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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - How To Know If You're Really Saved (Part 2)

August 5, 2025 | S25 E372 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - How To Know If You're Really Saved (Part 2)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#inActive #Salvation #Faith #SpiritualGrowth #Testing #WalkwithGod #RelationshipwithGod #Obedience #WordofGod #SpiritualFoundation #Attitude #Actions #Wordswespeak

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - How To Know If You're Really Saved (Part 2) | August 5, 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"
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  • With dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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  • And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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  • The apostle paul wrote that we're saved by grace through
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  • Faith, not by our works, but the half brother of jesus, james,
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  • Insisted that faith without works is dead.
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  • Some christians see this as a contradiction.
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  • So how do we reconcile these two truths?
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  • Well, today we'll discover the inseparable relationship between
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  • What we believe and how we behave.
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  • My message is titled "how to know if you're really saved" on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ many are they increased that troubled me. ♪
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  • ♪ many are they that rise up against me. ♪
  • 00:01:01.484 --> 00:01:09.792
  • ♪ many there be which say of my soul, ♪
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  • ♪ "there is no help for him in god." ♪
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  • ♪ but thou, oh, lord, are a shield for me, ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head. ♪
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  • ♪ thou, oh, lord, are a shield for me, ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head. ♪
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  • ♪ oh, thou, oh, thou, oh, thou, ♪
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  • ♪ oh, lord, are a shield, a shield, ♪
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  • ♪ a shield for me, my glory ♪
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  • ♪ and the lifter of my head. ♪
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  • ♪ oh, thou, oh, thou, oh, thou, ♪
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  • ♪ oh, lord, are a shield, a shield, ♪
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  • ♪ a shield for me, ♪
  • 00:02:30.773 --> 00:02:32.775
  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head. ♪
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  • ♪ oh, thou, oh, thou, oh, thou, ♪
  • 00:02:41.084 --> 00:02:44.087
  • ♪ oh, lord, are a shield, a shield, ♪
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  • ♪ a shield for me, ♪
  • 00:02:47.624 --> 00:02:49.559
  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head. ♪
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  • ♪ oh, thou, oh, lord, are a shield for me, ♪
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  • ♪ my glory ♪
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  • ♪ and the lifter of my head, ♪
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  • ♪ of my head. ♪♪
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  • [congregation applauding]
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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.
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  • 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
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  • A generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway
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  • To victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: now, let's look at james the martyr.
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  • As i said, he became pastor probably in ad 44.
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  • He served as pastor until 62 ad when he was executed.
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  • Now, we don't have any biblical record of his execution, but we
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  • Have secular recordings of it.
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  • Eusebius, the church historian, says that members of the
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  • Sanhedrin, that sect of the jews that denied supernatural work,
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  • They actually took james up to the pinnacle of the temple and
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  • Threw him into the kidron valley, 170 feet below.
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  • Now, that would kill most people, but it didn't
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  • Kill james.
  • 00:05:06.662 --> 00:05:08.030
  • He still remained alive, and so they came and they tried to
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  • Stone him to death.
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  • When that didn't work, they took a wooden club used to beat out
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  • Washed clothes, and they crushed his skull in, and that's how
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  • James ultimately died as a martyr.
  • 00:05:20.676 --> 00:05:24.113
  • He died faithful to the lord and savior jesus christ and his
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  • Older brother jesus.
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  • That is the life of james.
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  • Now, let's look at james the letter.
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  • It was probably written in ad 44.
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  • And notice that it's written to the 12 tribes that
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  • Are dispersed.
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  • It's a reference to jewish christians.
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  • He wrote to jewish christians who had been dispersed from
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  • Jerusalem to other parts of the roman empire.
  • 00:05:53.142 --> 00:05:56.746
  • Why had they been dispersed?
  • 00:05:56.746 --> 00:05:58.581
  • Well, it came in waves.
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  • It started in acts 7 when stephen was the first christian
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  • Martyr, and he was stoned to death.
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  • And paul--saul of tarsus, who became the apostle paul, played
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  • A part in that.
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  • Then there were subsequent persecutions that forced the
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  • Jews out of jerusalem, there was a famine in judea that made them
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  • Want to leave as well, but that was all part of god's plan to
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  • Share the gospel.
