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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - How To Handle Temptation (Part 1)

August 7, 2025 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - How To Handle Temptation (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Temptation #Sin #Faith #Testing #Trials-HardTimes #Evil #HandofGod #Deliverance #Flesh #Heart'sDesire #Lust #Choices #Obedience #Disobedience #Death

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - How To Handle Temptation (Part 1) | August 7, 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
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  • Welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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  • Have you ever found yourself on the verge of making a decision
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  • You knew you'd regret?
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  • In that critical moment, it can feel like we're powerless
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  • Against the pull of temptation, but god has given us everything
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  • We need to resist.
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  • Today we're diving into the book of james to discover the real
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  • Source of temptation and, more importantly, how to overcome it.
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  • My message is titled "how to handle temptation" on today's
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  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: where there's genuine faith, there will always be
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  • Visible fruit.
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  • In his brand-new book, "how to know if you're really saved,"
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  • Dr. robert jeffress helps you take stock of the evidence of
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  • Your faith, the spiritual fruit in your daily life.
  • 00:01:06.656 --> 00:01:10.460
  • This outstanding verse-by-verse walk through the book of james
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  • Will help you cultivate the spiritual fruit that reflects
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  • Genuine faith.
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  • Request "how to know if you're really saved" when you give a
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  • Generous gift to support the ministry of pathway to victory.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: my late seminary professor howard hendricks used
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  • To tell the story of the man who boarded an overnight train going
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  • From chicago to new york.
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  • The train was scheduled to make a stop in pittsburgh.
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  • And so the man, as the train pulled out of chicago, found a
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  • Porter and said, "look, i've gotta get off the train
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  • In pittsburgh.
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  • It's the middle of the night.
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  • I'll be sleepy.
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  • I may resist you.
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  • But whatever you do, get me off this train.
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  • I've got a business appointment, an interview for a new job.
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  • And by the way, here's $200 to make sure you get me off
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  • The train."
  • 00:02:12.488 --> 00:02:13.923
  • Well, the next morning, the man awakened as the train was
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  • Pulling into grand central station, in new york.
  • 00:02:17.493 --> 00:02:21.164
  • He realized he had missed his stop.
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  • So he bounded out of bed, ran up and down the, you know, train,
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  • Looking for that negligent porter.
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  • And when he found him, he grabbed him and began to shake
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  • Him and he said, "i gave you $200 to get me off this train.
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  • You made me miss my appointment, my
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  • Possibility of a new job.
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  • I'm gonna sue you. i'm gonna sue the train company.
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  • I'm gonna sue everybody i can."
  • 00:02:45.755 --> 00:02:47.824
  • And with that, he stormed off the train.
  • 00:02:47.824 --> 00:02:50.426
  • Another passenger was watching the altercation, and he came up
  • 00:02:50.426 --> 00:02:53.663
  • To the porter and said, "i've never seen anybody that
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  • Mad before."
  • 00:02:57.500 --> 00:02:59.168
  • The porter said, "if you think he was mad, you should've seen
  • 00:02:59.168 --> 00:03:02.171
  • The guy i put off the train in pittsburgh this morning."
  • 00:03:02.171 --> 00:03:09.279
  • You know, all of us can sympathize with the guy who got
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  • Put off the train in pittsburgh.
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  • Sometimes we feel like we're just the victim of circumstances
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  • Beyond our control.
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  • Unfortunately, that feeling of helplessness sometimes extends
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  • To our attitude about sin and temptation.
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  • When we're confronted with temptation, we take a
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  • Passive attitude.
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  • We excuse disobedience by saying--remember the old
  • 00:03:32.935 --> 00:03:36.239
  • Comedian flip wilson-- "the devil made me do it."
  • 00:03:36.239 --> 00:03:40.710
  • We refuse to take responsibility for sin.
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  • We think we're victims.
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  • But james, the half brother of jesus, offers a different
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  • Perspective on temptation and sin, and it's one we're going to
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  • Look at today.
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  • If you have your bibles, turn to james chapter 1 as we discover
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  • How to handle temptation.
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  • Now, you remember the theme of james.
  • 00:04:02.865 --> 00:04:05.201
  • It's very simple: saving faith produces genuine fruit.
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  • If you're really saved, there's gonna to be evidence of
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  • Your salvation.
  • 00:04:14.043 --> 00:04:15.912
  • A faith without fruit is a dead, nonexistent, worthless faith.
  • 00:04:15.912 --> 00:04:21.651
  • And james gives us a number of tests in his books to see if
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  • We're really saved or not.
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  • For example, last time we saw when trials come into our life,
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  • Our response to those trials is evidence of whether we're
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  • Believers, genuine believers.
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  • If we allow trials to draw us closer to god, we pass the test.
