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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - How To Die With A Smile On Your Face (Part 1)

November 20, 2025 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - How To Die With A Smile On Your Face (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory provides practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through clear, Biblical teaching.
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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - How To Die With A Smile On Your Face (Part 1) | November 20, 2025
  • ♪♪♪
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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"
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  • 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.
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  • One day all of us will pass from this life into the next one.
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  • So when your time comes, how do you want to be remembered?
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  • Today we're going to look at the final moments in
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  • Abraham's story.
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  • The words that summarize his life would make a beautiful
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  • Epitaph and one that we should all strive for.
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  • My message is titled "how to die with a smile on your face" on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • Male announcer: the bible is filled with stories
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  • About heroes.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: but abraham rises above the rest
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  • As a true champion of faith.
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  • In "walking by faith," dr. robert jeffress
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  • Shares how to step forward in faith
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  • Even when the future appears uncertain.
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  • Your faith can thrive despite the challenges you face.
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  • Request your copy of "walking by faith" when you give a generous
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  • Gift to support the ministry of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: a book titled "die broke," offers a unique
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  • Perspective on death and finances.
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  • In this bestselling book, the author proposes that instead of
  • 00:01:39.322 --> 00:01:42.692
  • Trying to accumulate a lot of money and leave it behind, you
  • 00:01:42.692 --> 00:01:46.196
  • Ought to spend everything you have while you're alive until
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  • You have zero in your bank account.
  • 00:01:50.600 --> 00:01:53.269
  • He says, in fact, your last cheque you write ought to be to
  • 00:01:53.269 --> 00:01:56.806
  • The undertaker and that cheque ought to bounce.
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  • That's how you know if you're successful.
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  • A lot of you are on the way to that, right?
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  • Amen.
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  • One popular writer notes that in addition to dying broke, a lot
  • 00:02:09.586 --> 00:02:15.158
  • Of people are dying broken.
  • 00:02:15.158 --> 00:02:18.795
  • As they come to the final years of their life, their lives are
  • 00:02:18.795 --> 00:02:21.731
  • Marked by regrets, isolation, loneliness, bitterness.
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  • You know people like that?
  • 00:02:30.006 --> 00:02:31.941
  • You just feel the bitterness oozing out of their body
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  • Whenever you're around them.
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  • I don't know about you, but when i'm around those people, i wanna
  • 00:02:37.146 --> 00:02:40.283
  • Run as far and as fast from them as i can but more importantly, i
  • 00:02:40.283 --> 00:02:45.355
  • Wanna make sure i don't become like them.
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  • Instead, i wanna to face life and death just like our
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  • Character, our friend abraham and today, we're going to look
  • 00:02:52.662 --> 00:02:56.933
  • At the final chapter in abraham's life and discover some
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  • Important principles for, "how to die with a smile on
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  • Your face."
  • 00:03:04.607 --> 00:03:06.009
  • If you have your bibles, turn to not genesis 25, we'll get there,
  • 00:03:06.009 --> 00:03:11.481
  • But turn over to 2 peter, chapter 1.
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  • You know, some people wonder,
  • 00:03:16.185 --> 00:03:17.820
  • Why do we devote so much time to abraham?
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  • Why does he receive so much ink in the book of genesis?
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  • F.b. meyer says, "it's because abraham models that one quality
  • 00:03:23.626 --> 00:03:28.164
  • God desires most in each of us, the quality of faith."
  • 00:03:28.164 --> 00:03:32.335
  • Remember hebrews 11:6, "without faith, it's impossible to
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  • Please god."
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  • Abraham is a model of faith and all of the qualities that stem
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  • From faith.
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  • I want you to notice that abraham's faith, like ours,
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  • Should be growing.
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  • He had a growing faith, you know, so many people think that
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  • Once they trust in christ for the forgiveness for their sins,
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  • That's it.
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  • That's the ultimate, that's the destination.
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  • No, that's just the starting place of your christian faith.
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  • That's the basic faith, but god wants other things in our life
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  • As well.
  • 00:04:08.905 --> 00:04:10.273
  • Look at 2 peter 1, beginning with verse 3.
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  • "seeing that god's divine power has granted to us
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  • Everything"--underline that,
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  • "everything pertaining to life
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  • And godliness through the true
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  • Knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and excellence.
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  • For by these he has granted to us his precious and magnificent
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  • Promises so that by them you can become partakers of the divine
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  • Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
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  • By lust."
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  • When you trust in christ as your savior, god gives you not just
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  • Part of himself, he gives you all of himself, his holy spirit.
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  • He has granted to you everything you need to live a life that's
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  • Pleasing to god.
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  • Once you become a christian, you don't have to start begging and
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  • Pleading, "oh god, please send your holy spirit to me," he's
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  • Already there.
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  • He's granted you everything you need, and he gave it to you as
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  • A gift.
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  • All you have to do is receive it but then notice once we receive
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  • That gift, there's some things we're supposed to do, not to
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  • Earn our salvation but to complete the work of
  • 00:05:11.801 --> 00:05:15.071
  • Sanctification, becoming more like christ.
