Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#inActive
#WordofGod
#Future
#Humble
#Family
#Law
#Redemption
#Hypocrisy
#JudgmentSeatofChrist
#LoveyourNeighbor
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - He's God... and You're Not! | August 20, 2025
- ...
- 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:00.356
- ♪♪♪
- 00:00:00.824 --> 00:00:06.729
- Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
- 00:00:06.830 --> 00:00:09.065
- Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
- 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:12.268
- Dr. robert jeffress.
- 00:00:12.402 --> 00:00:13.703
- Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
- 00:00:14.838 --> 00:00:16.439
- Again to "pathway to victory."
- 00:00:16.573 --> 00:00:17.073
- One of the greatest challenges christians face is learning how
- 00:00:18.475 --> 00:00:22.145
- To live humbly before god.
- 00:00:22.145 --> 00:00:24.447
- Our human nature constantly pushes us to be in control and
- 00:00:24.447 --> 00:00:28.284
- To plan our lives as if we're the ones in charge, but the
- 00:00:28.284 --> 00:00:32.288
- Bible teaches that true godliness requires us to
- 00:00:32.288 --> 00:00:35.859
- Remember a fundamental truth about our human nature.
- 00:00:35.859 --> 00:00:39.729
- Today, i want to show you two specific ways we try to usurp
- 00:00:39.729 --> 00:00:43.800
- God's authority and how avoiding those traps will help you grow
- 00:00:43.800 --> 00:00:48.004
- In godliness.
- 00:00:48.004 --> 00:00:49.405
- My message is titled "he's god and you're not" on today's
- 00:00:49.405 --> 00:00:53.810
- Edition of "pathway to victory."
- 00:00:53.810 --> 00:00:56.846
- ♪♪♪
- 00:00:56.846 --> 00:01:01.885
- Announcer: where there's genuine faith, there will always be
- 00:01:04.687 --> 00:01:07.524
- Visible fruit.
- 00:01:07.524 --> 00:01:09.025
- In his brand-new book, "how to know if you're really saved,"
- 00:01:09.025 --> 00:01:12.295
- Dr. robert jeffress helps you take stock of the evidence of
- 00:01:12.295 --> 00:01:15.498
- Your faith: the spiritual fruit in your daily life.
- 00:01:15.498 --> 00:01:19.302
- This outstanding verse-by-verse walk through the book of james
- 00:01:19.302 --> 00:01:22.939
- Will help you cultivate the spiritual fruit that reflects
- 00:01:22.939 --> 00:01:26.142
- Genuine faith.
- 00:01:26.142 --> 00:01:27.777
- Request "how to know if you're really saved" when you give a
- 00:01:27.777 --> 00:01:30.713
- Generous gift to support the ministry of
- 00:01:30.713 --> 00:01:32.949
- "pathway to victory."
- 00:01:32.949 --> 00:01:35.552
- ♪♪♪
- 00:01:36.019 --> 00:01:44.027
- Jeffress: a doctor said to his patient, "i have some bad news
- 00:01:44.027 --> 00:01:48.031
- And i have some terrible news for you."
- 00:01:48.031 --> 00:01:51.501
- The patient said, "well, what's the bad news?"
- 00:01:51.501 --> 00:01:54.604
- The doctor said, "well, the test results came in and you only
- 00:01:54.604 --> 00:01:58.708
- Have 24 hours to live."
- 00:01:58.708 --> 00:02:01.644
- The patient was stunned.
- 00:02:01.644 --> 00:02:03.012
- He said, "what could be worse than that?"
- 00:02:03.012 --> 00:02:05.648
- The doctor said, "i was supposed to have told you yesterday."
- 00:02:05.648 --> 00:02:11.588
- You know, all of us face uncertain futures, don't we?
- 00:02:11.588 --> 00:02:16.059
- And that's the thought that james has in mind about why we
- 00:02:16.059 --> 00:02:19.829
- Should live without presumption in our lives.
- 00:02:19.829 --> 00:02:23.933
- In james 4:10, "humble yourselves in the presence of
- 00:02:23.933 --> 00:02:28.104
- The lord, and he will exalt you."
- 00:02:28.104 --> 00:02:31.140
- What does that mean, to humble yourselves?
- 00:02:31.140 --> 00:02:34.077
- Remember, i referred to comedian chevy chase, his signature line
- 00:02:34.077 --> 00:02:37.981
- At the beginning of his skit.
- 00:02:37.981 --> 00:02:39.916
- He always began by saying, "hi, i'm chevy chase, and
- 00:02:39.916 --> 00:02:43.820
- You're not."
- 00:02:43.820 --> 00:02:45.221
- Well, that's a real illustration of how we humble ourselves
- 00:02:45.221 --> 00:02:49.292
- Before god.
- 00:02:49.292 --> 00:02:50.627
- We say, "god, i realize you're god and i'm not."
- 00:02:50.627 --> 00:02:56.299
- Now, that means more than just intellectually agreeing that
- 00:02:56.299 --> 00:03:00.103
- You're not god.
- 00:03:00.103 --> 00:03:01.838
- If you really understand that you and i are not god, we will
- 00:03:01.838 --> 00:03:06.676
- Refrain from two specific actions that try to attempt to
- 00:03:06.676 --> 00:03:13.182
- Usurp god's power and authority.
