Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - How To Choose A Mate | September 22, 2025
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- ♪♪♪
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- Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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- Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with dr.
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- Robert jeffress.
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- Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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- Again to "pathway to victory."
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- Choosing to marry is one of the biggest decisions a person can
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- Make, but many couples jump into a lifelong commitment without
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- Ever really counting the cost.
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- Today we're going to look at what the bible says about
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- Choosing a mate.
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- Whether you or somebody you know is contemplating marriage, this
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- Wisdom from scripture will help you understand god's design
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- For couples.
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- My message is titled "how to choose a mate," on today's
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- Edition of "pathway to victory."
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- Announcer: how do you know which path god wants you to take?
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- In "how to make wise decisions," trusted author and bible teacher
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- Dr. robert jeffress cuts through the confusion with time-tested
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- Biblical wisdom.
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- Whether you're facing career changes, relationship questions,
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- Or ministry decisions, this practical guide reveals how god
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- Speaks to his children today.
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- Don't let uncertainty paralyze you.
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- Request your copy of "how to make wise decisions" when you
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- Give a generous gift to support the ministry of
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- "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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- Jeffress: well, it was former house speaker tip o'neill who
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- Used to say, "all politics are local."
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- And by that he meant most people are not nearly as interested in
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- Political philosophy as they are in "how does this policy
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- Affect me?"
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- When people go to the ballot box, they want to know how the
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- Choice of this candidate or that candidate is going to affect
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- Their everyday life.
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- You know, the same is true when it comes to biblical truth.
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- I have found as a pastor, most people are not nearly as
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- Interested in the philosophical as they are the practical.
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- They wanna know whatever biblical truth is being taught
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- Exactly how does that relate to me in everyday life?
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- And that certainly is true when it comes to the issue of knowing
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- God's will for your life.
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- Over these past several months, we've been looking at the
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- Various ways that god communicates direction in
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- Our lives.
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- We've seen that sometimes he speaks through the bible, other
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- Times he speaks through prayer.
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- Sometimes he'll speak through the counsel of other people.
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- Occasionally, he might use supernatural revelation
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- Or circumstances.
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- Last time we saw that one of the primary ways he speaks is
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- Through the desires he places in our heart.
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- But how does all of that apply to me?
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- How do we move it from the philosophical to the practical?
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- Well, i thought it might be interesting over the next two
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- Weeks to take all of these principles that we have learned
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- And apply them to the two areas of life for which most people
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- Want to know god's will: the choice of a mate and the choice
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- Of a vocation.
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- And so today, we're going to look and see what the bible says
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- About how to discover the right mate, and next week how to find
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- The perfect job.
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- Amy leaned over to me during the choir orchestra and she saw the
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- Title, "how to choose a mate."
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- She said, "i'm gonna be real interested in today's message."
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- Now some of you probably are thinking the same thing.
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- You're thinking, "wait a minute, pastor, these two areas, they
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- Just don't apply to me where i am in life right now.
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- After all, i'm already stuck with, i mean, i'm blessed with a
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- Mate and can't do much about that.
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- And for better or worse, i've chosen my job or i'm even
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- Retired from my job.
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- How in the world does this apply to me?"
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- Well, first of all, it's very possible that your life
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- Situation could change.
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- Just because all of those issues are settled right now doesn't
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- Mean they're settled forever.
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- Life has a way of having a lot of surprises in it, doesn't it?
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- Secondly, i'm just gonna take a poll.
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- How many of you have children or grandchildren?
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- Would you raise your hands?
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- Almost everyone here.
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- These principles that we're going to learn today are gonna
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- Be very helpful for you to pass along to your children and
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- Grandchildren as they search for the right mate and the
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- Perfect job.
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- And then third and most importantly, these principles
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- We're gonna talk about today in choosing a mate can actually
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- Apply to whatever decision you're confronting in life.
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- And so today for our passage, i want us to turn to the old
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- Testament book of genesis chapter 24 as we talk about how
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- To find a mate.
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- Genesis chapter 24.
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- Now we made an allusion to this passage a few weeks ago, but
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- Today we're going to look at it in depth.
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- It's the story of abraham searching for a wife for his
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- Son isaac.
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- You remember what had happened.
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- Abraham was now advanced in years.
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- Concerned about the offspring that god had promised, the
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- Children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he knew it
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- Was time for his son isaac to find a bride to produce those
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- Grandchildren that would be the fulfillment of god's promise.
