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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Jesus and the Party Poopers

December 26, 2024 | S

Robert Jeffress - Jesus and the Party Poopers
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Faith #Religion #Culture #Truth #Parable #WordofGod #Miracles #inActive #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Cross #Resurrection #Crucifixion #Criticism #Matthew15:7

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Jesus and the Party Poopers | December 26, 2024
  • ...
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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."
  • 00:00:16.473 --> 00:00:18.475
  • You would think that the perfect son of god wouldn't be caught
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  • Wasting his time with sinners.
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  • Yet in reality, jesus's harshest criticism wasn't targeted toward
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  • Adulterers, drunkards, or idolaters, but at the religious
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  • Establishment of his day.
  • 00:00:33.223 --> 00:00:35.358
  • So what were the pharisees doing that jesus found so offensive?
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  • It all has to do with some good intentions that went
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  • Horribly wrong.
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  • My message is titled, "jesus and the party poopers," on today's
  • 00:00:45.068 --> 00:00:50.173
  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:50.173 --> 00:00:54.911
  • Announcer: the celebration of jesus's birth each christmas
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  • Marks the moment when god's radiant hope entered our world.
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  • And jesus calls us to share this light with others.
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  • You can help pierce the darkness with the light of god's word
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  • Through the "pathway to victory" light the darkness
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  • Matching challenge.
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  • Since 1996, "pathway to victory" has been boldly sharing the
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  • Gospel of jesus christ, and your gift, doubled in impact, will be
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  • Used to proclaim god's truth here in america and around
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  • The world.
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  • Jeffress: it's very important that we evaluate any
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  • Instructions we receive from other people before we act on
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  • Those instructions.
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  • I think about the story of the husband who was driving around
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  • From appointment to appointment one day and he felt bad about
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  • The argument he had had with his wife the night before.
  • 00:01:55.438 --> 00:01:57.941
  • So he picked up the cell phone to call her and try to reconcile
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  • With her.
  • 00:02:01.211 --> 00:02:02.545
  • Picked up his cell phone, called the home.
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  • The maid answered the phone.
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  • He said, "may i speak to my wife please?"
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  • She said, "well, no, she's busy right now."
  • 00:02:08.685 --> 00:02:11.221
  • He said, "busy?
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  • What is she doing?"
  • 00:02:12.555 --> 00:02:13.923
  • The maid said, "well, she's upstairs with her boyfriend and
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  • Asked that she not be interrupted."
  • 00:02:15.858 --> 00:02:19.028
  • Well, the husband was furious.
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  • He said, "you know where i keep my shotgun."
  • 00:02:20.830 --> 00:02:24.234
  • And the maid said, "yes, sir."
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  • He said, "i want you to take that shotgun, load it with two
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  • Shells, and blast both of them to smithereens."
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  • She said, "okay."
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  • He waits on the phone.
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  • Hears her going up the stairs.
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  • Hear the two shots of the blast of the shotgun.
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  • Hears her come back to the phone.
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  • She said, "okay, what do you want me to do with the bodies?"
  • 00:02:41.618 --> 00:02:43.486
  • He said, "throw them in the swimming pool."
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  • She said, "sir, we don't have a swimming pool."
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  • The husband said, "is this 723-2375?"
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  • You better make sure you know where your instructions are
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  • Coming from before you follow through on them.
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  • You know, the fact is all of us are getting instructions from
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  • Other people, aren't we?
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  • People who want to tell us how to do everything.
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  • People who want to tell us how to have a good relationship with
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  • God, how to rear your children, how to manage your finances.
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  • All kind of instructions we're getting from people, even
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  • Christians in the church.
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  • The problem is many times these instructions are not coming from
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  • The word of god, but they're coming from other people's
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  • Opinions and prejudices.
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  • And many times, have you noticed christians equate or even
  • 00:03:28.965 --> 00:03:33.436
  • Elevate their opinions with the truth of god's word?
  • 00:03:33.436 --> 00:03:38.041
  • And they try to make their opinion about certain issues,
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  • Your obligation to follow.
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  • Today, we call those people legalists.
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  • But in jesus's day, they went by another name.
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  • Their name was the pharisees.
  • 00:03:49.485 --> 00:03:52.488
  • And when you look through the story of jesus, jesus's harshest
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  • Critics were not the adulterers and the murderers.
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  • It was the pharisees.
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  • In fact, they were the ones who plotted and finally executed
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  • Christ's crucifixion.
  • 00:04:05.668 --> 00:04:07.837
  • But it was also the pharisees who were the recipients of
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  • Jesus's harshest criticism.
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  • He didn't criticize the adulterers and murderers
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  • And drunkards.
  • 00:04:15.978 --> 00:04:17.313
  • His harshest criticism was for these people who elevated their
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  • Opinion above the truth of god's word.
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  • And in the process, they turned a relationship with god into
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  • Nothing but a sterile ritual.
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  • Today, we're going to look at how jesus dealt with
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  • The pharisees.
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  • And as we do, we're gonna discover how to deal with
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  • Legalism that people try to impose on our life as well.
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  • If you have your bibles, turn to luke chapter 5 to see how jesus
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  • Dealt with the party poopers of his day.
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  • We call them the pharisees.
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  • Now let me just say before we get into the text itself for
  • 00:04:53.383 --> 00:04:57.453
  • Just a moment, say a word about the pharisees.
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  • There's a lot of misunderstanding.
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  • We use the term without understanding what it mean.
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  • The pharisees were a group of people who were not priests,
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  • They were not a part of the religious order, they were not
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  • Priests, they were laymen, dedicated laymen to the
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  • Jewish faith.
