --> 00:12:23.432
  • That desire that comes from our heart.
  • 00:12:23.432 --> 00:12:26.969
  • For example, in romans 10:9, the desire to be saved comes from
  • 00:12:26.969 --> 00:12:30.639
  • The heart.
  • 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:32.007
  • "if you confess with your mouth jesus as lord, and believe
  • 00:12:32.007 --> 00:12:34.510
  • In your,"--where?
  • 00:12:34.510 --> 00:12:35.878
  • "in your heart that god has raised him from the dead, you'll
  • 00:12:35.878 --> 00:12:37.713
  • Be saved."
  • 00:12:37.713 --> 00:12:39.081
  • Not only that, our desire to live like a christian and be
  • 00:12:39.081 --> 00:12:42.051
  • Like jesus comes from the heart.
  • 00:12:42.051 --> 00:12:43.853
  • Ephesians 6:6 talks about doing the will of god from the heart.
  • 00:12:43.853 --> 00:12:49.959
  • But here's the problem, when we are born into this world, we are
  • 00:12:49.959 --> 00:12:53.596
  • Born not just with a defective heart, we are born with a heart
  • 00:12:53.596 --> 00:12:57.266
  • That is absolutely dead.
  • 00:12:57.266 --> 00:13:01.170
  • It doesn't beat.
  • 00:13:01.170 --> 00:13:02.504
  • If you believe that's an overstatement, look at ephesians
  • 00:13:02.504 --> 00:13:05.374
  • Chapter 2, verses 1 through 3, where paul describes our
  • 00:13:05.374 --> 00:13:10.045
  • Spiritual condition apart from christ.
  • 00:13:10.045 --> 00:13:13.549
  • He says, "and you were dead in your trespasses and sin, in
  • 00:13:13.549 --> 00:13:18.153
  • Which you formerly walked according to the course of
  • 00:13:18.153 --> 00:13:21.257
  • This world.
  • 00:13:21.257 --> 00:13:23.058
  • Our state apart from christ is we are spiritually dead.
  • 00:13:23.058 --> 00:13:29.131
  • Now, i don't know if you've been around a lot of dead
  • 00:13:29.131 --> 00:13:30.933
  • People before.
  • 00:13:30.933 --> 00:13:33.335
  • My line of work requires me to hang around corpses quite a bit.
  • 00:13:33.335 --> 00:13:37.873
  • And a lot of times i'll be standing down at a funeral
  • 00:13:37.873 --> 00:13:40.943
  • Service next to the open casket, and people proceed by to see the
  • 00:13:40.943 --> 00:13:45.614
  • Dearly departed, and every now and then somebody lean over and
  • 00:13:45.614 --> 00:13:48.450
  • Say, "oh, doesn't he look good?"
  • 00:13:48.450 --> 00:13:52.221
  • Good?
  • 00:13:52.221 --> 00:13:53.589
  • I think he's dead.
  • 00:13:53.589 --> 00:13:54.924
  • There's nothing good about that.
  • 00:13:54.924 --> 00:13:56.592
  • Oh, sure, he may have a head and have arms and legs.
  • 00:13:56.592 --> 00:13:59.728
  • He has a heart still inside of him, but that heart is
  • 00:13:59.728 --> 00:14:02.698
  • Not beating.
  • 00:14:02.698 --> 00:14:04.066
  • It has stopped and that's why he is dead.
  • 00:14:04.066 --> 00:14:08.504
  • That's the way you and i are without christ.
  • 00:14:08.504 --> 00:14:12.441
  • We are spiritually dead.
  • 00:14:12.441 --> 00:14:14.476
  • I think i've told you this before, but one day i was
  • 00:14:14.476 --> 00:14:17.413
  • Staying by a corpse, and before people started proceeding down,
  • 00:14:17.413 --> 00:14:22.318
  • I saw a giant fly land on the nose of the corpse.
  • 00:14:22.318 --> 00:14:27.122
  • I thought--and he wouldn't leave.