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- And so he calls his servant eliezer in and he says,
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- "eliezer, i want you to leave canaan where we are right now,
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- And i want you to go back to nahor and i want you to find a
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- Bride for my son isaac."
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- And the resulting story is a perfect illustration of how to
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- Find god's will for your life.
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- And i want you to notice today the five principles, and i have
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- Them on your outline, that eliezer exercised in finding the
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- Right mate for isaac.
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- These principles can help you, they can help your children,
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- Grandchildren, not only in finding a mate, but in knowing
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- God's will for any area of life.
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- Look at verse 3 of genesis chapter 24: abraham said to
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- Eliezer: "i will make you swear by the lord, the god of heaven,
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- That the god of--and the god of earth, that you shall not take a
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- Wife for my son from the daughters of the canaanites,
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- Among whom i live."
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- And that leads us to the first principle for knowing god's will
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- For your life, and that is, number one, know
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- God's principles.
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- Know what his word says about whatever choice it is that
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- You're confronting.
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- Now when it comes to choosing a mate, god's word is very clear.
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- The predominant principle in finding a mate is this: you are
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- To only marry a believer.
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- You're to only marry a believer.
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- Abraham understood that principle.
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- I want you to imagine two carpenters trying to work
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- Together to build the same home.
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- The only problem is they have two different set of blueprints
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- From which they're working.
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- One carpenter has a set of blueprints that says it's to be
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- A one-story home.
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- The next carpenter has a set of blueprints that says it's to be
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- A two-story home.
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- One set of blueprints says it's supposed to be a
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- Slab foundation.
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- The other blueprints say no, it's to be a pier and
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- Beam foundation.
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- Can you imagine the arguments, the friction, between those two
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- Workmen as they try to construct a home from two different set
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- Of blueprints?
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- You'd have arguments, you'd have friction, and ultimately you
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- Would have one mess of a house that was constructed.
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- The same thing is true when you're trying to build a home.
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- It's important that the husband and the wife be working from the
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- Same set of blueprints, god's word, and that they have the
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- Same foundation, a commitment to jesus christ.
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- When you're choosing a mate or making any decision in life,
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- Number one, know the principles.
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- What does god's word say?
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- But that's not enough.
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- I mean, the fact is there are a lot of growing christians
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- Out there.
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- How do i know which one is for me or for my son or daughter?
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- Or out of all of the options i'm faced with in making this
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- Decision, how do i know which is the right option?
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- Well, that brings us to the second principle, and that is
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- Rely on prayer.
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- Whenever you face numerous opportunities, rely on prayer.
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- Look at verse 11 of genesis 24.
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- Eliezer makes the 500-mile journey to nahor, verse 11, "and
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- He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of
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- Water at evening time, the time when women go out to
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- Draw water."
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- Now eliezer was one smart cookie, okay?
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- He knew if he was gonna find a woman for isaac, he needed to go
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- To where all the hot single women of nahor were.
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- And guess where they all went?
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- They all went to the local watering hole.
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- Every evening they went there about 5 o'clock.
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- It was happy hour at the well there and they went there, and
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- They congregated.
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- Of course, they were performing their chores, bringing the water
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- Back to the house, and so that is where eliezer went.
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- By the way, if you're looking for a mate, go to where those
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- Prospective mates are.
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- Where are the single men and women?
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- Where is the best place to find them?
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- The best place to find them is at the local watering hole, and
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- I'm not talking about the bar.
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- I'm talking about the spiritual watering hole, the church, where
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- The water of life is poured out.
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- There's no better place to look for a mate than in the church.
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- That's where you're gonna find committed believers.
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- That's where you ought to go to to find that mate that god has
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- For you.
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- Well, that's what eliezer did.
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- Now the only problem was when he went to the--when he went to
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- The well, there wasn't just one lone woman there, it was teeming
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- With women.
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- So how in the world was he to know which woman was the one
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- Who would make a bride for isaac?
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- I want you to notice what he did in verse 12.
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- He prayed about it.
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- Look at verse 12: "he said, 'o lord, the god of my master
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- Abraham, please grant me success today, and show loving kindness
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- To my master abraham.
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- Behold, i'm standing by the spring, and the daughters of the
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- Men of the city are coming out to draw water; now may it be
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- That the girl to whom i say, "please let down your jar so
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- That i might drink," and who answers, "drink, and i will
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- Water your camels also"--may she be the one whom thou has
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- Appointed for thy servant isaac.'"
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- Will you underline that phrase, "the one whom thou has appointed
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- For thy servant isaac"?
