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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - It's Later Than You Think (Part 2)

June 26, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - It's Later Than You Think (Part 2)
Pathway to Victory provides practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through clear, Biblical teaching.
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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - It's Later Than You Think (Part 2) | June 26, 2026
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
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  • Dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • The rapid moral decline of our culture is convincing evidence
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  • That the day of christ's coming again is drawing near.
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  • And as i often say, one of two things is going to happen:
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  • Either he's coming or we're going.
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  • But either way, the end is near for all of us.
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  • And for that reason, it's essential that we give our
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  • Tireless attention to making disciples for jesus christ.
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  • My message is titled "it's later than you think" on today's
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  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪ i can see jesus, high and exalted ♪
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  • ♪ my eyes are fixed upon his face ♪
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  • ♪ it shines like the sun ♪
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  • ♪ i can see jesus, clothed in glory. ♪
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  • ♪ he is high and lifted up. ♪
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  • ♪ and his faith fills the temple. ♪
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  • ♪ and all of the angels cry holy. ♪
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  • ♪ all the saints cry holy. ♪
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  • ♪ all creation cries holy. ♪
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  • ♪ holy is the lamb. ♪
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  • ♪ all praise unto the lamb who sits on the throne. ♪
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  • ♪ honor and power. ♪
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  • ♪ dominion and praise. ♪
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  • ♪ unto the lamb who sits on the throne. ♪
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  • ♪ honor and power. ♪
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  • ♪ dominion and praise. ♪
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  • ♪ unto the lamb who sits on the throne. ♪
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  • ♪ honor and power. ♪
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  • ♪ dominion and praise. ♪
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  • ♪ unto the lamb who sits on the throne. ♪
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  • ♪ honor and power. ♪
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  • ♪ dominion and praise. ♪
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  • ♪ hallelujah, hallelujah. ♪
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  • ♪ hallelujah. ♪
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  • ♪ hallelujah, hallelujah. ♪
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  • ♪ hallelujah. ♪
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  • ♪ hallelujah, hallelujah. ♪
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  • ♪ hallelujah. ♪
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  • ♪ hallelujah, hallelujah. ♪
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  • ♪ hallelujah. ♪
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  • ♪ all praise unto the lamb who sits on the throne. ♪
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  • ♪ honor and power. ♪
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  • ♪ dominion and praise. ♪
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  • ♪ unto the lamb who was and is. ♪
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  • ♪ and is to come. ♪
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  • ♪ all praise unto the lamb who sits on the throne. ♪
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  • ♪ honor and power. ♪
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  • ♪ dominion and praise. ♪
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  • ♪ unto the lamb who was and is. ♪
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  • ♪ and is to come. ♪
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  • ♪ hallelujah. ♪
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  • ♪ hallelujah. ♪♪
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  • Jeffress: before today's program begins, i want to invite you to
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  • Join me for a special message about america's future.
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  • Our nation is celebrating 250 years, but can we survive
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  • 250 more?
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  • Mark your calendar for june 21 and june 28 to hear this timely
  • 00:04:15.912 --> 00:04:20.950
  • Message, "america at the crossroads: can we survive
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  • Another 250 years?"
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  • On "pathway to victory."
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  • Announcer: as our nation marks 250 years, america
  • 00:04:31.227 --> 00:04:34.263
  • Stands at a crossroads.
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  • Will we return to the god who blessed us or continue down a
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  • Path that leads to ruin?
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  • Through the in god we trust matching challenge, your gift
  • 00:04:41.204 --> 00:04:44.107
  • Today will be doubled in ministry impact.
  • 00:04:44.107 --> 00:04:46.776
  • For 30 years, "pathway to victory" has pierced the
  • 00:04:46.776 --> 00:04:49.345
  • Darkness of our nation with the light of god's word by sharing
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  • Biblical truth that transforms hearts.
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  • Join us in this critical hour by giving toward the in god we
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  • Trust matching challenge today.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: now, when you get up and finally get yourself out of
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  • Bed, what's the first thing you do?
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  • Well, you get dressed.
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  • And the reason you get dressed is the clothing you were wearing
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  • At night, or the lack of clothing you were wearing at
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  • Night, may be suitable for the nighttime, but it's certainly
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  • Not suitable for the daytime.
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  • There is some clothing that is suitable for the nighttime that
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  • There's other clothing that is only suitable for the daytime
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  • And you wouldn't dare think about wearing what you wore at
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  • Night in the daytime.
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  • It just wouldn't be proper.
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  • To help you understand that i want us to, for just a moment,
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  • Rewind the tape of this morning's sermon.
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  • And i want you to imagine that today's sermon began this
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  • Way instead.
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  • Watch the screen.
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  • Jeffress: there are a number of different ways to
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  • Categorize people.