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  • And the word "pharisees" actually comes from a aramaic
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  • Word that means "the separated ones."
  • 00:05:19.242 --> 00:05:23.246
  • And the goal of the pharisees was to help the jewish people
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  • Live distinctive lives from unbelievers in the world.
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  • Now, that's a worthy goal, isn't it?
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  • Shouldn't god's people be distinctive from unbelievers?
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  • Nothing wrong with that.
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  • We think of pharisees as villains.
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  • They really weren't; they had good intentions, but they used
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  • The wrong way to do it.
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  • You see, they thought the way you could separate people from
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  • The rest of the world, keep people living a godly life, was
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  • Through laws and regulations.
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  • They believed that the purpose of moses's law was to separate
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  • Believers from unbelievers.
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  • And it was, but soon they came to the conclusion that god's
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  • Word was not enough, the law of moses was not enough.
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  • It was not a fence that was secure enough to keep believers
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  • And unbelievers separate.
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  • So they constructed a second fence, a fence within the fence
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  • Of the mosaic law, filled with hundreds of rules and
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  • Regulations that they just made up.
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  • Now, here was their error.
  • 00:06:22.505 --> 00:06:24.240
  • They were operating under the error and the mistaken thinking
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  • That rules could make a person right.
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  • That rules made a person holy.
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  • If you gave a person enough rules, they would do the
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  • Right thing.
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  • As paul said over and over again in the book of romans, like
  • 00:06:38.721 --> 00:06:41.057
  • Romans 7, he said, "the law, regulations, don't make
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  • A person holy.
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  • If anything, they just stir up his desire to be
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  • More disobedient."
  • 00:06:47.830 --> 00:06:49.465
  • There is nothing about laws and rules that will make you
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  • A good person.
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  • The law is powerless to change us.
  • 00:06:54.637 --> 00:06:56.806
  • You see, the law doesn't deal with the real problem and that's
  • 00:06:56.806 --> 00:07:00.243
  • An inward heart problem that we all have.
  • 00:07:00.243 --> 00:07:03.279
  • Did you know, in the 1930s german pastors largely were very
  • 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:08.551
  • Supportive of adolf hitler?
  • 00:07:08.551 --> 00:07:10.620
  • And you know why they supported adolf hitler?
  • 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:13.155
  • Because externally, he was a good person.
  • 00:07:13.155 --> 00:07:16.325
  • Adolf hitler didn't smoke, he didn't drink, he was opposed to
  • 00:07:16.325 --> 00:07:20.730
  • Pornography and he preached that women ought to dress modestly.
  • 00:07:20.730 --> 00:07:24.967
  • And so the pastors got before and behind him, "he's
  • 00:07:24.967 --> 00:07:27.236
  • A great guy."
  • 00:07:27.236 --> 00:07:28.571
  • Yeah, he kept the external rules, but he had an evil heart.
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  • That was the problem with adolf hitler, and no rules and
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  • Regulations could ever change that.
  • 00:07:35.244 --> 00:07:38.114
  • That was the problem with the pharisees.
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  • They concentrated on laws and regulations.
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  • Jesus said this about them in matthew chapter 15, verses 7 to
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  • 9. he said to the pharisees, "you hypocrites.
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  • Rightly did isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 'this people honors
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  • Me with their lips but their heart is far from me.
  • 00:07:55.765 --> 00:07:59.302
  • But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the
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  • Precepts of men.'"
  • 00:08:04.140 --> 00:08:06.075
  • Will you notice the twofold indictment jesus made against
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  • The pharisees?
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  • Number one, they centered on the externals, people who went
  • 00:08:10.613 --> 00:08:14.016
  • Through the motions of religion without really praising god.
  • 00:08:14.016 --> 00:08:17.954
  • And secondly, they equated their tradition with the word of god,
  • 00:08:17.954 --> 00:08:23.292
  • Teaching as doctrines the precepts, the opinions, of men.
  • 00:08:23.292 --> 00:08:28.297
  • Now with that background, we're going to look today at how jesus
  • 00:08:28.297 --> 00:08:32.001
  • Dealt with the pharisees, beginning in luke 5, beginning
  • 00:08:32.001 --> 00:08:35.671
  • In verse 27, the call of matthew as a disciple.
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  • Look at his invitation in matthew 27: "and after that."
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  • After what?
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  • Well, after the healing of the paralytic, "jesus went out and
  • 00:08:44.347 --> 00:08:47.783
  • Noticed a tax gatherer named levi," his name also was
  • 00:08:47.783 --> 00:08:52.822
  • Matthew, "sitting in the tax office, and he said to levi,
  • 00:08:52.822 --> 00:08:58.194
  • 'follow me.'"
  • 00:08:58.194 --> 00:09:00.463
  • Now let me explain something about the taxation system that
  • 00:09:00.463 --> 00:09:03.332
  • Will help you understand why this was such
  • 00:09:03.332 --> 00:09:05.401
  • A miraculous thing.
  • 00:09:05.401 --> 00:09:07.503
  • The romans ruled the world, right?
  • 00:09:07.503 --> 00:09:09.872
  • And because they had a gigantic government, they had to have
  • 00:09:09.872 --> 00:09:13.976
  • A lot of tax money to fuel their government.
  • 00:09:13.976 --> 00:09:16.379
  • Sound familiar to you?
  • 00:09:16.379 --> 00:09:17.913
  • They had to tax the people.
  • 00:09:17.913 --> 00:09:19.482
  • And so, when they were occupying a land like israel, many times
  • 00:09:19.482 --> 00:09:23.252
  • They would enlist local people to collect taxes on behalf of
  • 00:09:23.252 --> 00:09:26.922
  • The roman government.