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- You see, eliezer bought into this one man for one
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- Woman theory.
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- He believed god really did have one person and one person only
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- Who would be his choice for a bride for isaac.
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- Now that goes against conventional christian
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- Thinking today.
- 00:10:21.410 --> 00:10:22.712
- There are a lot of christian books out there that say more
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- Important than finding the right mate is being the right kind
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- Of mate.
- 00:10:28.117 --> 00:10:29.385
- And as long as you meet these basic requirements of marrying a
- 00:10:29.385 --> 00:10:31.654
- Growing christian, you can just marry whoever you want to.
- 00:10:31.654 --> 00:10:33.789
- God really isn't interested in finding that one right person.
- 00:10:33.789 --> 00:10:37.593
- But is that what the bible says?
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- Eliezer said, "god, i believe there is one whom you have
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- Appointed to be isaac's wife."
- 00:10:42.698 --> 00:10:46.368
- Now, some old testament commentators i read about this,
- 00:10:46.368 --> 00:10:49.939
- They said, "well, this was peculiar to this situation,
- 00:10:49.939 --> 00:10:52.508
- -- there was only one person, because after all, god was
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- Interested in abraham and the abrahamic line and so forth.
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- So he was particularly interested that the one right
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- Person be chosen here."
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- I don't know about you, but i think god's interest in people
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- Extends beyond the boundaries of israel.
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- I think god's not only interested in jews, he's
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- Interested in the jews, but he's interested in us as well.
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- He's interested in all of his children.
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- For example, i mean, do you think god had an interest in the
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- Parents that brought forth martin luther or john calvin or
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- John wesley?
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- Do you think god cared who the parents of a billy graham were?
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- Of course he did.
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- He had a plan to bring two people together that would
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- Produce those wonderful men of god.
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- And i believe his interest extends beyond them to you
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- And me.
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- If god has numbered the hairs on our head, don't you think he has
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- An interest in our gene pool, the people that come together to
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- Produce us, if every part of us has been planned in his book
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- Before we ever drew our first breath?
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- Yes, god has a plan for us.
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- There's not many people out there.
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- There's one person.
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- If god has chosen you to be married, if your--if god's plan
- 00:11:57.807 --> 00:12:00.776
- For you, your life, is to be married, he has somebody he has
- 00:12:00.776 --> 00:12:04.313
- Ordained to be your husband or wife.
- 00:12:04.313 --> 00:12:07.616
- Now that shouldn't make us panic.
- 00:12:07.616 --> 00:12:09.718
- It didn't drive eliezer to panic to find that needle in a
- 00:12:09.718 --> 00:12:12.721
- Haystack, but it did drive him to pray.
- 00:12:12.721 --> 00:12:16.525
- And i just want to encourage you today whether it's looking for a
- 00:12:16.525 --> 00:12:18.761
- Mate or trying to make any decision in life, spend time
- 00:12:18.761 --> 00:12:22.731
- Praying about it.
- 00:12:22.731 --> 00:12:24.233
- It's like one person said, "there are many things we can do
- 00:12:24.233 --> 00:12:27.069
- To find god's will after we have prayed, but there's nothing more
- 00:12:27.069 --> 00:12:31.740
- Important we can do until we have prayed."
- 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:35.211
- James 1:5: "if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of god."
- 00:12:35.211 --> 00:12:40.216
- Is there some area of your life you're seeking god's will for?
- 00:12:40.216 --> 00:12:44.153
- Are you concerned enough about god's will that you would be
- 00:12:44.153 --> 00:12:46.655
- Willing to devote just 5 minutes a day praying for
- 00:12:46.655 --> 00:12:50.025
- God's direction?
- 00:12:50.025 --> 00:12:51.994
- Rely on prayer.
- 00:12:51.994 --> 00:12:54.129
- There's a third principle, and that is exercise practicality.
- 00:12:54.129 --> 00:12:59.010
- When you're trying to find a mate or make any decision,
- 00:12:59.010 --> 00:13:01.948
- Exercise practicality.
- 00:13:01.948 --> 00:13:03.717
- And we kind of alluded to this a couple of weeks ago in verses 12
- 00:13:03.717 --> 00:13:07.053
- Through 14.
- 00:13:07.053 --> 00:13:08.321
- Remember, eliezer prayed, "now, lord, whichever woman says, 'i'm
- 00:13:08.321 --> 00:13:12.959
- Willing to not only give you water, but water your camels as
- 00:13:12.959 --> 00:13:15.295
- Well,' she's the one."