- 00:03:13.182 --> 00:03:16.219
- First of all, james is gonna say, if we're gonna humble
- 00:03:16.219 --> 00:03:18.755
- Ourselves before god, we must stop judging other people.
- 00:03:18.755 --> 00:03:25.061
- Listen to verse 11 and 12, "do not speak out against one
- 00:03:25.061 --> 00:03:29.299
- Another, brethren.
- 00:03:29.299 --> 00:03:30.633
- For he who speaks out against a brother or judges his brother,
- 00:03:30.633 --> 00:03:35.171
- Speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge
- 00:03:35.171 --> 00:03:39.309
- The law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge of it.
- 00:03:39.309 --> 00:03:42.812
- There is only one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to
- 00:03:42.812 --> 00:03:47.016
- Save and destroy; but who are you to judge your neighbor?"
- 00:03:47.016 --> 00:03:53.456
- Now, there's a lot of misunderstanding about what
- 00:03:53.456 --> 00:03:56.326
- James is saying and what he's not saying.
- 00:03:56.326 --> 00:03:59.062
- I read a survey not long ago that said for years the favorite
- 00:03:59.062 --> 00:04:04.000
- Verse of americans, christian and non-christian alike, the
- 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:08.037
- Favorite bible verse was, can you remember what it was?
- 00:04:08.037 --> 00:04:12.275
- Would you like to guess?
- 00:04:12.275 --> 00:04:13.743
- For years it's been john 3:16.
- 00:04:13.743 --> 00:04:16.512
- Remember those guys who would hold up john 3:16 signs at
- 00:04:16.512 --> 00:04:19.782
- Football games?
- 00:04:19.782 --> 00:04:21.150
- Everybody quoted john 3:16, "for god so loved the world that he
- 00:04:21.150 --> 00:04:25.521
- Gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him would
- 00:04:25.521 --> 00:04:29.359
- Not perish but have everlasting life."
- 00:04:29.359 --> 00:04:32.628
- But that verse has been replaced as america's favorite verse.
- 00:04:32.628 --> 00:04:36.833
- You know what america's favorite verse is now?
- 00:04:36.833 --> 00:04:39.769
- Matthew 7:1, "judge not, lest you be judged."
- 00:04:39.769 --> 00:04:45.708
- People don't have a clue what that means.
- 00:04:45.708 --> 00:04:47.677
- They think in this anything-go culture, it's a blanket pardon
- 00:04:47.677 --> 00:04:52.982
- For anything you wanna do.
- 00:04:52.982 --> 00:04:54.951
- They treat that verse like a king's x.
- 00:04:54.951 --> 00:04:57.186
- If you dare question their activities, they say,
- 00:04:57.186 --> 00:04:59.455
- "oh, judge not, judge not, judge not, lest you be judged."
- 00:04:59.455 --> 00:05:05.695
- But was jesus really saying we're never to make any
- 00:05:05.695 --> 00:05:08.931
- Discerning statement or any evaluation of another person?
- 00:05:08.931 --> 00:05:13.836
- No.
- 00:05:13.836 --> 00:05:15.204
- A closer analysis of what jesus meant is found
- 00:05:15.204 --> 00:05:18.374
- In verses 1 to 5 of matthew 7.
- 00:05:18.374 --> 00:05:20.877
- Hold your place in james 4 and turn over to matthew 7.
- 00:05:20.877 --> 00:05:25.214
- Remember, jesus was james's older brother, and it explains
- 00:05:25.214 --> 00:05:30.353
- Why james quotes jesus's sermon on the mount more than any other
- 00:05:30.353 --> 00:05:34.791
- New testament book.
- 00:05:34.791 --> 00:05:36.292
- Look what jesus really said about judging.
- 00:05:36.292 --> 00:05:38.961
- "do not judge so that you will not be judged.
- 00:05:38.961 --> 00:05:42.698
- For in the way you judge, you will be judged"--by the way,
- 00:05:42.698 --> 00:05:46.469
- Circle that line, "way."
- 00:05:46.469 --> 00:05:48.304
- It's not judging, it's the way you judge, "you will be judged;
- 00:05:48.304 --> 00:05:52.708
- And by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
- 00:05:52.708 --> 00:05:56.379
- Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye,
- 00:05:56.379 --> 00:06:00.716
- But do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
- 00:06:00.716 --> 00:06:04.887
- Or how can you say to your brother, 'let me take that speck
- 00:06:04.887 --> 00:06:07.957
- Out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?
- 00:06:07.957 --> 00:06:11.861
- You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and
- 00:06:11.861 --> 00:06:17.300
- Then," circle that, "then you will see clearly to take the
- 00:06:17.300 --> 00:06:23.072
- Speck out of your brother's eye."
- 00:06:23.072 --> 00:06:26.709
- What james is saying--and jesus both--is don't engage in ungodly
- 00:06:26.709 --> 00:06:32.682
- Judging, an ungodly type, a wrong type of judging.
- 00:06:32.682 --> 00:06:36.452
- He's not saying don't judge at all, but guard against
- 00:06:36.452 --> 00:06:40.122
- Ungodly judging.
- 00:06:40.122 --> 00:06:41.491
- What is that?
- 00:06:41.491 --> 00:06:42.825
- First of all, ungodly judging usurps god's authority to
- 00:06:42.825 --> 00:06:47.163
- Pronounce condemnation.