  • 00:09:26.922 --> 00:09:28.290
  • For example, let's say the tax was 10%.
  • 00:09:28.290 --> 00:09:31.594
  • The roman government declared 10% was the taxation rate.
  • 00:09:31.594 --> 00:09:35.531
  • Well, a local tax gatherer could actually charge 20%, send 10% to
  • 00:09:35.531 --> 00:09:39.568
  • Rome and keep 10% to himself.
  • 00:09:39.568 --> 00:09:42.004
  • But that was the tax gatherer and that's why they were so
  • 00:09:42.004 --> 00:09:45.107
  • Hated by the jewish people.
  • 00:09:45.107 --> 00:09:47.443
  • They were seen as traitors to their own people, fellow jews
  • 00:09:47.443 --> 00:09:50.012
  • Collecting taxes, but also because they cheated the people
  • 00:09:50.012 --> 00:09:53.683
  • As well.
  • 00:09:53.683 --> 00:09:55.017
  • Well, it was this tax gatherer, matthew, that jesus said,
  • 00:09:55.017 --> 00:09:58.020
  • "forget the tax-gathering business.
  • 00:09:58.020 --> 00:10:00.289
  • I want you to follow me."
  • 00:10:00.289 --> 00:10:03.125
  • And the bible says: "levi immediately left everything and
  • 00:10:03.125 --> 00:10:07.663
  • He followed jesus."
  • 00:10:07.663 --> 00:10:08.998
  • Now look at verse 29.
  • 00:10:08.998 --> 00:10:10.332
  • Levi was ready to throw a party.
  • 00:10:10.332 --> 00:10:12.401
  • He wanted to celebrate his retirement from the tax business
  • 00:10:12.401 --> 00:10:15.871
  • And his call to follow jesus.
  • 00:10:15.871 --> 00:10:17.540
  • He also wanted his friends to meet jesus as well.
  • 00:10:17.540 --> 00:10:21.077
  • So what did he do?
  • 00:10:21.077 --> 00:10:22.445
  • Look at verse 29: "and levi gave a big reception for him in his
  • 00:10:22.445 --> 00:10:26.682
  • House; and there was a great crowd of tax gatherers and other
  • 00:10:26.682 --> 00:10:30.886
  • People who were reclining at the table with them."
  • 00:10:30.886 --> 00:10:35.458
  • Now think about it.
  • 00:10:35.458 --> 00:10:36.792
  • Here's levi, a brand-new christian.
  • 00:10:36.792 --> 00:10:39.028
  • He wants to throw a party and introduce his friends to jesus.
  • 00:10:39.028 --> 00:10:42.431
  • Now, who do you think is gonna be on his invitation list?
  • 00:10:42.431 --> 00:10:46.502
  • The only people that matthew knows are other non-christians
  • 00:10:46.502 --> 00:10:50.940
  • And other tax gatherers.
  • 00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:52.708
  • So he invites them to come to the party to meet jesus.
  • 00:10:52.708 --> 00:10:56.011
  • Well, the pharisees, they couldn't handle that.
  • 00:10:56.011 --> 00:10:58.047
  • Look at verse 30.
  • 00:10:58.047 --> 00:10:59.381
  • Remember, their goal was to separate themselves
  • 00:10:59.381 --> 00:11:02.451
  • From unbelievers.
  • 00:11:02.451 --> 00:11:03.819
  • You don't want to be around unbelievers, you might
  • 00:11:03.819 --> 00:11:06.155
  • Get contaminated.
  • 00:11:06.155 --> 00:11:07.523
  • Verse 30: "and so the pharisees and the scribes begin grumbling
  • 00:11:07.523 --> 00:11:11.427
  • At jesus's disciples, saying, 'why do you eat and drink with
  • 00:11:11.427 --> 00:11:16.265
  • The tax gatherers and the sinners?'"
  • 00:11:16.265 --> 00:11:19.802
  • "disciples, if this guy you're following, jesus, is such a holy
  • 00:11:19.802 --> 00:11:23.472
  • Man, why in the world would he hang around tax gatherers?
  • 00:11:23.472 --> 00:11:27.643
  • He must really be a sinner at heart because you can't like
  • 00:11:27.643 --> 00:11:30.913
  • Sinners and hang around them if you're not a sinner yourself.
  • 00:11:30.913 --> 00:11:34.316
  • Why would he hang around with sinners?"
  • 00:11:34.316 --> 00:11:36.418
  • And notice how jesus answered in verse 31: "and jesus answered
  • 00:11:36.418 --> 00:11:40.122
  • And said to them, 'it is not those who are well who need
  • 00:11:40.122 --> 00:11:44.593
  • A physician, but those who are sick.'"
  • 00:11:44.593 --> 00:11:49.231
  • I mean, his calling is not to be around the well, but to be
  • 00:11:49.231 --> 00:11:52.601
  • Around those who are sick.
  • 00:11:52.601 --> 00:11:53.969
  • That's what jesus was saying.
  • 00:11:53.969 --> 00:11:55.437
  • And in case they missed that point, look at verse 32.
  • 00:11:55.437 --> 00:11:57.673
  • Jesus said, "i have not come to call the righteous but sinners
  • 00:11:57.673 --> 00:12:02.978
  • To repentance."
  • 00:12:02.978 --> 00:12:04.814
  • I didn't come for righteous people.
  • 00:12:04.814 --> 00:12:06.549
  • I came for the unrighteous people.
  • 00:12:06.549 --> 00:12:08.651
  • They called them the sinners.