- 00:13:15.295 --> 00:13:17.330
- Now, i personally don't believe he was so much as asking for a
- 00:13:17.330 --> 00:13:20.300
- Supernatural sign as he was being practical.
- 00:13:20.300 --> 00:13:23.637
- After all, whatever woman made that offer, first of all,
- 00:13:23.637 --> 00:13:28.575
- Displayed the graciousness necessary to make a good wife,
- 00:13:28.575 --> 00:13:31.978
- But she would also have the physical stamina to make that
- 00:13:31.978 --> 00:13:35.181
- 500-mile journey from nahor back to canaan.
- 00:13:35.181 --> 00:13:37.651
- After all, that was 200 gallons of water she was gonna have to
- 00:13:37.651 --> 00:13:40.453
- Lug up there to water those camels.
- 00:13:40.453 --> 00:13:43.490
- Eliezer was being practical and i think in the same way when
- 00:13:43.490 --> 00:13:46.893
- We're looking for a mate, we need to exercise practicality.
- 00:13:46.893 --> 00:13:51.164
- For example, ladies, if you're a single adult woman and you enjoy
- 00:13:51.164 --> 00:13:55.568
- And you're having a great career, you probably don't want
- 00:13:55.568 --> 00:13:59.072
- To marry somebody who wants you to stay home and stay with the
- 00:13:59.072 --> 00:14:02.008
- Children all day every day.
- 00:14:02.008 --> 00:14:03.910
- I mean, there's some women who are called to do that.
- 00:14:03.910 --> 00:14:05.645
- That's fine.
- 00:14:05.645 --> 00:14:07.280
- There's nothing wrong and everything right with that, but
- 00:14:07.280 --> 00:14:09.649
- It's also okay for women to have a career, if god wants them to
- 00:14:09.649 --> 00:14:12.752
- Have a career.
- 00:14:12.752 --> 00:14:14.054
- If you wanna have a career and your husband wants you to stay
- 00:14:14.054 --> 00:14:15.989
- Home, that's probably not somebody you want to be linked
- 00:14:15.989 --> 00:14:18.458
- Up with.
- 00:14:18.458 --> 00:14:19.726
- Or on the other hand, if you feel called to the mission field
- 00:14:19.726 --> 00:14:22.829
- To serve god in the jungles of africa, you may want to rethink
- 00:14:22.829 --> 00:14:26.433
- Marrying somebody whose idea of roughing it is staying in
- 00:14:26.433 --> 00:14:28.868
- Holiday inn for a night, okay?
- 00:14:28.868 --> 00:14:30.870
- It may not make sense to do that.
- 00:14:30.870 --> 00:14:33.073
- Or perhaps you're somebody who says, "i can't be happy unless i
- 00:14:33.073 --> 00:14:36.209
- Have a house filled with pets."
- 00:14:36.209 --> 00:14:38.812
- You might want to rethink marrying somebody who's allergic
- 00:14:38.812 --> 00:14:40.914
- To animals, okay?
- 00:14:40.914 --> 00:14:42.649
- I mean, just be practical, exercise practicality.
- 00:14:42.649 --> 00:14:46.453
- Principle number four: consider your preference.
- 00:14:46.453 --> 00:14:50.890
- Consider your preference.
- 00:14:50.890 --> 00:14:53.393
- Occasionally somebody has come to me and said, "pastor, i'm
- 00:14:53.393 --> 00:14:56.463
- Really in love with this guy.
- 00:14:56.463 --> 00:14:58.131
- I mean, he seems to be the perfect potential husband.
- 00:14:58.131 --> 00:15:02.002
- He's a growing christian, he's ambitious.
- 00:15:02.002 --> 00:15:05.005
- My parents like him.
- 00:15:05.005 --> 00:15:07.474
- The only problem is i just don't feel that spark inside.
- 00:15:07.474 --> 00:15:13.346
- I just don't have that spark."
- 00:15:13.346 --> 00:15:15.982
- And i'm gonna confess to you, over the years i've given some
- 00:15:15.982 --> 00:15:19.052
- Terrible advice to people.
- 00:15:19.052 --> 00:15:21.421
- I'm so bad at counseling, i wouldn't even go to myself
- 00:15:21.421 --> 00:15:23.923
- For counseling.
