Robert Jeffress - How To Treat Your Next Pastor (Part 1)

February 4, 2025 | S25:E60

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 Treat Your Next Pastor (Part 1) | February 4, 2025
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • [announcer] from the pulpit
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  • Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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  • This is pathway to victory with dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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  • And welcome again to pathway to victory.
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  • From teaching style to operational management,
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  • Every pastor has his own preferred way
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  • Of handling responsibilities in the church,
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  • And while some of those issues
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  • Can be left up to personal preference,
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  • The bible has some non-negotiable instruction
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  • Regarding a pastor's role as leader of a congregation.
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  • Today we're going to talk about the god-given responsibility
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  • Of spiritual leaders in the church.
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  • My message is titled, "how to treat your next pastor"
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  • On today's edition of pathway to victory.
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • [announcer] in a world filled with noise and
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • I love the story about the pastor
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  • Who was going to his first church,
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  • And he was so excited about his future ministry.
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  • His first day in the office,
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  • His predecessor dropped by to see him.
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  • The former pastor had left the church
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  • Under a cloud of controversy
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  • And he came by to encourage his successor.
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  • He said, "i want you to know i'm praying for you,
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  • But if you run into difficulty, and this is a tough church,
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  • If you run into difficulty,
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  • I've left three envelopes in the top desk drawer
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  • For you to use only if you need some encouragement."
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  • The new pastor thanked his predecessor,
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  • But assured himself
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  • That he would never need those envelopes.
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  • Well, he hadn't been there a week
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  • When he got accosted in the hallway
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  • By an irate sunday school member
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  • Who was furious over his sunday school class being too warm,
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  • And the new pastor was so discouraged,
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  • He didn't know he was going to have to deal with
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  • Things like that,
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  • And so he slithered back to his office
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  • And he pulled out that first envelope, envelope number one,
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  • And it said, "be not fearful or dismayed.
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  • I am with you, saith the lord."
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  • That made him feel better.
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  • A few weeks later, he got a notice
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  • That the deacons were calling a special meeting
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  • To discuss the declining attendance in the church,
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  • And they wanted him to answer for it.
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  • Well, this discouraged him again,
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  • And so he remembered there was another envelope.
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  • He picked up envelope number two, opened it up,
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  • And it said, "behold, i am with thee wherever thou goest,"
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  • And that promise from the lord encouraged his heart.
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  • About three months later,
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  • The church called a special business meeting
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  • To fire the pastor over declining finances,
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  • And he was at the bottom,
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  • But thankfully he remembered there was a final envelope.
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  • He went to his desk drawer, opened it up,
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  • Opened up envelope number three, and it said,
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  • "prepare three new envelopes."
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  • (congregation laughing)
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  • You know, i thought of that story
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  • When i prepared this week's message.
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  • The title of it is how to treat your next pastor.
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  • Now, this is not a farewell sermon.
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  • Some of you are getting your hopes up.
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  • This is not a farewell sermon.
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  • I'm not going anywhere,
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  • But there's a reason that i titled this message
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  • The way i did,
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  • And you'll see that in just a moment.
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  • Now, i have to admit to you,
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  • I've not been looking forward to this final message
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  • In our series in hebrews.
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  • I feel about it like i do about having a root canal.
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  • There's something else i'd rather be doing
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  • Than preaching this passage,
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  • Because it is a difficult passage,
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  • Especially for me to preach.
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  • One reason it's difficult is because,
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  • Well, it's a sermon about me.
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  • It's about my responsibility to you here in the church,
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  • And it's also about your responsibility toward me
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  • And the spiritual leadership of the church,
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  • And that's always a touchy topic,
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  • And so that's why i titled this sermon
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  • How to treat your next pastor.
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  • I want you to fast forward 20 years from now,
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  • And imagine that i've gone
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  • And i'm up in heaven watching you,
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  • And you've called a new,
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  • Nameless, faceless pastor to you right now.
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  • Let's think about how to treat him
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  • Rather than how to treat me,
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  • Because i mean, the fact is,
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  • It's hard to separate principles from personalities.
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  • You know, the military has a saying.
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  • We salute the uniform, not the person in the uniform.
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  • Well, it's the same way in the role of pastor.
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  • I'm not asking you to salute,
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  • But we're talking about the role
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  • And the responsibility of the pastor.
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  • The second reason
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  • This is a particularly hard subject to address
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  • Is the potential abuse
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  • Of the truth we're going to look at today.
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  • We all know pastors who have gone to the extreme
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  • Of becoming dictators in the church.
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  • A lack of accountability has led them into immorality
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  • Or they've over-exercised their authority
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  • And led the church into financial ruin,
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  • And none of us wants that extreme,
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  • But some churches go to the opposite extreme.