- 00:06:47.163 --> 00:06:49.465
- It's usurping only god's right to pronounce condemnation.
- 00:06:49.465 --> 00:06:53.703
- That word "judge" in greek is the word "krino," k-r-i-n-o.
- 00:06:53.703 --> 00:06:59.709
- It is a condemning type of judgment.
- 00:06:59.709 --> 00:07:03.312
- It's a judgment that says, "here is the final verdict on this
- 00:07:03.312 --> 00:07:06.849
- Person: what they've done is unforgivable.
- 00:07:06.849 --> 00:07:10.319
- They are beyond forgiveness.
- 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:12.154
- They are a person who are beyond redemption."
- 00:07:12.154 --> 00:07:15.424
- James says you can't pronounce that kind of judgment.
- 00:07:15.424 --> 00:07:18.227
- Only god knows that.
- 00:07:18.227 --> 00:07:21.597
- Secondly, james says, ungodly judging usurps god's ability to
- 00:07:21.597 --> 00:07:27.670
- Discern someone's motivation.
- 00:07:27.670 --> 00:07:30.740
- Whenever we attempt to discover somebody's motivation for doing
- 00:07:30.740 --> 00:07:35.545
- Something, we're in dangerous territory.
- 00:07:35.545 --> 00:07:39.048
- That's something only god can do.
- 00:07:39.048 --> 00:07:40.750
- Remember in 1 samuel 16:7, it says, "man looks on the outward
- 00:07:40.750 --> 00:07:45.755
- Appearance, but god looks on the heart"?
- 00:07:45.755 --> 00:07:49.759
- Only god knows the full picture.
- 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:52.461
- Only god knows a person's heart.
- 00:07:52.461 --> 00:07:55.097
- Chuck swindoll tells the experience he had when he was a
- 00:07:55.097 --> 00:07:59.035
- Student at dallas seminary.
- 00:07:59.035 --> 00:08:01.237
- He said they had a missionary speaker come to speak, and the
- 00:08:01.237 --> 00:08:05.074
- Missionary speaker just bombed completely.
- 00:08:05.074 --> 00:08:08.844
- It was a horrible message and a horrible delivery, and chuck
- 00:08:08.844 --> 00:08:12.915
- Said he and some of the other students afterwards were
- 00:08:12.915 --> 00:08:15.351
- Standing around and just criticizing this missionary and
- 00:08:15.351 --> 00:08:18.955
- Talking about how awful he was, when another student approached
- 00:08:18.955 --> 00:08:22.525
- Them, heard what was going on, and said, "chuck, there's
- 00:08:22.525 --> 00:08:25.995
- Something you may not know.
- 00:08:25.995 --> 00:08:27.930
- Two hours before the meeting tonight, this speaker received a
- 00:08:27.930 --> 00:08:31.767
- Telephone call telling him that his youngest son had died.
- 00:08:31.767 --> 00:08:38.140
- But he wanted to keep the engagement and be faithful to
- 00:08:38.140 --> 00:08:41.811
- Deliver the message."
- 00:08:41.811 --> 00:08:43.613
- Well, you can imagine how that made chuck feel, but it was a
- 00:08:43.613 --> 00:08:46.315
- Good lesson, he said, about resisting trying to judge people
- 00:08:46.315 --> 00:08:51.087
- When you don't know the whole story.
- 00:08:51.087 --> 00:08:53.990
- Only god sees a person's heart, and that's why james says in
- 00:08:53.990 --> 00:08:58.294
- Verse 12 of chapter 4, "there's only one lawgiver and judge, the
- 00:08:58.294 --> 00:09:02.665
- One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you to
- 00:09:02.665 --> 00:09:07.570
- Judge your neighbor?"
- 00:09:07.570 --> 00:09:09.005
- There's only one judge who can make righteous and correct
- 00:09:09.005 --> 00:09:12.441
- Judgments, and he's going to do that one day.
- 00:09:12.441 --> 00:09:15.444
- Every deed is going to be judged, but it's when
- 00:09:15.444 --> 00:09:19.448
- He returns.
- 00:09:19.448 --> 00:09:21.217
- Don't try to take his role now.
- 00:09:21.217 --> 00:09:23.552
- James 5:9 says, "do not complain, brethren, against one
- 00:09:23.552 --> 00:09:26.889
- Another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the
- 00:09:26.889 --> 00:09:31.794
- Judge," and he's talking about jesus, "is standing right at
- 00:09:31.794 --> 00:09:36.098
- The door."
- 00:09:36.098 --> 00:09:37.433
- He's about to come back.
- 00:09:37.433 --> 00:09:39.402
- His return is imminent, and he will judge the righteous and
- 00:09:39.402 --> 00:09:44.473
- The unrighteous.
- 00:09:44.473 --> 00:09:45.975
- If we're going to be a godly person, if we're gonna become
- 00:09:45.975 --> 00:09:50.680
- Godly in our character, we must refrain from judging
- 00:09:50.680 --> 00:09:53.683
- Other people.
- 00:09:53.683 --> 00:09:55.017
- Secondly, we must stop presumptuous planning.
- 00:09:55.017 --> 00:10:00.890
- Now, this is an interesting topic, presumptuous planning.
- 00:10:00.890 --> 00:10:05.327
- Look at what he says in verses 13 and 14.