- 00:15:23.923 --> 00:15:27.694
- Yeah, hopefully i've gotten a little bit better, but i
- 00:15:27.694 --> 00:15:31.031
- Remember i used to sometimes say to people, "well, you know,
- 00:15:31.031 --> 00:15:33.299
- Romantic love, that's a kind of a western civilization kind of
- 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:37.337
- Deal and the important thing is to be committed to one another
- 00:15:37.337 --> 00:15:40.407
- And the feelings will come later on if you don't feel that spark
- 00:15:40.407 --> 00:15:43.576
- Right away."
- 00:15:43.576 --> 00:15:44.911
- I've since changed.
- 00:15:44.911 --> 00:15:47.313
- I realize that having that strong physical and emotional
- 00:15:47.313 --> 00:15:51.584
- Attraction isn't necessary for two people to stay together, but
- 00:15:51.584 --> 00:15:57.891
- It is absolutely vital in getting two people together to
- 00:15:57.891 --> 00:16:01.561
- Begin with.
- 00:16:01.561 --> 00:16:02.862
- I mean, if you don't have that spark in your heart toward that
- 00:16:02.862 --> 00:16:05.732
- Other person, if you don't blush when you just hear their name,
- 00:16:05.732 --> 00:16:09.803
- If you don't have the sensation, i can't live without him or her,
- 00:16:09.803 --> 00:16:13.706
- You need to keep looking for god's will for your life,
- 00:16:13.706 --> 00:16:17.077
- Because one way god speaks to you is through those desires
- 00:16:17.077 --> 00:16:19.946
- That he puts in your heart.
- 00:16:19.946 --> 00:16:21.448
- Philippians 2:13, remember, "it is god who's at work within you,
- 00:16:21.448 --> 00:16:24.751
- Giving you both the power and the desire to do his will."
- 00:16:24.751 --> 00:16:28.721
- And by the way, you see that emphasis on personal desire
- 00:16:28.721 --> 00:16:32.659
- Preference in the story of eliezer.
- 00:16:32.725 --> 00:16:35.161
- Look at verses 57 to 58.
- 00:16:35.161 --> 00:16:37.230
- Eliezer finds rebekah.
- 00:16:37.230 --> 00:16:38.765
- She offers to water the camels, you know, and so eliezer says,
- 00:16:38.765 --> 00:16:42.435
- "well, i wanna go back and talk to your parents and relate to
- 00:16:42.435 --> 00:16:44.671
- Them exactly what happened."
- 00:16:44.671 --> 00:16:46.339
- Verse 57, after eliezer tells them how god had worked all of
- 00:16:46.339 --> 00:16:50.376
- These circumstances out, verse 57: "and the parents said, 'we
- 00:16:50.376 --> 00:16:55.215
- Will call the girl and consult her wishes.'
- 00:16:55.215 --> 00:16:58.785
- And so then they called rebekah and said to her, 'will you go
- 00:16:58.785 --> 00:17:02.956
- With this man?'"
- 00:17:02.956 --> 00:17:04.724
- Now what i want you to see is eliezer relied on the principles
- 00:17:04.724 --> 00:17:09.262
- From god's word, only marry a believer.
- 00:17:09.262 --> 00:17:11.331
- He prayed, he tried to be practical.
- 00:17:11.331 --> 00:17:14.367
- But how did rebekah know if this was god's will?
- 00:17:14.367 --> 00:17:17.937
- It was by consulting her preference.
- 00:17:17.937 --> 00:17:20.406
- You see, she had never met isaac before, never laid eyes on him,
- 00:17:20.406 --> 00:17:24.644
- But when she heard this story about what god had done, about
- 00:17:24.644 --> 00:17:28.515
- The miraculous way in which he worked, something was stirred
- 00:17:28.515 --> 00:17:32.018
- Inside of her.
- 00:17:32.018 --> 00:17:33.286
- In verse 58, she answered and she said, "i will go."
- 00:17:33.286 --> 00:17:38.858
- The parents said, "we're gonna consult her desires."
- 00:17:38.858 --> 00:17:41.461
- She said, "i will go" and, sight unseen, she got on the back of a
- 00:17:41.461 --> 00:17:45.965
- Donkey and traveled 500 miles to meet this man isaac, with whom
- 00:17:45.965 --> 00:17:50.136
- She fell in love.
- 00:17:50.136 --> 00:17:51.905
- What i want you to see is god does work through
- 00:17:51.905 --> 00:17:55.008
- Our preference.