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  • They treat their pastors as nothing more than hired hands
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  • To do their bidding,
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  • To keep the temperature right in the sunday school class,
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  • And all of those sorts of things.
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  • Neither extreme is biblical.
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  • Today we're going to talk about
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  • What the role and the responsibility
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  • Of spiritual leaders in the church is,
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  • And the context of this passage is all-important.
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  • Turn over, if you would, to hebrews chapter 13.
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  • Remember the writer made that pivot in chapter 12.
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  • He said, "let us run with endurance
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  • The race that is set before us,
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  • Fixing our eyes on jesus,
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  • The author and finisher of our faith."
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  • He said in difficult times, hebrew christians,
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  • Don't give up your faith.
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  • Don't go back into judaism.
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  • Keep running that race.
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  • And remember last time,
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  • We looked at two detours that will get you off track
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  • In your relationship with god.
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  • We talked about the detour of immorality,
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  • We talked about the detour of materialism,
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  • But now the writer's going to give us some encouragement.
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  • He's going to say,
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  • God has given you somebody to encourage you
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  • To stay on track in your relationship with god,
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  • And that's the spiritual leader in the church.
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  • His job is to encourage you to stay on track,
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  • And that's the theme of this passage we're going to look at.
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  • Now, when we come to hebrews 13,
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  • The bible is going to talk about
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  • Two kinds of spiritual leaders we need to follow.
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  • First of all, he talks about leaders from the past,
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  • Leaders from the past.
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  • Look at verse seven, our respect for past leaders.
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  • "remember those who led you,
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  • Who spoke the word of god to you,
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  • And considering the result of their conduct,
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  • Imitate their faith."
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  • That word remember literally means bring to mind,
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  • Call to mind those who have led you in the past,
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  • Those leaders who have gone on to heaven.
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  • He's not saying take a stroll down memory lane
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  • Just for the sake of old times' sake.
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  • He's talking about remember them, recall them,
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  • And imitate their faith.
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  • Do you remember when we used to wear those bracelets
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  • From 20 years ago?
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  • Everybody had 'em. wwjd, what would jesus do?
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  • And the idea is if you were in a difficult situation,
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  • You would ask yourself the question,
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  • What would the lord do in this situation?
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  • Well, the writer of hebrews is saying,
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  • When you get in a difficult spot,
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  • Ask yourself what would,
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  • And insert the name of somebody who's led you in the past
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  • That you had respect for,
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  • A spiritual leader, a pastor, staff member, evangelist,
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  • Somebody who impacted your life, and imitate their faith.
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  • Now, some people would say,
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  • Well, i thought we're just supposed
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  • To fix our eyes on jesus.
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  • We're not supposed to look at other people,
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  • Just imitate jesus.
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  • Did you know that's exactly
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  • What the carnal corinthian christians,
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  • Some of them were saying to paul.
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  • Paul said, "there are divisions in your church.
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  • Some are saying, "we follow peter,"
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  • Others say, "we follow apollos,"
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  • And some of you are saying, "we only follow jesus."
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  • That wasn't a commendation, that was a condemnation.
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  • He said, "you're refusing to follow
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  • The leaders god has placed upon you.
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  • Instead, you're just saying you follow jesus."
  • 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:39.535
  • Now, god says, yes, we're to keep our eyes on jesus,
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  • But we also need flesh and blood examples
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  • That we can look at to imitate their faith,
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  • And that's why paul said in 1 corinthians 11:1,
  • 00:09:49.478 --> 00:09:52.114
  • "be imitators," literally be mimics of me,
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  • Even as i'm a mimic, an imitator of jesus christ."
  • 00:09:56.852 --> 00:10:00.956
  • We need leaders certainly in our past that we can look up to
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  • And ask ourself the question when we get in a tight place,
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  • What would this leader have said to me?
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  • What was his counsel to me when he was alive in teaching?
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  • What would he do in this situation?
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  • I hope in your gallery of memories
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  • There are past leaders
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  • Who have made an impact upon you and your family,
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  • That you can mimic, that you can imitate.
  • 00:10:26.582 --> 00:10:30.853
  • Years ago, i remember going in to say goodnight
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  • To our oldest daughter, julia.
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  • She was about 10 at the time,
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  • And she was sitting up in bed,
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  • Reading a biography of billy graham.
  • 00:10:39.962 --> 00:10:44.133
  • Even when she was a little girl,
  • 00:10:44.133 --> 00:10:45.768
  • She was so interested in evangelism and sharing her faith,
  • 00:10:45.768 --> 00:10:49.238
  • And she was reading this biography of billy graham,
  • 00:10:49.238 --> 00:10:51.407
  • And so i got to tell her about billy graham
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  • And about the impact he had had on our family's life,
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  • And i told her the story about when my mother,
  • 00:10:58.981 --> 00:11:02.184
  • For whom julia is named,
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  • In 1954 when she was pregnant with me,
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  • That she went to the cotton bowl crusade here in dallas.