- 00:10:05.327 --> 00:10:08.397
- "come now, you who say, 'today or tomorrow we shall go to such
- 00:10:08.397 --> 00:10:11.801
- And such a city, and spend a year there and engage in
- 00:10:11.801 --> 00:10:15.037
- Business and make a profit.'
- 00:10:15.037 --> 00:10:17.106
- Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.
- 00:10:17.106 --> 00:10:21.477
- You're," a vapor, "just a vapor that appears for a little while
- 00:10:21.477 --> 00:10:26.315
- And then vanishes away."
- 00:10:26.315 --> 00:10:29.752
- Now, i was having a discussion with one of my daughters about
- 00:10:29.752 --> 00:10:32.722
- This yesterday.
- 00:10:32.722 --> 00:10:34.190
- We were talking about what this verse means and doesn't mean.
- 00:10:34.190 --> 00:10:38.160
- He's not saying don't make plans.
- 00:10:38.160 --> 00:10:41.564
- The bible is not against setting goals and making plans.
- 00:10:41.564 --> 00:10:46.402
- In fact, you look at the bible, there are all kind of examples
- 00:10:46.402 --> 00:10:51.006
- Of god honoring planning.
- 00:10:51.006 --> 00:10:53.275
- For example, consider the book of proverbs written by solomon.
- 00:10:53.275 --> 00:10:57.313
- James quotes solomon more than any other new testament writer.
- 00:10:57.313 --> 00:11:01.751
- What does solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, have to say
- 00:11:01.751 --> 00:11:07.189
- About planning?
- 00:11:07.189 --> 00:11:08.591
- Listen to proverbs 15:22, "without consultation, plans are
- 00:11:08.591 --> 00:11:13.362
- Frustrated, but with many counselors plans succeed."
- 00:11:13.362 --> 00:11:18.567
- Or proverbs 16:1, "the plans of the heart belong to man, but the
- 00:11:18.567 --> 00:11:22.605
- Answer of the tongue is from the lord."
- 00:11:22.605 --> 00:11:25.741
- Proverbs 16:3, "commit your works to the lord and
- 00:11:25.741 --> 00:11:29.745
- Your," what?
- 00:11:29.745 --> 00:11:31.080
- "plans will be established."
- 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:33.616
- Proverbs 20:18, "prepare plans," make your plans "by consultation
- 00:11:33.616 --> 00:11:39.922
- And make war by wise guidance."
- 00:11:39.922 --> 00:11:42.792
- Or proverbs 21:5, "the plans of the diligent lead surely to
- 00:11:42.792 --> 00:11:48.230
- Advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty."
- 00:11:48.230 --> 00:11:54.270
- Retail store mogul j. c. penney, who was a great christian, said,
- 00:11:54.270 --> 00:11:59.475
- "give me a stock clerk with a goal, and i'll give you a man
- 00:11:59.475 --> 00:12:03.646
- Who makes history.
- 00:12:03.646 --> 00:12:05.714
- Give me a man without a goal, and i give you a stock clerk."
- 00:12:05.714 --> 00:12:10.820
- He was talking about the importance of planning.
- 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:13.823
- What james is condemning here is planning without any thought of
- 00:12:13.823 --> 00:12:18.661
- God, presumptuous planning, planning your life, living your
- 00:12:18.661 --> 00:12:23.599
- Life as if there was no god.
- 00:12:23.599 --> 00:12:27.703
- In verse 15, he said, "instead, you ought to say, 'if the lord
- 00:12:27.703 --> 00:12:32.541
- Wills, we will live and do this or that.'"
- 00:12:32.541 --> 00:12:36.512
- If the lord wills, we will do this.
- 00:12:36.512 --> 00:12:39.481
- That phrase, "if the lord wills," is not some superfluous
- 00:12:39.481 --> 00:12:45.054
- Prefix added on to make things more godly.
- 00:12:45.054 --> 00:12:48.591
- "oh, if god wills, then i'm gonna go ahead."
- 00:12:48.591 --> 00:12:51.160
- No, it means a mindset.
- 00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:53.362
- It means realizing that all of our life, all of our plans hinge
- 00:12:53.362 --> 00:12:57.867
- On the sovereignty of god.
- 00:12:57.867 --> 00:13:01.036
- To say, "if the lord wills," it means to live your life under
- 00:13:01.036 --> 00:13:06.876
- The sovereignty of god.
- 00:13:06.876 --> 00:13:08.777
- It means to make god central in your planning for the future.
- 00:13:08.777 --> 00:13:13.716
- Why should we do that?
- 00:13:13.716 --> 00:13:15.417
- Why should we keep god central in our lives?
- 00:13:15.417 --> 00:13:19.054
- James gives us four reasons.
- 00:13:19.054 --> 00:13:20.656
- First of all, because of the brevity of life.
- 00:13:20.656 --> 00:13:23.859
- Look again at verse 14, "you don't know what your life will
- 00:13:23.859 --> 00:13:26.762
- Be like tomorrow."
- 00:13:26.762 --> 00:13:28.264
- Your life, "you are just a vapor that appears for a little while
- 00:13:28.264 --> 00:13:33.569
- And then vanishes away."
- 00:13:33.569 --> 00:13:35.537
- Have you ever gone outside when it's cold, below freezing and
- 00:13:35.537 --> 00:13:40.075
- Watched your breath just hang in the air for a few minutes, a few
- 00:13:40.075 --> 00:13:44.580
- Seconds, and then suddenly disappear?