  • 00:12:08.651 --> 00:12:10.019
  • But here's the catch.
  • 00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:11.353
  • The fact is we're all sinners, we're all unrighteous.
  • 00:12:11.353 --> 00:12:14.590
  • We all need god's forgiveness.
  • 00:12:14.590 --> 00:12:16.492
  • The difference was the people jesus hung around
  • 00:12:16.492 --> 00:12:19.461
  • Understood that.
  • 00:12:19.461 --> 00:12:20.830
  • The pharisees didn't understand their sin.
  • 00:12:20.830 --> 00:12:24.366
  • So verse 33, they launched a second attack against jesus.
  • 00:12:24.366 --> 00:12:28.037
  • "and they said to him, 'the disciples of john often fast and
  • 00:12:28.037 --> 00:12:32.508
  • Offer prayers, the disciples of the pharisees also do the same,
  • 00:12:32.508 --> 00:12:36.779
  • But yours eat and drink.'"
  • 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:39.748
  • They said, "jesus, we just don't understand this.
  • 00:12:39.748 --> 00:12:42.084
  • You don't obey our rules and regulations.
  • 00:12:42.084 --> 00:12:44.720
  • Why, we believe in fasting.
  • 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:47.456
  • We teach people you're to fast, abstain from food, mondays and
  • 00:12:47.456 --> 00:12:50.659
  • Thursdays, and even the disciples of john did the same.
  • 00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:53.996
  • But your disciples are always partying and having a good time.
  • 00:12:53.996 --> 00:12:57.867
  • Don't you know religion is a sober affair and you're not
  • 00:12:57.867 --> 00:13:00.736
  • Supposed to have a good time with religion?
  • 00:13:00.736 --> 00:13:02.805
  • We don't understand this.
  • 00:13:02.805 --> 00:13:04.139
  • Why don't you obey our rules and regulations?
  • 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:07.076
  • It just doesn't make sense."
  • 00:13:07.076 --> 00:13:08.544
  • Well, jesus answers them with three illustrations.
  • 00:13:08.544 --> 00:13:10.980
  • First of all, the illustration of a wedding look at verse 34:
  • 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:14.884
  • "and jesus said to them, 'you cannot make the attendants of
  • 00:13:14.884 --> 00:13:18.988
  • The bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them,
  • 00:13:18.988 --> 00:13:22.358
  • Can you?'"
  • 00:13:22.358 --> 00:13:23.993
  • A jewish wedding was not just a one-night affair.
  • 00:13:23.993 --> 00:13:27.296
  • It was 7 days of nonstop partying.
  • 00:13:27.296 --> 00:13:31.100
  • You know, those of us who are dads, who have paid for
  • 00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:32.968
  • A wedding, it's hard enough to do one day.
  • 00:13:32.968 --> 00:13:35.938
  • To pay for the whole week of celebration?
  • 00:13:35.938 --> 00:13:37.973
  • That's really--is an unthinkable thing.
  • 00:13:37.973 --> 00:13:39.742
  • But that's exactly what the jews did.
  • 00:13:39.742 --> 00:13:41.477
  • They celebrated weddings an entire week and it was one great
  • 00:13:41.477 --> 00:13:45.547
  • Party, eating, and drinking.
  • 00:13:45.547 --> 00:13:47.416
  • Remember, jesus, his first miracle, turning the water into
  • 00:13:47.416 --> 00:13:50.653
  • Wine at the wedding feast at cana.
  • 00:13:50.653 --> 00:13:54.223
  • And jesus said, you know, my relationship with my followers
  • 00:13:54.223 --> 00:13:57.893
  • Is like a groom and a bride.
  • 00:13:57.893 --> 00:14:00.896
  • That's the picture in the church--of the church.
  • 00:14:00.896 --> 00:14:03.265
  • The church is the bride of christ, jesus is the groom.
  • 00:14:03.265 --> 00:14:06.302
  • And as long as they're together, it ought to be a party.
  • 00:14:06.302 --> 00:14:10.105
  • In heaven, it's gonna be a party as we're reunited together.
  • 00:14:10.105 --> 00:14:14.143
  • You don't mourn, you don't fast, when you're having a wedding.
  • 00:14:14.143 --> 00:14:18.280
  • That doesn't make any sense.
  • 00:14:18.280 --> 00:14:19.915
  • Jesus said, "now, if the groom were tragically killed, then the
  • 00:14:19.915 --> 00:14:25.120
  • Party would turn into a mourning ceremony, a time for fasting."
  • 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:28.390
  • In fact, he made this prophecy in verse 35.
  • 00:14:28.390 --> 00:14:30.526
  • He said, "but the days will come when the bridegroom will be
  • 00:14:30.526 --> 00:14:34.096
  • Taken away from them and they will fast in those days."
  • 00:14:34.096 --> 00:14:38.434
  • He was prophesying about his upcoming death.
  • 00:14:38.434 --> 00:14:41.470
  • There was gonna be a time when the bridegroom would be
  • 00:14:41.470 --> 00:14:44.540
  • Taken away.
  • 00:14:44.540 --> 00:14:45.908
  • That greek word "taken away" means to be violently
  • 00:14:45.908 --> 00:14:48.277
  • Taken away.
  • 00:14:48.277 --> 00:14:49.611
  • It was a foreshadowing of the crucifixion.
  • 00:14:49.611 --> 00:14:51.313
  • When that happens, maybe you might want to mourn and fast.
  • 00:14:51.313 --> 00:14:54.116
  • But until that time, it only makes sense that you would
  • 00:14:54.116 --> 00:14:57.453
  • Wanna celebrate.