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  • If it drives us away from god, if we give up on god, it's a
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  • Sign that we're not saved.
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  • And now today, beginning with verse 13, james is gonna give a
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  • Second test.
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  • Another way to measure the authenticity of your christian
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  • Faith is in how you handle temptation.
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  • Let's first of all talk about the difference between
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  • Temptations and trials.
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  • There's a similarity we need to understand before we look at
  • 00:05:07.563 --> 00:05:10.466
  • The differences.
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  • In james 2, james said, "count it all joy, my brethren, when
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  • You encounter various trials."
  • 00:05:17.807 --> 00:05:20.276
  • Now in verse 13, when he talks about temptations, he said, "let
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  • No one say when he is tempted."
  • 00:05:24.080 --> 00:05:28.151
  • The common denominator in those verses is when, when you
  • 00:05:28.151 --> 00:05:32.789
  • Encounter trials, not if or should you.
  • 00:05:32.789 --> 00:05:36.359
  • They're inevitable, but so are temptations.
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  • "let no man say if he should happen to be tempted but when he
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  • Is tempted."
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  • But that's where the similarities end.
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  • There's a major difference between a trial and
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  • A temptation.
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  • Remember trials?
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  • James describes them as the testing of your faith.
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  • Trials are designed to test, to strengthen your faith.
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  • That's what the word "testing" means in verses 2 through 12.
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  • It's the greek word "dokimion."
  • 00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:12.728
  • It means to put a piece of pottery that has just been
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  • Formed into a firing oven.
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  • The reason you put it into an oven is not to destroy it but to
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  • Strengthen it.
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  • And, remember, if that piece of pottery survived the fire that
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  • Was designed to strengthen it, the sculptor would write at the
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  • Bottom of that piece of pottery, "dokimos," approved, tested.
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  • That's what trials are designed to do.
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  • Trials are designed to strengthen our faith.
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  • But temptations are altogether different.
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  • If you look up the word "tempt" in an english dictionary,
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  • Webster's dictionary, it says, "to entice to do wrong by
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  • Promise of pleasure or gain."
  • 00:06:54.036 --> 00:06:57.173
  • A temptation is a solicitation to do what is evil.
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  • Write this down.
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  • This will help you understand the difference.
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  • Tests are given to strengthen our faith.
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  • Temptations come to destroy our faith.
  • 00:07:10.653 --> 00:07:14.824
  • There's a very big difference between trials that strengthen
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  • Us and temptations that destroy us.
  • 00:07:19.362 --> 00:07:23.466
  • But here's the interesting thing: in english, we have two
  • 00:07:23.466 --> 00:07:26.636
  • Different words: "trials" and "temptations."
  • 00:07:26.636 --> 00:07:29.372
  • In greek, there's one word that is used to describe
  • 00:07:29.372 --> 00:07:32.208
  • Both: "peirasmos."
  • 00:07:32.208 --> 00:07:34.443
  • It literally means a difficult situation.
  • 00:07:34.443 --> 00:07:38.214
  • In verses 2 to 12, james says, "count it all joy when you
  • 00:07:38.214 --> 00:07:41.517
  • Encounter various difficult situations," peirasmos.
  • 00:07:41.517 --> 00:07:46.756
  • And then in verse 13, james says, "let no man say when he
  • 00:07:46.756 --> 00:07:51.193
  • Comes into a difficult situation, 'i'm being tempted
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  • By god.'"
  • 00:07:54.597 --> 00:07:55.965
  • Peirasmos simply means a difficult situation.
  • 00:07:55.965 --> 00:08:00.136
  • It can either be a trial designed for the strengthening
  • 00:08:00.136 --> 00:08:04.173
  • Of our faith, it can be a temptation designed to destroy
  • 00:08:04.173 --> 00:08:08.277
  • Our faith, or it can be both at the same time.
  • 00:08:08.277 --> 00:08:13.749
  • Let's say you get a diagnosis of terminal cancer in your own life
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  • Or the life of somebody you love.
  • 00:08:18.421 --> 00:08:20.790
  • Is that a trial, or is it a temptation?
  • 00:08:20.790 --> 00:08:25.294
  • Well, it can be both.
  • 00:08:25.294 --> 00:08:27.363
  • A difficult situation can be used by god to draw you closer
  • 00:08:27.363 --> 00:08:31.934
  • To himself.
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  • At the same time god is rooting for you, satan is rooting
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  • Against you.
  • 00:08:37.773 --> 00:08:39.108
  • He's using it as a temptation to destroy your faith.
  • 00:08:39.108 --> 00:08:42.345
  • Whether or not it ends up being a trial or a temptation depends
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  • On your response to that difficult situation.
  • 00:08:46.882 --> 00:08:50.886
  • That's why jesus prayed in matthew 6.