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  • She wasn't a christian,
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  • And under the preaching of billy graham,
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  • She became a christian
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  • And she ended up joining first baptist church dallas
  • 00:11:16.732 --> 00:11:20.035
  • The same day that billy graham joined the church,
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  • Where he was a member here for 54 years.
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  • And i told her the story about how my mom and my dad
  • 00:11:25.641 --> 00:11:29.478
  • Passed that faith on to me,
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  • And how amy and i have passed it on to her,
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  • And then now to watches an adult
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  • How she and ryan
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  • Are passing that faith on to their children.
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  • On and on it goes, all because of 70 years ago,
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  • A man who made a great investment
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  • And passed on his faith to us and to so many others.
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  • I was thinking about that just this week
  • 00:11:52.802 --> 00:11:56.272
  • As i prepared this message about remembering those
  • 00:11:56.272 --> 00:11:59.241
  • Who have impacted your life in the past.
  • 00:11:59.241 --> 00:12:02.011
  • And as i was writing these thoughts down, out of the blue,
  • 00:12:02.011 --> 00:12:05.915
  • I got a letter from a man named david bruce.
  • 00:12:05.915 --> 00:12:09.852
  • David bruce for years
  • 00:12:09.852 --> 00:12:12.288
  • Was the personal assistant to billy graham.
  • 00:12:12.288 --> 00:12:14.824
  • He spent every day with billy
  • 00:12:14.824 --> 00:12:17.526
  • Up until the day dr. graham went home to be with the lord,
  • 00:12:17.526 --> 00:12:21.330
  • And david bruce wrote me these words.
  • 00:12:21.330 --> 00:12:23.432
  • He said, "i simply write to thank you
  • 00:12:23.432 --> 00:12:26.535
  • For your faithful preaching and far-reaching ministry
  • 00:12:26.535 --> 00:12:30.172
  • Through the pulpit of first baptist dallas.
  • 00:12:30.172 --> 00:12:33.275
  • For mr. graham, there were welcome and sweet memories
  • 00:12:33.275 --> 00:12:36.745
  • Of your predecessor, dr. chriswell, and of you,
  • 00:12:36.745 --> 00:12:40.449
  • And the impact the church had
  • 00:12:40.449 --> 00:12:42.484
  • On mr. graham's life and times.
  • 00:12:42.484 --> 00:12:45.354
  • He fondly would say that he was half-texan
  • 00:12:45.354 --> 00:12:48.490
  • And loved every minute of it.
  • 00:12:48.490 --> 00:12:50.826
  • Recently my travels took me to dallas,
  • 00:12:50.826 --> 00:12:53.729
  • And i had a brief moment to pass by your church
  • 00:12:53.729 --> 00:12:56.966
  • And to pray for you
  • 00:12:56.966 --> 00:12:58.267
  • And the good folks of first baptist dallas.
  • 00:12:58.267 --> 00:13:01.237
  • During the covid sequestering in north carolina,
  • 00:13:01.237 --> 00:13:04.640
  • I was privileged to hear you preach sunday after sunday,
  • 00:13:04.640 --> 00:13:08.844
  • And am so grateful for your biblical convictions
  • 00:13:08.844 --> 00:13:12.248
  • Of the strength of your holy spirit empowered proclamation.
  • 00:13:12.248 --> 00:13:16.252
  • Praise god for your church's extensive ministry.
  • 00:13:16.252 --> 00:13:21.156
  • Remember that there are those who love and appreciate
  • 00:13:21.156 --> 00:13:24.260
  • The historic church in dallas,
  • 00:13:24.260 --> 00:13:26.462
  • As well as your current ministry."
  • 00:13:26.462 --> 00:13:29.865
  • That was such an encouragement to me.
  • 00:13:29.865 --> 00:13:31.066
  • It was kind of a circle of spiritual life.
  • 00:13:31.066 --> 00:13:33.869
  • Here is a man 70-plus years ago,
  • 00:13:33.869 --> 00:13:36.372
  • Who impacted my family and me and so many of you,
  • 00:13:36.372 --> 00:13:42.811
  • And then to know that we had an impact on his life,
  • 00:13:42.811 --> 00:13:45.915
  • And we're sharing that faith with people all over the world.
  • 00:13:45.915 --> 00:13:50.119
  • Hopefully you've got people in your life like that,
  • 00:13:50.119 --> 00:13:52.655
  • That you can look back to and thank god for.
  • 00:13:52.655 --> 00:13:56.659
  • We're to respect our past leaders.