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  • Some people are hot-natured, others are cold-natured.
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  • You can distinguish people by personality types.
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  • Some people are melancholy.
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  • Jeffress: there are just certain kinds of clothing you don't wear
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  • In the daytime.
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  • Now, paul is saying the same thing about our behavior.
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  • He uses clothing as a metaphor for behavior.
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  • There's certain behavior we put off because the night is over.
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  • And there's other kind of behavior that we need to put on.
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  • Throughout the bible, righteousness, a right
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  • Relationship, with god is often compared to clothing.
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  • Now again, we're gonna wade into some theological waters here for
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  • Just a moment, but this is very, very practical.
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  • You know, the word righteousness means a right standing with god.
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  • And there are two kinds of righteousness in the bible.
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  • I didn't put it on your outline, so write it in.
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  • There's what we call, first of all, imputed righteousness,
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  • I-m-p-u-t-e-d, imputed righteousness.
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  • That is righteousness that god imputes--that is, he credits to
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  • Our account the moment we become a christian.
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  • Imputed righteousness.
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  • It is a gift of god.
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  • The moment we trust in christ, we are declared to be
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  • Not guilty.
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  • It is a gift from god.
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  • It is nothing we earn.
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  • The bible also describes that kind of righteousness as a
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  • Garment that god puts on us.
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  • Do you remember the illustration i used before about man who
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  • Takes his wife to dinner to a very nice restaurant.
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  • He's dressed in nice casual clothes, but when he gets to the
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  • Restaurant, he discovers there's a policy that says, "dinner
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  • Jackets required."
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  • He complains to the maître d' that he was unaware of
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  • The policy.
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  • The maître d' said, "it doesn't matter, that's our policy."
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  • But he said, "you're not the only one who's come in here like
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  • This, and that's why we keep a spare jacket here.
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  • And if you'd like, you can borrow this jacket and you can
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  • Come in and have a great meal."
  • 00:08:00.169 --> 00:08:02.071
  • Now, at that point, you have a choice.
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  • You can either out of pride say, "if you don't like me the way
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  • I'm dressed, well, you can just hang it on your beak.
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  • I'm out of here, and here we go."
  • 00:08:09.512 --> 00:08:11.447
  • Or you can humble yourself and say, "i'll follow the policy.
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  • I'll accept the gift of that coat.
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  • I will put it on so i can enjoy a great meal."
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  • You know, the same is true for us spiritually.
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  • None of us has the right clothing, so to speak,
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  • To enter into heaven.
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  • Our righteousness, the best we can do, is like a filthy garment
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  • To god, the bible says.
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  • We can never enter heaven in our own, but god makes us the deal.
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  • He said, "you don't have enough righteousness, but i've got lots
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  • Of righteousness.
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  • And if you will confess your sin and trust in jesus to be your
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  • Savior, i will put his righteousness around you.
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  • I'll wrap you in his righteousness.
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  • And from that point on, when i see you, i don't see your sin, i
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  • See the righteousness of my son."
  • 00:08:57.560 --> 00:09:00.496
  • Now, at that point, we can say, "god, i don't care.
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  • If you don't take me the way i am, forget it."
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  • And we miss eternity with god in heaven.
  • 00:09:06.836 --> 00:09:09.372
  • Or we can humble ourselves and we can say, "god, i believe what
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  • You've said.
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  • And in humility, i accept the gift of your righteousness by
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  • Trusting in christ."
  • 00:09:18.280 --> 00:09:20.049
  • The bible calls that imputed righteousness.
  • 00:09:20.049 --> 00:09:23.486
  • You know, philippians 3:9 says, "my prayer," paul said, "is that
  • 00:09:23.486 --> 00:09:27.456
  • I might be found in him not having a righteousness of my
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  • Own, which comes from obeying the law."
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  • That's not good enough.
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  • I want the righteousness that comes from god on the basis of
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  • Faith in christ.
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  • We sing that song often, "when he shall come with trumpet
  • 00:09:42.471 --> 00:09:46.275
  • Sound, oh, may i then in him be found dressed in his
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  • Righteousness alone.
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  • Faultless to stand before the throne.
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  • On christ, the solid rock i stand all other ground is
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  • Sinking sand."
  • 00:10:02.291 --> 00:10:03.626
  • That is imputed righteousness.
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  • We receive it as a gift.
  • 00:10:06.295 --> 00:10:08.497
  • You know, the romans actually had two kind of garments.
  • 00:10:08.497 --> 00:10:12.168
  • They had the inner tunic, the foundational garment, what we
  • 00:10:12.168 --> 00:10:16.772
  • Might call underwear today.
  • 00:10:16.772 --> 00:10:18.340
  • It's the foundational garment.
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  • Imputed righteousness is that foundational garment that all of
  • 00:10:20.976 --> 00:10:24.480
  • Us need to enter into heaven.
