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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - How To Take A Spiritual Bath

April 30, 2025 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - How To Take A Spiritual Bath
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Faith #Help #Humility #LoveofGod #Religion #Overcoming #WordofGod #Patience #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Responsibility #Soul #Sovereignty #James1:21

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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.
  • 00:03:00.937 --> 00:03:05.375
  • And yet if you go into many evangelical conservative
  • 00:03:05.375 --> 00:03:08.645
  • 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,"
  • 00:05:44.333 --> 00:05:46.803
  • 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
  • 00:07:11.420 --> 00:07:14.557
  • There is only one thing that can save a person, and that is the
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  • Word of god.
  • 00:07:17.994 --> 00:07:19.328
  • Look at james 1, verse 21.
  • 00:07:19.328 --> 00:07:21.464
  • "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.
  • 00:07:41.651 --> 00:07:43.619
  • And that is why there is such an emphasis in this church and has
  • 00:07:43.619 --> 00:07:47.657
  • Been for 143 years on the word of god, on preaching,
  • 00:07:47.657 --> 00:07:52.662
  • Proclaiming the word of god.
  • 00:07:52.662 --> 00:07:55.665
  • I heard about somebody recently in our church, it was kind of
  • 00:07:55.665 --> 00:07:58.267
  • Grumbling, and they said, "well, you know, everything in our
  • 00:07:58.267 --> 00:08:01.671
  • 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.
  • 00:08:10.546 --> 00:08:12.415
  • Well, first baptist dallas is a pulpit-driven church because it
  • 00:08:12.415 --> 00:08:16.218
  • 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
  • 00:08:25.094 --> 00:08:29.231
  • 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."
  • 00:08:57.426 --> 00:09:01.197
  • In psalm 32, verse 8, god says, "i will instruct you and teach
  • 00:09:01.197 --> 00:09:06.502
  • You in the way that you should go; i will counsel you with my
  • 00:09:06.502 --> 00:09:11.040
  • Eye upon you."
  • 00:09:11.040 --> 00:09:12.408
  • Isn't that a great truth?
  • 00:09:12.408 --> 00:09:13.743
  • God promises to give you the direction you need to make
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  • A decision.
  • 00:09:16.812 --> 00:09:18.147
  • Now, here's the question, how does that direction come?
  • 00:09:18.147 --> 00:09:21.017
  • Certainly god can speak to us through prayer, through the
  • 00:09:21.017 --> 00:09:23.686
  • Counsel of other christians, through our own desires, but the
  • 00:09:23.686 --> 00:09:27.223
  • Primary way god is going to give you the direction that you need
  • 00:09:27.223 --> 00:09:32.361
  • Is through his word.
  • 00:09:32.361 --> 00:09:33.863
  • And that's what we find in psalm 119.
  • 00:09:33.863 --> 00:09:37.033
  • Psalm 119, here's a little trivia, is the longest chapter
  • 00:09:37.033 --> 00:09:40.269
  • In the bible.
  • 00:09:40.269 --> 00:09:41.637
  • A hundred and seventy-six verses, and every one of those
  • 00:09:41.637 --> 00:09:44.106
  • 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.
  • 00:09:48.010 --> 00:09:53.282
  • It was a song about the value of the word of god.
  • 00:09:53.282 --> 00:09:56.786
  • And each of those 22 stanzas begins with a different letter
  • 00:09:56.786 --> 00:10:02.358
  • From the hebrew alphabet.
  • 00:10:02.358 --> 00:10:04.260
  • If it were in english it would start with a,
  • 00:10:04.260 --> 00:10:07.229
  • And then b, and then c.
  • 00:10:07.229 --> 00:10:09.398
  • It's the psalmist's way of saying god's word has everything
  • 00:10:09.398 --> 00:10:14.136
  • 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
  • 00:10:32.488 --> 00:10:37.093
  • 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
  • 00:10:48.204 --> 00:10:52.241
  • Step and the next step and the next step.
  • 00:10:52.241 --> 00:10:56.011
  • God's word is like a lamp.
  • 00:10:56.011 --> 00:10:58.881
  • 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
  • 00:11:00.216 --> 00:11:03.552
  • Spotlight that illumines the whole path.
  • 00:11:03.552 --> 00:11:05.988
  • 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.
  • 00:11:34.049 --> 00:11:35.584
  • 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.
  • 00:11:40.089 --> 00:11:42.725
  • 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
  • 00:12:14.857 --> 00:12:18.527
  • Chapter 4, verse 12.
  • 00:12:18.527 --> 00:12:20.596
  • You know, ladies and gentlemen, the bible says all of us are
  • 00:12:20.596 --> 00:12:23.499
  • Enslaved by sin.
  • 00:12:23.499 --> 00:12:25.467
  • Sin is like a cord that wraps itself around our lives and
  • 00:12:25.467 --> 00:12:29.438
  • Strangles the life out of us.
  • 00:12:29.438 --> 00:12:31.607
  • The bible says sin is like a rope, it's like a cord wrapped
  • 00:12:31.607 --> 00:12:36.078
  • Around us.
  • 00:12:36.078 --> 00:12:37.446
  • By what a man is overcome, the bible says, by this he
  • 00:12:37.446 --> 00:12:40.716
  • Is enslaved.
  • 00:12:40.716 --> 00:12:42.384
  • You know what you're enslaved by today?
  • 00:12:42.384 --> 00:12:45.321
  • 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.
  • 00:12:48.324 --> 00:12:51.594
  • It's whatever sin you cannot say no to, that is your master
  • 00:12:51.594 --> 00:12:55.965
  • Right now.
  • 00:12:55.965 --> 00:12:57.333
  • 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.
  • 00:13:02.938 --> 00:13:07.409
  • 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.
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  • You're invited to request a copy of "i want more" when you give a
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  • Generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway to victory"
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  • Or when you become a pathway partner.
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  • And when you give $75 or more, we'll also send you the complete
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  • "unleashed" teaching series on dvd and audio disc.
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  • 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
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  • Spirit of god.
  • 00:25:48.370 --> 00:25:50.405
  • Announcer: your generous giving will help us encourage and equip
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  • Viewers like you with biblical truth and hope.
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  • Thank you so much for your support as we continue to impact
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  • 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
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  • 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.
  • 00:26:58.206 --> 00:27:00.675
  • My purpose today is not to load on a heap of guilt to your
  • 00:27:00.675 --> 00:27:04.245
  • Already buckling shoulders, okay?
  • 00:27:04.245 --> 00:27:06.548
  • 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.
  • 00:27:13.088 --> 00:27:15.056
  • 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."
  • 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.259