  • 00:13:56.659 --> 00:14:00.062
  • Frankly, that's easier to do
  • 00:14:00.062 --> 00:14:03.766
  • Than when it comes to our current leaders.
  • 00:14:03.766 --> 00:14:06.001
  • You know, somebody said,
  • 00:14:06.001 --> 00:14:07.569
  • We tend to immortalize leaders of the past
  • 00:14:07.569 --> 00:14:10.239
  • While treating our current leaders
  • 00:14:10.239 --> 00:14:12.274
  • Like faces on a dart board.
  • 00:14:12.274 --> 00:14:14.677
  • Unfortunately that's true in too many churches,
  • 00:14:14.677 --> 00:14:18.180
  • And that's why the writer of hebrews
  • 00:14:18.180 --> 00:14:20.049
  • Talks about our responsibility to leaders in the present,
  • 00:14:20.049 --> 00:14:23.285
  • Beginning with verse 17.
  • 00:14:23.285 --> 00:14:25.254
  • He says, "obey your leaders, and submit to them,
  • 00:14:25.254 --> 00:14:29.591
  • For they keep watch over your souls,
  • 00:14:29.591 --> 00:14:32.027
  • As those who will give an account.
  • 00:14:32.027 --> 00:14:35.297
  • Let them do this with joy and not with grief,
  • 00:14:35.297 --> 00:14:38.567
  • For this would be unprofitable for you."
  • 00:14:38.567 --> 00:14:43.305
  • Now i can sense some people already tensing up.
  • 00:14:43.305 --> 00:14:47.509
  • Obey your leaders?
  • 00:14:47.509 --> 00:14:50.913
  • I mean, why in the world would i do that?
  • 00:14:49.712 --> 00:14:53.315
  • Let's admit,
  • 00:14:53.315 --> 00:14:54.917
  • There's a difficulty in this command for all of us.
  • 00:14:54.917 --> 00:14:59.021
  • One reason this is a difficult command to obey
  • 00:14:59.021 --> 00:15:02.124
  • Is we all have a natural resistance
  • 00:15:02.124 --> 00:15:05.594
  • To obeying any kind of authority.
  • 00:15:05.594 --> 00:15:07.629
  • That's inbred.
  • 00:15:07.629 --> 00:15:08.831
  • 1 samuel 15:23 talks about rebellion
  • 00:15:08.831 --> 00:15:12.701
  • Being like the sin of witchcraft.
  • 00:15:12.701 --> 00:15:15.371
  • We all resist obeying other people, don't we?
  • 00:15:15.371 --> 00:15:17.906
  • Children resist obeying their parents.
  • 00:15:17.906 --> 00:15:20.509
  • Wives find it difficult to submit to their husbands.
  • 00:15:20.509 --> 00:15:23.679
  • Men find it difficult
  • 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:24.913
  • To obey their employers or the government.
  • 00:15:24.913 --> 00:15:27.549
  • We all find it difficult to obey other people,
  • 00:15:27.549 --> 00:15:33.422
  • And yet in 1 corinthians 11:3,
  • 00:15:33.422 --> 00:15:36.325
  • Paul says all of us are under somebody's authority.
  • 00:15:36.325 --> 00:15:39.495
  • Remember what paul said?
  • 00:15:39.495 --> 00:15:40.729
  • He said that the man is the head of the woman,
  • 00:15:40.729 --> 00:15:44.900
  • That christ is the head of every man,
  • 00:15:44.900 --> 00:15:47.336
  • And god is the head of christ.
  • 00:15:47.336 --> 00:15:49.938
  • Even even jesus himself was under somebody's authority.
  • 00:15:49.938 --> 00:15:54.109
  • God puts us all, every one of us under somebody's authority.
  • 00:15:54.109 --> 00:15:59.982
  • First of all,
  • 00:15:59.982 --> 00:16:01.350
  • It's the only way you maintain order in your home,
  • 00:16:01.350 --> 00:16:03.786
  • In your business, in your church, in your country,
  • 00:16:03.786 --> 00:16:07.556
  • Is if there's a clear line of authority.
  • 00:16:07.556 --> 00:16:10.092
  • The late, great adrian rogers used to say,
  • 00:16:10.092 --> 00:16:12.961
  • "anything in nature with two heads is a freak,
  • 00:16:12.961 --> 00:16:16.899
  • And anything with no head is dead."
  • 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:19.535
  • There has to be a head of any organization to keep order,
  • 00:16:19.535 --> 00:16:24.239
  • And i think god puts us not only under authority
  • 00:16:24.239 --> 00:16:28.544
  • To maintain order,
  • 00:16:28.544 --> 00:16:29.978
  • But to also help us learn how to obey christ.