  • 00:05:15.071 --> 00:05:18.074
  • Look at verse 5, "now for this very reason, applying all
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  • Diligence in your faith, you supply"--and then he mentions
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  • Seven qualities, "moral excellence, knowledge," and
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  • So forth.
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  • This word diligence refers to a runner who's giving it
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  • Everything he has as he gets toward the finish line.
  • 00:05:36.526 --> 00:05:40.530
  • He said, we're to have that same attitude, again, not about
  • 00:05:40.530 --> 00:05:43.599
  • Earning our salvation, but working for our christ likeness,
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  • Our sanctification, and that takes effort.
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  • There's this faulty philosophy among christians that, oh, just
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  • As you can't do anything to earn your salvation, there's nothing
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  • You need to do for your sanctification.
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  • Just let go and let god, que sera, sera, whatever
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  • Happens happens.
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  • You will end up with a spiritually bankrupt life if you
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  • Do that.
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  • It requires effort to live as a christian, you supply.
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  • I think about one of our former deacon chairman when he came by
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  • To see me--to visit with me, almost every time he came, he
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  • Came with a beautiful tie.
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  • He wore the same kind of ties i do and he liked them and so he'd
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  • Be at the store and he'd pick up one.
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  • Man, i wish we had him back again.
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  • No, he was great though and he'd hand me that gift box and i'd
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  • Open it up and pull out the tie, but for that tie to do me any
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  • Good, i had to exert some effort.
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  • Not only did i have to take it out of the box, i had to put it
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  • Around my neck.
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  • I had to tie a windsor knot.
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  • I had to slip it up.
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  • I had to tie my tie for it to do any good whatsoever.
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  • It required effort even though i had received the gift.
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  • Now that's exactly what peter is saying.
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  • There's some things we have to supply, and abraham is a model
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  • Of every one of these qualities.
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  • The basic thing is faith.
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  • We exercise faith.
  • 00:07:09.585 --> 00:07:10.987
  • Genesis 15:6.
  • 00:07:10.987 --> 00:07:12.588
  • "abraham believed what god said and his faith was counted
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  • As righteousness."
  • 00:07:17.326 --> 00:07:19.428
  • But peter says to your faith, add moral excellence.
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  • That was abraham.
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  • Now he wasn't perfect.
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  • He made some mistakes.
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  • Remember the hagar fiasco and his trip to egypt?
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  • He had some zigs and some zags along the road to godliness, and
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  • You do too, and i as well, but generally his life was
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  • Characterized by moral excellence, for example, when he
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  • Got those rewards from the kings of the east, he could have
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  • Kept it.
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  • They were rightfully his, but he was concerned more with the
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  • Glory of god than his own wealth, and so he freely gave
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  • That away.
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  • That is moral excellence.
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  • To your faith, add moral excellence and then knowledge.
  • 00:07:58.100 --> 00:08:02.605
  • Not just knowledge in general, but a knowledge of god.
  • 00:08:02.605 --> 00:08:06.242
  • Abraham grew in his knowledge of god from the moment he trusted
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  • God at age 60, till the moment he went home to be with god at
  • 00:08:10.546 --> 00:08:13.950
  • Age 175.
  • 00:08:13.950 --> 00:08:16.052
  • One writer says it this way about abraham.
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  • "all of his life, he was a student in god's college
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  • Of divinity."
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  • Are you learning more every day about god through your
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  • Relationship with him?
  • 00:08:27.863 --> 00:08:29.365
  • Add knowledge to your knowledge, add self-control.
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  • Proverbs 16:32 says, "he who is slow to anger is better than the
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  • Mighty, and he who rules over his spirit is better than he who
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  • Captures a city."
  • 00:08:43.579 --> 00:08:45.781
  • You see that over and over again in abraham's life.
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  • For example, when lot takes advantage of him, takes the
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  • Choice land, he doesn't become angry and resentful.
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  • He guards himself against anger.
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  • When he hears the news that sodom and gomorrah have been
  • 00:08:59.028 --> 00:09:02.331
  • Destroyed, knowing his relative's there, he doesn't
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  • Become overcome by worry, but overcome with faith.
  • 00:09:05.267 --> 00:09:09.305
  • Self-control, to your self-control add perseverance.
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  • I've cited it before, but i love eugene peterson's book "a long
  • 00:09:14.276 --> 00:09:18.781
  • Obedience in the same direction."
  • 00:09:18.781 --> 00:09:22.585
  • What a perfect description of the christian life.
  • 00:09:22.585 --> 00:09:25.254
  • It's going the same direction.
  • 00:09:25.254 --> 00:09:27.023
  • Again, you'll have detours along the way, but over the long haul
  • 00:09:27.023 --> 00:09:30.693
  • Your life is characterized by marching toward god
  • 00:09:30.693 --> 00:09:34.530
  • And godliness.