  • 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:25.815
  • But there's a second kind of righteousness--that is, ethical
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  • Righteousness, ethical righteousness.
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  • That refers to our acts after we're a christian, our obedience
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  • To god--not to earn our salvation,
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  • But in light of what christ has done for us.
  • 00:10:40.996 --> 00:10:43.866
  • Now, when paul talks about putting on the armor of light,
  • 00:10:43.866 --> 00:10:48.237
  • Putting on new behavior, he's talking about that second kind
  • 00:10:48.237 --> 00:10:51.841
  • Of righteousness.
  • 00:10:51.841 --> 00:10:53.175
  • He's talking about putting on obedience to god, not to earn
  • 00:10:53.175 --> 00:10:57.046
  • Your salvation, but out of appreciation for what god has
  • 00:10:57.046 --> 00:11:01.984
  • Done for us.
  • 00:11:01.984 --> 00:11:03.319
  • Now, look at verse 12 of romans 13, "the night is almost gone,
  • 00:11:03.319 --> 00:11:07.890
  • And the day is hand.
  • 00:11:07.890 --> 00:11:09.658
  • Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness," the behavior
  • 00:11:09.658 --> 00:11:15.297
  • Of darkness, "and put on the armor of light."
  • 00:11:15.297 --> 00:11:18.634
  • What kind of garments do we need to remove?
  • 00:11:18.634 --> 00:11:21.137
  • Look at verse 13, he says, "let us behave properly as in the
  • 00:11:21.137 --> 00:11:25.174
  • Day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual
  • 00:11:25.174 --> 00:11:30.012
  • Promiscuity and sensuality, and not in strife and jealousy."
  • 00:11:30.012 --> 00:11:34.316
  • Paul talks about three kinds of behavior every christian needs
  • 00:11:34.316 --> 00:11:37.653
  • To lay aside.
  • 00:11:37.653 --> 00:11:39.221
  • In light of the fact that christ is almost here, in light of the
  • 00:11:39.221 --> 00:11:42.458
  • Fact that we're gonna stand before the judgment seat of
  • 00:11:42.458 --> 00:11:44.894
  • Christ one day to be evaluated, there are three kinds of
  • 00:11:44.894 --> 00:11:48.097
  • Behavior we need to be done with.
  • 00:11:48.097 --> 00:11:50.966
  • We need to lay aside.
  • 00:11:50.966 --> 00:11:52.301
  • First of all, he talks about uncontrollable pleasure.
  • 00:11:52.301 --> 00:11:55.704
  • He refers to carousing and drunkenness.
  • 00:11:55.704 --> 00:11:59.742
  • These refer to activities of the nighttime.
  • 00:11:59.742 --> 00:12:05.681
  • You know, some people out of a desire to anesthetize themselves
  • 00:12:05.681 --> 00:12:09.785
  • From the pain of life, they do so with alcohol and drugs and
  • 00:12:09.785 --> 00:12:14.056
  • Partying, and more often than not, they engage in these
  • 00:12:14.056 --> 00:12:18.661
  • Activities at nighttime when they would never think of doing
  • 00:12:18.661 --> 00:12:21.664
  • Them in the daytime.
  • 00:12:21.664 --> 00:12:23.732
  • You know how some things your parents say to you just stick
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  • With you, you know, forever.
  • 00:12:26.569 --> 00:12:28.437
  • No matter how much you try to get them out of your mind, they
  • 00:12:28.437 --> 00:12:31.073
  • Just stick with you.
  • 00:12:31.073 --> 00:12:32.708
  • One of the best things my parents ever said to me--i'll
  • 00:12:32.708 --> 00:12:35.477
  • Never forget it--is, "robert, remember this, rarely does
  • 00:12:35.477 --> 00:12:40.482
  • Anything good happen after midnight."
  • 00:12:40.482 --> 00:12:44.453
  • You know, i thought about that, and then julia's laughing 'cause
  • 00:12:44.453 --> 00:12:47.656
  • She knows, i would say that to her and dorothy all the time
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  • They were growing up.
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  • Remember, nothing good happens after midnight.
  • 00:12:52.428 --> 00:12:55.531
  • And that's what he's saying here.
  • 00:12:55.531 --> 00:12:57.466
  • This is behavior that is suitable for the nighttime, but
  • 00:12:57.466 --> 00:13:00.903
  • Not for the daytime.
  • 00:13:00.903 --> 00:13:02.271
  • Secondly, he says we need to lay aside unrestrained immorality.
  • 00:13:02.271 --> 00:13:07.376
  • He's talking about sexual promiscuity, sensual activities.