  • 00:16:29.978 --> 00:16:32.815
  • I mean, if we can't obey the human authority
  • 00:16:32.815 --> 00:16:35.184
  • That we see every day,
  • 00:16:35.184 --> 00:16:36.652
  • How in the world will we learn to be obedient
  • 00:16:36.652 --> 00:16:38.854
  • To a god we have not seen?
  • 00:16:38.854 --> 00:16:41.390
  • So let's all admit
  • 00:16:41.390 --> 00:16:42.558
  • There's a natural resistance to authority.
  • 00:16:42.558 --> 00:16:45.027
  • But a second reason this is difficult
  • 00:16:45.027 --> 00:16:47.596
  • Is the possible abuse of authority.
  • 00:16:47.596 --> 00:16:51.800
  • I think every one of us here
  • 00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:53.535
  • Could give an example of some leader
  • 00:16:53.535 --> 00:16:55.571
  • We either have known personally or known of
  • 00:16:55.571 --> 00:16:59.141
  • Who has abused his place of authority,
  • 00:16:59.141 --> 00:17:01.543
  • Especially in the church.
  • 00:17:01.543 --> 00:17:03.545
  • There's some of you watching right now,
  • 00:17:03.545 --> 00:17:06.482
  • You may have been in an abusive situation
  • 00:17:06.482 --> 00:17:10.652
  • Where you were abused by a spiritual authority in the church
  • 00:17:10.652 --> 00:17:14.056
  • And you said,
  • 00:17:14.056 --> 00:17:15.591
  • "i'm never getting in that kind of situation again."
  • 00:17:15.591 --> 00:17:18.260
  • Well, let's admit there are some bad leaders out there,
  • 00:17:18.260 --> 00:17:25.234
  • And how do we handle leaders
  • 00:17:25.234 --> 00:17:27.102
  • Who abuse their place of spiritual leadership?
  • 00:17:27.102 --> 00:17:31.206
  • Let's talk about that for just a moment.
  • 00:17:31.206 --> 00:17:33.809
  • In jesus' day,
  • 00:17:33.809 --> 00:17:35.344
  • The abusive spiritual leaders were called the pharisees,
  • 00:17:35.344 --> 00:17:40.149
  • And they were a group of jewish leaders
  • 00:17:40.149 --> 00:17:42.184
  • Who placed their tradition above god's word.
  • 00:17:42.184 --> 00:17:46.989
  • In fact, jesus said they were hypocrites
  • 00:17:46.989 --> 00:17:49.224
  • Because they came up with regulations for other people
  • 00:17:49.224 --> 00:17:52.127
  • That they themselves were unwilling to follow,
  • 00:17:52.127 --> 00:17:55.130
  • And listen to what jesus said about them in matthew 15.
  • 00:17:55.130 --> 00:17:58.066
  • Hold your place here and go over to matthew chapter 15.
  • 00:17:58.066 --> 00:18:01.036
  • Jesus' harshest criticisms
  • 00:18:01.036 --> 00:18:03.705
  • Were not leveled against adulterers, murderers, thieves.
  • 00:18:03.705 --> 00:18:06.942
  • It was against hypocritical religious leaders.
  • 00:18:06.942 --> 00:18:10.078
  • Look at chapter 15, verses one to 14.
  • 00:18:10.078 --> 00:18:13.215
  • "then some pharisees and scribes
  • 00:18:13.215 --> 00:18:15.584
  • Came to jesus from jerusalem, and they said,
  • 00:18:15.584 --> 00:18:18.887
  • "why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?
  • 00:18:18.887 --> 00:18:23.025
  • For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."
  • 00:18:23.025 --> 00:18:26.128
  • This was pre-covid.
  • 00:18:26.128 --> 00:18:27.663
  • They weren't washing their hands when they eat bread.
  • 00:18:27.663 --> 00:18:30.832
  • Now, that was a tradition.
  • 00:18:30.832 --> 00:18:34.136
  • They were concerned that the disciples
  • 00:18:34.136 --> 00:18:36.471
  • Weren't following their traditions
  • 00:18:36.471 --> 00:18:38.106
  • Instead of the word of god,
  • 00:18:38.106 --> 00:18:40.042
  • And so jesus called them out on it.
  • 00:18:40.042 --> 00:18:41.843
  • He said to them "why do you yourselves
  • 00:18:41.843 --> 00:18:44.646
  • Transgress the commandment of god
  • 00:18:44.646 --> 00:18:47.583
  • For the sake of your tradition?"
  • 00:18:47.583 --> 00:18:50.352
  • And then he goes on and gives example after example
  • 00:18:50.352 --> 00:18:53.055
  • Of where the pharisees
  • 00:18:53.055 --> 00:18:54.456
  • Were placing their tradition above god's word.
  • 00:18:54.456 --> 00:18:57.259
  • Now, skip down to verse 12.