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  • Now, what's interesting is these jews who had been dispersed
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  • Throughout the roman empire, if they were able, they came back
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  • To jerusalem several times a year for important feast
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  • And celebrations.
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  • And when james saw these fellow christians, jewish christians
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  • Come back, he noticed attitudes and actions in them that did not
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  • Correspond to their faith.
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  • He noticed that some because of persecution were considering
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  • Giving up their faith, and he wrote this epistle to say look,
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  • The mark of a genuine christian is not just what he professes
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  • But what he possesses, a new kind of life, works, visible
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  • Works that confirm christianity.
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  • And that's why james wrote this letter to the 12 tribes.
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  • Now, a couple of things i would say about this letter, first of
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  • All, it's very application-oriented.
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  • There are 108 verses in the letter of james.
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  • Fifty-four, half of those verses are commands.
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  • For every verse of biblical content there is a command, an
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  • Application to make.
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  • This is about faith in action.
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  • It's also interesting that james uses more figures of speech,
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  • More analogies than paul does in all of his letters combined.
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  • James is a preacher.
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  • He's trying to be practical and clear.
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  • There are also more allusions to the sermon on the mount in the
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  • Letter of james than in all of the rest of the bible.
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  • And that's interesting because it came from the lips of james'
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  • Older brother jesus.
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  • And it's also important, again, to remember there's no great
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  • Doctrine that is explained in james, which led martin luther
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  • To call it an epistle of straw, but it's not because james said
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  • These doctrines are important.
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  • Doctrine is very important.
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  • But james assumed those truths were believed by his audience.
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  • Now, what is the purpose of james?
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  • At the root of james is a desire to produce spiritual maturity
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  • In people.
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  • You find the word perfect throughout the bible.
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  • He's not talking about flawlessness, he's talking
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  • About maturity.
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  • The word perfect, the greek word means to be mature, complete.
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  • They were spiritually stunted in their growth.
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  • It's the same problem that paul encountered with
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  • The corinthians.
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  • In 1 corinthians 3:2, he said, "i gave you milk to drink, not
  • 00:09:03.432 --> 00:09:08.104
  • Solid food; for you were not able to receive it.
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  • Indeed even now, you are not able."
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  • James said the same thing.
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  • "we need to go back to the basics because you're not
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  • Spiritually mature as proven by your action."
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  • James' goal was maturity.
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  • You know, that doesn't mean we're ever going to be flawless.
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  • None of us is going to be flawless.
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  • Do i hear an amen to that?
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  • But god's not so interested in our ultimate destination as he
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  • Is in the direction in which we're headed.
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  • The real test of spiritual maturity is not whether or not
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  • You're perfect.
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  • You're not going to be perfect.
  • 00:09:48.310 --> 00:09:49.879
  • But are you moving closer to christ every day, are you moving
  • 00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:54.550
  • Further away from christ?
  • 00:09:54.550 --> 00:09:56.118
  • It's the direction james is concerned about, and he talks
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  • About spiritual maturity.
  • 00:10:00.389 --> 00:10:02.758
  • Now, let's look at the topics in the book of james.
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  • Our friend chuck swindoll says that all scripture can be
  • 00:10:06.729 --> 00:10:10.232
  • Divided into one of two categories.
  • 00:10:10.232 --> 00:10:13.369
  • Scripture is either talking about the way to god, how to be
  • 00:10:13.369 --> 00:10:17.940
  • Right with god, becoming a christian, the way to god or
  • 00:10:17.940 --> 00:10:22.078
  • Secondly, our walk with god.
  • 00:10:22.078 --> 00:10:26.148
  • James fits under the latter category.
  • 00:10:26.148 --> 00:10:28.718
  • It's not about the way to god.
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  • You'll never find out how to be saved by reading the letter of
  • 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:34.190
  • James, but it's talking about our walk with god after
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  • We're saved.
  • 00:10:38.027 --> 00:10:39.395
  • And james says if you are truly saved, there's going to be
  • 00:10:39.395 --> 00:10:43.599
  • Evidence of it.
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  • There are some tests that you need to apply to your life.
  • 00:10:44.934 --> 00:10:48.471
  • By the way, paul said the same thing in corinthians.
  • 00:10:48.471 --> 00:10:51.373
  • He said test yourself to see if you are really in the faith.