  • 00:09:34.530 --> 00:09:36.232
  • I think about abraham, especially those three days he
  • 00:09:36.232 --> 00:09:39.335
  • And isaac walked to mount moriah, the place of sacrifice.
  • 00:09:39.335 --> 00:09:44.040
  • As i imagine that experience, i think that abraham had to pray
  • 00:09:44.040 --> 00:09:47.543
  • For strength to take every step he took, every additional step,
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  • Knowing that he was about to sacrifice that which he loved
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  • The most.
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  • The only reason he was able to do that is, remember, he
  • 00:09:56.886 --> 00:10:00.189
  • Believed that god is able to raise his son from the dead.
  • 00:10:00.189 --> 00:10:03.426
  • He believed god that much and i'm sure as he tried to find
  • 00:10:03.426 --> 00:10:07.596
  • That strength to take the next step, he had to say over and
  • 00:10:07.596 --> 00:10:10.666
  • Over again, god is able, god is able, god is able.
  • 00:10:10.666 --> 00:10:15.805
  • That's perseverance continuing to march toward god and
  • 00:10:15.805 --> 00:10:19.475
  • Godliness, and that's the next word.
  • 00:10:19.475 --> 00:10:22.278
  • To your perseverance, add godliness.
  • 00:10:22.278 --> 00:10:25.314
  • That comes from an english word, god-likeness.
  • 00:10:25.314 --> 00:10:29.752
  • Abraham was like a piece of metal that was drawn by a magnet
  • 00:10:29.752 --> 00:10:35.024
  • To god.
  • 00:10:35.024 --> 00:10:36.392
  • His heart was always drawn to god.
  • 00:10:36.392 --> 00:10:38.027
  • Whenever he went to a new location, the first thing he did
  • 00:10:38.027 --> 00:10:40.963
  • Was to build an altar to worship god, that's godliness.
  • 00:10:40.963 --> 00:10:44.667
  • To your godliness, add brotherly kindness.
  • 00:10:44.667 --> 00:10:48.604
  • Remember that word kindness means usefulness.
  • 00:10:48.604 --> 00:10:52.575
  • To really care about somebody is to give them what they need, not
  • 00:10:52.575 --> 00:10:56.846
  • What they deserve.
  • 00:10:56.846 --> 00:10:58.214
  • Abraham did that.
  • 00:10:58.214 --> 00:11:00.750
  • He rescued lot, taking him from the kings of the east, even
  • 00:11:00.750 --> 00:11:05.888
  • Though lot didn't deserve abraham's kindness because of
  • 00:11:05.888 --> 00:11:10.526
  • What he had done doing and taking that choice land.
  • 00:11:10.526 --> 00:11:14.029
  • Abraham was still kind.
  • 00:11:14.029 --> 00:11:15.765
  • He did what was useful for lot.
  • 00:11:15.765 --> 00:11:18.534
  • Aren't you glad god treats us with kindness?
  • 00:11:18.534 --> 00:11:21.971
  • Titus 3:4 says that god demonstrated his kindness toward
  • 00:11:21.971 --> 00:11:26.509
  • Us by sending christ to die for us, even though we deserved
  • 00:11:26.509 --> 00:11:31.280
  • Eternal death, god offers us eternal life, and the final
  • 00:11:31.280 --> 00:11:36.085
  • Word, love.
  • 00:11:36.085 --> 00:11:37.720
  • This word love is not some syrupy sentimental kind of love.
  • 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:42.324
  • It's agape love, a god love.
  • 00:11:42.324 --> 00:11:45.161
  • You see that in abraham.
  • 00:11:45.161 --> 00:11:47.663
  • Genesis chapter 22, he was willing to offer that, which
  • 00:11:47.663 --> 00:11:51.967
  • Meant the most to him, his son isaac, because of his love
  • 00:11:51.967 --> 00:11:55.971
  • For god.
  • 00:11:55.971 --> 00:11:57.840
  • Abraham's final years, his faith was growing but i want you to
  • 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:03.846
  • Also notice something about abraham.
  • 00:12:03.846 --> 00:12:06.348
  • His final years were marked by a special attitude i'll
  • 00:12:06.348 --> 00:12:11.253
  • Call, bullish.
  • 00:12:11.253 --> 00:12:13.289
  • He was bullish in his attitude toward these final years
  • 00:12:13.289 --> 00:12:17.226
  • Of life.
  • 00:12:17.226 --> 00:12:18.594
  • Now i want you to think about abraham.
  • 00:12:18.594 --> 00:12:19.929
  • Put yourself in his sandals for a moment.
  • 00:12:19.929 --> 00:12:22.431
  • His wife, sarah had died.
  • 00:12:22.431 --> 00:12:25.601
  • His son was finally out of the tent and on to have his own
  • 00:12:25.601 --> 00:12:30.306
  • Family and so forth.
  • 00:12:30.306 --> 00:12:32.208
  • He had all the money he could possibly want.
  • 00:12:32.208 --> 00:12:34.810
  • Remember the bible says abraham was wealthy, literally heavy.