  • 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.860
  • "then the disciples came and said to jesus,
  • 00:18:58.860 --> 00:19:01.597
  • "do you know that the pharisees were offended
  • 00:19:01.597 --> 00:19:04.866
  • When they heard this statement?"
  • 00:19:04.866 --> 00:19:07.936
  • Ooh, the pharisees are upset.
  • 00:19:07.936 --> 00:19:11.773
  • Jesus couldn't have cared less.
  • 00:19:11.773 --> 00:19:14.543
  • Notice what he said in verse 13.
  • 00:19:14.543 --> 00:19:16.712
  • "but jesus answered and he said,
  • 00:19:16.712 --> 00:19:18.981
  • "every plant which my heavenly father did not plant
  • 00:19:18.981 --> 00:19:24.720
  • Shall be uprooted,
  • 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:26.388
  • But you let them alone.
  • 00:19:26.388 --> 00:19:30.859
  • Let them alone; for they are blind guides of the blind.
  • 00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:34.663
  • And if a blind man guides a blind man,
  • 00:19:34.663 --> 00:19:36.999
  • Both will fall into the pit."
  • 00:19:36.999 --> 00:19:39.635
  • Isn't that interesting?
  • 00:19:39.635 --> 00:19:40.869
  • He didn't say, "get rid of the pharisees.
  • 00:19:40.869 --> 00:19:42.371
  • Vote 'em out of office."
  • 00:19:42.371 --> 00:19:43.372
  • He said, "leave them alone.
  • 00:19:43.372 --> 00:19:45.474
  • They will self-implode
  • 00:19:45.474 --> 00:19:47.309
  • And they'll take everybody who's following them
  • 00:19:47.309 --> 00:19:49.177
  • Down with them.
  • 00:19:49.177 --> 00:19:50.946
  • Leave them alone."
  • 00:19:50.946 --> 00:19:52.381
  • How do you handle a spiritual abusive leader?
  • 00:19:52.381 --> 00:19:55.417
  • Now, listen to me.
  • 00:19:55.417 --> 00:19:56.985
  • The bible says there are two reasons
  • 00:19:56.985 --> 00:19:59.187
  • To get rid of a leader, a pastor, two reasons.
  • 00:19:59.187 --> 00:20:03.258
  • Reason number one, if he preaches heresy.
  • 00:20:03.258 --> 00:20:07.229
  • If i ever stand in this pulpit
  • 00:20:07.229 --> 00:20:10.098
  • And deny the deity of jesus christ,
  • 00:20:10.098 --> 00:20:13.402
  • The inspiration of the scripture,
  • 00:20:13.402 --> 00:20:14.870
  • The blood atonement of christ for our sins,
  • 00:20:14.870 --> 00:20:16.872
  • The literal return of jesus christ one day,
  • 00:20:16.872 --> 00:20:20.309
  • If i ever deny those basics,
  • 00:20:20.309 --> 00:20:22.144
  • I'm not talking about, does the tribulation and the rapture
  • 00:20:22.144 --> 00:20:26.048
  • Come before or after the millennium?
  • 00:20:26.048 --> 00:20:27.516
  • I'm not talking about that.
  • 00:20:27.516 --> 00:20:28.750
  • I'm talking about basic, basic bible doctrine,
  • 00:20:28.750 --> 00:20:32.120
  • The basics of the faith.
  • 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:33.388
  • If i ever deny those truths,
  • 00:20:33.388 --> 00:20:36.758
  • You need to call a business meeting
  • 00:20:36.758 --> 00:20:38.327
  • And fire me as your pastor.
  • 00:20:38.327 --> 00:20:40.595
  • There's no place for that.
  • 00:20:40.595 --> 00:20:42.764
  • The second reason to get rid of a leader is immorality.
  • 00:20:42.764 --> 00:20:48.503
  • 1 timothy 5:19 talks about
  • 00:20:48.503 --> 00:20:51.740
  • Not just an accusation against a pastor,
  • 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:54.710
  • But if you have proof
  • 00:20:54.710 --> 00:20:56.812
  • On the basis of two or three eyewitnesses,
  • 00:20:56.812 --> 00:20:59.514
  • You're to get rid of him, you're to get rid of him.
  • 00:20:59.514 --> 00:21:03.385
  • But any other offense outside of that, what does jesus say?
  • 00:21:03.385 --> 00:21:09.124
  • Leave them alone, leave them alone.
  • 00:21:09.124 --> 00:21:11.026
  • Let god deal with it.
  • 00:21:11.026 --> 00:21:12.861
  • I had a deacon who called me from another church,
  • 00:21:12.861 --> 00:21:16.298
  • And he told me this story.