  • 00:10:51.373 --> 00:10:56.679
  • When he said test yourself, he wasn't saying give yourself a
  • 00:10:56.679 --> 00:11:01.517
  • Theological exam to see if you can give five reasons for the
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  • Virgin birth or three reasons to be pre-millennial in your view
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  • Of eschatology.
  • 00:11:09.658 --> 00:11:11.060
  • He's talking about test your behavior to see if you are truly
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  • In the faith.
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  • That's exactly what james says.
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  • And now, let me go through some of these trials.
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  • This is the preview of coming attraction, some of these test
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  • James gives to us.
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  • First of all, our response to trials.
  • 00:11:26.375 --> 00:11:29.512
  • Do trials in life, which are inevitable, do they drive you
  • 00:11:29.512 --> 00:11:33.082
  • Closer to god or further away from god?
  • 00:11:33.082 --> 00:11:36.085
  • James says, "consider it all joy, my brethren, when you
  • 00:11:36.085 --> 00:11:39.188
  • Encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our
  • 00:11:39.188 --> 00:11:43.058
  • Faith produces endurance."
  • 00:11:43.058 --> 00:11:45.761
  • Secondly, a test is your response to temptation.
  • 00:11:45.761 --> 00:11:50.166
  • God tests us to strengthen our faith, satan tempts us to
  • 00:11:50.166 --> 00:11:54.603
  • Destroy our faith.
  • 00:11:54.603 --> 00:11:56.205
  • "let no one say," james 1:13-14, let nobody say, "when he is
  • 00:11:56.205 --> 00:12:01.110
  • Tempted, 'i am being tempted by god,' for god cannot be tempted
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  • By evil, and he himself does not tempt anyone."
  • 00:12:05.214 --> 00:12:08.918
  • Thirdly, another test, our obedience to the word.
  • 00:12:08.918 --> 00:12:12.488
  • James 1:22, "prove yourselves to be doers of the word, and not
  • 00:12:12.488 --> 00:12:17.726
  • Mere hearers who delude themselves."
  • 00:12:17.726 --> 00:12:21.063
  • Some people have deluded themselves into thinking if they
  • 00:12:21.063 --> 00:12:23.666
  • Possess a certain amount of knowledge about the bible or if
  • 00:12:23.666 --> 00:12:27.636
  • They keep hearing good sermons over and over again, somehow
  • 00:12:27.636 --> 00:12:30.606
  • That makes them spiritually mature.
  • 00:12:30.606 --> 00:12:33.776
  • No, it's not hearing the word, it's hearing and doing the word.
  • 00:12:33.776 --> 00:12:38.848
  • Isn't that what jesus said?
  • 00:12:38.848 --> 00:12:40.516
  • "everybody who hears my word and," what, "acts upon it is
  • 00:12:40.516 --> 00:12:46.021
  • Like the person who built his house on the foundation on
  • 00:12:46.021 --> 00:12:50.192
  • The rock."
  • 00:12:50.192 --> 00:12:51.994
  • Our obedience to the word.
  • 00:12:51.994 --> 00:12:53.362
  • Fourthly, our attitude toward the wealthy.
  • 00:12:53.362 --> 00:12:56.465
  • "my brethren, don't hold your faith in the glorious lord jesus
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  • Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism."
  • 00:12:59.869 --> 00:13:03.272
  • James is going to talk about how we treat the wealthy and how we
  • 00:13:03.272 --> 00:13:07.509
  • Treat the poor.
  • 00:13:07.509 --> 00:13:08.878
  • It reflects our salvation, our attitude toward people who are
  • 00:13:08.878 --> 00:13:13.949
  • Different than we are.
  • 00:13:13.949 --> 00:13:15.784
  • Next, our response to god's command.
  • 00:13:15.784 --> 00:13:19.154
  • You know, the most theologically basic principle of judaism was
  • 00:13:19.154 --> 00:13:24.193
  • The oneness of god.
  • 00:13:24.193 --> 00:13:26.262
  • "hear, oh, israel, the lord your god is one god."
  • 00:13:26.262 --> 00:13:29.798
  • James says in james 2, verses 19 and 20, "you believe that god
  • 00:13:29.798 --> 00:13:33.903
  • Is one.
