Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - How To Take A Spiritual Bath | April 30, 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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- For the last couple of weeks in our series called "unleashed,"
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- We've been learning that every christian has access to the
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- Power of the holy spirit.
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- But how exactly do we tap into that immense resource?
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- Well, today we're turning to ephesians chapter 5 to discover
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- One of the four conduits or channels through which the holy
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- Spirit's power flows into our lives.
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- My message is titled "how to take a spiritual bath" on
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- Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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- Announcer: god never intended for the holy spirit to be a
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- Mystery to believers.
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- In fact, if you're a follower of jesus, then god's spirit is
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- Dwelling inside of you and he's waiting to unleash his
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- Supernatural power in your life.
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- In his bestselling book "i want more," dr. robert jeffress
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- Teaches what it means to be filled with the power of the
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- Holy spirit.
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- Looking to satisfy your spiritual cravings?
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- Request the book "i want more" when you give a generous gift to
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- "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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- Jeffress: in his book "seven reasons you can trust the
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- Bible," erwin lutzer poses this following scenario.
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- He says imagine you're in los angeles, california and a series
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- Of wrong turns has landed you in the wrong part of the city, the
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- Riot-prone part of the city, and suddenly you discover you have a
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- Flat tire.
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- You're stranded there trying to figure out what your next move
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- Is going to be when you look out your car window and you see a
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- Gang of 12 young men leaving a building and they are all headed
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- Towards your car.
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- Immediately you have visions of being dragged from the car,
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- Beaten, left for dead.
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- Would it give you any comfort if you knew that those men were
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- Leaving a bible study?
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- Lutzer says even the most hardened atheist would find some
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- Comfort in that knowledge.
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- You see, even unbelievers understand--to a limited degree,
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- They understand the ability of the word of god to change lives.
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- Unfortunately, many christians today are not aware of that
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- Same power.
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- Now, we talk a good game when it comes to the bible.
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- We say we believe the word of god is alive and active and it
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- Is powerful, but we don't act that way.
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- You remember in the reformation, one of the cries of the
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- Reformation was sola scriptura, the bible alone.
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- And yet if you go into many evangelical conservative
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- Churches today, the slogan seems almost to be anything but
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- The bible.
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- Everything in the worship service is something else other
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- Than the bible.
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- It may be stories, it may be singing, it may be talking about
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- Topics, but there is very little emphasis given to the word
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- Of god.
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- I see this all around.
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- It's easy to talk about what other people are doing wrong.
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- Let's take the spotlight and shine it on our own lives for
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- Just a moment.
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- Everybody have your bible with you?
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- If you don't, grab one, grab your neighbor's.
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- Grab somebody's so you won't be embarrassed here.
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- I want to ask you a question this morning.
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- How many of you believe this book is the inerrant, inspired,
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- Powerful, authoritative word of god?
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- If you believe that, raise your bibles, okay?
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- All right. all right.
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- Everybody.
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- Now, let me ask you a few questions about this inerrant,
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- Inspired, authoritative, powerful word of god.
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- How much time did you spend this last week reading this inerrant,
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- Inspired, authoritative, powerful word of god?
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- I'm not talking about how much time you spent reading books
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- About the bible.
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- How much time this past week did you spend reading god's word?
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- Another question.
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- If you were sitting with somebody who wanted to know how
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- To become a christian, you had no pamphlet, no tract, all you
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- Had was a bible.
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- Using god's word alone, could you lead somebody to faith in
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- Jesus christ?
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- Another question.
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- Imagine you're in a prison cell.
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- You have no access to a bible like many of our christian
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- Brothers around the world and sisters.
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- You had no bible, and you're in a prison cell.
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- How much of god's word, how many verses could you recall
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- By memory?
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- Imagine a friend or a co-worker came up to you and asked for
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- Some real help about how to heal a broken marriage, or how to
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- Deal with a rebellious child, or how to resist temptation, or how
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- To break an addiction, or how to have peace when your world is
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- Falling and around you.
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- Would you know where to turn in scripture to give them god's
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- Answers to those questions?
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- Now, my reason for asking you these questions is not to put on
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- You a load of guilt.
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- I mean, we all feel guilty enough about many things.
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- But the reason i'm asking you these questions is to show you
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- One reason that you and i are not experiencing more of god's
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- Power in our life.
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- In this series on the holy spirit, "unleashed,"
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- Experiencing the holy spirit's power in your life, we're
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- Talking about how to release god's spirit's power in
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- Your life.