  • 00:08:50.886 --> 00:08:54.256
  • Have you ever wondered about this in the model prayer?
  • 00:08:54.256 --> 00:08:56.792
  • Why did he say, "and lead us not into temptation"?
  • 00:08:56.792 --> 00:09:01.364
  • Is it possible that god would tempt us and try to
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  • Solicit us for evil?
  • 00:09:04.066 --> 00:09:05.401
  • No.
  • 00:09:05.401 --> 00:09:06.736
  • But remember that's not what the word temptation means.
  • 00:09:06.736 --> 00:09:09.572
  • It's just a difficult situation.
  • 00:09:09.572 --> 00:09:11.974
  • When jesus taught us to pray, he was teaching us, "lead us not--"
  • 00:09:11.974 --> 00:09:16.178
  • It's okay to ask god to "lead us not into a difficult situation."
  • 00:09:16.178 --> 00:09:22.418
  • Well, why would jesus say to pray that way?
  • 00:09:22.418 --> 00:09:25.154
  • Couldn't a difficult situation strengthen our faith?
  • 00:09:25.154 --> 00:09:28.257
  • Yeah, it could.
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  • Or it could destroy our faith.
  • 00:09:30.192 --> 00:09:32.628
  • It's just like a student who says to a teacher, "teacher, if
  • 00:09:32.628 --> 00:09:35.765
  • It's all the same to you, please don't lead us into a
  • 00:09:35.765 --> 00:09:39.168
  • Final exam."
  • 00:09:39.168 --> 00:09:41.804
  • A final exam has the possibility of success.
  • 00:09:41.804 --> 00:09:44.807
  • You could pass it, or there's the possibility you could
  • 00:09:44.807 --> 00:09:48.778
  • Fail it.
  • 00:09:48.778 --> 00:09:50.112
  • "so if it's all the same to you, teacher, i'd just soon not
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  • Have one."
  • 00:09:52.982 --> 00:09:54.483
  • It's okay to pray to god to keep you and your family from
  • 00:09:54.483 --> 00:09:58.487
  • Difficult situations.
  • 00:09:58.487 --> 00:10:00.956
  • But sometimes god said, "i'm gonna use this to strengthen
  • 00:10:00.956 --> 00:10:03.859
  • Your faith."
  • 00:10:03.859 --> 00:10:05.194
  • And that's why the next part of the prayer is "lead us not into
  • 00:10:05.194 --> 00:10:08.564
  • Temptation, but deliver us from evil."
  • 00:10:08.564 --> 00:10:12.702
  • "lord, if you do send a test into my life, keep me from
  • 00:10:12.702 --> 00:10:16.539
  • Making an evil, a wrong response to it."
  • 00:10:16.539 --> 00:10:20.309
  • These are two very different things.
  • 00:10:20.309 --> 00:10:22.244
  • James is talking about temptations that don't come
  • 00:10:22.244 --> 00:10:26.015
  • From god.
  • 00:10:26.015 --> 00:10:27.383
  • Well, then what is the source of temptations?
  • 00:10:27.383 --> 00:10:30.519
  • God tested abraham, genesis 22:1, to strengthen his faith.
  • 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:35.524
  • But where do temptations come from?
  • 00:10:35.524 --> 00:10:37.960
  • Well, look at the false excuse beginning in verse 13: "let no
  • 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:42.431
  • One say when he is tempted, 'i am being tempted by god.'"
  • 00:10:42.431 --> 00:10:48.771
  • This phrase, "tempted by god," is in present
  • 00:10:48.771 --> 00:10:52.141
  • Passive participle.
  • 00:10:52.141 --> 00:10:54.110
  • It pictures a man who is on the verge of giving into a
  • 00:10:54.110 --> 00:10:58.380
  • Temptation who says as his last excuse, "well, this must be from
  • 00:10:58.380 --> 00:11:03.219
  • God for some reason, so i have to give into it."
  • 00:11:03.219 --> 00:11:06.088
  • "no," james says, "god cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself
  • 00:11:06.088 --> 00:11:13.262
  • Does not tempt anyone."
  • 00:11:13.262 --> 00:11:15.898
  • Now, will you give me three minutes to talk about greek
  • 00:11:15.898 --> 00:11:19.268
  • Grammar for just a moment?
  • 00:11:19.268 --> 00:11:21.237
  • I know it sounds boring, but it's key to understanding
  • 00:11:21.237 --> 00:11:24.073
  • This verse.
  • 00:11:24.073 --> 00:11:25.407
  • Let's look at that false excuse, "let nobody say, 'i'm being
  • 00:11:25.407 --> 00:11:29.512
  • Tempted by god.'"
  • 00:11:29.512 --> 00:11:31.614
  • That english word, "by," b-y, is a preposition.
  • 00:11:31.614 --> 00:11:35.251
  • You may remember that from english class.