  • 00:13:07.376 --> 00:13:11.313
  • Again, things that are done in secrecy, in the cloak
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  • Of darkness, and then thirdly,
  • 00:13:14.817 --> 00:13:16.919
  • He talks about unresolved anger that is strife and jealousy.
  • 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:22.324
  • Isn't it interesting that as christians, we say,
  • 00:13:22.324 --> 00:13:25.461
  • "well, sexual immorality, that's terrible.
  • 00:13:25.461 --> 00:13:27.529
  • But yeah, it's okay to go around resenting other christians.
  • 00:13:27.529 --> 00:13:31.233
  • It's okay going around having these outbursts of anger and
  • 00:13:31.233 --> 00:13:34.503
  • Spewing all over people.
  • 00:13:34.503 --> 00:13:36.205
  • It's okay to harbor bitterness in your heart toward--"
  • 00:13:36.205 --> 00:13:39.308
  • No, god says.
  • 00:13:39.308 --> 00:13:41.076
  • You need to lay that stuff aside too, why?
  • 00:13:41.076 --> 00:13:44.380
  • Because christ is coming back. lay aside those things.
  • 00:13:44.380 --> 00:13:49.318
  • And then secondly, he talks about what we need to put on.
  • 00:13:49.318 --> 00:13:52.354
  • You don't just take off behavior.
  • 00:13:52.354 --> 00:13:54.390
  • There's another set of clothes, so to speak, you need to put on.
  • 00:13:54.390 --> 00:13:57.793
  • Now, if i had been paul and i've been writing this letter, i
  • 00:13:57.793 --> 00:14:01.096
  • Would have probably come up with a laundry list of behaviors
  • 00:14:01.096 --> 00:14:04.133
  • Christians ought to put on: love, gentleness, self-control,
  • 00:14:04.133 --> 00:14:07.569
  • Peace, all those sorts of things.
  • 00:14:07.569 --> 00:14:09.805
  • Paul doesn't do that.
  • 00:14:09.805 --> 00:14:11.173
  • Instead, he simply says, verse 14, "put on the lord
  • 00:14:11.173 --> 00:14:15.444
  • Jesus christ."
  • 00:14:15.444 --> 00:14:17.246
  • Put on the lord jesus christ.
  • 00:14:17.246 --> 00:14:19.949
  • That is, if you wanna know how to behave, just look at jesus.
  • 00:14:19.949 --> 00:14:25.254
  • Behave like jesus would.
  • 00:14:25.254 --> 00:14:27.990
  • When you're standing in front of that magazine stand, perusing
  • 00:14:27.990 --> 00:14:31.927
  • The different covers and deciding where your eyes are
  • 00:14:31.927 --> 00:14:34.530
  • Gonna land, what would jesus do?
  • 00:14:34.530 --> 00:14:38.467
  • When you're surfing that internet site, trying to fill up
  • 00:14:38.467 --> 00:14:42.004
  • Some time, what sites would jesus be looking at?
  • 00:14:42.004 --> 00:14:46.842
  • When the name of one of your enemies pops up in a
  • 00:14:46.842 --> 00:14:49.211
  • Conversation and you're tempted to say something, what would
  • 00:14:49.211 --> 00:14:53.215
  • Jesus do?
  • 00:14:53.215 --> 00:14:55.150
  • That's what he's saying here, "put on jesus christ."
  • 00:14:55.150 --> 00:14:58.754
  • And then he adds the phrase, "make no provision for the flesh
  • 00:14:58.754 --> 00:15:03.492
  • In regard to its lust."
  • 00:15:03.492 --> 00:15:06.261
  • He has two things in mind here.
  • 00:15:06.261 --> 00:15:08.931
  • He says, first of all, don't rationalize sinful behavior.
  • 00:15:08.931 --> 00:15:13.402
  • Don't say, "well, you know, i'm only human.
  • 00:15:13.402 --> 00:15:15.738
  • God doesn't expect me to be perfect.
  • 00:15:15.738 --> 00:15:18.340
  • I'm gonna give myself permission to do this."
  • 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:20.542
  • I love people who say, "i thought i'd give myself
  • 00:15:20.542 --> 00:15:22.277
  • Permission to do this."
  • 00:15:22.277 --> 00:15:24.613
  • No, don't do that.
  • 00:15:24.613 --> 00:15:25.948
  • Remember what james said in james 1?
  • 00:15:25.948 --> 00:15:27.449
  • "let no man say when he's tempted,
  • 00:15:27.449 --> 00:15:29.118
  • That he's being tempted by god."
  • 00:15:29.118 --> 00:15:31.186
  • Some christians actually rationalize sinful behavior.
  • 00:15:31.186 --> 00:15:34.223
  • "well, you know, god's probably allowing me to do this so i can
  • 00:15:34.223 --> 00:15:37.626
  • Know his grace more and more and understand i'm not perfect."