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- Now, today we're going to look at this first channel through
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- Which god pours his spirit's power into your life, and that
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- Is through the word of god.
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- I want you to write this statement down because it is the
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- Thesis of the message this morning.
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- And this is something i always want you to remember.
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- The spirit of god uses the word of god to unleash the power of
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- God to transform us into the image of god.
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- Write that down.
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- The spirit of god uses the word of god to unleash the power of
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- God to transform us into the image of god.
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- Now, let's see how that happens today.
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- Today i want to share with you four examples of the power of
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- God's word.
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- What is it that god's word is able to do for you and me?
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- If you will, take your bibles and turn to james chapter 1.
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- First of all, the word of god possesses the power to save us.
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- The word of god possesses the power to save us.
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- Now, the fact is people are attracted to the gospel any
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- Number of ways.
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- They can be attracted to the gospel by a wonderful song or
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- Through a poem or through a warm, fuzzy story.
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- All of those things may attract somebody to the gospel, but
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- There is only one thing that can save a person, and that is the
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- Word of god.
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- Look at james 1, verse 21.
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- "therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains
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- Of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted--"
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- Underline that.
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- "the word implanted, which is able to save your souls."
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- Only the word of god, the word implanted in people's lives is
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- What's going to save people.
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- And that is why there is such an emphasis in this church and has
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- Been for 143 years on the word of god, on preaching,
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- Proclaiming the word of god.
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- I heard about somebody recently in our church, it was kind of
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- Grumbling, and they said, "well, you know, everything in our
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- Church is about the pulpit.
- 00:08:01.671 --> 00:08:03.005
- It's just about the pulpit.
- 00:08:03.005 --> 00:08:04.373
- Just seems like everything's about the pulpit."
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- That's right.
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- It's been that way for 143 years.
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- You've heard of the purpose-driven church.
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- Well, first baptist dallas is a pulpit-driven church because it
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- Is a word-of-god-driven church.
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- And we don't apologize for that.
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- We know it is the word of god that has the power to
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- Save people.
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- Not only that, the word of god, secondly, possesses the power to
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- Guide us.
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- Turn over to psalm 119 for just a moment.
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- I wonder this morning how many of you have an important
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- Decision you need to make in the next 3 months.
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- Just raise your hand.
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- You've got an important decision you need to make in the next
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- 3 months.
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- I've got some great news for you this morning.
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- If you're a christian, god promises you to give you the
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- Guidance that you need.
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- He hasn't left you as an orphan, hebrew says.
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- Jesus said, "even when i go, i'll leave you another helper,
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- The holy spirit, who will lead you and guide you into truth."
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- In psalm 32, verse 8, god says, "i will instruct you and teach
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- You in the way that you should go; i will counsel you with my
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- Eye upon you."
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- Isn't that a great truth?
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- God promises to give you the direction you need to make
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- A decision.
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- Now, here's the question, how does that direction come?
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- Certainly god can speak to us through prayer, through the
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- Counsel of other christians, through our own desires, but the
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- Primary way god is going to give you the direction that you need
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- Is through his word.
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- And that's what we find in psalm 119.
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- Psalm 119, here's a little trivia, is the longest chapter
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- In the bible.
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- A hundred and seventy-six verses, and every one of those
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- Verses is about the value of the word of god in your life.
- 00:09:44.106 --> 00:09:48.010
- Now, this psalm in the hebrew text is arranged in 22 stanzas.
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- It was a song about the value of the word of god.
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- And each of those 22 stanzas begins with a different letter
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- From the hebrew alphabet.
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- If it were in english it would start with a,
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- And then b, and then c.
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- It's the psalmist's way of saying god's word has everything
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- You need from a to z to give you what you really need in life.
- 00:10:14.136 --> 00:10:19.008
- Now, look at the value of god's word in guidance.
- 00:10:19.008 --> 00:10:21.944
- Look at verse 105 of psalm 119.
- 00:10:21.944 --> 00:10:25.281
- "your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
- 00:10:25.281 --> 00:10:32.488
- Imagine you're out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the
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- Night, no moon shining at all, and you're lost.
- 00:10:37.093 --> 00:10:43.132
- Fortunately, though, you have a flashlight, and that flashlight
- 00:10:43.132 --> 00:10:48.204
- Provides just enough light to show you how to take the next
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- Step and the next step and the next step.
- 00:10:52.241 --> 00:10:56.011
- God's word is like a lamp.