  • 00:11:35.251 --> 00:11:38.020
  • It shows cause or agency.
  • 00:11:38.020 --> 00:11:40.956
  • For example, if i said, "the man was killed by his wife," "by"
  • 00:11:40.956 --> 00:11:45.795
  • Was--indicates the direct cause of his death was his wife.
  • 00:11:45.795 --> 00:11:50.900
  • The man was killed by his wife.
  • 00:11:50.900 --> 00:11:53.769
  • If i were to write that in greek, i would use the word
  • 00:11:53.769 --> 00:11:57.006
  • "upo" for "by," u-p-o.
  • 00:11:57.006 --> 00:11:59.975
  • It means direct agency.
  • 00:11:59.975 --> 00:12:02.044
  • It was used in matthew 4:1, when matthew records that jesus was
  • 00:12:02.044 --> 00:12:08.951
  • Led up by the spirit of god into the wilderness to be tempted by
  • 00:12:08.951 --> 00:12:14.990
  • The devil.
  • 00:12:14.990 --> 00:12:16.492
  • The holy spirit is the one who led jesus by; satan was the one
  • 00:12:16.492 --> 00:12:21.897
  • Who tempted jesus.
  • 00:12:21.897 --> 00:12:23.933
  • So if i'm gonna show direct agency, i would use the
  • 00:12:23.933 --> 00:12:26.836
  • Word upo.
  • 00:12:26.836 --> 00:12:28.404
  • But there's another word for a preposition in greek.
  • 00:12:28.404 --> 00:12:32.808
  • It's the word "apo," a-p-o.
  • 00:12:32.808 --> 00:12:36.378
  • It means indirect agency.
  • 00:12:36.378 --> 00:12:39.448
  • For example, if i were to say, "the man was killed by a gun,"
  • 00:12:39.448 --> 00:12:44.820
  • What am i saying?
  • 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:46.155
  • And i'm saying the gun is directly responsible
  • 00:12:46.155 --> 00:12:47.957
  • For the man's death?
  • 00:12:47.957 --> 00:12:49.291
  • No, the gun didn't get angry, load itself up with bullets, and
  • 00:12:49.291 --> 00:12:53.162
  • Pull its own trigger.
  • 00:12:53.162 --> 00:12:54.763
  • The gun was an indirect cause.
  • 00:12:54.763 --> 00:12:57.499
  • The cause was the man's wife.
  • 00:12:57.499 --> 00:12:59.935
  • The indirect cause is the gun.
  • 00:12:59.935 --> 00:13:03.038
  • But if i were trying to show indirect cause, i would use
  • 00:13:03.038 --> 00:13:05.674
  • Apo, a-p-o.
  • 00:13:05.674 --> 00:13:07.543
  • Now, when james wrote this, he could've said, "let no man say
  • 00:13:07.543 --> 00:13:12.214
  • When he is tempted, 'i am tempted by, upo, direct
  • 00:13:12.214 --> 00:13:16.318
  • Agency,'" but he doesn't use that preposition.
  • 00:13:16.318 --> 00:13:19.388
  • He uses the second preposition, apo, indirect agency.
  • 00:13:19.388 --> 00:13:23.926
  • In other words, james is saying, "when you are tempted, don't
  • 00:13:23.926 --> 00:13:27.997
  • Blame god.
  • 00:13:27.997 --> 00:13:29.365
  • God has nothing to do with your temptation directly or even
  • 00:13:29.365 --> 00:13:34.670
  • Indirectly," apo.
  • 00:13:34.670 --> 00:13:37.606
  • Well, then where is the source of temptation if it doesn't come
  • 00:13:37.606 --> 00:13:42.578
  • From god?
  • 00:13:42.578 --> 00:13:43.913
  • He answers the question in the next verse.
  • 00:13:43.913 --> 00:13:46.282
  • Notice the legitimate cause of temptation: "but each one is
  • 00:13:46.282 --> 00:13:51.820
  • Tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust."
  • 00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:58.294
  • I call verse 14 "the temptation equation."
  • 00:13:58.294 --> 00:14:03.265
  • Look at the components that lead up to sin.
  • 00:14:03.265 --> 00:14:06.869
  • Write it down on your outline: corrupt desires plus the right
  • 00:14:06.869 --> 00:14:13.175
  • Bait plus a wrong choice equals sin.
  • 00:14:13.175 --> 00:14:19.648
  • That's how sin comes.
  • 00:14:19.648 --> 00:14:21.884
  • Corrupt desires plus the right bait plus wrong choices result
  • 00:14:21.884 --> 00:14:26.655
  • In sin.
  • 00:14:26.655 --> 00:14:27.990
  • Let's look at each of those components.