  • 00:14:57.453 --> 00:14:58.887
  • He gave a second illustration of how the pharisees' regulations
  • 00:14:58.887 --> 00:15:04.193
  • Just don't line up with jesus's teaching.
  • 00:15:04.193 --> 00:15:06.962
  • You can't mix the two.
  • 00:15:06.962 --> 00:15:08.497
  • Jesus's teaching on grace doesn't match with legalism.
  • 00:15:08.497 --> 00:15:12.267
  • So he uses the illustration of a garment.
  • 00:15:12.267 --> 00:15:14.169
  • Look at verse 36: "and he was also telling them a parable: 'no
  • 00:15:14.169 --> 00:15:18.307
  • One tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old
  • 00:15:18.307 --> 00:15:22.845
  • Garment; otherwise he will both tear the new and the piece from
  • 00:15:22.845 --> 00:15:27.316
  • The new will not match the old.'"
  • 00:15:27.316 --> 00:15:30.886
  • A few months ago, ryan and i went down to eat at el phoenix
  • 00:15:30.886 --> 00:15:35.090
  • And when we were leaving the restaurant, it just started
  • 00:15:35.090 --> 00:15:38.127
  • Pouring down rain.
  • 00:15:38.127 --> 00:15:39.762
  • I didn't have an umbrella with me.
  • 00:15:39.762 --> 00:15:41.697
  • And so i launched into a mad dash across the parking lot.
  • 00:15:41.697 --> 00:15:45.100
  • I ran as hard as i could, not noticing the curb in front of
  • 00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:48.904
  • Me, tripped over the curb, fell flat on my face and as soon as
  • 00:15:48.904 --> 00:15:53.442
  • Ryan could stop laughing, he said, "could i help
  • 00:15:53.442 --> 00:15:55.344
  • You, pastor?"
  • 00:15:55.344 --> 00:15:56.678
  • But, anyway, i stood up and i had ripped my suit pants leg.
  • 00:15:56.678 --> 00:16:02.684
  • I mean, it was a big rip in there.
  • 00:16:02.684 --> 00:16:05.554
  • And so what did i do?
  • 00:16:05.554 --> 00:16:07.890
  • Did i go home and say, "now let me find another black suit here
  • 00:16:07.890 --> 00:16:11.527
  • And i'll rip a piece off the pants of this new suit and try
  • 00:16:11.527 --> 00:16:14.997
  • To patch my old suit with it"?
  • 00:16:14.997 --> 00:16:16.498
  • Well, that'd be a pretty foolish thing to do, wouldn't it?
  • 00:16:16.498 --> 00:16:18.801
  • I'd, first of all, ruin the new suit and at the same time, i
  • 00:16:18.801 --> 00:16:22.304
  • Would have pants that didn't match anyway.
  • 00:16:22.304 --> 00:16:24.773
  • That's exactly what jesus is saying here.
  • 00:16:24.773 --> 00:16:27.910
  • You can't match the old testament system of rules and
  • 00:16:27.910 --> 00:16:32.448
  • Regulations and the add-ons by the pharisee.
  • 00:16:32.448 --> 00:16:35.150
  • It doesn't fit with jesus's new message.
  • 00:16:35.150 --> 00:16:38.854
  • The two don't match one another.
  • 00:16:38.854 --> 00:16:41.256
  • And in case they didn't get the point, he uses a third
  • 00:16:41.256 --> 00:16:43.859
  • Illustration, the illustration of the wineskins.
  • 00:16:43.859 --> 00:16:46.662
  • Look at verses 37 and 38: "and no one puts new wine into
  • 00:16:46.662 --> 00:16:51.400
  • Wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it
  • 00:16:51.400 --> 00:16:55.904
  • Will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined.
  • 00:16:55.904 --> 00:16:58.974
  • But the new wine must be put into fresh wineskins."
  • 00:16:58.974 --> 00:17:04.246
  • And it's the same way with christ's new message of grace
  • 00:17:04.246 --> 00:17:09.251
  • Not fitting into the old message of laws and regulation.
  • 00:17:09.251 --> 00:17:13.789
  • Now, what are the applications of all of this for us today?
  • 00:17:13.789 --> 00:17:17.426
  • Let me give you three principles to live by that come from this.
  • 00:17:17.426 --> 00:17:20.696
  • First of all, evaluate all advice you receive by the word
  • 00:17:20.696 --> 00:17:25.467
  • Of god.
  • 00:17:25.467 --> 00:17:26.835
  • Yes, proverbs says we should listen to other
  • 00:17:26.835 --> 00:17:28.570
  • People's counsel.
  • 00:17:28.570 --> 00:17:29.938
  • But before we follow other people's instruction, we ought
  • 00:17:29.938 --> 00:17:32.774
  • To ask, is this what the bible teaches or is it just that
  • 00:17:32.774 --> 00:17:36.678
  • Person's opinion?
  • 00:17:36.678 --> 00:17:38.347
  • Second principle, tolerate differences in other christians.
  • 00:17:38.347 --> 00:17:43.585
  • Tolerate differences in other christians.
  • 00:17:43.585 --> 00:17:45.621
  • Even if the word of god doesn't say you can or can't do
  • 00:17:45.621 --> 00:17:49.324
  • Something, you need to follow what your conscience says,
  • 00:17:49.324 --> 00:17:53.061
  • Because god may lead you in a different way than he leads
  • 00:17:53.061 --> 00:17:56.999
  • Another christian.
  • 00:17:56.999 --> 00:17:58.367
  • Just because other christians may have the freedom to do
  • 00:17:58.367 --> 00:17:59.968
  • Something, god may say, "you know what?