  • 00:12:34.810 --> 00:12:39.114
  • He was loaded with wealth.
  • 00:12:39.114 --> 00:12:40.983
  • He could do whatever he wanted to do.
  • 00:12:40.983 --> 00:12:42.751
  • Now if you were abraham, what would you do?
  • 00:12:42.751 --> 00:12:45.321
  • Move to florida?
  • 00:12:45.321 --> 00:12:47.990
  • Buy a condo, spend your time chasing a little ball with a
  • 00:12:47.990 --> 00:12:52.061
  • Stick around a putting green?
  • 00:12:52.061 --> 00:12:54.396
  • Getting a winnebago and tour the country?
  • 00:12:54.396 --> 00:12:57.666
  • Not abraham, he still had things to do.
  • 00:12:57.666 --> 00:13:00.870
  • He had a bullishness toward life and you find that in three ways.
  • 00:13:00.870 --> 00:13:06.575
  • First of all, he got a new wife.
  • 00:13:06.575 --> 00:13:09.712
  • Look at verse 1, "now abraham took another wife, whose name
  • 00:13:09.712 --> 00:13:14.350
  • Was keturah."
  • 00:13:14.350 --> 00:13:16.652
  • We don't know much about keturah.
  • 00:13:16.652 --> 00:13:18.153
  • I think one thing we can safely assume was she wasn't
  • 00:13:18.153 --> 00:13:20.856
  • A canaanite.
  • 00:13:20.856 --> 00:13:22.391
  • Because of abraham's instruction to eliezer about the son for
  • 00:13:22.391 --> 00:13:25.361
  • Isaac, she wasn't an unbeliever, but we don't know much about her
  • 00:13:25.361 --> 00:13:29.965
  • At all and people wonder, well, wait a minute, does that mean he
  • 00:13:29.965 --> 00:13:34.503
  • Didn't love sarah, whom he had buried?
  • 00:13:34.503 --> 00:13:36.906
  • Not at all.
  • 00:13:36.906 --> 00:13:38.274
  • Look at genesis 23:2.
  • 00:13:38.274 --> 00:13:40.843
  • "when sarah died, she died in hebron, and abraham went to
  • 00:13:40.843 --> 00:13:45.014
  • Mourn for sarah and to weep for her."
  • 00:13:45.014 --> 00:13:49.051
  • In his 175 years of life, there's only one time the bible
  • 00:13:49.051 --> 00:13:53.022
  • Records that abraham wept, and it's when his wife died and that
  • 00:13:53.022 --> 00:13:57.760
  • Word to weep literally means to beat one's chest.
  • 00:13:57.760 --> 00:14:03.699
  • Some of you know that kind of grief after losing a mate.
  • 00:14:03.699 --> 00:14:07.636
  • I've not had that experience but some of you have.
  • 00:14:07.636 --> 00:14:11.707
  • I had a widow say to me one time, she said, "pastor, you
  • 00:14:11.707 --> 00:14:15.544
  • Cannot understand how lonely it is to go into an empty house."
  • 00:14:15.544 --> 00:14:22.484
  • Many of you understand that.
  • 00:14:22.484 --> 00:14:25.020
  • Abraham experienced that and he didn't wanna be alone in the
  • 00:14:25.020 --> 00:14:29.892
  • Final years of his life.
  • 00:14:29.892 --> 00:14:31.260
  • Nothing wrong with that.
  • 00:14:31.260 --> 00:14:32.594
  • Genesis 2:18 says, "it's not good for a man or a woman to
  • 00:14:32.594 --> 00:14:35.497
  • Be alone."
  • 00:14:35.497 --> 00:14:37.266
  • If you've lost a mate, there's nothing wrong with finding
  • 00:14:37.266 --> 00:14:40.736
  • Another mate.
  • 00:14:40.736 --> 00:14:42.104
  • It doesn't mean you loved your former mate any less.
  • 00:14:42.104 --> 00:14:44.606
  • It means you don't wanna be lonely.
  • 00:14:44.606 --> 00:14:47.309
  • That was abraham, he got a new wife and i don't think he ever
  • 00:14:47.309 --> 00:14:53.749
  • Expected keturah to replace sarah.
  • 00:14:53.749 --> 00:14:57.586
  • He had spent over 100 years with her.
  • 00:14:57.586 --> 00:15:00.122
  • There's no way to discount of shared heritage.
  • 00:15:00.122 --> 00:15:05.094
  • You'll never have that shared history with a new mate.
  • 00:15:05.094 --> 00:15:08.197
  • It's a different kind of relationship and so he wasn't
  • 00:15:08.197 --> 00:15:12.301
  • Saddled with unrealistic expectations as to what a new
  • 00:15:12.301 --> 00:15:15.704
  • Marriage would be.
  • 00:15:15.704 --> 00:15:17.072
  • It would have to be different.
  • 00:15:17.072 --> 00:15:18.407
  • He also probably didn't worry about unwarranted criticism.