  • 00:14:27.990 --> 00:14:29.491
  • First of all, corrupt desires-- each person is tempted when he
  • 00:14:29.491 --> 00:14:34.496
  • Is carried away.
  • 00:14:34.496 --> 00:14:36.298
  • That's what "carried away" refers to, corrupt inward
  • 00:14:36.298 --> 00:14:40.502
  • Desires we have.
  • 00:14:40.502 --> 00:14:42.838
  • The word here, "exelkomai," means to be drawn with an
  • 00:14:42.838 --> 00:14:47.142
  • Inward power.
  • 00:14:47.142 --> 00:14:48.811
  • In john 12:32, jesus said, "if i be lifted up," i will," what?
  • 00:14:48.811 --> 00:14:53.983
  • "draw all people to myself."
  • 00:14:53.983 --> 00:14:57.152
  • That's the same word, "helkomai," to draw with an
  • 00:14:57.152 --> 00:14:59.755
  • Inward power.
  • 00:14:59.755 --> 00:15:01.090
  • Jesus doesn't drag us kicking and screaming to salvation.
  • 00:15:01.090 --> 00:15:05.694
  • He draws us with an inward power.
  • 00:15:05.694 --> 00:15:09.798
  • The same is here.
  • 00:15:09.798 --> 00:15:11.800
  • What's the first component of temptation?
  • 00:15:11.800 --> 00:15:13.969
  • It is our corrupt desires.
  • 00:15:13.969 --> 00:15:17.106
  • These can be legitimate desires that we're tempted to fulfill in
  • 00:15:17.106 --> 00:15:21.176
  • An illegitimate way, or they can be legitimate desires we pursue
  • 00:15:21.176 --> 00:15:27.449
  • In excess.
  • 00:15:27.449 --> 00:15:29.318
  • But our desires, our righteous desires, have been infected
  • 00:15:29.318 --> 00:15:34.923
  • By sin.
  • 00:15:34.923 --> 00:15:36.258
  • We have corrupt desires for either the right thing in the
  • 00:15:36.258 --> 00:15:39.294
  • Wrong way or too much of the right thing.
  • 00:15:39.294 --> 00:15:41.930
  • It becomes a god in our life.
  • 00:15:41.930 --> 00:15:44.033
  • Corrupt desires plus the right bait.
  • 00:15:44.033 --> 00:15:48.203
  • There's an external cause of temptation as well: the
  • 00:15:48.203 --> 00:15:52.541
  • Right bait.
  • 00:15:52.541 --> 00:15:53.876
  • That's indicated by the word "enticed."
  • 00:15:53.876 --> 00:15:56.478
  • Each person is tempted when he is carried away and enticed.
  • 00:15:56.478 --> 00:16:03.052
  • That word "enticed" is a fishing term in greek.
  • 00:16:03.052 --> 00:16:07.256
  • It literally refers to "hook a fish."
  • 00:16:07.256 --> 00:16:11.760
  • You know that well, how that works.
  • 00:16:11.760 --> 00:16:15.397
  • I hate fishing.
  • 00:16:15.397 --> 00:16:16.732
  • Some of the most miserable times of my life have been
  • 00:16:16.732 --> 00:16:19.701
  • Spent fishing.
  • 00:16:19.701 --> 00:16:21.270
  • And please don't email me and say, "oh, pastor,
  • 00:16:21.270 --> 00:16:24.573
  • I can show you a good time.
  • 00:16:24.573 --> 00:16:25.908
  • You've been out with the wrong person."
  • 00:16:25.908 --> 00:16:28.110
  • I've tried it every way and failed miserably.
  • 00:16:28.110 --> 00:16:31.513
  • But i know enough about fishing to know that to be a successful
  • 00:16:31.513 --> 00:16:35.684
  • Fisherman, you've gotta have two things: first of all, the
  • 00:16:35.684 --> 00:16:39.121
  • Right bait.
  • 00:16:39.121 --> 00:16:40.456
  • You've gotta have the right lure to dangle in front of that fish.
  • 00:16:40.456 --> 00:16:44.560
  • Not all fish are tempted by the same bait.
  • 00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:47.362
  • You've gotta understand the fish and what he's hungry for.
  • 00:16:47.362 --> 00:16:50.232
  • You've gotta have the right bait, and you've gotta have the
  • 00:16:50.232 --> 00:16:52.434
  • Right timing.
  • 00:16:52.434 --> 00:16:54.269
  • You've gotta know exactly when to drop that bait in front of
  • 00:16:54.269 --> 00:16:57.406
  • The fish.
  • 00:16:57.406 --> 00:16:58.740
  • One thing i learned: fat fish don't get tempted by a lure;
  • 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:02.945
  • It's hungry fish.