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- It is like a light.
- 00:10:58.881 --> 00:11:00.216
- Now, notice it doesn't say god's word is like a floodlight or a
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- Spotlight that illumines the whole path.
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- It gives you just the amount of direction you need to take that
- 00:11:05.988 --> 00:11:10.126
- Next step and that next step and that next step.
- 00:11:10.126 --> 00:11:13.829
- "your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
- 00:11:13.829 --> 00:11:17.566
- And yet so many christians have that light turned off.
- 00:11:17.566 --> 00:11:21.237
- They have it on a shelf somewhere.
- 00:11:21.237 --> 00:11:23.038
- They're stumbling around in the darkness wondering why they
- 00:11:23.038 --> 00:11:25.808
- Don't receive the guidance they need to make the
- 00:11:25.808 --> 00:11:28.344
- Right decisions.
- 00:11:28.344 --> 00:11:29.678
- Listen, god's word will give you the direction you need to take
- 00:11:29.678 --> 00:11:34.049
- That next step.
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- Thirdly, god's word possesses the power to heal us.
- 00:11:35.584 --> 00:11:40.089
- I want you to turn over to hebrews chapter 4.
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- Hebrews chapter 4.
- 00:11:42.725 --> 00:11:45.060
- Do you remember the story of gordius?
- 00:11:45.060 --> 00:11:48.030
- Gordius was that guy who tied the kni--the knot with rope that
- 00:11:48.030 --> 00:11:53.135
- Was so complex that nobody knew how to untie the gordian knot.
- 00:11:53.135 --> 00:11:58.407
- And person after person would come and try to untie the knot,
- 00:11:58.407 --> 00:12:01.644
- And they were unsuccessful in doing so.
- 00:12:01.644 --> 00:12:04.446
- And then one day alexander the great came.
- 00:12:04.446 --> 00:12:07.216
- He looked at that knot, he took out his sword and just sliced it
- 00:12:07.216 --> 00:12:11.020
- In two.
- 00:12:11.020 --> 00:12:12.354
- He found the way to unravel the knot.
- 00:12:12.354 --> 00:12:14.857
- You know, i think of that story every time i think about hebrews
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- Chapter 4, verse 12.
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- You know, ladies and gentlemen, the bible says all of us are
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- Enslaved by sin.
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- Sin is like a cord that wraps itself around our lives and
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- Strangles the life out of us.
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- The bible says sin is like a rope, it's like a cord wrapped
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- Around us.
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- By what a man is overcome, the bible says, by this he
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- Is enslaved.
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- You know what you're enslaved by today?
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- You know what your master is?
- 00:12:45.321 --> 00:12:48.324
- It's whatever you can't say no to in your life.
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- It's whatever sin you cannot say no to, that is your master
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- Right now.
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- By what a person is overcome, by this, he is enslaved.
- 00:12:57.333 --> 00:13:02.938
- And all sin begins with wrong thinking.
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- Wrong thinking leads to sin, and sin leads to slavery.
- 00:13:07.409 --> 00:13:12.281
- Let me show you how that works.
- 00:13:12.281 --> 00:13:14.049
- For example, we think we're responsible for our well-being,
- 00:13:14.049 --> 00:13:19.054
- Therefore we are bound up in worry, or we think that money is
- 00:13:19.054 --> 00:13:24.193
- The answer to everything we need in life, and so we're bound up
- 00:13:24.193 --> 00:13:28.097
- In greed, or we think that sexual purity leads to boredom
- 00:13:28.097 --> 00:13:33.035
- In life, and so we're bound up in immorality, or we think that
- 00:13:33.035 --> 00:13:38.574
- Revenge is the best way to deal with mistreatment, and so we are
- 00:13:38.574 --> 00:13:42.077
- Bound up in bitterness.
- 00:13:42.077 --> 00:13:44.513
- And so we are bound up in all of these sins that stem from wrong
- 00:13:44.513 --> 00:13:48.550
- Thinking and we try everything we can to break loose.
- 00:13:48.550 --> 00:13:51.420
- We go to this program or this counselor.
- 00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:53.989
- We try this program or we try these new year's resolutions,
- 00:13:53.989 --> 00:13:57.192
- And nothing helps.
- 00:13:57.192 --> 00:13:59.361
- What we need is the word of god to slice through those wrong
- 00:13:59.361 --> 00:14:03.499
- Thoughts that lead to wrong actions that enslave us.