  • 00:15:18.407 --> 00:15:21.877
  • You know, some of the cruelest people in the world can be
  • 00:15:21.877 --> 00:15:24.380
  • Church people especially when it comes to somebody marrying
  • 00:15:24.380 --> 00:15:30.252
  • Somebody new, different after death or desertion or defection.
  • 00:15:30.252 --> 00:15:36.692
  • You can just hear people clucking their tongues.
  • 00:15:36.692 --> 00:15:38.961
  • Why?
  • 00:15:38.961 --> 00:15:40.295
  • Can you believe what abraham's doing with that young woman?
  • 00:15:40.295 --> 00:15:42.865
  • I bet sarah is spinning in her grave right now.
  • 00:15:42.865 --> 00:15:46.902
  • No, no, it's not good for a person to be alone.
  • 00:15:46.902 --> 00:15:50.606
  • If you are a widow right now, if you've lost your husband or
  • 00:15:50.606 --> 00:15:55.077
  • Wife, remember, you are free to marry.
  • 00:15:55.077 --> 00:15:59.048
  • You're free not to marry, but whatever you do, just do it in
  • 00:15:59.048 --> 00:16:02.384
  • The lord, but abraham decided he was going to have a new wife.
  • 00:16:02.384 --> 00:16:06.488
  • Uh oh, here it comes and with the new wife came a new family.
  • 00:16:06.488 --> 00:16:11.493
  • Abraham had six more children with keturah.
  • 00:16:11.493 --> 00:16:16.398
  • He was 140 when he started the new family.
  • 00:16:16.398 --> 00:16:21.103
  • Abraham was so old that both he and his children were in diapers
  • 00:16:21.103 --> 00:16:25.374
  • At the same time but that was god's plan.
  • 00:16:25.374 --> 00:16:34.116
  • Remember he said to abraham, "you're gonna be the father of
  • 00:16:34.116 --> 00:16:37.119
  • Many nations," and keturah was the way that was going
  • 00:16:37.119 --> 00:16:41.190
  • To happen.
  • 00:16:41.190 --> 00:16:42.524
  • He had a new wife, he had a new family and noticed there was a
  • 00:16:42.524 --> 00:16:46.161
  • New, a growing generosity in abraham.
  • 00:16:46.161 --> 00:16:50.065
  • Do you know some people who when they get older they get more
  • 00:16:50.065 --> 00:16:53.702
  • Stingy they just hold on to their money tighter, and
  • 00:16:53.702 --> 00:16:56.738
  • Tighter, and tighter.
  • 00:16:56.738 --> 00:16:58.474
  • There are living illustrations of that old adage, philosophy,
  • 00:16:58.474 --> 00:17:02.077
  • Get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can.
  • 00:17:02.077 --> 00:17:08.183
  • Abraham refused to sit on the can, so to speak, with his
  • 00:17:08.183 --> 00:17:12.121
  • Money anyway.
  • 00:17:12.121 --> 00:17:14.323
  • He was very, very wealthy, but all of his life he was generous.
  • 00:17:14.323 --> 00:17:18.160
  • Remember when he saw melchizedek after having that great victory,
  • 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:21.396
  • He willingly gave a tenth of his assets to the lord
  • 00:17:21.396 --> 00:17:26.835
  • Through melchizedek.
  • 00:17:26.835 --> 00:17:28.270
  • He willingly gave the choicest land to lot.
  • 00:17:28.270 --> 00:17:32.641
  • He willingly gave up his right to riches after defeating the
  • 00:17:32.641 --> 00:17:36.245
  • King of the east and now we see the same generosity in verse 5.
  • 00:17:36.245 --> 00:17:41.283
  • He realized everything he had wasn't his, it was god's.
  • 00:17:41.283 --> 00:17:44.786
  • He was just a manager and so, verse 5 says, in genesis 25,
  • 00:17:44.786 --> 00:17:49.024
  • "while he was living, he gave a generous gift to isaac and to
  • 00:17:49.024 --> 00:17:53.028
  • His other children."
  • 00:17:53.028 --> 00:17:54.830
  • Now look, we are stewards and the bible says we need to take
  • 00:17:54.830 --> 00:17:59.334
  • Care of the money that god gives us, and that's why every
  • 00:17:59.334 --> 00:18:03.539
  • Christian for sure ought to have a will that specifies what
  • 00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:06.909
  • Happens to your money when you've gone.
  • 00:18:06.909 --> 00:18:09.945
  • You either get to decide or the government gets to decide.
  • 00:18:09.945 --> 00:18:13.549
  • I'd rather decide, wouldn't you?
  • 00:18:13.549 --> 00:18:15.717
  • Make sure you have a will and your money's going to take care
  • 00:18:15.717 --> 00:18:19.188
  • Of your family.
  • 00:18:19.188 --> 00:18:20.522
  • 1 timothy 5:8.
  • 00:18:20.522 --> 00:18:21.890
  • "if anybody doesn't care for his own, he's worse than an infidels
  • 00:18:21.890 --> 00:18:24.860
  • Denied the faith."