- 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:47.983
- James is saying that's what your life is like.
- 00:13:47.983 --> 00:13:49.952
- It's like a mist.
- 00:13:49.952 --> 00:13:51.654
- The word is "atmis," a mist.
- 00:13:51.654 --> 00:13:54.857
- It appears for a little while and then it vanishes.
- 00:13:54.857 --> 00:13:58.894
- Have you ever considered how brief your life is here
- 00:13:58.894 --> 00:14:02.498
- On earth?
- 00:14:02.498 --> 00:14:03.999
- I discovered this some time ago, if you live to an average age of
- 00:14:03.999 --> 00:14:10.039
- 70--boy, that seems younger every day--the age of 70,
- 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:16.378
- You've been given 2,207,520,000 seconds of life.
- 00:14:16.378 --> 00:14:23.485
- Now, that may seem like a lot, 2 billion seconds of life, but
- 00:14:23.485 --> 00:14:28.524
- If you're 40 or more--how many of you are 40 or more?
- 00:14:28.524 --> 00:14:33.562
- Confessional.
- 00:14:33.562 --> 00:14:34.897
- If you're 40 or more, you've already used up 1,261,000,000 of
- 00:14:34.897 --> 00:14:40.536
- Those seconds, means you only have 946 million of seconds
- 00:14:40.536 --> 00:14:45.441
- Left, but that's not all.
- 00:14:45.441 --> 00:14:47.776
- Of those 946 million seconds, you're going to spend 315
- 00:14:47.776 --> 00:14:52.915
- Million seconds sleeping.
- 00:14:52.915 --> 00:14:55.451
- You're gonna spend 59,130,000 seconds eating--some of you more
- 00:14:55.451 --> 00:15:01.657
- Than that.
- 00:15:01.657 --> 00:15:04.426
- Furthermore, you're gonna spend 1200 seconds just listening to
- 00:15:04.426 --> 00:15:08.564
- Me in the next few minutes, leaving you with only
- 00:15:08.564 --> 00:15:11.934
- 570,157,000 seconds of life, and they're going by
- 00:15:11.934 --> 00:15:19.441
- Just like that...
- 00:15:19.441 --> 00:15:24.580
- The brevity of life.
- 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:28.083
- Why should we make god central in our lives?
- 00:15:28.083 --> 00:15:30.986
- Not only is life brief, but it's filled with uncertainty.
- 00:15:30.986 --> 00:15:35.324
- He says in verse 14, "you don't know what your life will be
- 00:15:35.324 --> 00:15:39.895
- Like tomorrow."
- 00:15:39.895 --> 00:15:41.630
- You have no idea what your life is going to be like tomorrow.
- 00:15:41.630 --> 00:15:46.402
- That's why you ought to say, "if the lord wills, we will live and
- 00:15:46.402 --> 00:15:50.706
- Do this or that."
- 00:15:50.706 --> 00:15:53.008
- Have you discovered how uncertain life is?
- 00:15:53.008 --> 00:15:56.178
- I'll never forget having a friend and acquaintance who
- 00:15:56.178 --> 00:15:59.014
- Lived in another state who was planning to come to texas to
- 00:15:59.014 --> 00:16:02.618
- Attend the seminary and go into ministry.
- 00:16:02.618 --> 00:16:05.721
- He was so excited about beginning seminary, but while he
- 00:16:05.721 --> 00:16:09.491
- Was having lunch in a restaurant in his home state, he felt
- 00:16:09.491 --> 00:16:14.696
- Something crawling up his leg, and he didn't know what to do
- 00:16:14.696 --> 00:16:19.334
- But to swat it, and when he swatted it, whatever it was bit
- 00:16:19.334 --> 00:16:23.639
- His leg, and out of his pants leg fell a dead spider.
- 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:28.744
- He didn't think anything about it, but the man seated next to
- 00:16:28.744 --> 00:16:31.980
- Him said, "son, you better go to the hospital immediately."
- 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:36.618
- He said, "why would i need to go to the hospital?"
- 00:16:36.618 --> 00:16:38.821
- He said, "that's a brown recluse spider.
- 00:16:38.821 --> 00:16:42.257
- It's extremely poisonous."
- 00:16:42.257 --> 00:16:44.593
- My friend went to the hospital.
- 00:16:44.593 --> 00:16:46.361
- Soon he lost all the feeling in that leg, gangrene set in.
- 00:16:46.361 --> 00:16:51.400
- He ended up having his leg amputated and losing one of his
- 00:16:51.400 --> 00:16:55.437
- Kidneys, and in the process, racked up over $250,000 in
- 00:16:55.437 --> 00:17:00.509
- Medical expenses.
- 00:17:00.509 --> 00:17:02.578
- His plans to go to seminary and into the ministry...changed just
- 00:17:02.578 --> 00:17:07.449
- Like that.
- 00:17:07.449 --> 00:17:09.218
- That's why we need to remember the sovereignty of god when
- 00:17:09.218 --> 00:17:12.788
- We're making our plans, "for you do not know what your life will
- 00:17:12.788 --> 00:17:17.759
- Be like tomorrow."
- 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:20.095
- Why should we make god central in our lives?
- 00:17:20.095 --> 00:17:22.331
- Thirdly, james says, because of the emptiness of success.