- 00:14:03.499 --> 00:14:06.669
- And that's what god's word does.
- 00:14:06.669 --> 00:14:08.037
- Look at verse 12 of hebrews chapter 4, "for the word of god
- 00:14:08.037 --> 00:14:12.241
- Is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged
- 00:14:12.241 --> 00:14:16.946
- Sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit
- 00:14:16.946 --> 00:14:21.216
- With the joints and marrow, and is able to judge the thoughts
- 00:14:21.216 --> 00:14:25.287
- And the intentions of the heart."
- 00:14:25.287 --> 00:14:27.423
- Now, you've heard me say before that this phrase the two-edged
- 00:14:27.423 --> 00:14:30.292
- Sword refers to the roman broad sword.
- 00:14:30.292 --> 00:14:33.762
- Now, god's word is sharper than that because it doesn't just
- 00:14:33.762 --> 00:14:38.300
- Open us up physically, the word of god opens us up spiritually.
- 00:14:38.300 --> 00:14:43.539
- It lays bare, it exposes the true motives and intentions of
- 00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:48.610
- Our heart.
- 00:14:48.610 --> 00:14:50.045
- And that's why both non-christians and christians,
- 00:14:50.045 --> 00:14:53.148
- So many of them, run away from the church.
- 00:14:53.148 --> 00:14:55.584
- That's why they would rather be any place than sitting here
- 00:14:55.584 --> 00:14:58.053
- Right now because they don't want to be exposed to the word
- 00:14:58.053 --> 00:15:01.090
- Of god.
- 00:15:01.090 --> 00:15:02.424
- They don't want to have the word of god slice through them, but
- 00:15:02.424 --> 00:15:05.394
- That's exactly what it takes to break free from sin.
- 00:15:05.394 --> 00:15:08.163
- Just like alexander the great's sword sliced through that
- 00:15:08.163 --> 00:15:11.066
- Gordian knot, we need the word of god to slice through the
- 00:15:11.066 --> 00:15:15.137
- Intentions and the actions of our life.
- 00:15:15.137 --> 00:15:19.408
- But follow me on this.
- 00:15:19.408 --> 00:15:21.343
- The reason god slices us open with the word of god is not so
- 00:15:21.343 --> 00:15:25.681
- He can hurt us but so that he can heal us.
- 00:15:25.681 --> 00:15:30.085
- God uses in the book of deuteronomy another metaphor.
- 00:15:30.085 --> 00:15:32.621
- He said that god's word is like a surgeon's scalpel that opens
- 00:15:32.621 --> 00:15:37.159
- Us up.
- 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:38.494
- You know, if you had a malignant tumor growing inside of you and
- 00:15:38.494 --> 00:15:41.263
- The doctor said, "we need to operate," what would he do?
- 00:15:41.263 --> 00:15:44.199
- He would take that scalpel out and he would slice you open.
- 00:15:44.199 --> 00:15:48.270
- Not so that he could inflict as much pain as possible inside of
- 00:15:48.270 --> 00:15:51.907
- You, he opens you up, he hurts you so that he can heal you.
- 00:15:51.907 --> 00:15:57.246
- And that's exactly what the great physician does.
- 00:15:57.246 --> 00:16:00.049
- He wants to hurt us by opening us up, exposing us with his
- 00:16:00.049 --> 00:16:03.819
- Scalpel, the word of god, so that he might bring healing
- 00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:06.688
- To us.
- 00:16:06.688 --> 00:16:08.023
- Listen to what god said in deuteronomy 32, verse 39.
- 00:16:08.023 --> 00:16:11.026
- "see now that i, i am he.
- 00:16:11.026 --> 00:16:13.796
- And there is no god besides me: it is i who put to death and
- 00:16:13.796 --> 00:16:18.467
- Give life.
- 00:16:18.467 --> 00:16:19.802
- I have wounded and it is i who heal.
- 00:16:19.802 --> 00:16:23.906
- And there is no one who can deliver from my hand."
- 00:16:23.906 --> 00:16:28.143
- Before there can be healing, there has to be hurt.
- 00:16:28.143 --> 00:16:31.080
- And the word of god is that instrument that god uses to open
- 00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:35.150
- You up to expose the deepest thoughts and intentions of
- 00:16:35.150 --> 00:16:39.388
- Your heart.
- 00:16:39.388 --> 00:16:40.856
- The word of god possesses the power to save us, to guide us,
- 00:16:40.856 --> 00:16:44.693
- To heal us.