  • 00:18:24.860 --> 00:18:26.228
  • Make sure your children are cared for.
  • 00:18:26.228 --> 00:18:28.630
  • Did you know proverbs 13:22.
  • 00:18:28.630 --> 00:18:30.766
  • Even says we're to care for our grandchildren.
  • 00:18:30.766 --> 00:18:33.335
  • "a good man leaves an inheritance to his
  • 00:18:33.335 --> 00:18:35.904
  • Children's children."
  • 00:18:35.904 --> 00:18:37.339
  • That's the triplet's favorite verse they've memorized.
  • 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:40.542
  • No, i'm just kidding, but we need to be careful to give to
  • 00:18:40.542 --> 00:18:45.981
  • Our family, take care of them in our death, but abraham did it
  • 00:18:45.981 --> 00:18:50.118
  • While he was alive.
  • 00:18:50.118 --> 00:18:51.887
  • You know, i think about my grandfather, he wasn't an
  • 00:18:51.887 --> 00:18:55.624
  • Extremely wealthy person by today's standard, but god had
  • 00:18:55.624 --> 00:18:59.127
  • Blessed him with some money and for more than just tax reasons
  • 00:18:59.127 --> 00:19:03.599
  • He decided he wanted to give money away while he was alive.
  • 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:07.803
  • He wanted to see his children and grandchildren enjoy what he
  • 00:19:07.803 --> 00:19:11.707
  • Had worked for and take care of some of the needs that they had.
  • 00:19:11.707 --> 00:19:15.544
  • That's a wise way to live.
  • 00:19:15.544 --> 00:19:16.945
  • That's what abraham did.
  • 00:19:16.945 --> 00:19:18.547
  • He had a growing generosity.
  • 00:19:18.547 --> 00:19:20.983
  • Now, here's abraham's life, his faith was growing, his attitude
  • 00:19:20.983 --> 00:19:25.687
  • Was bullish, new wife, new family, generosity.
  • 00:19:25.687 --> 00:19:31.126
  • Now we come to abraham's death, his departure, and the one way
  • 00:19:31.126 --> 00:19:35.264
  • That describes the way he faced death is the word, satisfied.
  • 00:19:35.264 --> 00:19:40.269
  • I remember reading a poll in "usa today" that asked people
  • 00:19:40.269 --> 00:19:44.006
  • The question, how do you know if you're successful in life?
  • 00:19:44.006 --> 00:19:48.343
  • What is your yardstick for success?
  • 00:19:48.343 --> 00:19:50.946
  • Interestingly, only 25% said, "my yardstick of
  • 00:19:50.946 --> 00:19:56.184
  • Success is money."
  • 00:19:56.184 --> 00:19:58.086
  • Sixty percent said, "it was expertise in your career."
  • 00:19:58.086 --> 00:20:02.524
  • Sixty-three percent said, "successful children are the way
  • 00:20:02.524 --> 00:20:06.795
  • I measure success," but 83% of people said,
  • 00:20:06.795 --> 00:20:11.700
  • "the real measure of success was being satisfied with your life."
  • 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:18.607
  • Satisfied with your life by that standard, abraham was
  • 00:20:18.607 --> 00:20:22.611
  • Extremely successful.
  • 00:20:22.611 --> 00:20:24.313
  • Look at the verses describing his death.
  • 00:20:24.313 --> 00:20:27.215
  • Genesis 25, verses 7 and 8, "these are all the years of
  • 00:20:27.215 --> 00:20:31.153
  • Abraham's life that he lived, one hundred
  • 00:20:31.153 --> 00:20:34.389
  • And seventy-five years,
  • 00:20:34.389 --> 00:20:37.259
  • And abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an
  • 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:42.631
  • Old man satisfied with life; and he was gathered together with
  • 00:20:42.631 --> 00:20:47.969
  • His people."
  • 00:20:47.969 --> 00:20:50.105
  • Well, i would love to have that as my epitaph, wouldn't you?
  • 00:20:50.105 --> 00:20:53.375
  • He died at a ripe old age, satisfied with life and gathered
  • 00:20:53.375 --> 00:20:59.514
  • Together with his people.
  • 00:20:59.514 --> 00:21:01.717
  • How do you pull that off?
  • 00:21:01.717 --> 00:21:03.485
  • I want you to notice from abraham's life, three facets of
  • 00:21:03.485 --> 00:21:07.422
  • Being satisfied with your life.
  • 00:21:07.422 --> 00:21:09.157
  • First of all, he was satisfied with his past.
  • 00:21:09.157 --> 00:21:12.394
  • He was at peace, he was content.
  • 00:21:12.394 --> 00:21:14.396
  • That's what the word satisfied means, content.
  • 00:21:14.396 --> 00:21:17.432
  • He was content with his past.
  • 00:21:17.432 --> 00:21:19.101
  • It doesn't mean he had a perfect past,
  • 00:21:19.101 --> 00:21:20.669
  • He didn't.