- 00:17:22.331 --> 00:17:27.636
- "come now, those who say, 'today we'll go to such and such a city
- 00:17:27.636 --> 00:17:32.207
- And engage in business and make a profit.'"
- 00:17:32.207 --> 00:17:35.244
- Notice in james 5, verses 1 to 3--there were no chapter
- 00:17:35.244 --> 00:17:39.381
- Divisions in the original text.
- 00:17:39.381 --> 00:17:41.383
- This is all part of the same discussion.
- 00:17:41.383 --> 00:17:43.652
- Look at what he says about money, "come now, you rich, weep
- 00:17:43.652 --> 00:17:47.623
- And howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.
- 00:17:47.623 --> 00:17:51.793
- For your riches have rotted and your garments have
- 00:17:51.793 --> 00:17:55.330
- Become moth-eaten.
- 00:17:55.330 --> 00:17:56.732
- Your gold and your silver have rusted, and their rust will be
- 00:17:56.732 --> 00:18:00.335
- Witnessed against you and will consume your flesh like fire.
- 00:18:00.335 --> 00:18:04.139
- It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!"
- 00:18:04.139 --> 00:18:10.212
- Have you discovered how fleeting money can be?
- 00:18:10.212 --> 00:18:14.082
- Have you been watching as your 401ks became 101ks over the last
- 00:18:14.082 --> 00:18:20.088
- Few days?
- 00:18:20.088 --> 00:18:21.557
- You know, the bible is correct, riches are like eagles that
- 00:18:21.557 --> 00:18:25.027
- Sprout wings and fly to the clouds.
- 00:18:25.027 --> 00:18:28.163
- Money that is earned can be so easily lost, and that's why
- 00:18:28.163 --> 00:18:32.301
- Solomon, who was the wealthiest man of his day, who was the most
- 00:18:32.301 --> 00:18:36.104
- Powerful king in israel's history, who built the temple,
- 00:18:36.104 --> 00:18:40.943
- He said about all of his achievements as he was an old
- 00:18:40.943 --> 00:18:43.912
- Man looking back, "worthless, worthless.
- 00:18:43.912 --> 00:18:48.684
- Everything in life is worthless."
- 00:18:48.684 --> 00:18:52.554
- And he came to the conclusion in chapter 12, verse 1, of
- 00:18:52.554 --> 00:18:55.490
- Ecclesiastes, "therefore, remember your creator in the
- 00:18:55.490 --> 00:18:59.861
- Days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the
- 00:18:59.861 --> 00:19:03.665
- Years approach when you say, 'i find no pleasure in them.'"
- 00:19:03.665 --> 00:19:09.304
- Why should we not engage in presumptuous living?
- 00:19:09.304 --> 00:19:14.109
- Why should we remember god, make him central in our life?
- 00:19:14.109 --> 00:19:17.446
- Finally, james says because of our accountability to god.
- 00:19:17.446 --> 00:19:23.051
- Look at chapter 5, verses 7 and 9, "therefore be patient,
- 00:19:23.051 --> 00:19:27.289
- Brethren, until the coming of the lord.
- 00:19:27.289 --> 00:19:30.325
- Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you
- 00:19:30.325 --> 00:19:33.729
- Yourselves may not be judged; behold, the judge is standing
- 00:19:33.729 --> 00:19:39.234
- Right at the door."
- 00:19:39.234 --> 00:19:41.670
- For all our jokes about dying and standing at the pearly gates
- 00:19:41.670 --> 00:19:45.841
- And talking to saint peter, there'll be nothing really funny
- 00:19:45.841 --> 00:19:49.945
- When we meet god for our judgment--and by the way, we're
- 00:19:49.945 --> 00:19:53.282
- All going to be judged by jesus christ.
- 00:19:53.282 --> 00:19:56.685
- Hebrews 9:27 says, "it's appointed unto every one of us
- 00:19:56.685 --> 00:20:02.157
- Once to die, and then the judgment."
- 00:20:02.157 --> 00:20:05.594
- Non-christians will face the great white throne judgment.
- 00:20:05.594 --> 00:20:09.765
- Revelation chapter 20, where john says, "if any man's name
- 00:20:09.765 --> 00:20:13.669
- Was not written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake
- 00:20:13.669 --> 00:20:17.339
- Of fire and tormented day and night forever and ever."
- 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:24.246
- We christians don't have to fear the great white throne judgment.
- 00:20:24.246 --> 00:20:28.817
- We've been forgiven.
- 00:20:28.817 --> 00:20:30.185
- Our sins have been taken away, but that doesn't mean god's not
- 00:20:30.185 --> 00:20:33.322
- Going to evaluate our life.
- 00:20:33.322 --> 00:20:35.290
- He is.
- 00:20:35.290 --> 00:20:36.658
- It's a different judgment, the bema, the judgment seat
- 00:20:36.658 --> 00:20:40.128
- Of christ.
- 00:20:40.128 --> 00:20:41.496
- 2 corinthians 5:9 and 10, "for we have is our ambition, whether
- 00:20:41.496 --> 00:20:45.767
- Here or at home to be pleasing to god."
- 00:20:45.767 --> 00:20:49.871
- Why?
- 00:20:49.871 --> 00:20:51.239
- Because we must all appear before the judgment seat of
- 00:20:51.239 --> 00:20:54.776
- Christ, that each one of us may be rewarded for what we've done
- 00:20:54.776 --> 00:20:59.414
- In the body, whether it be good or worthless.