  • 00:17:02.945 --> 00:17:04.446
  • It's hungry fish who at the right time of the day are so
  • 00:17:04.446 --> 00:17:07.816
  • Blinded by their hunger that they snap at that bait, not
  • 00:17:07.816 --> 00:17:11.820
  • Realizing there's a hook in the middle of it that will
  • 00:17:11.820 --> 00:17:14.857
  • Destroy them.
  • 00:17:14.857 --> 00:17:16.325
  • In the same way, satan knows exactly what bait to dangle in
  • 00:17:16.325 --> 00:17:21.830
  • Front of you, what it is that you think is gonna satisfy your
  • 00:17:21.830 --> 00:17:26.168
  • Corrupt desires.
  • 00:17:26.168 --> 00:17:27.536
  • And he knows exactly the right time to dangle it in front
  • 00:17:27.536 --> 00:17:32.374
  • Of you.
  • 00:17:32.374 --> 00:17:33.742
  • How does this bait work with our corrupt desires to produce sin?
  • 00:17:33.742 --> 00:17:38.447
  • Remember, corrupt desires plus the right bait plus the
  • 00:17:38.447 --> 00:17:42.417
  • Wrong choices.
  • 00:17:42.417 --> 00:17:44.286
  • That's what verse 15 says: "then when lust has conceived, it
  • 00:17:44.286 --> 00:17:49.725
  • Gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings
  • 00:17:49.725 --> 00:17:55.264
  • Forth death."
  • 00:17:55.264 --> 00:17:56.598
  • Underline those words in your bible: "conceived,"
  • 00:17:56.598 --> 00:18:00.569
  • "birth," "accomplished."
  • 00:18:00.569 --> 00:18:03.205
  • These are all words related to the birth process.
  • 00:18:03.205 --> 00:18:08.577
  • Just as a man's sperm and a woman's egg have to come
  • 00:18:08.577 --> 00:18:15.117
  • Together at just the right time to produce an embryo, so our
  • 00:18:15.117 --> 00:18:21.990
  • Corrupt desires plus the right bait come together to
  • 00:18:21.990 --> 00:18:27.429
  • Produce sin.
  • 00:18:27.429 --> 00:18:28.997
  • But there's that third element: our choice.
  • 00:18:28.997 --> 00:18:31.767
  • There comes the time we have to snap at the bait.
  • 00:18:31.767 --> 00:18:35.370
  • It's the same way with sin.
  • 00:18:35.370 --> 00:18:37.673
  • There comes a time when we yield to those corrupt desires.
  • 00:18:37.673 --> 00:18:42.611
  • And what is the result of temptation?
  • 00:18:42.611 --> 00:18:44.546
  • Look at verse 15: "and when sin is accomplished--" that's
  • 00:18:44.546 --> 00:18:50.485
  • Another pregnancy term.
  • 00:18:50.485 --> 00:18:52.354
  • "the days were accomplished that she should give birth," the
  • 00:18:52.354 --> 00:18:56.024
  • Bible says.
  • 00:18:56.024 --> 00:18:57.626
  • When the wrong choice and the right bait come together in a
  • 00:18:57.626 --> 00:19:02.731
  • Wrong choice, "when sin is accomplished, it brings forth--"
  • 00:19:02.731 --> 00:19:07.669
  • Not life but death, death.
  • 00:19:07.669 --> 00:19:12.941
  • Sin always produces death.
  • 00:19:12.941 --> 00:19:16.545
  • Now, what kind of death is he talking about?
  • 00:19:16.545 --> 00:19:19.715
  • Is he talking about physical death?
  • 00:19:19.715 --> 00:19:21.850
  • He could be.
  • 00:19:21.850 --> 00:19:23.218
  • That word, "thanatos," in greek means separation.
  • 00:19:23.218 --> 00:19:28.023
  • Physical death is the separation of our spirit from our body.
  • 00:19:28.023 --> 00:19:33.328
  • And sometimes in the life of a christian, sin produces
  • 00:19:33.328 --> 00:19:38.267
  • Physical death.
  • 00:19:38.267 --> 00:19:40.035
  • Remember the story in numbers 16 about korah, who led the
  • 00:19:40.035 --> 00:19:44.506
  • Rebellion against moses and aaron?
  • 00:19:44.506 --> 00:19:47.542
  • God judged that sin by destroying korah and
  • 00:19:47.542 --> 00:19:50.712
  • 250 israelites.
  • 00:19:50.712 --> 00:19:52.914
  • You say, "well, that's the old testament.
  • 00:19:52.914 --> 00:19:54.616
  • God doesn't do that today."
  • 00:19:54.616 --> 00:19:56.385
  • Don't be so sure.