- 00:17:55.008 --> 00:17:56.276
- Let me say it again, while the absence of a strong physical or
- 00:17:56.276 --> 00:18:00.914
- Emotional desire is no reason to end a marriage, it's a great
- 00:18:00.914 --> 00:18:05.818
- Reason for not beginning a marriage or a new job or a move
- 00:18:05.818 --> 00:18:10.390
- To another city or any other option you're facing.
- 00:18:10.390 --> 00:18:13.493
- God is going to work through your preferences.
- 00:18:13.493 --> 00:18:17.130
- And that leads to the fifth principle, and that is trust in
- 00:18:17.130 --> 00:18:20.733
- Providence, trust in god's sovereignty.
- 00:18:20.733 --> 00:18:24.571
- After eliezer had made this 500-mile trek, after he'd gone
- 00:18:24.571 --> 00:18:28.074
- Through all of this exercise, what if when the parents said,
- 00:18:28.074 --> 00:18:32.712
- "do you want to go?"
- 00:18:32.712 --> 00:18:33.980
- What if rebekah had said, "no, that's not my desire," what
- 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:38.017
- Should eliezer do then?
- 00:18:38.017 --> 00:18:40.320
- Actually, he had anticipated such a possibility before he set
- 00:18:40.320 --> 00:18:43.556
- Out on the journey.
- 00:18:43.556 --> 00:18:44.857
- Turn back to chapter 24, verse 5: "and eliezer said to abraham,
- 00:18:44.857 --> 00:18:53.633
- 'suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me to this
- 00:18:53.633 --> 00:18:57.237
- Land; should i take your son back to the land from where
- 00:18:57.237 --> 00:19:00.473
- You came?'"
- 00:19:00.473 --> 00:19:01.741
- What am i to do, abraham, if she says no?
- 00:19:01.741 --> 00:19:03.943
- Look at verse 8: "abraham answered, 'if the woman is not
- 00:19:03.943 --> 00:19:08.248
- Willing to follow you, then you will be free from this my oath;
- 00:19:08.248 --> 00:19:12.518
- Only do not take my son back there.'"
- 00:19:12.518 --> 00:19:16.522
- Abraham was saying, "eliezer, as far as i can determine, this is
- 00:19:16.522 --> 00:19:20.793
- God's will.
- 00:19:20.793 --> 00:19:22.929
- But if for some reason god shuts this door, i believe he will
- 00:19:22.929 --> 00:19:26.666
- Provide a bride for isaac another way."
- 00:19:26.666 --> 00:19:30.937
- What a great demonstration of faith.
- 00:19:30.937 --> 00:19:34.040
- You see, there's a lot of misunderstanding about what
- 00:19:34.040 --> 00:19:35.842
- Faith is.
- 00:19:35.842 --> 00:19:37.143
- Some people say, well, faith is just a hope that god's gonna do
- 00:19:37.143 --> 00:19:39.012
- What i want him to do.
- 00:19:39.012 --> 00:19:40.747
- And people think, you know, if i can just conjure up these
- 00:19:40.747 --> 00:19:43.082
- Positive images and believe that god's gonna do what i want him
- 00:19:43.082 --> 00:19:45.885
- To do, if i can believe it hard enough and long enough, god will
- 00:19:45.885 --> 00:19:48.688
- Ultimately do it.
- 00:19:48.688 --> 00:19:49.989
- I always compare it to that story, "the little engine
- 00:19:49.989 --> 00:19:52.158
- That could."
- 00:19:52.158 --> 00:19:53.459
- You remember the story, you know, "i think i can, i think i
- 00:19:53.459 --> 00:19:55.962
- Can, i think i can, i think i--" a lot of people think that's
- 00:19:55.962 --> 00:19:58.298
- What faith is.
- 00:19:58.298 --> 00:19:59.532
- They think if they can just visualize, god will do it.
- 00:19:59.532 --> 00:20:01.701
- I think god will.
- 00:20:01.701 --> 00:20:05.571
- If they'll just say that often enough, loud enough, and
- 00:20:03.036 --> 00:20:07.073
- Forcefully enough, somehow that's gonna make god do what we
- 00:20:07.073 --> 00:20:10.109
- Want him to do.
- 00:20:10.109 --> 00:20:11.377
- That's not faith.
- 00:20:11.377 --> 00:20:12.879
- You know what real faith is?
- 00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:14.147
- It is the assurance that god is going to do what he wants to do
- 00:20:14.147 --> 00:20:19.252
- In his way and his time.