  • 00:13:33.903 --> 00:13:35.271
  • You do well; the demons believe that and shudder."
  • 00:13:35.271 --> 00:13:39.241
  • It's not our orthodoxy that impresses god, it is our
  • 00:13:39.241 --> 00:13:43.312
  • Orthopraxy, our practice of our faith.
  • 00:13:43.312 --> 00:13:48.517
  • Did you know demons, if they had the ability to, could go on our
  • 00:13:48.517 --> 00:13:52.054
  • Website firstdallas.org, pull up our articles of faith, what we
  • 00:13:52.054 --> 00:13:56.792
  • Believe, and the demons would agree with just about every one
  • 00:13:56.792 --> 00:14:00.396
  • Of our articles of faith.
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  • They believe it.
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  • They believe.
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  • They are very orthodox, but that doesn't make them believers.
  • 00:14:05.935 --> 00:14:09.505
  • It's not what we believe, it's what we believe and apply
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  • That matters.
  • 00:14:13.976 --> 00:14:15.778
  • Next, he says our speech is a good test of whether we're saved
  • 00:14:15.778 --> 00:14:20.349
  • Or not.
  • 00:14:20.349 --> 00:14:21.684
  • When you go to the doctor, what does he do in an exam?
  • 00:14:21.684 --> 00:14:24.586
  • The first thing he does, "stick out your tongue and say ah."
  • 00:14:24.586 --> 00:14:30.092
  • Why is he interested in your tongue?
  • 00:14:30.092 --> 00:14:32.661
  • Because that whole strip of mucus membrane is an indicator
  • 00:14:32.661 --> 00:14:37.533
  • Of the physical health, the health of the rest of your body.
  • 00:14:37.533 --> 00:14:41.003
  • James says the same thing is true about our speech,
  • 00:14:41.003 --> 00:14:44.173
  • Our tongue.
  • 00:14:44.173 --> 00:14:45.541
  • Our speech is an indicator of whether we're saved or not.
  • 00:14:45.541 --> 00:14:49.044
  • James 3, verses 5 and 6, "the tongue is a small part of the
  • 00:14:49.044 --> 00:14:52.815
  • Body, yet it boasts of great things.
  • 00:14:52.815 --> 00:14:55.884
  • See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire."
  • 00:14:55.884 --> 00:15:01.423
  • Only takes a spark to get a fire going.
  • 00:15:01.423 --> 00:15:05.294
  • The same way it only takes a careless word about another
  • 00:15:05.294 --> 00:15:08.731
  • Person to destroy a person's reputation, to destroy a family,
  • 00:15:08.731 --> 00:15:13.635
  • To destroy an entire congregation.
  • 00:15:13.635 --> 00:15:16.305
  • That's why james speaks so much about our speech.
  • 00:15:16.305 --> 00:15:19.808
  • Seventh, our desire for true wisdom is a measure of
  • 00:15:19.808 --> 00:15:23.245
  • Our faith.
  • 00:15:23.245 --> 00:15:24.580
  • James 3, verses 13 and 18, there are two kinds of wisdom in
  • 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:28.717
  • The world.
  • 00:15:28.717 --> 00:15:30.052
  • There's a wisdom that comes from below and there's a wisdom that
  • 00:15:30.052 --> 00:15:33.322
  • Comes from above.
  • 00:15:33.322 --> 00:15:34.890
  • Which wisdom are you using to shape your life?
  • 00:15:34.890 --> 00:15:38.660
  • And then our humility.
  • 00:15:38.660 --> 00:15:39.995
  • James 4, verses 1 through 17, god is opposed to the proud, but
  • 00:15:39.995 --> 00:15:44.500
  • He gives grace to the humble.
  • 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:47.436
  • Another reflection of our faith, a test of our faith is our
  • 00:15:47.436 --> 00:15:52.041
  • Attitude toward money.
  • 00:15:52.041 --> 00:15:53.809
  • Chapter 5, verses 1 to 6, "come now, you rich, weep and howl for
  • 00:15:53.809 --> 00:16:00.649
  • Your miseries which are coming upon you.
  • 00:16:00.649 --> 00:16:03.352
  • For your riches have rotted and your garments have
  • 00:16:03.352 --> 00:16:06.021
  • Become moth-eaten.