  • 00:14:27.122 --> 00:14:28.757
  • I thought, "what am i gonna do?"
  • 00:14:28.757 --> 00:14:30.092
  • So, without anybody looking, hopefully, i just went over and
  • 00:14:30.092 --> 00:14:32.861
  • I kinda flicked the fly off the nose of the corpse.
  • 00:14:32.861 --> 00:14:38.167
  • That corpse said, "what are you doing?"
  • 00:14:38.167 --> 00:14:42.004
  • That corpse sneezed?
  • 00:14:42.004 --> 00:14:43.372
  • Of course not, he was absolutely incapable of responding to any
  • 00:14:43.372 --> 00:14:47.109
  • External stimulus.
  • 00:14:47.109 --> 00:14:48.944
  • That's what happens when you're dead, you can't respond.
  • 00:14:48.944 --> 00:14:52.247
  • Now here's the point, you and i are spiritually dead.
  • 00:14:52.247 --> 00:14:57.219
  • Our heart doesn't beat.
  • 00:14:57.219 --> 00:14:59.521
  • That means we will never on our own have a desire to be
  • 00:14:59.521 --> 00:15:03.625
  • A christian.
  • 00:15:03.625 --> 00:15:05.194
  • We will never have a desire to live like jesus because our
  • 00:15:05.194 --> 00:15:09.198
  • Hearts are dead and we're dead.
  • 00:15:09.198 --> 00:15:12.234
  • You say, "well, then how does anybody ever have a desire to
  • 00:15:12.234 --> 00:15:14.636
  • Become a christian?
  • 00:15:14.636 --> 00:15:16.005
  • How does anybody ever want to be like jesus?"
  • 00:15:16.005 --> 00:15:17.773
  • Well, here's the good news, verse 4 of ephesians 2, "but
  • 00:15:17.773 --> 00:15:20.275
  • God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with
  • 00:15:20.275 --> 00:15:24.446
  • Which he loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions,
  • 00:15:24.446 --> 00:15:28.517
  • He made us alive together with christ (for by grace you have
  • 00:15:28.517 --> 00:15:33.222
  • Been saved.)"
  • 00:15:33.222 --> 00:15:35.591
  • I was watching the other night an old episode of "24" with jack
  • 00:15:35.591 --> 00:15:38.894
  • Bauer, remember "24?"
  • 00:15:38.894 --> 00:15:40.396
  • And one of the episodes, jack bauer had flatlined.
  • 00:15:40.396 --> 00:15:44.666
  • And a little instrument started just, beep.
  • 00:15:44.666 --> 00:15:50.773
  • And the doctor yelled, "get the paddle, get the paddles."
  • 00:15:50.773 --> 00:15:53.976
  • And so, he rips open jack's shirt, and they get the paddles,
  • 00:15:53.976 --> 00:15:57.479
  • And put them on his heart, and send the electrical surge and,
  • 00:15:57.479 --> 00:16:01.050
  • He jolts up, you know, and his eyes open, his heart starts
  • 00:16:01.050 --> 00:16:03.919
  • Beating, guaranteeing next week's episode is gonna be here
  • 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:07.056
  • On schedule.
  • 00:16:07.056 --> 00:16:09.425
  • You know what it took was an external stimulus to get that
  • 00:16:09.425 --> 00:16:13.429
  • Heart beating again.
  • 00:16:13.429 --> 00:16:15.197
  • And the bible says that is exactly what god has done
  • 00:16:15.197 --> 00:16:18.033
  • For us.
  • 00:16:18.033 --> 00:16:19.368
  • When we were spiritually dead, god got the spiritual paddles
  • 00:16:19.368 --> 00:16:22.838
  • And he put them on our heart and he gave us life.
  • 00:16:22.838 --> 00:16:27.342
  • He made those of us who were spiritually dead, spiritually
  • 00:16:27.342 --> 00:16:30.379
  • Alive so that we could respond to the gospel.
  • 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:33.282
  • I want to be clear here.