- 00:20:19.252 --> 00:20:22.055
- True biblical faith is saying, "god, this is what i desire,
- 00:20:22.055 --> 00:20:25.158
- This is what i want, but i am leaving the results to you
- 00:20:25.158 --> 00:20:29.095
- Because i trust in your goodness and i trust in your wisdom."
- 00:20:29.095 --> 00:20:33.299
- That was the faith of abraham.
- 00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:35.168
- He said, as far as i know, this is the best way to find a bride
- 00:20:35.168 --> 00:20:37.970
- For isaac, but if the woman, whoever she is, says no, god
- 00:20:37.970 --> 00:20:42.308
- Will provide in his way and in his time.
- 00:20:42.308 --> 00:20:47.046
- I remember reading a book years ago, had one of the best titles
- 00:20:47.046 --> 00:20:50.583
- I've ever seen.
- 00:20:50.583 --> 00:20:51.851
- The title of the book was, "all you can do is all you can do."
- 00:20:51.851 --> 00:20:57.724
- You know, that's true when it comes to knowing god's will.
- 00:20:57.724 --> 00:21:00.827
- After you have acquainted yourself with the principles
- 00:21:00.827 --> 00:21:03.196
- From god's word, after you've prayed faithfully, after you've
- 00:21:03.196 --> 00:21:07.100
- Tried to be practical, after you've tried to consider your
- 00:21:07.100 --> 00:21:10.336
- Own preferences, ultimately you have to make a decision and then
- 00:21:10.336 --> 00:21:14.440
- Trust in the goodness and the sovereignty of god.
- 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:18.711
- And he has a great promise for us when we do that: "trust in
- 00:21:18.711 --> 00:21:23.015
- The lord with all of your heart and lean not into your
- 00:21:23.015 --> 00:21:26.452
- Own understandings.
- 00:21:26.452 --> 00:21:28.321
- In all your ways acknowledge him,
- 00:21:28.321 --> 00:21:32.091
- And he will direct your path."
- 00:21:32.091 --> 00:21:35.928
- Jeffress: it's possible you're in the throes of making a
- 00:21:39.866 --> 00:21:42.568
- Decision about marriage today or you know somebody who is.
- 00:21:42.568 --> 00:21:46.005
- Some are wondering whether or not to marry whatsoever, and
- 00:21:46.005 --> 00:21:48.875
- Others are trying to counsel friends and family about
- 00:21:48.875 --> 00:21:51.344
- Choosing a life partner.
- 00:21:51.344 --> 00:21:53.579
- Whatever your situation, i hope today's message has opened your
- 00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:56.616
- Eyes to god's plan for marriage.
- 00:21:56.616 --> 00:21:59.485
- Now, in closing, i want to share a note i received from letha
- 00:21:59.485 --> 00:22:02.789
- In arkansas.
- 00:22:02.789 --> 00:22:04.123
- She wrote, "i just started listening to 'pathway to
- 00:22:04.123 --> 00:22:06.859
- Victory' on radio.
- 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:08.394
- God has used your program to bring me back to him after being
- 00:22:08.394 --> 00:22:11.531
- Away for so long.
- 00:22:11.531 --> 00:22:12.999
- I thank you for allowing god to work through your teaching!"
- 00:22:12.999 --> 00:22:16.903
- Well, the bible teaching letha hears on "pathway to victory"
- 00:22:16.903 --> 00:22:20.072
- May feature my voice, but it's faithful friends like you who
- 00:22:20.072 --> 00:22:24.110
- Take this program to places like arkansas and far beyond.
- 00:22:24.110 --> 00:22:28.114
- So if you're among those who support this ministry, thank you
- 00:22:28.114 --> 00:22:31.651
- For truly making a difference.
- 00:22:31.651 --> 00:22:34.086
- Now stay right there.
- 00:22:34.086 --> 00:22:35.388
- I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
- 00:22:35.388 --> 00:22:38.991
- Announcer: life's most important crossroads often arrive
- 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:43.763
- Without warning.
- 00:22:43.763 --> 00:22:45.097
- When the stakes are high and the path forward isn't clear, how
- 00:22:45.097 --> 00:22:48.401
- Can you be confident you're following god's will?
- 00:22:48.401 --> 00:22:50.970
- In "how to make wise decisions," trusted author and bible teacher
- 00:22:50.970 --> 00:22:54.974
- Dr. robert jeffress offers you practical advice on how you can
- 00:22:54.974 --> 00:22:58.578
- Know with certainty the will of god in any situation.
- 00:22:58.578 --> 00:23:02.014
- Jeffress: one of the most frequently asked questions i
- 00:23:02.014 --> 00:23:04.650
- Receive as a pastor is, "how can i know god's will for my life?"