- 00:16:44.693 --> 00:16:46.061
- Fourth, the word of god possesses the power to
- 00:16:46.061 --> 00:16:48.964
- Transform us.
- 00:16:48.964 --> 00:16:50.532
- To transform us.
- 00:16:50.532 --> 00:16:52.034
- And this is the heart of the message.
- 00:16:52.034 --> 00:16:53.902
- Remember last time we saw that god has one purpose in
- 00:16:53.902 --> 00:16:57.339
- Your life.
- 00:16:57.339 --> 00:16:58.674
- Romans 8:28, "for god causes all things to work together for
- 00:16:58.674 --> 00:17:02.377
- Good--" and what is that one purpose that god is using
- 00:17:02.377 --> 00:17:06.248
- Everything to work together for?
- 00:17:06.248 --> 00:17:07.816
- It's not that you have a satisfying marriage, a full bank
- 00:17:07.816 --> 00:17:11.353
- Account, a satisfying career.
- 00:17:11.353 --> 00:17:13.856
- That's not what god is trying to do in your life.
- 00:17:13.856 --> 00:17:16.525
- Verse 29 tells us what god's will for your life is.
- 00:17:16.525 --> 00:17:19.995
- It says, "for whom god foreknew, he predestined to become
- 00:17:19.995 --> 00:17:23.298
- Conformed to the image of his son--" god is using everything
- 00:17:23.298 --> 00:17:28.470
- In your life that's going on right now.
- 00:17:28.470 --> 00:17:31.140
- Every triumph as well as every tragedy, every success as well
- 00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:34.276
- As every sadness, they're all working together to make you
- 00:17:34.276 --> 00:17:39.214
- Just like jesus christ.
- 00:17:39.214 --> 00:17:41.917
- That's what god's trying to do.
- 00:17:41.917 --> 00:17:43.519
- He so loved his first son jesus, he said, "i just don't want to
- 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:46.555
- Have one child, i want to have many children.
- 00:17:46.555 --> 00:17:48.824
- Many sons and daughters i want to transform to be just like my
- 00:17:48.824 --> 00:17:52.794
- Son jesus."
- 00:17:52.794 --> 00:17:54.163
- And that's what he's doing in your life.
- 00:17:54.163 --> 00:17:55.497
- Now, how does he go about doing that?
- 00:17:55.497 --> 00:17:57.032
- How does he go about making you like christ?
- 00:17:57.032 --> 00:18:00.402
- Turn over to ephesians chapter 5, and this is where i'm getting
- 00:18:00.402 --> 00:18:04.039
- The message title "how to take a spiritual bath."
- 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:06.775
- Look at this.
- 00:18:06.775 --> 00:18:08.110
- Verse 25, "husbands, love your wives, just as christ loved the
- 00:18:08.110 --> 00:18:12.281
- Church and gave himself up for her, so that he might sanctify
- 00:18:12.281 --> 00:18:16.818
- Her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
- 00:18:16.818 --> 00:18:23.859
- That he might present her to himself the church in all of her
- 00:18:23.859 --> 00:18:27.162
- Glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she
- 00:18:27.162 --> 00:18:31.466
- Would be holy and blameless."
- 00:18:31.466 --> 00:18:33.969
- Do you know you're going to be a part of future wedding ceremony?
- 00:18:33.969 --> 00:18:37.739
- It's going to come when you and i, the bride of christ, are
- 00:18:37.739 --> 00:18:41.843
- Reunited and connected to the groom, jesus christ.
- 00:18:41.843 --> 00:18:47.516
- There's a great wedding that's going to occur.
- 00:18:47.516 --> 00:18:50.719
- It happens at the rapture of the church.
- 00:18:50.719 --> 00:18:53.488
- And right now what god is doing is he's cleaning up the bride
- 00:18:53.488 --> 00:18:57.960
- For the wedding ceremony.
- 00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:59.828
- He's wiping away all the dirt and grime of sin and he's
- 00:18:59.828 --> 00:19:03.332
- Getting you and me ready to meet jesus christ.
- 00:19:03.332 --> 00:19:08.470
- And so in order to get us ready, presentable, acceptable in god's
- 00:19:08.470 --> 00:19:12.908
- Sight, even as christians, he's got to do some washing.
- 00:19:12.908 --> 00:19:17.379
- He's got to give us a spiritual bath.