  • 00:15:37.626 --> 00:15:40.295
  • They actually use god as the excuse.
  • 00:15:40.295 --> 00:15:41.930
  • He said don't do that.
  • 00:15:41.930 --> 00:15:43.265
  • Don't rationalize your sin.
  • 00:15:43.265 --> 00:15:44.867
  • And not only that, give yourself a zero-tolerance level for sin.
  • 00:15:44.867 --> 00:15:50.806
  • There are some of you right now who maybe are single adults
  • 00:15:50.806 --> 00:15:53.409
  • And you're saying in your dating life, "well, you know, i can't
  • 00:15:53.409 --> 00:15:56.111
  • Be 100% pure, so i'll go this far in immoral activities,
  • 00:15:56.111 --> 00:16:01.216
  • But i won't cross the line.
  • 00:16:01.216 --> 00:16:02.851
  • I won't go any further than this."
  • 00:16:02.851 --> 00:16:05.988
  • And then the line gets moved a little further and a little
  • 00:16:05.988 --> 00:16:08.624
  • Further and a little further.
  • 00:16:08.624 --> 00:16:12.561
  • Now, sin is addictive.
  • 00:16:12.561 --> 00:16:15.764
  • I know i'm dating myself, but how many of you remember the old
  • 00:16:15.764 --> 00:16:18.600
  • Commercial for lay's potato chips?
  • 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:21.036
  • Remember the slogan?
  • 00:16:21.036 --> 00:16:22.571
  • "i bet you can't eat just one."
  • 00:16:22.571 --> 00:16:26.308
  • And they were right. you couldn't.
  • 00:16:26.308 --> 00:16:28.944
  • Let me tell you another motto to live by.
  • 00:16:28.944 --> 00:16:30.879
  • You can't just sin a little bit. sin is addictive.
  • 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:36.919
  • The more you sin, the more you want to sin.
  • 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:39.288
  • And so that's why paul is saying have a
  • 00:16:39.288 --> 00:16:41.190
  • Zero-tolerance level here.
  • 00:16:41.190 --> 00:16:43.292
  • "make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."
  • 00:16:43.292 --> 00:16:49.965
  • Paul said in light of the fact that christ is about to appear,
  • 00:16:49.965 --> 00:16:53.535
  • It's time to get up.
  • 00:16:53.535 --> 00:16:55.471
  • It's time to get dressed, and thirdly,
  • 00:16:55.471 --> 00:16:58.907
  • It's time to go to work.
  • 00:16:58.907 --> 00:17:01.210
  • It's time to go to work.
  • 00:17:01.210 --> 00:17:03.278
  • I want you to hold your place here and turn over to ephesians
  • 00:17:03.278 --> 00:17:05.280
  • Chapter 5 for just a minute.
  • 00:17:05.280 --> 00:17:07.716
  • Ephesians chapter 5.
  • 00:17:07.716 --> 00:17:09.118
  • I heard about a person who said, "i sleep fine at night.
  • 00:17:09.118 --> 00:17:13.188
  • I sleep fine in the morning.
  • 00:17:13.188 --> 00:17:14.823
  • I just toss and turn all afternoon."
  • 00:17:14.823 --> 00:17:18.260
  • Well, you know, a lot of christians are like
  • 00:17:18.260 --> 00:17:19.862
  • That spiritually.
  • 00:17:19.862 --> 00:17:21.330
  • They are in a spiritual stupor.
  • 00:17:21.330 --> 00:17:24.433
  • They walk around spiritually asleep, not having a clue as to
  • 00:17:24.433 --> 00:17:29.238
  • What time it is.
  • 00:17:29.238 --> 00:17:30.739
  • Look at how paul addresses this in ephesians 5:14 through 16,
  • 00:17:30.739 --> 00:17:34.376
  • "for this reason," it says, "awake, sleeper, and arise from
  • 00:17:34.376 --> 00:17:38.981
  • The dead and christ will shine on you.
  • 00:17:38.981 --> 00:17:42.551
  • Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as
  • 00:17:42.551 --> 00:17:47.189
  • Wise, making the most of your time, because the day is evil."
  • 00:17:47.189 --> 00:17:55.197
  • Understand what time it is.
  • 00:17:55.197 --> 00:17:57.533
  • It's time to get busy because the day is just about here.
  • 00:17:57.533 --> 00:18:01.870
  • The day of christ appearing is just about here.
  • 00:18:01.870 --> 00:18:05.641
  • It's time to get up.
  • 00:18:05.641 --> 00:18:07.009
  • You know, it's interesting.
  • 00:18:07.009 --> 00:18:08.343
  • Jesus said in john 9, verse 4, something that almost seemed
  • 00:18:08.343 --> 00:18:13.282
  • Opposite of what paul said.