- 00:20:59.414 --> 00:21:05.187
- Whether it's the great white throne judgment or the judgment
- 00:21:05.187 --> 00:21:09.624
- Seat of christ, the writer of hebrews said, "it is a fearful
- 00:21:09.624 --> 00:21:15.097
- Thing to be in the hands of the living god."
- 00:21:15.097 --> 00:21:20.068
- We are all ultimately accountable to god.
- 00:21:20.068 --> 00:21:23.338
- That's why we need to make god central in our lives before it's
- 00:21:23.338 --> 00:21:27.476
- Too late.
- 00:21:27.476 --> 00:21:28.844
- I remember, years ago, reading the account of a girl who was
- 00:21:28.844 --> 00:21:32.714
- Driving with four of her best friends in the car, and the car
- 00:21:32.714 --> 00:21:37.052
- Was going much too fast.
- 00:21:37.052 --> 00:21:38.553
- It hit a concrete embankment.
- 00:21:38.553 --> 00:21:40.889
- The car flipped over four times.
- 00:21:40.889 --> 00:21:43.925
- For the next five hours, rescue workers tried to free the
- 00:21:43.925 --> 00:21:47.763
- Passengers in that car.
- 00:21:47.763 --> 00:21:50.532
- The driver listened to her best friends, to their moaning, to
- 00:21:50.532 --> 00:21:56.104
- Their weeping as each one passed into eternity.
- 00:21:56.104 --> 00:22:01.009
- Later, the rescue workers were able to save the girl that
- 00:22:01.009 --> 00:22:04.079
- Was driving.
- 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:05.447
- A reporter asked her what it was like being trapped in that car
- 00:22:05.447 --> 00:22:09.084
- For hours.
- 00:22:09.084 --> 00:22:11.086
- What did her friends say in the final moments of their life?
- 00:22:11.086 --> 00:22:15.424
- And she said each one of them died saying the same thing, "oh
- 00:22:15.424 --> 00:22:21.430
- God, no, no, no.
- 00:22:21.430 --> 00:22:26.968
- Oh god, no."
- 00:22:26.968 --> 00:22:31.907
- You understand, don't you?
- 00:22:31.907 --> 00:22:34.042
- We're all going to face that same future.
- 00:22:34.042 --> 00:22:38.180
- We're going to die.
- 00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:40.282
- It may or may not be in a car wreck.
- 00:22:40.282 --> 00:22:42.484
- It may not be today or tomorrow, but it's coming.
- 00:22:42.484 --> 00:22:47.355
- And at that point, we're going to stand before the judgment
- 00:22:47.355 --> 00:22:50.926
- Of god.
- 00:22:50.926 --> 00:22:52.394
- That's why solomon says, "remember your creator in the
- 00:22:52.394 --> 00:22:56.565
- Days of your youth, before the days of trouble come," for every
- 00:22:56.565 --> 00:23:01.536
- Act will be judged by god, whether hidden, whether it be
- 00:23:01.536 --> 00:23:06.208
- Good or whether it be evil.
- 00:23:06.208 --> 00:23:09.511
- ♪♪♪
- 00:23:09.511 --> 00:23:14.716
- Jeffress: none of us knows what tomorrow will bring.
- 00:23:14.716 --> 00:23:17.719
- Life is brief and uncertain, and we're all ultimately accountable
- 00:23:17.719 --> 00:23:22.023
- To god for how we've lived.
- 00:23:22.023 --> 00:23:24.159
- That's why it's so important for us to humble ourselves before
- 00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:27.462
- God today.
- 00:23:27.462 --> 00:23:29.431
- Well, i'm deeply grateful for those of you who faithfully
- 00:23:29.431 --> 00:23:32.234
- Support pathway to victory through your generous giving.
- 00:23:32.234 --> 00:23:35.504
- Your partnership allows us to reach millions of people around
- 00:23:35.504 --> 00:23:38.740
- The world with the life-changing truth of god's word.
- 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:42.511
- Every day we're able to broadcast this program on
- 00:23:42.511 --> 00:23:45.347
- Television, radio, and digital platforms that reach around the
- 00:23:45.347 --> 00:23:49.918
- World and across our nation, and it's all made possible because
- 00:23:49.918 --> 00:23:53.788
- Of friends like you who believe in the mission of pathway
- 00:23:53.788 --> 00:23:57.425
- To victory.
- 00:23:57.425 --> 00:23:58.760
- Whether you're a pathway partner or you send an occasional gift,
- 00:23:58.760 --> 00:24:02.664
- Your support is making an eternal difference in the lives
- 00:24:02.664 --> 00:24:06.701
- Of countless individuals.
- 00:24:06.701 --> 00:24:08.737
- So, thank you for joining us in our mission to pierce the
- 00:24:08.737 --> 00:24:12.774
- Darkness with the light of god's word.
- 00:24:12.774 --> 00:24:15.510
- Now, stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
- 00:24:15.510 --> 00:24:18.280
- Victory" in just a moment.
- 00:24:18.280 --> 00:24:22.717
- Announcer: every believer wants to see clear evidence of their
- 00:24:22.784 --> 00:24:25.687
- Spiritual growth and discover the fruit that god is producing
- 00:24:25.687 --> 00:24:29.257
- In their lives.