  • 00:16:33.282 --> 00:16:34.616
  • I don't believe that act of making somebody who was
  • 00:16:34.616 --> 00:16:37.920
  • Spiritually dead, spiritually alive, that makes them a
  • 00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:40.956
  • Christian automatically.
  • 00:16:40.956 --> 00:16:42.458
  • I don't think god forces anybody to be a christian.
  • 00:16:42.458 --> 00:16:45.894
  • We are not a christian until we personally believe and trust in
  • 00:16:45.894 --> 00:16:49.698
  • Jesus for our salvation.
  • 00:16:49.698 --> 00:16:51.366
  • But what paul is saying is, you and i wouldn't even have any
  • 00:16:51.366 --> 00:16:54.837
  • Awareness of our sin.
  • 00:16:54.837 --> 00:16:56.438
  • You and i would not understand the gospel were it not for the
  • 00:16:56.438 --> 00:17:00.409
  • Spirit of god who makes us alive and aware of god and our need
  • 00:17:00.409 --> 00:17:04.813
  • For a savior.
  • 00:17:04.813 --> 00:17:06.148
  • That desire to be a christian comes from god.
  • 00:17:06.148 --> 00:17:10.385
  • That's where that desire comes from.
  • 00:17:10.385 --> 00:17:12.621
  • "for by grace you have been saved through faith and that not
  • 00:17:12.621 --> 00:17:16.158
  • Of yourselves, it is a gift of god."
  • 00:17:16.158 --> 00:17:18.494
  • Likewise, once we're spiritually alive, we will never have that
  • 00:17:18.494 --> 00:17:22.564
  • Transformed life god wants for us unless we have that desire to
  • 00:17:22.564 --> 00:17:27.503
  • Have a transformed life.
  • 00:17:27.503 --> 00:17:29.671
  • So, it all begins with desire, but that's not enough.
  • 00:17:29.671 --> 00:17:33.876
  • Secondly, we have to have a detailed plan.
  • 00:17:33.876 --> 00:17:37.446
  • We have to have a detailed plan.
  • 00:17:37.446 --> 00:17:40.149
  • Talking about awakenings, about a few months ago, i had my
  • 00:17:40.149 --> 00:17:43.819
  • Own awakening.
  • 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:46.522
  • I discovered it was the oddest thing that my pants
  • 00:17:46.522 --> 00:17:50.225
  • Were shrinking.
  • 00:17:50.225 --> 00:17:53.762
  • Have you ever had that happen?
  • 00:17:53.762 --> 00:17:55.397
  • It's the oddest thing.
  • 00:17:55.397 --> 00:17:56.798
  • I couldn't figure out if the dry cleaner were putting some new
  • 00:17:56.798 --> 00:17:59.501
  • Chemical in there.
  • 00:17:59.501 --> 00:18:00.869
  • What was causing my waistline to shrink?
  • 00:18:00.869 --> 00:18:03.639
  • I got on the scales and figured it out.
  • 00:18:03.639 --> 00:18:06.441
  • My pants weren't shrinking, i was expanding.
  • 00:18:06.441 --> 00:18:10.312
  • And so, i decided, "i don't wanna look like this.
  • 00:18:10.312 --> 00:18:13.682
  • I don't wanna feel like this.
  • 00:18:13.682 --> 00:18:15.050
  • I want to get rid of that weight."
  • 00:18:15.050 --> 00:18:16.385
  • I had the desire, but guess what?
  • 00:18:16.385 --> 00:18:18.320
  • Desire alone won't take off the weight.
  • 00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:21.089
  • I had to come up with a plan.
  • 00:18:21.089 --> 00:18:23.325
  • A few more minutes on the treadmill every day.
  • 00:18:23.325 --> 00:18:25.661
  • Eliminating, you know, some food from my diet.
  • 00:18:25.661 --> 00:18:29.565
  • It wasn't going to happen automatically.