  • 00:18:13.282 --> 00:18:15.184
  • Jesus said, "work while it is day for the night is coming when
  • 00:18:15.184 --> 00:18:20.656
  • No man can work."
  • 00:18:20.656 --> 00:18:22.558
  • Now, they weren't contradicting each other.
  • 00:18:22.558 --> 00:18:24.293
  • They were looking at the same truth from a
  • 00:18:24.293 --> 00:18:26.094
  • Different perspective.
  • 00:18:26.094 --> 00:18:27.896
  • Paul said, in light of the fact that christ is about to appear,
  • 00:18:27.896 --> 00:18:31.366
  • The day is about to come, go to work.
  • 00:18:31.366 --> 00:18:34.903
  • Jesus was saying, the fact that we've got opportunity now to do
  • 00:18:34.903 --> 00:18:40.943
  • The works of god doesn't mean we'll always
  • 00:18:40.943 --> 00:18:43.345
  • Have those opportunities.
  • 00:18:43.345 --> 00:18:44.813
  • Work while it's day, for the night is coming when
  • 00:18:44.813 --> 00:18:47.249
  • It will be too late to do any work.
  • 00:18:47.249 --> 00:18:49.785
  • Both are saying the same thing.
  • 00:18:49.785 --> 00:18:52.221
  • It's right now time to go to work.
  • 00:18:52.221 --> 00:18:55.591
  • It's time to lay aside that sinful behavior that causes you
  • 00:18:55.591 --> 00:19:01.563
  • To feel separated from god.
  • 00:19:01.563 --> 00:19:03.966
  • It's time to let go of those addictions that are destroying
  • 00:19:03.966 --> 00:19:07.703
  • Your life.
  • 00:19:07.703 --> 00:19:09.238
  • It is time to end that relationship that is dragging
  • 00:19:09.238 --> 00:19:12.407
  • You so far down.
  • 00:19:12.407 --> 00:19:14.576
  • It's time to start having a time with god every day, a time
  • 00:19:14.576 --> 00:19:19.648
  • That's gonna be the priority for you for the rest of your life.
  • 00:19:19.648 --> 00:19:23.685
  • It's time to start using that spiritual gift god has given you
  • 00:19:23.685 --> 00:19:27.489
  • To do the one thing he's left you here on earth to do,
  • 00:19:27.489 --> 00:19:30.459
  • And that is to make disciples for christ.
  • 00:19:30.459 --> 00:19:33.262
  • It's time to go to work.
  • 00:19:33.262 --> 00:19:35.998
  • You know, i have that sense more right now than i've ever had in
  • 00:19:35.998 --> 00:19:42.037
  • My life.
  • 00:19:42.037 --> 00:19:44.072
  • You know, people will come up and say the funniest things
  • 00:19:44.072 --> 00:19:47.909
  • To you, but people come up to me and they say,
  • 00:19:47.909 --> 00:19:51.013
  • "pastor, you look so tired."
  • 00:19:51.013 --> 00:19:54.416
  • And when i was younger i used to say,
  • 00:19:54.416 --> 00:19:56.418
  • "oh, no, i'm not tired at all.
  • 00:19:56.418 --> 00:19:58.654
  • It's just allergies.
  • 00:19:58.654 --> 00:19:59.988
  • That's all it is. i'm fine."
  • 00:19:59.988 --> 00:20:02.457
  • Now i just tell the truth. i look tired because i am tired.
  • 00:20:02.457 --> 00:20:06.495
  • I mean, i'm exhausted.
  • 00:20:06.495 --> 00:20:09.264
  • But there's a reason i feel that way.
  • 00:20:09.264 --> 00:20:11.900
  • There's something inside of me that says right now is the time
  • 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:16.038
  • To work.
  • 00:20:16.038 --> 00:20:17.372
  • I think something big is getting ready to happen.
  • 00:20:17.372 --> 00:20:21.376
  • I don't know if that something big is my own mortality and i'm
  • 00:20:21.376 --> 00:20:25.614
  • About to go meet the lord.
  • 00:20:25.614 --> 00:20:27.249
  • I don't know whether it's the lord who is about to return.
  • 00:20:27.249 --> 00:20:30.819
  • I don't know if it's the fact that the opportunities we have
  • 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:33.989
  • As a church right now, we're not gonna have much longer, but
  • 00:20:33.989 --> 00:20:37.659
  • Whatever reason it is, it's time to turn on the after-burners and
  • 00:20:37.659 --> 00:20:42.064
  • It's time to get to work as a church.
  • 00:20:42.064 --> 00:20:44.866
  • That's exactly what he's saying right now.
  • 00:20:44.866 --> 00:20:47.436
  • It's time to go to work.
  • 00:20:47.436 --> 00:20:51.573
  • Many of you know the name of jonathan edwards,
  • 00:20:51.573 --> 00:20:53.709
  • A remarkable man.