  • 00:16:06.021 --> 00:16:07.489
  • Your gold and your silver have rusted, and their rust will be a
  • 00:16:07.489 --> 00:16:11.193
  • Witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire."
  • 00:16:11.193 --> 00:16:15.764
  • James isn't saying it's wrong to possess money or possess the
  • 00:16:15.764 --> 00:16:19.802
  • Things moneys buys, but if you're truly a christian, you
  • 00:16:19.802 --> 00:16:23.806
  • Realize how temporal those things are.
  • 00:16:23.806 --> 00:16:27.276
  • You know, when you think about it, there are only two things
  • 00:16:27.276 --> 00:16:30.312
  • That can happen to your money or your possessions you buy
  • 00:16:30.312 --> 00:16:33.782
  • With money.
  • 00:16:33.782 --> 00:16:35.117
  • You can either lose them through a fire, through moths,
  • 00:16:35.117 --> 00:16:38.987
  • Through rust.
  • 00:16:38.987 --> 00:16:40.322
  • You're either going to lose them or secondly, you're going to
  • 00:16:40.322 --> 00:16:43.125
  • Leave them all behind one day.
  • 00:16:43.125 --> 00:16:45.861
  • You're going to lose everything or you're going to leave
  • 00:16:45.861 --> 00:16:48.530
  • Everything behind.
  • 00:16:48.530 --> 00:16:49.898
  • That's why you don't put your trust in riches.
  • 00:16:49.898 --> 00:16:53.235
  • Next, he says a test of our faith is our response to
  • 00:16:53.235 --> 00:16:57.339
  • Physical illness.
  • 00:16:57.339 --> 00:16:59.007
  • James 5, verse 14 to 15, "is any among you sick?
  • 00:16:59.007 --> 00:17:03.579
  • Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to
  • 00:17:03.579 --> 00:17:06.782
  • Pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the
  • 00:17:06.782 --> 00:17:10.552
  • Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who
  • 00:17:10.552 --> 00:17:14.389
  • Is sick."
  • 00:17:14.389 --> 00:17:15.757
  • What is that about?
  • 00:17:15.757 --> 00:17:17.626
  • We're going to talk about that.
  • 00:17:17.626 --> 00:17:18.994
  • We're going to talk about the power of faith-kneeling and the
  • 00:17:18.994 --> 00:17:23.365
  • Role healing plays in the church.
  • 00:17:23.365 --> 00:17:26.468
  • And finally, our desire to restore sinners is a test of
  • 00:17:26.468 --> 00:17:32.341
  • Whether we're saved or not.
  • 00:17:32.341 --> 00:17:33.809
  • When you see a fellow christian fall into sin, what's
  • 00:17:33.809 --> 00:17:37.613
  • Your attitude?
  • 00:17:37.613 --> 00:17:38.981
  • Do you secretly rejoice thinking it makes you look
  • 00:17:38.981 --> 00:17:42.518
  • Better somehow?
  • 00:17:42.518 --> 00:17:43.852
  • "boy, i would never do such a thing like that."
  • 00:17:43.852 --> 00:17:46.088
  • Do you rejoice or do you have a desire to restore a fallen
  • 00:17:46.088 --> 00:17:50.225
  • Brother or sister in christ?
  • 00:17:50.225 --> 00:17:52.928
  • That's a survey of what we're going to be looking at
  • 00:17:52.928 --> 00:17:56.165
  • From james.
  • 00:17:56.165 --> 00:17:57.499
  • Now, i want to leave you with two applications today.
  • 00:17:57.499 --> 00:17:59.801
  • One, and i want you to write it down, courtesy of martin luther,
  • 00:17:59.801 --> 00:18:03.939
  • Faith alone saves.
  • 00:18:03.939 --> 00:18:06.942
  • I don't want anybody to leave today confused about the role of
  • 00:18:06.942 --> 00:18:11.980
  • Faith and works.
  • 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:14.149
  • We are saved by faith in god's grace, not by our works.
  • 00:18:14.149 --> 00:18:21.390
  • A man died and found himself at the entrance to the pearly
  • 00:18:21.390 --> 00:18:24.760
  • Gates, and an angel was checking people into heaven.