  • 00:17:59.968 --> 00:18:02.371
  • I know you, i made you.
  • 00:18:02.371 --> 00:18:03.872
  • This would be too much of a temptation to you that might
  • 00:18:03.872 --> 00:18:06.141
  • Lead to something else."
  • 00:18:06.141 --> 00:18:07.476
  • Third principle, associate with unbelievers.
  • 00:18:07.476 --> 00:18:11.313
  • Associate with unbelievers.
  • 00:18:11.313 --> 00:18:13.348
  • Do you realize christ has left you and me here for one purpose
  • 00:18:13.348 --> 00:18:18.053
  • And that is to influence non-christians to become
  • 00:18:18.053 --> 00:18:22.157
  • Christians, so they can experience eternal life.
  • 00:18:22.157 --> 00:18:25.127
  • But so many christians have this bunker mentality.
  • 00:18:25.127 --> 00:18:27.696
  • "oh, i can't be around a non-christian because i might
  • 00:18:27.696 --> 00:18:30.399
  • Get contaminated or i might become like them."
  • 00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:33.302
  • No, god has called us not to isolate ourselves from
  • 00:18:33.302 --> 00:18:38.140
  • Non-christians, but to influence non-christians.
  • 00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:42.544
  • God loves sinners and he rejoices when they come
  • 00:18:42.544 --> 00:18:47.816
  • To salvation.
  • 00:18:47.816 --> 00:18:50.319
  • Tony campolo in his book, "the kingdom of god is a party,"
  • 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:54.957
  • Tells a great story.
  • 00:18:54.957 --> 00:18:56.325
  • Several years ago, he was in honolulu at
  • 00:18:56.325 --> 00:18:58.660
  • A speaking engagement.
  • 00:18:58.660 --> 00:19:00.596
  • If you've ever been over there, you know the time change can be
  • 00:19:00.596 --> 00:19:03.265
  • A little difficult.
  • 00:19:03.265 --> 00:19:04.600
  • So he wasn't used to the time change the first couple of days.
  • 00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:06.668
  • And so he found himself wide awake at 3 o'clock in
  • 00:19:06.668 --> 00:19:09.271
  • The morning.
  • 00:19:09.271 --> 00:19:10.639
  • So he went down to a little diner down the street from the
  • 00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:12.374
  • Hotel and sat there drinking a cup of coffee and eating
  • 00:19:12.374 --> 00:19:15.611
  • A doughnut.
  • 00:19:15.611 --> 00:19:16.945
  • And while he was sitting there, about 3:30 the door burst open
  • 00:19:16.945 --> 00:19:19.848
  • And in walked nine of the most boisterous, loudmouthed
  • 00:19:19.848 --> 00:19:23.785
  • Prostitutes you can imagine.
  • 00:19:23.785 --> 00:19:26.321
  • And they were having a party and they were carrying on and one of
  • 00:19:26.321 --> 00:19:29.625
  • Them said, "you know, it's my birthday tomorrow," and the
  • 00:19:29.625 --> 00:19:32.027
  • Other just kidded her, "your birthday?
  • 00:19:32.027 --> 00:19:33.695
  • Well, what do you want us to do?
  • 00:19:33.695 --> 00:19:35.130
  • Throw a birthday party for you?"
  • 00:19:35.130 --> 00:19:37.199
  • She said, "why do you have to be so mean?
  • 00:19:37.199 --> 00:19:38.900
  • But yeah, that wouldn't be bad.
  • 00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:40.269
  • You know, i've never had a birthday party in my
  • 00:19:40.269 --> 00:19:42.437
  • Entire life."
  • 00:19:42.437 --> 00:19:43.772
  • They kidded her for a while, and tony was just sitting there
  • 00:19:43.772 --> 00:19:46.575
  • Listening to all of this and finally they left and he said to
  • 00:19:46.575 --> 00:19:50.746
  • The big guy behind the counter, harry, he said, "do these ladies
  • 00:19:50.746 --> 00:19:54.549
  • Come in here every night?"
  • 00:19:54.549 --> 00:19:55.917
  • He said, "yeah."
  • 00:19:55.917 --> 00:19:57.252
  • He said, "that one who was talking about her birthday,
  • 00:19:57.252 --> 00:19:59.054
  • What's her name?"
  • 00:19:59.054 --> 00:20:00.389
  • He said, "oh, that's agnes."
  • 00:20:00.389 --> 00:20:01.857
  • Tony said, "what do you say, tomorrow night we throw agnes
  • 00:20:01.857 --> 00:20:06.028
  • A birthday party?"
  • 00:20:06.028 --> 00:20:07.362
  • Harry said, "well, i'm up for it.
  • 00:20:07.362 --> 00:20:09.331
  • That's a great idea."
  • 00:20:09.331 --> 00:20:10.932
  • So tony says the next day he went out and bought the crepe
  • 00:20:10.932 --> 00:20:13.535
  • Paper, got a cake, got the streamers, made a sign,
  • 00:20:13.535 --> 00:20:16.938
  • "happy birthday, agnes."
  • 00:20:16.938 --> 00:20:18.874
  • Came back down to the diner the next night at 2:30, decorated
  • 00:20:18.874 --> 00:20:22.010
  • The place.
  • 00:20:22.010 --> 00:20:23.378
  • Apparently, the cook got word of this.
  • 00:20:23.378 --> 00:20:26.348
  • And when 3:15 rolled around, she had gotten the word out, by 3:15
  • 00:20:26.348 --> 00:20:30.585
  • Tony said every prostitute in honolulu had crowded into that
  • 00:20:30.585 --> 00:20:34.389
  • Diner right there for agnes's birthday party.