  • 00:20:53.709 --> 00:20:55.744
  • Before he was 20 years of age, he wrote a resolution that
  • 00:20:55.744 --> 00:20:59.147
  • Guided the rest of his life.
  • 00:20:59.147 --> 00:21:01.116
  • He said, "resolved never to lose one moment of time, but to
  • 00:21:01.116 --> 00:21:07.222
  • Improve it in the most profitable way i can."
  • 00:21:07.222 --> 00:21:11.760
  • Edwards once preached a sermon based on this passage,
  • 00:21:11.760 --> 00:21:14.629
  • Ephesians 5, called the "preciousness of time
  • 00:21:14.629 --> 00:21:18.166
  • And the importance of redeeming it."
  • 00:21:18.166 --> 00:21:21.069
  • And using this passage from ephesians 5, he came up with
  • 00:21:21.069 --> 00:21:24.139
  • Three principles i want you to write down about time.
  • 00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:26.541
  • He said, number one, consider you are accountable to god for
  • 00:21:26.541 --> 00:21:30.645
  • Your time.
  • 00:21:30.645 --> 00:21:32.147
  • Consider that you're accountable to god for your time.
  • 00:21:32.147 --> 00:21:34.416
  • Do you realize one day when you and i stand before the judgment
  • 00:21:34.416 --> 00:21:37.652
  • Seat of christ for god to evaluate our lives, we're gonna
  • 00:21:37.652 --> 00:21:41.656
  • Give an account of everything he's entrusted to us, including
  • 00:21:41.656 --> 00:21:45.260
  • The time that he's given to us?
  • 00:21:45.260 --> 00:21:48.397
  • Number two, consider how much time you have already lost.
  • 00:21:48.397 --> 00:21:53.769
  • Spend some time thinking about the time you've wasted in
  • 00:21:53.769 --> 00:21:57.539
  • Your life.
  • 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:59.674
  • And then number three, consider how you may improve the present
  • 00:21:59.674 --> 00:22:04.212
  • Time without delay.
  • 00:22:04.212 --> 00:22:06.648
  • Consider how you might improve the present time without
  • 00:22:06.648 --> 00:22:09.151
  • The delay.
  • 00:22:09.151 --> 00:22:10.519
  • Here's the bad news.
  • 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.853
  • You can never reclaim time that you've lost.
  • 00:22:11.853 --> 00:22:13.588
  • It's gone forever.
  • 00:22:13.588 --> 00:22:16.825
  • But the good news is you can make changes in your life right
  • 00:22:16.825 --> 00:22:20.328
  • Now to maximize the time that you have left.
  • 00:22:20.328 --> 00:22:25.434
  • Lloyd ogilvie used to tell the story about a father who would
  • 00:22:25.434 --> 00:22:28.770
  • Put his son to bed every night.
  • 00:22:28.770 --> 00:22:31.773
  • And they would have the ritual of saying this prayer together.
  • 00:22:31.773 --> 00:22:34.476
  • The little boy would pray the prayer.
  • 00:22:34.476 --> 00:22:35.944
  • "now i lay me down to sleep.
  • 00:22:35.944 --> 00:22:38.713
  • I pray the lord my soul to keep.
  • 00:22:38.713 --> 00:22:41.616
  • And if i die before i wake, i pray the lord my soul to take."
  • 00:22:41.616 --> 00:22:47.622
  • One night, the little boy prayed.
  • 00:22:47.622 --> 00:22:49.825
  • "now i lay me down to sleep.
  • 00:22:49.825 --> 00:22:52.060
  • I pray the lord my soul to keep.
  • 00:22:52.060 --> 00:22:54.830
  • And if i wake before i die," he stopped.
  • 00:22:54.830 --> 00:22:59.501
  • He said, "daddy, i'm sorry.
  • 00:22:59.501 --> 00:23:00.936
  • I messed up."
  • 00:23:00.936 --> 00:23:02.838
  • But dad said, "oh, no, son, you didn't mess up at all.
  • 00:23:02.838 --> 00:23:06.875
  • You prayed the most profound prayer anyone could pray.
  • 00:23:06.875 --> 00:23:11.980
  • 'if i wake before i die.'"
  • 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:17.018
  • Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to wake up.
  • 00:23:17.018 --> 00:23:20.856
  • It's time to get up.
  • 00:23:20.856 --> 00:23:22.591
  • It's time to get dressed.
  • 00:23:22.591 --> 00:23:24.326
  • It's time to go to work because the dawn of christ's appearing
  • 00:23:24.326 --> 00:23:31.166
  • Is nearer than it's ever been.
  • 00:23:31.166 --> 00:23:34.503
  • Jeffress: without question, i have a growing sense
  • 00:23:38.573 --> 00:23:40.709
  • For the soon return of jesus christ.