  • 00:18:24.760 --> 00:18:28.297
  • And the angel said to the man, "now, you have to understand to
  • 00:18:28.297 --> 00:18:30.666
  • Get into this place you have to score at least a thousand points
  • 00:18:30.666 --> 00:18:34.503
  • In your previous life.
  • 00:18:34.503 --> 00:18:36.371
  • So let's find out a little about you.
  • 00:18:36.371 --> 00:18:38.006
  • Can you tell me about yourself?"
  • 00:18:38.006 --> 00:18:39.741
  • The man said, "well, i attended church a lot of times.
  • 00:18:39.741 --> 00:18:43.345
  • I hardly missed a sunday."
  • 00:18:43.345 --> 00:18:45.380
  • The angel said, "well, that's good.
  • 00:18:45.380 --> 00:18:47.049
  • You get three points for that.
  • 00:18:47.049 --> 00:18:48.951
  • Anything else?"
  • 00:18:48.951 --> 00:18:50.552
  • "well, let's see.
  • 00:18:50.552 --> 00:18:51.920
  • I taught a 7th grade sunday school class, never said a curse
  • 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:55.023
  • Word, i don't smoke or drink or chew, or go with girls who do."
  • 00:18:55.023 --> 00:19:01.830
  • The angel said, "well, that's impressive.
  • 00:19:01.830 --> 00:19:03.699
  • You get ten points for that."
  • 00:19:03.699 --> 00:19:06.101
  • The man was kind of exasperated.
  • 00:19:06.101 --> 00:19:07.769
  • He said, "three points?
  • 00:19:07.769 --> 00:19:09.137
  • Ten points?
  • 00:19:09.137 --> 00:19:10.472
  • At this rate i'll never get into heaven except by the grace
  • 00:19:10.472 --> 00:19:13.108
  • Of god."
  • 00:19:13.108 --> 00:19:14.443
  • Angel said, "bingo, you get a thousand points for
  • 00:19:14.443 --> 00:19:16.979
  • That answer."
  • 00:19:16.979 --> 00:19:20.048
  • The angel's right.
  • 00:19:20.048 --> 00:19:21.917
  • None of us gets into heaven except for the grace of god.
  • 00:19:21.917 --> 00:19:24.753
  • And by the way, james believed that as well.
  • 00:19:24.753 --> 00:19:29.057
  • You say, "how do you know james believed that?"
  • 00:19:29.057 --> 00:19:32.060
  • We're not from the epistle of james, but from james' own words
  • 00:19:32.060 --> 00:19:36.164
  • In acts 15, beginning with verse 6, i told you about the big
  • 00:19:36.164 --> 00:19:41.270
  • Hubbub they had, the council of jerusalem, determining whether
  • 00:19:41.270 --> 00:19:45.407
  • Gentiles could believe in christ without becoming jews.
  • 00:19:45.407 --> 00:19:50.345
  • Could you become a christian without being circumcised and
  • 00:19:50.345 --> 00:19:54.082
  • Keeping the jewish law?
  • 00:19:54.082 --> 00:19:55.417
  • And some said no, they've got to come through judaism.
  • 00:19:55.417 --> 00:19:58.453
  • Others said like peter, no, they ought to be able to come to
  • 00:19:58.453 --> 00:20:02.391
  • Christ directly.
  • 00:20:02.391 --> 00:20:04.126
  • And so they had this meeting, and at the end of the meeting
  • 00:20:04.126 --> 00:20:07.829
  • And the disagreements, peter said this in acts 15:11: "but we
  • 00:20:07.829 --> 00:20:12.768
  • Believe that we are saved through the grace of the lord
  • 00:20:12.768 --> 00:20:17.172
  • Jesus, in the same way as they," gentiles, "also are."
  • 00:20:17.172 --> 00:20:23.545
  • And then james stood up.
  • 00:20:23.545 --> 00:20:25.681
  • He made a speech and he came to this conclusion in verse 19.
  • 00:20:25.681 --> 00:20:29.217
  • James said, "therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble
  • 00:20:29.217 --> 00:20:34.890
  • Those gentiles who are turning to god from among the gentiles."
  • 00:20:34.890 --> 00:20:39.194
  • In other words, it's not the works, it is the grace of jesus
  • 00:20:39.194 --> 00:20:43.432
  • That saves them.