  • 00:20:34.389 --> 00:20:37.826
  • 3:30, right on the dot, in walks the nine ladies with agnes, and
  • 00:20:37.826 --> 00:20:42.531
  • Tony has everybody cued to shout out, "happy birthday, agnes!"
  • 00:20:42.531 --> 00:20:47.269
  • He said she was stunned, she couldn't believe it.
  • 00:20:47.269 --> 00:20:51.206
  • So he led everybody, the prostitutes, in singing "happy
  • 00:20:51.206 --> 00:20:54.443
  • Birthday" to agnes.
  • 00:20:54.443 --> 00:20:55.877
  • Then they brought out her birthday cake with all the
  • 00:20:55.877 --> 00:20:58.347
  • Candles lit.
  • 00:20:58.347 --> 00:20:59.715
  • Tony handed the birthday cake to her.
  • 00:20:59.715 --> 00:21:02.384
  • He said she took hold of that like it was the holy grail.
  • 00:21:02.384 --> 00:21:06.021
  • She said, "sir, do you mind if i don't eat it right now?
  • 00:21:06.021 --> 00:21:09.491
  • I'd like to take it home because i've never had a birthday
  • 00:21:09.491 --> 00:21:12.160
  • Cake before."
  • 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:13.695
  • He said that'd be fine.
  • 00:21:13.695 --> 00:21:15.030
  • And he said, got kind of awkward there for a moment.
  • 00:21:15.030 --> 00:21:17.299
  • He couldn't think of anything else.
  • 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:18.667
  • And he said, "why don't we all pray together?
  • 00:21:18.667 --> 00:21:21.670
  • Let's pray for agnes."
  • 00:21:21.670 --> 00:21:23.705
  • So they all bowed their heads and tony prayed for agnes that
  • 00:21:23.705 --> 00:21:27.409
  • God would be good to her, that good things would come into her
  • 00:21:27.409 --> 00:21:29.878
  • Life, that she would come to know jesus christ as savior.
  • 00:21:29.878 --> 00:21:34.049
  • When he said, "amen," he opened his eyes and harry behind the
  • 00:21:34.049 --> 00:21:38.453
  • Corner leaned over and growled.
  • 00:21:38.453 --> 00:21:40.589
  • He said, "you didn't tell me you were a preacher.
  • 00:21:40.589 --> 00:21:45.861
  • What kind of church do you belong to?"
  • 00:21:45.861 --> 00:21:49.264
  • And tony said, without even thinking, he said, "i belong to
  • 00:21:49.264 --> 00:21:52.667
  • The kind of church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes
  • 00:21:52.667 --> 00:21:56.905
  • At 3:30 in the morning."
  • 00:21:56.905 --> 00:21:59.708
  • He said, "oh, no, you don't.
  • 00:21:59.708 --> 00:22:01.076
  • There's no such church like that.
  • 00:22:01.076 --> 00:22:02.944
  • If there were that kind of church, i'd join it.
  • 00:22:02.944 --> 00:22:05.914
  • I'd really join a church just like that."
  • 00:22:05.914 --> 00:22:09.718
  • Tony writes, "wouldn't we all?
  • 00:22:09.718 --> 00:22:12.854
  • Wouldn't we all like to be a part of a church that throws
  • 00:22:12.854 --> 00:22:15.857
  • Birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning?"
  • 00:22:15.857 --> 00:22:21.630
  • You know, i believe first baptist dallas is that kind of
  • 00:22:21.630 --> 00:22:26.034
  • A church.
  • 00:22:26.034 --> 00:22:27.536
  • Regardless of what you read in the media, this church does not
  • 00:22:27.536 --> 00:22:32.674
  • Hate sinners.
  • 00:22:32.674 --> 00:22:34.843
  • We don't hate sinners, we don't hate anybody.
  • 00:22:34.843 --> 00:22:42.050
  • Instead, we follow the model of jesus.
  • 00:22:42.050 --> 00:22:44.953
  • And make no mistake about it, jesus hated sin and he spoke out
  • 00:22:44.953 --> 00:22:49.825
  • Against it continually.
  • 00:22:49.825 --> 00:22:51.193
  • He hated sin because he saw the way it destroyed people's lives.
  • 00:22:51.193 --> 00:22:56.031
  • Jesus hated sin, but he loved sinners and he worked with them.
  • 00:22:56.031 --> 00:23:02.737
  • He prayed for them, he loved on them, and rejoiced when they
  • 00:23:02.737 --> 00:23:07.476
  • Came to faith in him.
  • 00:23:07.476 --> 00:23:09.878
  • And so should we.
  • 00:23:09.878 --> 00:23:12.280
  • Jeffress: once we get to know the real jesus, not the
  • 00:23:16.418 --> 00:23:19.287
  • Fictional jesus of our imagination, but the genuine
  • 00:23:19.287 --> 00:23:23.091
  • Jesus of scripture, we can't help but be drawn to him.
  • 00:23:23.091 --> 00:23:27.729
  • I hope you've been encouraged by this glimpse into his
  • 00:23:27.729 --> 00:23:30.499
  • Life today.
  • 00:23:30.499 --> 00:23:32.000
  • Now, in closing, i want to remind you that time is running
  • 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:34.603
  • Out to take advantage of our "pathway to victory" light the
  • 00:23:34.603 --> 00:23:38.473
  • Darkness matching challenge.