  • 00:19:56.385 --> 00:19:57.919
  • In 1 corinthians 11, verse 30, paul said to the corinthians,
  • 00:19:57.919 --> 00:20:01.990
  • "because you've taken the lord's supper in the wrong way without
  • 00:20:01.990 --> 00:20:05.327
  • Judging yourself or getting drunk at the lord's table, for
  • 00:20:05.327 --> 00:20:08.830
  • This reason, many of you are sick and some are asleep.
  • 00:20:08.830 --> 00:20:13.035
  • You've died."
  • 00:20:13.035 --> 00:20:14.703
  • God sometimes takes a christian's life who is involved
  • 00:20:14.703 --> 00:20:19.675
  • In sin.
  • 00:20:19.675 --> 00:20:21.310
  • That is expressed in 1 john 5:16, when john talks about sin
  • 00:20:21.310 --> 00:20:27.716
  • Unto death: "if anyone sees his brother committing a sin not
  • 00:20:27.716 --> 00:20:32.454
  • Leading to death, he shall ask and god will give him life to
  • 00:20:32.454 --> 00:20:37.025
  • Those who commit sin not leading to death.
  • 00:20:37.025 --> 00:20:40.462
  • But there is sin leading to death."
  • 00:20:40.462 --> 00:20:44.766
  • Now, in your english translation it says, "a sin."
  • 00:20:44.766 --> 00:20:48.637
  • A's an article.
  • 00:20:48.637 --> 00:20:49.971
  • It makes us think, "there is one particular sin.
  • 00:20:49.971 --> 00:20:52.974
  • If you commit that, god's going to kill you."
  • 00:20:52.974 --> 00:20:55.944
  • That's not what it says in the greek text.
  • 00:20:55.944 --> 00:20:58.146
  • There is no article.
  • 00:20:58.146 --> 00:20:59.581
  • It's "anarthrous."
  • 00:20:59.581 --> 00:21:01.350
  • It literally reads, "sin leading to death."
  • 00:21:01.350 --> 00:21:04.753
  • It's not a particular sin that causes god to take your life,
  • 00:21:04.753 --> 00:21:08.857
  • But it's a state of sinning.
  • 00:21:08.857 --> 00:21:11.326
  • That is, you get so hardened to sin, sin has become so
  • 00:21:11.326 --> 00:21:15.464
  • Characteristic of your life that, in some instances, god
  • 00:21:15.464 --> 00:21:19.468
  • Takes your life.
  • 00:21:19.468 --> 00:21:21.370
  • You are a miserable witness for jesus christ.
  • 00:21:21.370 --> 00:21:24.139
  • You're leading other people astray.
  • 00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:26.408
  • God sometimes says, "it would be better to take this child and
  • 00:21:26.408 --> 00:21:29.945
  • Call him home than to leave him here and disrupt my reputation."
  • 00:21:29.945 --> 00:21:35.217
  • There is sin unto death.
  • 00:21:35.217 --> 00:21:37.386
  • So i think when james talks about sin bringing forth death,
  • 00:21:37.386 --> 00:21:41.256
  • He is referring sometimes to physical death, but that word,
  • 00:21:41.256 --> 00:21:45.093
  • Thanatos, "death," also means a separation of our spirit from
  • 00:21:45.093 --> 00:21:50.365
  • God, a separation from god.
  • 00:21:50.365 --> 00:21:52.734
  • Now, as a christian, we don't have to worry about eternal
  • 00:21:52.734 --> 00:21:56.438
  • Separation from god.
  • 00:21:56.438 --> 00:21:58.206
  • Paul says in romans 8, "for i'm convinced that nothing can ever
  • 00:21:58.206 --> 00:22:02.377
  • Separate us from the love of god."
  • 00:22:02.377 --> 00:22:06.014
  • Jesus said in john 10:28 to 30, "i give eternal life to them,
  • 00:22:06.014 --> 00:22:10.252
  • And they shall never perish; no man shall snatch out of my hands
  • 00:22:10.252 --> 00:22:14.756
  • Those whom the father has given me."
  • 00:22:14.756 --> 00:22:18.093
  • That can never change positionally.
  • 00:22:18.093 --> 00:22:20.762
  • Once you're a part of god's family, you're always a part of
  • 00:22:20.762 --> 00:22:24.065
  • God's family.
  • 00:22:24.065 --> 00:22:25.834
  • But even though sin doesn't affect our positional
  • 00:22:25.834 --> 00:22:30.806
  • Relationship with god, it can affect our relational fellowship
  • 00:22:30.806 --> 00:22:36.945
  • With god.
  • 00:22:36.945 --> 00:22:38.313
  • Sin can break our fellowship with our heavenly father.
  • 00:22:38.313 --> 00:22:42.784
  • When we sin, we put up a wall of separation that keeps us from
  • 00:22:42.784 --> 00:22:48.390
  • Wanting to seek fellowship with god because we feel guilty.