  • 00:21:16.298 --> 00:21:17.866
  • He said he was not pleased with the pastor,
  • 00:21:17.866 --> 00:21:20.535
  • The current pastor that they had,
  • 00:21:20.535 --> 00:21:22.938
  • And some other deacons came to him and said,
  • 00:21:22.938 --> 00:21:25.440
  • "we sense you're as upset with those pastors as we are.
  • 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:29.745
  • We want you to join us in removing the pastor from office."
  • 00:21:29.745 --> 00:21:34.216
  • And this deacon said, "i told them no."
  • 00:21:34.216 --> 00:21:37.552
  • They were astonished.
  • 00:21:37.552 --> 00:21:38.520
  • They said, "well, why not?"
  • 00:21:38.520 --> 00:21:40.655
  • He said, "if we uproot this pastor,
  • 00:21:40.655 --> 00:21:45.394
  • We will also uproot the other members in the church
  • 00:21:45.394 --> 00:21:49.264
  • Who revere him and respect him.
  • 00:21:49.264 --> 00:21:51.666
  • We can't do that.
  • 00:21:51.666 --> 00:21:53.668
  • Leave him alone and let god deal with it."
  • 00:21:53.668 --> 00:21:56.471
  • That's what jesus was saying here.
  • 00:21:56.471 --> 00:21:58.540
  • If you try to uproot somebody that the father did not plant,
  • 00:21:58.540 --> 00:22:04.813
  • It will hurt other people in the process as well.
  • 00:22:04.813 --> 00:22:07.716
  • Now, i'm talking to some of you right now
  • 00:22:07.716 --> 00:22:10.018
  • Watching this message.
  • 00:22:10.018 --> 00:22:11.520
  • You're in a church and you don't care for your pastor.
  • 00:22:11.520 --> 00:22:13.722
  • You disagree with him.
  • 00:22:13.722 --> 00:22:15.891
  • Pray for him.
  • 00:22:15.891 --> 00:22:17.659
  • If you need to, go talk to him,
  • 00:22:17.659 --> 00:22:19.294
  • And share your concern in a spirit of love,
  • 00:22:19.294 --> 00:22:23.165
  • And if you still can't resolve it,
  • 00:22:23.165 --> 00:22:25.834
  • Don't try to get rid of him.
  • 00:22:25.834 --> 00:22:27.135
  • Don't lead a rebellion.
  • 00:22:27.135 --> 00:22:28.437
  • Don't be guilty of disenchanting
  • 00:22:28.437 --> 00:22:31.640
  • And disillusioning other christians.
  • 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:34.443
  • Go find a church, go find a pastor that you respect
  • 00:22:34.443 --> 00:22:39.080
  • And whose authority you can follow.
  • 00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:41.183
  • That's the way you deal with leaders
  • 00:22:41.183 --> 00:22:43.819
  • That you don't agree with.
  • 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:46.621
  • But the vast majority of pastors out there today
  • 00:22:46.621 --> 00:22:50.158
  • Are not bad pastors.
  • 00:22:50.158 --> 00:22:51.827
  • They're doing the best they can to take care of you,
  • 00:22:51.827 --> 00:22:55.330
  • To watch over your soul,
  • 00:22:55.330 --> 00:22:57.466
  • So let's talk about how we do respond
  • 00:22:57.466 --> 00:23:00.168
  • To pastors and spiritual leaders in the church.
  • 00:23:00.168 --> 00:23:03.772
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:23:03.772 --> 00:23:08.910
  • There's more i want to show you
  • 00:23:08.910 --> 00:23:10.445
  • In this 13th chapter of hebrews,
  • 00:23:10.445 --> 00:23:12.280
  • So make plans to join us again next time
  • 00:23:12.280 --> 00:23:15.283
  • For the final message in our series, spiritual fitness.
  • 00:23:15.283 --> 00:23:19.688
  • Now in closing today, i'd like to affirm those of you
  • 00:23:19.688 --> 00:23:21.990
  • Who have given generously to pathway to victory.
  • 00:23:21.990 --> 00:23:25.827
  • Our country has gone through difficult trials
  • 00:23:25.827 --> 00:23:28.296
  • In the last 12 months,
  • 00:23:28.296 --> 00:23:30.065
  • And it's been unsettling, to say the least,
  • 00:23:30.065 --> 00:23:33.168
  • And yet god's people have pulled together
  • 00:23:33.168 --> 00:23:36.171
  • To ensure that pathway to victory has a voice,
  • 00:23:36.171 --> 00:23:39.608
  • And for millions of people around the world,
  • 00:23:39.608 --> 00:23:41.910
  • Your gift has become a spiritual lifeline
  • 00:23:41.910 --> 00:23:45.413
  • Because our television and radio ministries
  • 00:23:45.413 --> 00:23:48.049
  • Have become a place of solace and truth for so many people.