  • 00:18:29.565 --> 00:18:31.567
  • Now, in the same way, if a physical transformation requires
  • 00:18:31.567 --> 00:18:35.337
  • A plan to make it happen in addition to desire, should we be
  • 00:18:35.337 --> 00:18:39.975
  • Any--be surprised that a spiritual transformation of our
  • 00:18:39.975 --> 00:18:43.845
  • Heart also requires a detailed plan?
  • 00:18:43.845 --> 00:18:48.317
  • We're gonna talk about those detailed plans in the weeks
  • 00:18:48.317 --> 00:18:51.253
  • Ahead, but if you're gonna have a spiritual transformation in
  • 00:18:51.253 --> 00:18:54.056
  • Your life, it starts with a desire.
  • 00:18:54.056 --> 00:18:56.558
  • Secondly, it requires a detailed plan, but thirdly, it requires
  • 00:18:56.558 --> 00:19:01.129
  • Discipline, discipline.
  • 00:19:01.129 --> 00:19:03.532
  • You know, i can desire to lose weight, i can have my detailed
  • 00:19:03.532 --> 00:19:06.969
  • Plan to lose weight, but what happens on those mornings when i
  • 00:19:06.969 --> 00:19:09.972
  • Decide i'd rather pull the cover over my head instead of get on
  • 00:19:09.972 --> 00:19:13.008
  • The treadmill?
  • 00:19:13.008 --> 00:19:14.543
  • What happens when i've had a particularly tough day and
  • 00:19:14.543 --> 00:19:17.546
  • Decide, "i need some comfort food that evening to kinda help
  • 00:19:17.546 --> 00:19:23.652
  • Maintain my equilibrium?"
  • 00:19:23.652 --> 00:19:25.487
  • What do i do?
  • 00:19:25.487 --> 00:19:26.855
  • It's at that point that in addition to a detailed plan and
  • 00:19:26.855 --> 00:19:30.626
  • Desire, i need discipline, discipline.
  • 00:19:30.626 --> 00:19:36.231
  • A great definition for discipline.
  • 00:19:36.231 --> 00:19:38.100
  • Discipline is doing what you know you should do when you
  • 00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:41.436
  • Don't feel like doing it.
  • 00:19:41.436 --> 00:19:43.805
  • Discipline, doing what you know you should do when you don't
  • 00:19:43.805 --> 00:19:46.942
  • Feel like doing it.
  • 00:19:46.942 --> 00:19:48.277
  • Many of you know the great late baseball player, ted williams.
  • 00:19:48.277 --> 00:19:52.948
  • Ted williams was known as a natural hitter.
  • 00:19:52.948 --> 00:19:57.085
  • Whenever he heard that, he scoffed at the idea.
  • 00:19:57.085 --> 00:20:00.589
  • He said, "there's no such thing as a natural born hitter.
  • 00:20:00.589 --> 00:20:05.927
  • I became a good hitter because i paid the price of constant
  • 00:20:05.927 --> 00:20:10.499
  • Practice, constant practice."
  • 00:20:10.499 --> 00:20:14.036
  • And the calluses on his hand prove that.
  • 00:20:14.036 --> 00:20:18.073
  • It's the same way with becoming the person god wants you to be.
  • 00:20:18.073 --> 00:20:23.178
  • It requires discipline.
  • 00:20:23.178 --> 00:20:25.414
  • It requires hard work.
  • 00:20:25.414 --> 00:20:28.083
  • The great elton trueblood, great christian writer, said,
  • 00:20:28.083 --> 00:20:32.854
  • "acceptance of discipline is the price of freedom."
  • 00:20:32.854 --> 00:20:38.660
  • Now i want you to tune in to this for the last 3 minutes of
  • 00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:41.129
  • The sermon.
  • 00:20:41.129 --> 00:20:42.497
  • I want you to write down this phrase: discipline is the price
  • 00:20:42.497 --> 00:20:46.001
  • Of freedom.
  • 00:20:46.001 --> 00:20:48.003
  • Discipline is the price of freedom.