- 00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:19.748
- And that's what this passage is about, how he goes about
- 00:19:19.748 --> 00:19:22.584
- Accomplishing that.
- 00:19:22.584 --> 00:19:23.919
- He wants to sanctify us.
- 00:19:23.919 --> 00:19:25.754
- That is, to make us like christ.
- 00:19:25.754 --> 00:19:27.723
- And how does he do it?
- 00:19:27.723 --> 00:19:29.091
- Verse 26, through the washing of water with the word.
- 00:19:29.091 --> 00:19:33.829
- Now, the washing of water is a reference to the holy spirit
- 00:19:33.829 --> 00:19:37.032
- Of god.
- 00:19:37.032 --> 00:19:38.367
- The holy spirit of god is integral to making us like jesus
- 00:19:38.367 --> 00:19:42.971
- Christ, but the holy spirit of god alone won't accomplish
- 00:19:42.971 --> 00:19:47.276
- That purpose.
- 00:19:47.276 --> 00:19:48.610
- Let me illustrate that for you.
- 00:19:48.610 --> 00:19:49.978
- Was yesterday hot enough for you outside?
- 00:19:49.978 --> 00:19:52.848
- Bad news, it's going to get worse before it gets better.
- 00:19:52.848 --> 00:19:55.717
- But let's just say yesterday, 104 degrees yesterday afternoon,
- 00:19:55.717 --> 00:20:00.122
- You were out in the yard pulling weeds, working, and after about
- 00:20:00.122 --> 00:20:03.759
- An hour you had all you could take of that, and so you went
- 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:07.362
- Inside looking forward to jumping into that shower.
- 00:20:07.362 --> 00:20:09.831
- You jump into the shower, you turn on the hot water.
- 00:20:09.831 --> 00:20:12.901
- It's pulsating all over your body, and you're feeling great.
- 00:20:12.901 --> 00:20:16.138
- And you reach for a bar of soap and you realize there is
- 00:20:16.138 --> 00:20:19.741
- No soap.
- 00:20:19.741 --> 00:20:21.143
- Somebody forgot to replace the soap.
- 00:20:21.143 --> 00:20:24.413
- Now, the fact is the water could do a lot for you.
- 00:20:24.413 --> 00:20:27.783
- It makes you feel good.
- 00:20:27.783 --> 00:20:29.117
- It's exhilarating.
- 00:20:29.117 --> 00:20:30.485
- But anyone interested in real hygiene knows water alone won't
- 00:20:30.485 --> 00:20:34.656
- Do it.
- 00:20:34.656 --> 00:20:35.991
- It takes water and soap.
- 00:20:35.991 --> 00:20:39.728
- It's the same thing in taking a spiritual bath.
- 00:20:39.728 --> 00:20:42.097
- We need to have the washing of the holy spirit, but we also
- 00:20:42.097 --> 00:20:45.701
- Need to have the spiritual soap.
- 00:20:45.701 --> 00:20:47.803
- And paul says that is the word of god.
- 00:20:47.803 --> 00:20:51.807
- You know, there are christians who only emphasize the holy
- 00:20:51.807 --> 00:20:54.376
- Spirit in the christian life, and for them the christian life
- 00:20:54.376 --> 00:20:57.646
- Is seeking one experience with the holy spirit after another
- 00:20:57.646 --> 00:21:00.482
- After another, always looking for a fresh encounter with god.
- 00:21:00.482 --> 00:21:04.786
- To them, the christian life is about exhilaration.
- 00:21:04.786 --> 00:21:08.757
- But exhilaration alone won't make you like jesus christ.
- 00:21:08.757 --> 00:21:13.128
- It takes both the washing of the holy spirit and it takes the
- 00:21:13.128 --> 00:21:17.699
- Word of god.
- 00:21:17.699 --> 00:21:19.401
- Remember the thesis of this sermon?
- 00:21:19.401 --> 00:21:21.303
- The spirit of god uses the word of god to unleash the power of
- 00:21:21.303 --> 00:21:26.074
- God to transform us into the image of god.
- 00:21:26.074 --> 00:21:32.714
- Now, i'm going to make an assumption this morning about
- 00:21:32.714 --> 00:21:35.050
- Those of you listening to us, those of you listening to the
- 00:21:35.050 --> 00:21:37.552
- Message on radio and television, an assumption that i have a
- 00:21:37.552 --> 00:21:41.690
- Feeling that's pretty accurate.