- 00:24:29.257 --> 00:24:30.592
- Dr. robert jeffress shows you exactly how to recognize that
- 00:24:30.592 --> 00:24:34.129
- Fruit in his brand-new book, "how to know if you're
- 00:24:34.129 --> 00:24:37.065
- Really saved."
- 00:24:37.065 --> 00:24:38.400
- Jeffress: the book of james teaches us that the christian
- 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:40.669
- Life is about more than just knowing god's word, it's about
- 00:24:40.669 --> 00:24:44.806
- Living it out.
- 00:24:44.806 --> 00:24:46.174
- In my new book, "how to know if you're really saved," i'll walk
- 00:24:46.174 --> 00:24:49.144
- You through what it truly means to be a doer of the word,
- 00:24:49.144 --> 00:24:52.948
- Showing you how to respond to trials, control your speech,
- 00:24:52.948 --> 00:24:56.718
- Endure hardships, resist temptation, and so much more.
- 00:24:56.718 --> 00:25:01.756
- Announcer: this outstanding 232-page book will help you
- 00:25:01.756 --> 00:25:04.726
- Examine the evidence of your faith and see the spiritual
- 00:25:04.726 --> 00:25:08.096
- Fruit that should be growing in your daily life.
- 00:25:08.096 --> 00:25:11.132
- Request your copy of "how to know if you're really saved"
- 00:25:11.132 --> 00:25:14.202
- When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of pathway
- 00:25:14.202 --> 00:25:17.405
- To victory, or when you become a pathway partner.
- 00:25:17.405 --> 00:25:20.609
- With your ministry gift of $75 or more, we'll send you not just
- 00:25:20.609 --> 00:25:24.713
- The book, but also the personal and group study guide and the
- 00:25:24.713 --> 00:25:28.416
- Complete message series on both cd and dvd.
- 00:25:28.416 --> 00:25:31.820
- Jeffress: if you are truly saved, there's gonna be evidence
- 00:25:31.820 --> 00:25:35.223
- Of it.
- 00:25:35.223 --> 00:25:36.591
- There's some tests that you need to apply to your life.
- 00:25:36.591 --> 00:25:39.794
- Announcer: thank you for your generous support of pathway
- 00:25:39.794 --> 00:25:42.097
- To victory.
- 00:25:42.097 --> 00:25:43.431
- Your partnership helps us bring bold biblical and practical
- 00:25:43.431 --> 00:25:46.701
- Teaching into homes across the nation and around the world.
- 00:25:46.701 --> 00:25:53.475
- Jeffress: learning to live humbly before god isn't always
- 00:25:53.475 --> 00:25:56.344
- Easy for our self-centered nature, but when we remember
- 00:25:56.344 --> 00:26:00.348
- That he's in control and we're not, it changes everything about
- 00:26:00.348 --> 00:26:04.252
- How we approach life.
- 00:26:04.252 --> 00:26:06.254
- Well, does god still heal people today the way he did in
- 00:26:06.254 --> 00:26:10.058
- Biblical times?
- 00:26:10.058 --> 00:26:11.459
- And how do we account for all the claims of healing that we
- 00:26:11.459 --> 00:26:14.329
- Hear about?
- 00:26:14.329 --> 00:26:15.697
- Next time, we'll discover what the bible really teaches about
- 00:26:15.697 --> 00:26:19.434
- Divine healing.
- 00:26:19.434 --> 00:26:21.002
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
- 00:26:21.002 --> 00:26:23.538
- Series "how to know if you're really saved."
- 00:26:23.538 --> 00:26:28.176
- Jeffress: sometimes we're allowed to be sick so that god
- 00:26:28.243 --> 00:26:32.113
- Can be glorified through our healing.
- 00:26:32.113 --> 00:26:34.382
- Many times it is through our sickness that god is
- 00:26:34.382 --> 00:26:37.686
- Best glorified.
- 00:26:37.686 --> 00:26:39.020
- That's what paul said.
- 00:26:39.020 --> 00:26:40.622
- Paul said it is when i was weak that the power of god was most
- 00:26:40.622 --> 00:26:45.060
- Strongly manifest in me.
- 00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:47.595
- Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message
- 00:26:47.662 --> 00:26:50.565
- "the truth about faith-kneeling," here on
- 00:26:50.565 --> 00:26:53.301
- "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:53.301 --> 00:26:56.204
- Announcer: take a journey through alaska's awe-inspiring
- 00:26:58.073 --> 00:27:00.675
- Wilderness on the 2026 pathway to victory cruise to alaska with
- 00:27:00.675 --> 00:27:04.779
- Dr. robert jeffress aboard holland america's
- 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:07.148
- Magnificent koningsdam.
- 00:27:07.148 --> 00:27:09.084
- Share laughter with dennis swanberg.
- 00:27:09.084 --> 00:27:11.653
- Be inspired by award-winning musician michael o'brien's
- 00:27:11.653 --> 00:27:14.756
- Powerful worship.
- 00:27:14.756 --> 00:27:16.091
- Make plans to set sail for an unforgettable week of adventure,
- 00:27:16.091 --> 00:27:19.594
- June 13 through 20, 2026.
- 00:27:19.594 --> 00:27:22.297
- Call...
- 00:27:22.297 --> 00:27:25.433
- Or visit ptv.org.
- 00:27:25.433 --> 00:27:25.433