  • 00:20:48.003 --> 00:20:50.972
  • He goes on to say, "the pole vaulter is not free to go over
  • 00:20:50.972 --> 00:20:55.577
  • The high bar, except as he disciplines himself rigorously
  • 00:20:55.577 --> 00:21:00.449
  • Day after day."
  • 00:21:00.449 --> 00:21:02.351
  • The freedom of the surgeon to use his drill to cut away bony
  • 00:21:02.351 --> 00:21:06.755
  • Structure close to a tiny nerve without severing it, that
  • 00:21:06.755 --> 00:21:10.859
  • Freedom arises from discipline.
  • 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:14.996
  • It is doubtful if excellence in any field comes in any other way
  • 00:21:14.996 --> 00:21:20.535
  • Than through discipline.
  • 00:21:20.535 --> 00:21:24.272
  • Discipline is the price we for the freedom to live as god wants
  • 00:21:24.272 --> 00:21:30.045
  • Us to live.
  • 00:21:30.045 --> 00:21:31.813
  • If you think that's a lot of positive thinking mumbo jumbo,
  • 00:21:31.813 --> 00:21:37.486
  • Listen to what paul says in 1 timothy 4:7.
  • 00:21:37.486 --> 00:21:41.056
  • He says, "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness,
  • 00:21:41.056 --> 00:21:45.527
  • For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is
  • 00:21:45.527 --> 00:21:50.365
  • Profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present
  • 00:21:50.365 --> 00:21:54.669
  • Life and also for the life to come."
  • 00:21:54.669 --> 00:21:57.873
  • That word discipline paul uses, it's the greek word "gymnaze,"
  • 00:21:57.873 --> 00:22:03.044
  • "gymnaze," sound familiar?
  • 00:22:03.044 --> 00:22:06.548
  • It's the word we get gymnasium from?
  • 00:22:06.548 --> 00:22:10.485
  • Discipline yourself for godliness.
  • 00:22:10.485 --> 00:22:14.523
  • Just reading that, i mean, when you think of a gymnasium, you
  • 00:22:14.523 --> 00:22:17.759
  • Think of that aroma of sweat, don't you?
  • 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:23.064
  • I mean, you've got sweat all over this verse that paul is
  • 00:22:23.064 --> 00:22:26.735
  • Writing here.
  • 00:22:26.735 --> 00:22:28.236
  • He said, "being the person god wants you to become, it takes
  • 00:22:28.236 --> 00:22:32.841
  • Hard work.
  • 00:22:32.841 --> 00:22:34.176
  • It takes holy sweat.
  • 00:22:34.176 --> 00:22:36.178
  • But the end result is well worth the effort."
  • 00:22:36.178 --> 00:22:40.182
  • Bodily discipline, yes, it has benefits.
  • 00:22:40.182 --> 00:22:43.685
  • Admiring glances you get from other people, a longer life,
  • 00:22:43.685 --> 00:22:48.323
  • Winning the athletic contest.
  • 00:22:48.323 --> 00:22:51.159
  • But spiritual discipline, it benefits you not just in
  • 00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:55.764
  • This life.
  • 00:22:55.764 --> 00:22:57.365
  • But it benefits you beginning right now and extending past the
  • 00:22:57.365 --> 00:23:01.937
  • Grave through all eternity.
  • 00:23:01.937 --> 00:23:05.073
  • Discipline is the price we pay to become the people we've
  • 00:23:05.073 --> 00:23:09.578
  • Dreamed of becoming and experiencing the kind of life
  • 00:23:09.578 --> 00:23:14.182
  • That is beyond imagination.
  • 00:23:14.182 --> 00:23:16.751
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:16.751 --> 00:23:22.123
  • Jeffress: and in that spirit, let me commend you
  • 00:23:22.123 --> 00:23:24.092
  • For watching today.
  • 00:23:24.092 --> 00:23:25.760
  • Becoming the person god wants you to be takes
  • 00:23:25.760 --> 00:23:27.696
  • Hard work.