- 00:21:41.690 --> 00:21:44.259
- I imagine for most of you here today there was a time when you
- 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:48.830
- Read the bible more than you read it right now.
- 00:21:48.830 --> 00:21:53.535
- There was a time in your life when god's word had greater
- 00:21:53.535 --> 00:21:56.671
- Prominence in your life than it has right now.
- 00:21:56.671 --> 00:22:01.676
- It may have been 5 years ago, it may have been 10 years ago, it
- 00:22:01.676 --> 00:22:05.347
- May have been when you were first saved, but there was a
- 00:22:05.347 --> 00:22:08.016
- Time you were more excited about god's word than you are
- 00:22:08.016 --> 00:22:11.486
- Right now.
- 00:22:11.486 --> 00:22:12.821
- In fact, some of you would be embarrassed to say how much time
- 00:22:12.821 --> 00:22:15.590
- In the last month you've really spent in god's word.
- 00:22:15.590 --> 00:22:19.327
- And you probably think, "if only i could renew my relationship
- 00:22:19.327 --> 00:22:24.900
- With god, then i would have a greater interest in reading
- 00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:29.104
- The bible."
- 00:22:29.104 --> 00:22:31.039
- But the opposite is really true.
- 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:33.809
- You see, reading, meditating, studying the word of god is not
- 00:22:33.809 --> 00:22:37.746
- The result of a renewed relationship with god, it is the
- 00:22:37.746 --> 00:22:42.184
- Means of a renewed relationship with god.
- 00:22:42.184 --> 00:22:46.221
- For some of you this morning who want to recapture that
- 00:22:46.221 --> 00:22:49.491
- Relationship with god you once enjoyed, the way to do it is
- 00:22:49.491 --> 00:22:54.129
- Through being constantly and consistently exposed
- 00:22:54.129 --> 00:22:58.567
- To scripture.
- 00:22:58.567 --> 00:23:00.469
- How do you do that?
- 00:23:00.469 --> 00:23:02.037
- How do you allow god's word to regain its rightful place in
- 00:23:02.037 --> 00:23:05.907
- Your life?
- 00:23:05.907 --> 00:23:07.442
- Well, next time we're going to talk about four practical ways
- 00:23:07.442 --> 00:23:10.278
- To make god's word central in your life.
- 00:23:10.278 --> 00:23:12.781
- We're going to talk about the abcs of spiritual hygiene.
- 00:23:12.781 --> 00:23:18.220
- Jeffress: already in this series we're hearing from listeners all
- 00:23:22.457 --> 00:23:25.660
- Across america who are curious to learn more about the
- 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:29.231
- Holy spirit.
- 00:23:29.231 --> 00:23:30.565
- And i'm so encouraged to sense a hunger from those who watch
- 00:23:30.565 --> 00:23:34.302
- "pathway to victory" because it proves that your gifts are truly
- 00:23:34.302 --> 00:23:38.373
- Making a difference.
- 00:23:38.373 --> 00:23:40.008
- God has opened doors for new television and radio stations
- 00:23:40.008 --> 00:23:43.612
- All across america.
- 00:23:43.612 --> 00:23:45.347
- And because of the gifts from friends like you, we've been
- 00:23:45.347 --> 00:23:48.583
- Able to accept these opportunities and expand as
- 00:23:48.583 --> 00:23:51.753
- Never before.
- 00:23:51.753 --> 00:23:53.488
- You see, it's my voice that goes out through this program, but
- 00:23:53.488 --> 00:23:57.158
- It's your gifts that allow us to touch lives.
- 00:23:57.158 --> 00:24:01.129
- Not long ago, matthew from ohio wrote, "dr. jeffress,
- 00:24:01.129 --> 00:24:05.200
- In a world that wants to define god in its own way,
- 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:08.670
- 'pathway to victory' has taught me how to stand for christ
- 00:24:08.670 --> 00:24:12.073
- With courage."
- 00:24:12.073 --> 00:24:13.475
- He went on to express his thanks to me, but his gratitude really
- 00:24:13.475 --> 00:24:17.579
- Should be for people just like you who give so generously.
- 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:22.384
- Thank you for investing in this worthwhile ministry.
- 00:24:22.384 --> 00:24:25.921
- God is using your investment to pierce the darkness with the
- 00:24:25.921 --> 00:24:29.858
- Light of his word.
- 00:24:29.858 --> 00:24:31.526
- Now, stay right there.
- 00:24:31.526 --> 00:24:32.861
- I'll be back with more in just a moment.