  • 00:21:20.669 --> 00:21:22.003
  • The first 60 years of his life, he was an idolater.
  • 00:21:22.003 --> 00:21:24.539
  • He was an idol worshiper just like his father had been.
  • 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:28.377
  • He had made big mistakes, not only before he was a believer,
  • 00:21:28.377 --> 00:21:31.680
  • But even after he was a believer, he sinned, but he knew
  • 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:34.983
  • His sins had been forgiven.
  • 00:21:34.983 --> 00:21:36.318
  • That's the only way you'll be at peace with your past.
  • 00:21:36.318 --> 00:21:39.154
  • Genesis 15:6, "abraham believed god and his faith was counted
  • 00:21:39.154 --> 00:21:45.127
  • As righteousness."
  • 00:21:45.127 --> 00:21:46.962
  • Remember in romans 4, paul uses that experience as an example of
  • 00:21:46.962 --> 00:21:51.166
  • What saving faith is.
  • 00:21:51.166 --> 00:21:53.335
  • Romans 4:5, "but to the one who does not work, but believes in
  • 00:21:53.335 --> 00:21:57.706
  • Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted
  • 00:21:57.706 --> 00:22:01.710
  • As righteousness.
  • 00:22:01.710 --> 00:22:03.278
  • Blessed is the man whose sin the lord does not take
  • 00:22:03.278 --> 00:22:07.749
  • Into account."
  • 00:22:07.749 --> 00:22:09.384
  • Abraham knew that as blemished as his past was, his past had
  • 00:22:09.384 --> 00:22:14.222
  • Been forgiven, forgotten forever by god because of his faith.
  • 00:22:14.222 --> 00:22:18.827
  • Do you have that assurance?
  • 00:22:18.827 --> 00:22:20.562
  • Do you know that your sins have been wiped away through the
  • 00:22:20.562 --> 00:22:24.533
  • Blood of jesus christ?
  • 00:22:24.533 --> 00:22:27.135
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:22:27.135 --> 00:22:31.807
  • Jeffress: abraham's example shows us that it's possible
  • 00:22:31.807 --> 00:22:34.609
  • To finish life with genuine satisfaction and peace.
  • 00:22:34.609 --> 00:22:39.147
  • His growing faith and bullish attitude toward the final years
  • 00:22:39.147 --> 00:22:43.084
  • Should inspire all of us to live with purpose until the very end.
  • 00:22:43.084 --> 00:22:48.190
  • Well, at pathway to victory we're committed to helping you
  • 00:22:48.190 --> 00:22:51.159
  • Discover these life changing truths from god's word.
  • 00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:54.729
  • I don't skip over the challenging passages or water
  • 00:22:54.729 --> 00:22:58.166
  • Down difficult teachings.
  • 00:22:58.166 --> 00:23:00.068
  • Instead, i simply tell you what the bible says and leave the
  • 00:23:00.068 --> 00:23:03.572
  • Consequences to god.
  • 00:23:03.572 --> 00:23:05.674
  • Gratefully i have found that our "pathway to victory" family,
  • 00:23:05.674 --> 00:23:08.210
  • Wants nothing less than the unfiltered truth
  • 00:23:08.210 --> 00:23:11.279
  • Of god's word and so,
  • 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:13.181
  • As long as god gives us this incredible platform, you can be
  • 00:23:13.181 --> 00:23:17.619
  • Sure that "pathway to victory" will remain your trustworthy
  • 00:23:17.619 --> 00:23:21.223
  • Source of bible teaching.
  • 00:23:21.223 --> 00:23:23.592
  • Thank you to all of you who give generously and especially to our
  • 00:23:23.592 --> 00:23:27.329
  • Pathway partners we couldn't accomplish our ministry on
  • 00:23:27.329 --> 00:23:30.532
  • Television, radio and the internet without friends
  • 00:23:30.532 --> 00:23:33.602
  • Like you.
  • 00:23:33.602 --> 00:23:34.970
  • Now stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
  • 00:23:34.970 --> 00:23:37.939
  • Victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:23:37.939 --> 00:23:40.542
  • Jeffress: the story of abraham is an invitation to come back to
  • 00:23:40.609 --> 00:23:45.480
  • The altar of god.
  • 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:48.250
  • He fell into disobedience and ultimately disgrace.
  • 00:23:48.250 --> 00:23:54.623
  • Repentance begins with a change of mind that says, "i don't want
  • 00:23:54.623 --> 00:23:57.926
  • To keep going this direction."
  • 00:23:57.926 --> 00:24:00.562
  • And that's what abraham did.
  • 00:24:00.562 --> 00:24:03.365
  • Picture right now a challenge you're facing.
  • 00:24:03.365 --> 00:24:07.235
  • It may be a challenge with a child or a grandchild.
  • 00:24:07.235 --> 00:24:10.872
  • It may be a financial need.
  • 00:24:10.872 --> 00:24:13.475
  • It might be a physical problem with you or somebody
  • 00:24:13.475 --> 00:24:15.977
  • You care about.