  • 00:23:27.696 --> 00:23:29.030
  • And the fact that you're engaged with today's study shows me that
  • 00:23:29.030 --> 00:23:32.167
  • You're on the "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:32.167 --> 00:23:35.036
  • Now in closing, i want to thank every one of you who invest in
  • 00:23:35.036 --> 00:23:38.139
  • God's kingdom by supporting "pathway to victory,"
  • 00:23:38.139 --> 00:23:41.243
  • Especially our pathway partners.
  • 00:23:41.243 --> 00:23:43.945
  • You make it possible for us to bring the light of god's word
  • 00:23:43.945 --> 00:23:47.415
  • Into the dark places of our country.
  • 00:23:47.415 --> 00:23:50.285
  • We hear from viewers and listeners who tell us how much
  • 00:23:50.285 --> 00:23:53.288
  • They appreciate the unfiltered presentation of god's word, and
  • 00:23:53.288 --> 00:23:57.459
  • It's all made possible because of friends just like you.
  • 00:23:57.459 --> 00:24:01.129
  • Thank you so much for your generosity and faithfulness.
  • 00:24:01.129 --> 00:24:04.699
  • Now stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
  • 00:24:04.699 --> 00:24:07.736
  • Victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:07.736 --> 00:24:10.071
  • Announcer: we all need god's strength to make it through
  • 00:24:12.307 --> 00:24:14.509
  • The day.
  • 00:24:14.509 --> 00:24:15.844
  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" by dr. robert
  • 00:24:15.844 --> 00:24:18.346
  • Jeffress provides the spiritual refreshment you need.
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  • In a large print format, every page bursts with breathtaking
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  • Imagery that draws you toward the beauty of god's creation.
  • 00:24:25.520 --> 00:24:29.324
  • Jeffress: i know how challenging it can be to stay connected with
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  • God in our busy lives.
  • 00:24:32.427 --> 00:24:34.262
  • In my new devotional, i provide personal reflections and
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  • Practical insights that will help you experience god's
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  • Presence and encouragement throughout your day.
  • 00:24:41.169 --> 00:24:44.439
  • 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.
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  • 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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  • Of god's word.
  • 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:40.161
  • Jeffress: you will never change your behavior without first
  • 00:25:42.130 --> 00:25:44.766
  • Changing your heart.
  • 00:25:44.766 --> 00:25:46.468
  • But when you desire it, when you plan for it, and when you
  • 00:25:46.468 --> 00:25:49.504
  • Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness, heart
  • 00:25:49.504 --> 00:25:53.375
  • Transformation is possible.
  • 00:25:53.375 --> 00:25:56.311
  • Well, many christians admit to feeling somewhat guilty
  • 00:25:56.311 --> 00:25:59.247
  • About their lack of prayer.
  • 00:25:59.247 --> 00:26:01.282
  • And if you, like me, identify with that statement,
  • 00:26:01.282 --> 00:26:04.486
  • You're not alone.
  • 00:26:04.486 --> 00:26:05.920
  • Next time we're going to learn how to develop a praying heart.
  • 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:09.858
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:09.858 --> 00:26:12.327
  • Series, "7 marks of a disciple."
  • 00:26:12.327 --> 00:26:15.730
  • Jeffress: all of my questions about the value of prayer
  • 00:26:17.032 --> 00:26:21.069
  • Melt away when i look at the example of jesus christ.
  • 00:26:21.069 --> 00:26:25.907
  • To jesus, prayer was not optional, it was
  • 00:26:25.907 --> 00:26:29.844
  • Absolutely necessary for his spiritual survival.
  • 00:26:29.844 --> 00:26:35.417
  • And if we are going to be a disciple, a follower
  • 00:26:35.417 --> 00:26:38.920
  • Of christ, one of the marks of our life
  • 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:42.357
  • Is going to be to develop a praying heart.
  • 00:26:42.357 --> 00:26:46.695
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:26:46.761 --> 00:26:49.931
  • "developing a praying heart," here on "pathway to victory."
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