- 00:24:32.861 --> 00:24:36.731
- Announcer: the bible promises that when we put our faith in
- 00:24:36.798 --> 00:24:39.501
- Jesus christ our lives will be changed from the inside out, and
- 00:24:39.501 --> 00:24:43.705
- Yet many christians feel discouraged and defeated in
- 00:24:43.705 --> 00:24:46.408
- Their daily walk.
- 00:24:46.408 --> 00:24:47.776
- Jeffress: if you're longing for something more in your
- 00:24:47.776 --> 00:24:49.945
- Relationship with god, you're not alone.
- 00:24:49.945 --> 00:24:52.380
- At one time i felt dissatisfied and powerless to change it, but
- 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:56.885
- By god's grace i discovered how to deploy the power of the holy
- 00:24:56.885 --> 00:25:01.156
- Spirit in my life.
- 00:25:01.156 --> 00:25:02.824
- And today i want to help you discover that as well in my
- 00:25:02.824 --> 00:25:06.595
- Bestselling book "i want more."
- 00:25:06.595 --> 00:25:09.698
- Announcer: the book "i want more" was written to help you
- 00:25:09.698 --> 00:25:12.267
- Build spiritual strength as you pursue a fresh way to unleash
- 00:25:12.267 --> 00:25:15.904
- God's supernatural power in every area of your life.
- 00:25:15.904 --> 00:25:19.674
- You're invited to request a copy of "i want more" when you give a
- 00:25:19.674 --> 00:25:23.011
- Generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway to victory"
- 00:25:23.011 --> 00:25:26.247
- Or when you become a pathway partner.
- 00:25:26.247 --> 00:25:28.583
- And when you give $75 or more, we'll also send you the complete
- 00:25:28.583 --> 00:25:32.721
- "unleashed" teaching series on dvd and audio disc.
- 00:25:32.721 --> 00:25:36.524
- Jeffress: god has granted to you everything you need to lead a
- 00:25:36.524 --> 00:25:41.896
- Fulfilling existence while here on earth.
- 00:25:41.896 --> 00:25:44.566
- Everything he has given you is all wrapped up in the holy
- 00:25:44.566 --> 00:25:48.370
- Spirit of god.
- 00:25:48.370 --> 00:25:50.405
- Announcer: your generous giving will help us encourage and equip
- 00:25:50.405 --> 00:25:53.408
- Viewers like you with biblical truth and hope.
- 00:25:53.408 --> 00:25:56.411
- Thank you so much for your support as we continue to impact
- 00:25:56.411 --> 00:25:59.681
- You, your family, and our nation with the transforming truth of
- 00:25:59.681 --> 00:26:03.618
- God's word.
- 00:26:03.618 --> 00:26:06.421
- Jeffress: god's word has the power to completely transform
- 00:26:06.488 --> 00:26:09.724
- Our lives, and yet so many christians fail to utilize this
- 00:26:09.724 --> 00:26:14.262
- Invaluable resource, instead leaving it to collect dust on
- 00:26:14.262 --> 00:26:18.767
- The bookshelf 6 out of 7 days a week.
- 00:26:18.767 --> 00:26:22.370
- But here's the good news.
- 00:26:22.370 --> 00:26:24.105
- If the word of god doesn't have the same prominence in your life
- 00:26:24.105 --> 00:26:27.575
- As it once had, it's not too late to make a change.
- 00:26:27.575 --> 00:26:31.780
- I hope you'll join us again next time when i share with you four
- 00:26:31.780 --> 00:26:35.517
- Practical ways to make god's word central in your life.
- 00:26:35.517 --> 00:26:40.655
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next on
- 00:26:40.655 --> 00:26:43.658
- "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:43.658 --> 00:26:45.026
- Jeffress: now, i'm going to assume this morning that most of
- 00:26:46.795 --> 00:26:49.864
- You here today realize you should readi--be reading the
- 00:26:49.864 --> 00:26:53.802
- Bible more than you are, okay?
- 00:26:53.802 --> 00:26:56.438
- Can we all agree on that?
- 00:26:56.438 --> 00:26:58.206
- We ought to be reading the bible more than we are.
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- My purpose today is not to load on a heap of guilt to your
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- Already buckling shoulders, okay?
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- Instead what i'd like to do today is give you some practical
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- Ways that you can make god's word a part
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- Of your everyday life.
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- Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message
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- "the abcs of spiritual hygiene" here on "pathway to victory."
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