  • 00:23:40.709 --> 00:23:43.411
  • The signs he gave us in scripture are growing in
  • 00:23:43.411 --> 00:23:46.181
  • In intensity and frequency, just as the birth pains a mother
  • 00:23:46.181 --> 00:23:50.385
  • Experiences right before birth, which is why we
  • 00:23:50.385 --> 00:23:54.055
  • Feel so compelled at "pathway to victory"
  • 00:23:54.055 --> 00:23:56.725
  • To reach as many people as possible with the gospel
  • 00:23:56.725 --> 00:23:59.861
  • While there's still time.
  • 00:23:59.861 --> 00:24:01.696
  • Right now, a group of visionary friends has established the
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  • $1.5 million in god we trust matching challenge.
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  • That means your gift between now and july 5 will be matched
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  • And therefore doubled in ministry impact.
  • 00:24:14.342 --> 00:24:17.312
  • As america marks 250 years as a nation, let's stand firm on what
  • 00:24:17.312 --> 00:24:22.684
  • Must remain our true foundation, the word of god.
  • 00:24:22.684 --> 00:24:26.922
  • Now, please stay right there.
  • 00:24:26.922 --> 00:24:28.657
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:28.657 --> 00:24:31.960
  • Announcer: as our nation celebrates 250 years, do we
  • 00:24:33.762 --> 00:24:37.666
  • Still remember the faith that built america?
  • 00:24:37.666 --> 00:24:40.802
  • Dr. robert jeffress has created a beautiful book to make sure
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  • That we and our families never forget.
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  • The brand new 250th commemorative edition
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  • Of "america is a christian nation" is an 88 page, full
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  • Color, large print coffee table book packed with inspiring
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  • Stories from our nation's history, breathtaking imagery of
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  • America, select portraits of our founding fathers, and powerful
  • 00:25:00.255 --> 00:25:04.326
  • Truth from god's word.
  • 00:25:04.326 --> 00:25:06.227
  • Jeffress: america was founded on the principles of the
  • 00:25:06.227 --> 00:25:08.763
  • Judeo-christian faith as revealed in the bible, and our
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  • Future depends on returning to that biblical foundation.
  • 00:25:12.267 --> 00:25:16.671
  • Announcer: request the 250th commemorative edition of
  • 00:25:16.671 --> 00:25:19.908
  • "america is a christian nation" when you give a generous
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  • Ministry gift to "pathway to victory."
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  • You'll also receive the "in god we trust" dvd video and mp3
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  • Format audio disc set featuring two powerful messages from
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  • First baptist dallas choir and orchestra.
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  • And with your ministry gift of $100 or more, we'll also send
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  • Trust matching challenge as together we pierce the darkness
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  • With the light of god's word.
  • 00:26:00.415 --> 00:26:02.684
  • Jeffress: some christians assume that it's far too early to see
  • 00:26:04.719 --> 00:26:07.622
  • Christ's return within their lifetime.
  • 00:26:07.622 --> 00:26:10.291
  • But paul reminds us that our lord's return is coming soon,
  • 00:26:10.291 --> 00:26:14.362
  • And that's a powerful motivation to seize the moment and get
  • 00:26:14.362 --> 00:26:18.099
  • Ready for his return.
  • 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:20.468
  • Well, with america celebrating 250 years as a nation, it raises
  • 00:26:20.468 --> 00:26:24.939
  • A sobering question.
  • 00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:26.941
  • What is the future of our great nation?
  • 00:26:26.941 --> 00:26:29.244
  • Can we survive another 250 years?
  • 00:26:29.244 --> 00:26:32.714
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:32.714 --> 00:26:35.150
  • Series "america and the bible."
  • 00:26:35.150 --> 00:26:38.987
  • Jeffress: it's a time for celebration, but it's also a
  • 00:26:39.054 --> 00:26:42.490
  • Time for solemn acts of devotion to the god who has so richly
  • 00:26:42.490 --> 00:26:47.195
  • Blessed america, and as we come to this 250 year mark, it's also
  • 00:26:47.195 --> 00:26:53.268
  • For us time to contemplate our future as a country.
  • 00:26:53.268 --> 00:26:58.873
  • Do we have a future?
  • 00:26:58.873 --> 00:27:00.608
  • Can america survive another 250 years?
  • 00:27:00.608 --> 00:27:05.113
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join
  • 00:27:05.113 --> 00:27:06.448
  • Us next time for the message
  • 00:27:06.448 --> 00:27:08.049
  • "america at the crossroads:
  • 00:27:08.049 --> 00:27:09.818
  • Can we survive another 250 years?"
  • 00:27:09.818 --> 00:27:12.454
  • Right here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:12.454 --> 00:27:12.454