- 00:23:04.650 --> 00:23:09.222
- Too many believers are paralyzed by fear of making the wrong
- 00:23:09.222 --> 00:23:12.692
- Choice, but god hasn't left us guessing.
- 00:23:12.692 --> 00:23:15.561
- In my book, i reveal the biblical principles for
- 00:23:15.561 --> 00:23:18.531
- Recognizing god's voice and discerning god's will.
- 00:23:18.531 --> 00:23:22.301
- Announcer: request your copy of "how to make wise decisions"
- 00:23:22.301 --> 00:23:24.871
- When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory" or when you
- 00:23:24.871 --> 00:23:28.307
- Become a pathway partner.
- 00:23:28.307 --> 00:23:29.842
- And with your ministry gift of $75 or more, we'll also include
- 00:23:29.842 --> 00:23:33.980
- The complete "how to make wise decisions" teaching series on
- 00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:37.250
- Both cd and dvd.
- 00:23:37.250 --> 00:23:39.085
- Jeffress: when god speaks to us, he does so more than just to
- 00:23:39.085 --> 00:23:41.554
- Give us courage and comfort to face our present situation.
- 00:23:41.554 --> 00:23:45.324
- He actually promises guidance, direction, to those who trust
- 00:23:45.324 --> 00:23:49.562
- In him.
- 00:23:49.562 --> 00:23:50.863
- Announcer: thank you for partnering with us to share
- 00:23:50.863 --> 00:23:52.532
- God's life-transforming word with a world in need.
- 00:23:52.532 --> 00:23:55.902
- Your generosity will empower "pathway to victory" to speak
- 00:23:55.902 --> 00:23:59.038
- Bold biblical truth into your life and the lives of millions
- 00:23:59.038 --> 00:24:02.775
- Across the country and around the world.
- 00:24:02.775 --> 00:24:05.511
- Jeffress: the five principles that eliezer exercised in
- 00:24:07.113 --> 00:24:10.483
- Finding the right mate for isaac are still helpful today.
- 00:24:10.483 --> 00:24:14.787
- They can help you, your children, or your grandchildren
- 00:24:14.787 --> 00:24:17.690
- Not only find a mate but know god's will for any area of life.
- 00:24:17.690 --> 00:24:23.195
- Well, let me ask you a very direct question.
- 00:24:23.195 --> 00:24:25.731
- Do you feel satisfied by the work you do, or has your job
- 00:24:25.731 --> 00:24:30.102
- Become a daily grind?
- 00:24:30.102 --> 00:24:32.138
- Next time i want to show you what the bible says about
- 00:24:32.138 --> 00:24:35.207
- Discovering and pursuing a vocation that brings genuine
- 00:24:35.207 --> 00:24:38.711
- Satisfaction and purpose.
- 00:24:38.711 --> 00:24:41.347
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
- 00:24:41.347 --> 00:24:43.783
- Series "how to make wise decisions."
- 00:24:43.783 --> 00:24:47.887
- Jeffress: your job is important to god.
- 00:24:47.887 --> 00:24:49.989
- I've discovered, ladies and gentlemen, that many christians
- 00:24:49.989 --> 00:24:53.759
- Have a perverted view of work.
- 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:57.063
- A perverted view that unfortunately comes from the
- 00:24:57.063 --> 00:24:59.599
- Church itself.
- 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:01.233
- And so today i want to share with you three erroneous views
- 00:25:01.233 --> 00:25:04.003
- Of work and then what i believe is the biblical view of work,
- 00:25:04.003 --> 00:25:07.440
- How god looks at your job.
- 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:09.842
- Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
- 00:25:09.909 --> 00:25:12.845
- "finding the perfect job," here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:25:12.845 --> 00:25:16.248
- Announcer: take a journey through alaska's awe-inspiring
- 00:25:19.585 --> 00:25:22.054
- Wilderness on the 2026 "pathway to victory" cruise to alaska.
- 00:25:22.054 --> 00:25:25.691
- ♪♪♪
- 00:25:26.058 --> 00:25:36.369
- Make plans to set sail for an unforgettable week of adventure,
- 00:25:32.732 --> 00:25:39.805
- June 13 through 20, 2026.
- 00:25:39.805 --> 00:25:42.408
- Call...
- 00:25:42.408 --> 00:25:45.411
- Or visit ptv.org.
- 00:25:45.411 --> 00:25:56.355