  • 00:20:43.432 --> 00:20:45.067
  • James believed that faith alone saves.
  • 00:20:45.067 --> 00:20:48.670
  • But the second principle i want you to write down is this:
  • 00:20:48.670 --> 00:20:52.007
  • Saving faith is never alone.
  • 00:20:52.007 --> 00:20:55.110
  • That's what james was saying in verse 26 of chapter 2, "for just
  • 00:20:55.110 --> 00:20:59.281
  • As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works
  • 00:20:59.281 --> 00:21:05.053
  • Is dead."
  • 00:21:05.053 --> 00:21:06.388
  • And by the way, the apostle paul agreed with that statement
  • 00:21:06.388 --> 00:21:10.158
  • As well.
  • 00:21:10.158 --> 00:21:11.493
  • Remember in galatians 5, verses 19 to 23 he said, "now the deeds
  • 00:21:11.493 --> 00:21:16.131
  • Of the flesh," the deeds of unbelievers, "are evident.
  • 00:21:16.131 --> 00:21:20.569
  • They are sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior,
  • 00:21:20.569 --> 00:21:25.807
  • Idolatry, witchcraft, hostility, strife, jealousy, outburst of
  • 00:21:25.807 --> 00:21:30.512
  • Anger, selfish ambition, dissension, and factions, envy,
  • 00:21:30.512 --> 00:21:35.684
  • Drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which i
  • 00:21:35.684 --> 00:21:40.288
  • Forewarn you, just as i have, that those who practice such
  • 00:21:40.288 --> 00:21:44.826
  • Things will not inherit the kingdom of god.
  • 00:21:44.826 --> 00:21:49.931
  • But the fruit of the spirit," the evidence of a christian, "is
  • 00:21:49.931 --> 00:21:55.103
  • Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and
  • 00:21:55.103 --> 00:22:00.842
  • Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such
  • 00:22:00.842 --> 00:22:05.414
  • Things there is no law."
  • 00:22:05.414 --> 00:22:08.683
  • The fruit of the spirit.
  • 00:22:08.683 --> 00:22:11.420
  • Where there is genuine faith, there is going to be genuine
  • 00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:17.259
  • Visible fruit.
  • 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:19.261
  • Where there is no fruit, there is no faith.
  • 00:22:19.261 --> 00:22:24.299
  • That's the message of james.
  • 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:27.068
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:22:27.869 --> 00:22:31.339
  • Jeffress: genuine faith isn't just about what we know,
  • 00:22:32.707 --> 00:22:36.344
  • It's about how we live.
  • 00:22:36.344 --> 00:22:37.913
  • And i hope today's message has challenged you to examine not
  • 00:22:37.913 --> 00:22:41.183
  • Just your beliefs but your behavior as well.
  • 00:22:41.183 --> 00:22:45.120
  • And we're just getting started in this powerful study of james,
  • 00:22:45.120 --> 00:22:49.157
  • And i hope that you'll join us for the entire series.
  • 00:22:49.157 --> 00:22:52.794
  • Now, before we wrap up today, i want you to know that every time
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  • We broadcast "pathway to victory" on television, radio,
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  • And digital streaming platforms it's because someone cared
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  • Enough to invest in sharing god's truth.
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  • Reach across america and around the world with biblical teaching
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  • 00:23:15.083 --> 00:23:17.219
  • When culture grows hostile to scripture, your support gives us
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  • The courage and resources to keep proclaiming god's
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  • Unchanging word boldly.
  • 00:23:25.193 --> 00:23:28.096
  • Thank you so much for your support, as together we pierce
  • 00:23:28.096 --> 00:23:31.700
  • The darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:34.870
  • Now, please stay right there.
  • 00:23:34.870 --> 00:23:36.304
  • I'll be back with more in just a moment.
  • 00:23:36.304 --> 00:23:39.741
  • Announcer: every believer wants to see clear evidence of their
  • 00:23:41.243 --> 00:23:44.145
  • Spiritual growth and discover the fruit that god is producing
  • 00:23:44.145 --> 00:23:47.716
  • In their lives.
  • 00:23:47.716 --> 00:23:49.050
  • Dr. robert jeffress shows you exactly how to recognize that
  • 00:23:49.050 --> 00:23:52.587
  • Fruit in his brand-new book "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:23:52.587 --> 00:23:56.725
  • Jeffress: the book of james teaches us that the christian
  • 00:23:56.725 --> 00:23:59.127
  • Life is about more than just knowing god's word.