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  • So do all of our pathway partners
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  • And anyone who gives a gift,
  • 00:23:54.656 --> 00:23:57.158
  • Please keep up the good work.
  • 00:23:57.158 --> 00:23:59.794
  • God is using your generosity
  • 00:23:59.794 --> 00:24:01.963
  • To pierce the darkness with a light of his word.
  • 00:24:01.963 --> 00:24:05.534
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:24:05.534 --> 00:24:07.035
  • I'll be back with more pathway to victory in just a moment.
  • 00:24:07.035 --> 00:24:11.339
  • [announcer] when was the last time you heard god
  • 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:13.241
  • Speak to you from his word?
  • 00:24:13.241 --> 00:24:14.943
  • Dr. robert jeffress believes that growing closer to god
  • 00:24:14.943 --> 00:24:18.046
  • Begins with reading your bible and spending time in prayer.
  • 00:24:18.046 --> 00:24:21.449
  • Make god your priority by spending quality time in his
  • 00:24:21.449 --> 00:24:25.020
  • Word with the brand new 2025 pathway to victory daily devotional.
  • 00:24:25.020 --> 00:24:29.791
  • Of all the ways god could have revealed himself to us,
  • 00:24:29.791 --> 00:24:33.194
  • He chose to do it through the written word.
  • 00:24:33.194 --> 00:24:36.364
  • And that's why it's so important for you and for me
  • 00:24:36.364 --> 00:24:38.667
  • To set aside regular time to read the word of god.
  • 00:24:38.667 --> 00:24:42.971
  • [announcer] whether you've been a christian for a lot
  • 00:24:42.971 --> 00:24:44.739
  • Of years or just a short while, the principles found
  • 00:24:44.739 --> 00:24:47.576
  • In this year's devotional will help breathe new life
  • 00:24:47.576 --> 00:24:50.345
  • Into your walk with god.
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  • Ready to get back to the basics of your christian faith?
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  • Request your copy of the 2025 pathway to victory
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  • Daily devotional when you give a generous gift to
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  • The complete spiritual fitness teaching series on
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  • We'll discover one thing all of these men and women had
  • 00:25:12.867 --> 00:25:15.503
  • In common is they believed god and they acted according
  • 00:25:15.503 --> 00:25:20.175
  • To their belief in god.
  • 00:25:20.175 --> 00:25:21.710
  • They did something as a demonstration of their faith.
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  • [announcer] thank you for giving generously to support
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  • 00:25:36.424 --> 00:25:39.494
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:25:39.494 --> 00:25:41.663
  • The writer's command to obey and submit to your leaders
  • 00:25:41.663 --> 00:25:45.100
  • Is a difficult one for multiple reasons,
  • 00:25:45.100 --> 00:25:48.203
  • But apart from an abusive pastor
  • 00:25:48.203 --> 00:25:50.572
  • Who needs to be removed from his position,
  • 00:25:50.572 --> 00:25:53.208
  • The bible firmly instructs us
  • 00:25:53.208 --> 00:25:55.310
  • To respect our pastor's authority.
  • 00:25:55.310 --> 00:25:58.213
  • And next time,
  • 00:25:58.213 --> 00:25:59.714
  • We're going to talk about the meaning of this command.
  • 00:25:59.714 --> 00:26:02.417
  • Whom are we to follow?
  • 00:26:02.417 --> 00:26:04.219
  • What are we supposed to do?
  • 00:26:04.219 --> 00:26:06.054
  • And why should we respond this way?
  • 00:26:06.054 --> 00:26:08.723
  • Stay tuned for a preview
  • 00:26:08.723 --> 00:26:09.958
  • Of what's coming up next on pathway to victory.
  • 00:26:09.958 --> 00:26:14.896
  • If you don't have somebody watching out for your soul,
  • 00:26:14.896 --> 00:26:20.969
  • Get under the authority of a local church.
  • 00:26:20.969 --> 00:26:24.105
  • You know, in our american individualistic society,
  • 00:26:24.105 --> 00:26:27.175
  • We think all we need
  • 00:26:27.175 --> 00:26:28.376
  • Is just me and my relationship with god.
  • 00:26:28.376 --> 00:26:31.079
  • That's enough.
  • 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:32.013
  • I don't need other people.
  • 00:26:32.013 --> 00:26:33.515
  • No, we need one another.
  • 00:26:33.515 --> 00:26:35.950
  • That's why god created the church.
  • 00:26:35.950 --> 00:26:39.020
  • [announcer] set your dv-r and join us next time
  • 00:26:39.020 --> 00:26:41.389
  • For part two of the message how to treat your next pastor
  • 00:26:41.389 --> 00:26:45.527
  • Here on pathway to victory.
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • And seek the one who sought us first, in his creation
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