  • 00:22:48.390 --> 00:22:52.661
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:22:52.661 --> 00:22:57.732
  • Jeffress: the temptation equation is clear: corrupt
  • 00:22:57.732 --> 00:23:00.802
  • Desires plus the right bait plus the wrong choice equals sin, and
  • 00:23:00.802 --> 00:23:07.309
  • Sin always brings death.
  • 00:23:07.309 --> 00:23:10.245
  • I hope you'll join me again next time as we discover how to break
  • 00:23:10.245 --> 00:23:13.849
  • Free from this destructive cycle.
  • 00:23:13.849 --> 00:23:16.885
  • Well, nearly every day, we receive testimonies from viewers
  • 00:23:16.885 --> 00:23:20.255
  • And listeners whose lives are being transformed through
  • 00:23:20.255 --> 00:23:23.859
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:25.393
  • This happens because people like you, our pathway partners and
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  • Together we are piercing the darkness with the light of
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  • God's word.
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  • Now, stay right there. i'll be back in just a moment.
  • 00:23:58.460 --> 00:24:01.897
  • Announcer: every believer wants to see clear evidence of their
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  • In their lives.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress shows you exactly how to recognize that
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  • Fruit in his brand-new book, "how to know if you're
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  • Really saved."
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  • Jeffress: the book of james teaches us that the christian
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  • Life is about more than just knowing god's word.
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  • It's about living it out.
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  • In my new book, "how to know if you're really saved," i'll walk
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  • You through what it truly means to be a doer of the word,
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  • Showing you how to respond to trials, control your speech,
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  • Endure hardships, resist temptation, and so much more.
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  • Announcer: this outstanding 232-page book will help you
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  • Examine the evidence of your faith and see the spiritual
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  • Fruit that should be growing in your daily life.
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  • Jeffress: today we learned that temptations don't come from god.
  • 00:25:35.256 --> 00:25:38.893
  • They're born from our own corrupt desires meeting satan's
  • 00:25:38.893 --> 00:25:42.430
  • Perfectly-timed bait.
  • 00:25:42.430 --> 00:25:44.566
  • When we take that bait, sin is conceived, leading inevitably
  • 00:25:44.566 --> 00:25:49.471
  • To death.
  • 00:25:49.471 --> 00:25:50.805
  • But here's the good news: giving in to temptation
  • 00:25:50.805 --> 00:25:53.675
  • Isn't inevitable.
  • 00:25:53.675 --> 00:25:55.543
  • Next time, we'll discover the practical steps for resisting
  • 00:25:55.543 --> 00:25:59.014
  • The devil.
  • 00:25:59.014 --> 00:26:00.348
  • God has given us powerful tools and strategies that can help us
  • 00:26:00.348 --> 00:26:04.753
  • Experience victory over even our strongest temptations.
  • 00:26:04.753 --> 00:26:09.157
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:09.157 --> 00:26:11.559
  • Series "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:15.897
  • Jeffress: it's helpful sometimes to imagine the consequences of
  • 00:26:15.897 --> 00:26:20.502
  • Your temptation.
  • 00:26:20.502 --> 00:26:22.604
  • If you were to say yes to that temptation, how would it affect
  • 00:26:22.604 --> 00:26:26.341
  • Your friends who have grown to respect you?
  • 00:26:26.341 --> 00:26:31.046
  • How would it affect your mate who trusts you?
  • 00:26:31.046 --> 00:26:35.850
  • What impact would it have on your children who admire you?
  • 00:26:35.850 --> 00:26:40.655
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join
  • 00:26:40.655 --> 00:26:41.990
  • Us next time for part 2 of the
  • 00:26:41.990 --> 00:26:43.825
  • Message "how to handle
  • 00:26:43.825 --> 00:26:45.160
  • Temptation," here on "pathway
  • 00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:47.228
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:47.228 --> 00:26:48.763
  • Announcer: witness god's glory on display in america's
  • 00:26:50.398 --> 00:26:53.234
  • Last frontier.
  • 00:26:53.234 --> 00:26:54.636
  • Jeffress: alaska's majestic wilderness showcases our
  • 00:26:54.636 --> 00:26:57.639
  • Creator's handiwork like nowhere else on earth, and you're
  • 00:26:57.639 --> 00:27:01.710
  • Invited to experience it firsthand on the 2026 pathway to
  • 00:27:01.710 --> 00:27:06.247
  • Victory cruise to alaska.
  • 00:27:06.247 --> 00:27:08.249
  • Announcer: experience the unforgettable adventure, june 13
  • 00:27:08.249 --> 00:27:11.553
  • Through 20, 2026.
  • 00:27:11.553 --> 00:27:13.521
  • To book your cabin, call...
  • 00:27:13.521 --> 00:27:17.425
  • Or go to ptv.org.
  • 00:27:17.425 --> 00:27:27.235