  • 00:24:15.977 --> 00:24:17.913
  • Do you believe the same god whose been faithful in the past
  • 00:24:17.913 --> 00:24:21.216
  • To you will be faithful to you now?
  • 00:24:21.216 --> 00:24:23.618
  • Is god still alive?
  • 00:24:23.618 --> 00:24:26.021
  • Is god still working and you really trust in god?
  • 00:24:26.021 --> 00:24:31.960
  • The one quality god admires, god desires more than any other
  • 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:37.098
  • Quality in our lives is faith.
  • 00:24:37.098 --> 00:24:41.136
  • What is faith?
  • 00:24:41.136 --> 00:24:42.837
  • It's believing that god will do what he has promised to do
  • 00:24:42.837 --> 00:24:46.841
  • And acting accordingly.
  • 00:24:46.841 --> 00:24:53.081
  • If the story of abraham tells us anything it tells us this.
  • 00:24:53.081 --> 00:24:57.519
  • It doesn't matter how old you are.
  • 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.920
  • It doesn't matter how far you've drifted away from god.
  • 00:24:58.920 --> 00:25:02.557
  • You can come back.
  • 00:25:02.557 --> 00:25:04.559
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:12.000
  • Jeffress: as you're watching this today,
  • 00:25:12.067 --> 00:25:13.468
  • Perhaps you're wondering if it's too late
  • 00:25:13.468 --> 00:25:15.170
  • To make any changes in your life and you've already
  • 00:25:15.170 --> 00:25:17.872
  • Blown your chances at finishing strong?
  • 00:25:17.872 --> 00:25:20.842
  • Maybe you're worried that your past mistakes will prevent you
  • 00:25:20.842 --> 00:25:23.845
  • From ever experiencing true satisfaction.
  • 00:25:23.845 --> 00:25:27.282
  • Remember, god isn't finished with you yet and next time,
  • 00:25:27.282 --> 00:25:31.419
  • We'll discover how abraham found complete peace with his past,
  • 00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:35.590
  • Present, and future, and how you can experience that
  • 00:25:35.590 --> 00:25:39.127
  • Same contentment.
  • 00:25:39.127 --> 00:25:40.695
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:40.695 --> 00:25:43.565
  • Series "walking by faith."
  • 00:25:43.565 --> 00:25:47.102
  • Jeffress: dr. criswell used to say, "every civilization is only
  • 00:25:47.168 --> 00:25:52.207
  • One generation away from barbarism."
  • 00:25:52.207 --> 00:25:56.044
  • If we don't pass the faith to the next generation, the faith
  • 00:25:56.044 --> 00:26:00.482
  • Is lost.
  • 00:26:00.482 --> 00:26:01.816
  • Abraham knew he had passed on his faith successfully.
  • 00:26:01.816 --> 00:26:06.321
  • Male announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two
  • 00:26:06.388 --> 00:26:09.124
  • Of the message, "how to die with a smile on your face" here on
  • 00:26:09.124 --> 00:26:12.894
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:12.894 --> 00:26:14.262
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:14.329 --> 00:26:18.433
  • Announcer: experience the beauty of alaska with the
  • 00:26:18.433 --> 00:26:20.602
  • Pathway to victory family june 13-20, 2026.
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  • Sail through the calm waters of the legendary inside passage
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  • With dr. robert jeffress aboard holland america's
  • 00:26:28.977 --> 00:26:31.346
  • Magnificent koningsdam.
  • 00:26:31.346 --> 00:26:33.615
  • Be inspired by award-wining musician michael o'brien's
  • 00:26:33.615 --> 00:26:36.551
  • Powerful worship; share laughter with dennis swanberg,
  • 00:26:36.551 --> 00:26:39.954
  • America's minister of encouragement;
  • 00:26:39.954 --> 00:26:42.223
  • All while exploring frontier towns like juneau,
  • 00:26:42.223 --> 00:26:45.060
  • Skagway, and ketchikan.
  • 00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:47.128
  • Jeffress: there's something powerful about connecting with
  • 00:26:47.128 --> 00:26:49.431
  • God and fellow believers in the majesty
  • 00:26:49.431 --> 00:26:52.367
  • Of his untamed wilderness.
  • 00:26:52.367 --> 00:26:54.536
  • From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles,
  • 00:26:54.536 --> 00:26:57.772
  • These moments in god's creation will deepen your
  • 00:26:57.772 --> 00:27:00.375
  • Faith in powerful ways.
  • 00:27:00.375 --> 00:27:02.510
  • Announcer: join us for a spiritual journey through some
  • 00:27:02.510 --> 00:27:04.779
  • Of creation's most spectacular displays.
  • 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:07.515
  • Don't wait, our best cabins are going fast.
  • 00:27:07.515 --> 00:27:10.151
  • Secure your alaska adventure now.
  • 00:27:10.151 --> 00:27:12.520
  • Call ... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:12.520 --> 00:27:27.235