  • 00:23:59.127 --> 00:24:02.731
  • It's about living it out.
  • 00:24:02.731 --> 00:24:04.399
  • In my new book "how to know if you're really saved," i'll walk
  • 00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:07.602
  • You through what it truly means to be a doer of the word,
  • 00:24:07.602 --> 00:24:11.406
  • Showing you how to respond to trials, control your speech,
  • 00:24:11.406 --> 00:24:15.176
  • Endure hardships, resist temptation, and so much more.
  • 00:24:15.176 --> 00:24:20.215
  • Announcer: this outstanding 232-paged book will help you
  • 00:24:20.215 --> 00:24:23.184
  • Examine the evidence of your faith and see the spiritual
  • 00:24:23.184 --> 00:24:26.555
  • Fruit that should be growing in your daily life.
  • 00:24:26.555 --> 00:24:29.591
  • Request your copy of "how to know if you're really saved"
  • 00:24:29.591 --> 00:24:32.661
  • When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway
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  • To victory" or when you become a pathway partner.
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  • Complete message series on both cd and dvd.
  • 00:24:46.875 --> 00:24:50.278
  • Jeffress: if you are truly saved, there's going to be
  • 00:24:50.278 --> 00:24:53.348
  • Evidence of it.
  • 00:24:53.348 --> 00:24:54.716
  • There are some tests that you need to apply to your life.
  • 00:24:54.716 --> 00:24:58.286
  • Announcer: thank you for your generous support of "pathway
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  • To victory."
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  • Your partnership helps us bring bold biblical and practical
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  • Teaching into homes across the nation and around the world.
  • 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:09.464
  • Jeffress: authentic belief always reveals itself through
  • 00:25:10.765 --> 00:25:13.635
  • Our actions.
  • 00:25:13.635 --> 00:25:14.970
  • How we spend our money, our speech, our relationships all
  • 00:25:14.970 --> 00:25:19.774
  • Demonstrate whether we truly belong to jesus christ.
  • 00:25:19.774 --> 00:25:23.578
  • In short, our knowledge of scripture means nothing if it
  • 00:25:23.578 --> 00:25:27.282
  • Doesn't change how we live.
  • 00:25:27.282 --> 00:25:29.918
  • Well, even genuine believers face difficult days.
  • 00:25:29.918 --> 00:25:33.555
  • Next time we'll explore a surprising truth that trials
  • 00:25:33.555 --> 00:25:37.392
  • Aren't meant to break us but to build us.
  • 00:25:37.392 --> 00:25:40.996
  • In fact, we can actually find joy in our troubles.
  • 00:25:40.996 --> 00:25:45.400
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:47.936
  • Series "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:25:47.936 --> 00:25:52.507
  • Jeffress: james says the road of this life is difficult.
  • 00:25:52.574 --> 00:25:56.811
  • There are a lot of bumps and jolts.
  • 00:25:56.811 --> 00:26:00.482
  • But when you go through those bumps and jolts, it means you're
  • 00:26:00.482 --> 00:26:04.019
  • Headed in the right direction, but those bumps and jolts in and
  • 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:07.956
  • Of themselves can be a benefit to you right now.
  • 00:26:07.956 --> 00:26:12.060
  • It may result, those trials, in a strengthening of your faith
  • 00:26:12.060 --> 00:26:16.765
  • For the future.
  • 00:26:16.765 --> 00:26:18.166
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join
  • 00:26:18.233 --> 00:26:19.567
  • Us next time for the message
  • 00:26:19.567 --> 00:26:21.136
  • "triumph over troubles" here
  • 00:26:21.136 --> 00:26:23.371
  • On "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:23.371 --> 00:26:25.840
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  • To alaska june 13 through 20, 2026.
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  • Stepping out to witness god's grandeur from the majestic
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  • Glaciers to soaring eagles.
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  • These moments in god's creation will deepen your faith in
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  • Powerful ways.
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  • Backdrop of his most impressive handiwork.
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  • A lifetime and a heart renewed by god's presence.
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  • Cruise to alaska, call... or go to ptv.org.
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