  • 00:23:38.473 --> 00:23:40.442
  • We're praying that god will stir in the hearts of friends like
  • 00:23:40.442 --> 00:23:43.645
  • You to help us shine his light into the darkness in the
  • 00:23:43.645 --> 00:23:47.449
  • Year ahead.
  • 00:23:47.449 --> 00:23:48.817
  • From now until december 31, your gift will be matched and
  • 00:23:48.817 --> 00:23:53.188
  • Therefore doubled in impact until we reach the goal of
  • 00:23:53.188 --> 00:23:56.791
  • $1.5 million.
  • 00:23:56.791 --> 00:23:59.327
  • Just as god commanded, let there be light at creation.
  • 00:23:59.327 --> 00:24:03.431
  • Your gift to "pathway to victory" will help us pierce the
  • 00:24:03.431 --> 00:24:07.168
  • Darkness with the light of god's word, using radio, television,
  • 00:24:07.168 --> 00:24:11.606
  • Digital streaming, and print media.
  • 00:24:11.606 --> 00:24:14.476
  • Can you imagine the lives that will be transformed as we shine
  • 00:24:14.476 --> 00:24:18.513
  • The light of christ across our nation and around our world?
  • 00:24:18.513 --> 00:24:22.551
  • Please don't wait any longer.
  • 00:24:22.551 --> 00:24:25.320
  • Contact us today to give your special year-end gift to
  • 00:24:25.320 --> 00:24:29.824
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:29.824 --> 00:24:31.426
  • Now, stay right there.
  • 00:24:31.426 --> 00:24:32.761
  • I'll be back with more in just a moment.
  • 00:24:32.761 --> 00:24:35.196
  • Announcer: the one thing god wants more than anything else in
  • 00:24:36.998 --> 00:24:39.634
  • This world is time with you.
  • 00:24:39.634 --> 00:24:42.170
  • Make god your priority by spending quality time in his
  • 00:24:42.170 --> 00:24:45.340
  • Word with the brand-new 2025 "pathway to victory"
  • 00:24:45.340 --> 00:24:48.710
  • Daily devotional.
  • 00:24:48.710 --> 00:24:50.045
  • This year's devotional has a beautiful navy blue leather
  • 00:24:50.045 --> 00:24:52.581
  • Cover with inlaid brown and gold foil accents.
  • 00:24:52.581 --> 00:24:55.250
  • And now with larger print, the 260 practical insights from
  • 00:24:55.250 --> 00:24:59.220
  • Dr. robert jeffress are easier to read.
  • 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:01.256
  • This stunning 532-page devotional makes an ideal
  • 00:25:01.256 --> 00:25:04.793
  • Christmas gift for loved ones who want to
  • 00:25:04.793 --> 00:25:06.661
  • Grow in their faith too.
  • 00:25:06.661 --> 00:25:08.196
  • Jeffress: of all the ways god could have revealed himself to
  • 00:25:08.263 --> 00:25:11.132
  • Us, he chose to do it through the written word.
  • 00:25:11.132 --> 00:25:14.669
  • And that's why it's so important for you and for me to set aside
  • 00:25:14.669 --> 00:25:17.806
  • Regular time to read the word of god.
  • 00:25:17.806 --> 00:25:21.509
  • Announcer: every season carries an uplifting theme.
  • 00:25:21.509 --> 00:25:24.379
  • Begin the new year by exploring god's will for your life; in
  • 00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:29.050
  • Spring and summer, grow stronger in christ with insights from
  • 00:25:29.050 --> 00:25:32.053
  • Colossians; and in the fall and winter, embrace the father who
  • 00:25:32.053 --> 00:25:35.824
  • Loves you, with inspirational readings based on the parable of
  • 00:25:35.824 --> 00:25:39.127
  • The prodigal son.
  • 00:25:39.127 --> 00:25:40.962
  • When the day-to-day problems of life feel overwhelming, take a
  • 00:25:40.962 --> 00:25:44.366
  • Moment to anchor yourself in the calming truth of god's word with
  • 00:25:44.366 --> 00:25:47.769
  • The brand-new 2025 "pathway to victory" daily devotional.
  • 00:25:47.769 --> 00:25:52.040
  • Your gift of support not only provides you with this
  • 00:25:52.040 --> 00:25:54.809
  • Life-giving resource, it empowers us to spread the
  • 00:25:54.809 --> 00:25:57.846
  • Hope-filled message of jesus christ as well.
  • 00:25:57.846 --> 00:26:00.649
  • Thank you for supporting the ministry of "pathway
  • 00:26:00.649 --> 00:26:03.585
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:03.585 --> 00:26:05.687
  • Jeffress: the pharisees could keep external codes and
  • 00:26:07.288 --> 00:26:10.025
  • Regulations better than anyone else.
  • 00:26:10.025 --> 00:26:12.694
  • But what the pharisees didn't understand was that they were
  • 00:26:12.694 --> 00:26:15.730
  • Just as unrighteous as everyone else.
  • 00:26:15.730 --> 00:26:19.200
  • You see, rules can't make a person holy.
  • 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:22.671
  • And for that reason, jesus rejoices every time a sinner
  • 00:26:22.671 --> 00:26:26.174
  • Comes to faith in him because only jesus can make us right
  • 00:26:26.174 --> 00:26:31.212
  • With god.
  • 00:26:31.212 --> 00:26:32.647
  • Well, for thousands of years, the sabbath has been considered
  • 00:26:32.647 --> 00:26:35.984
  • A holy day.
  • 00:26:35.984 --> 00:26:37.318
  • But does god really expect us to keep the sabbath in our modern
  • 00:26:37.318 --> 00:26:41.022
  • Day or is honoring the sabbath just another way of
  • 00:26:41.022 --> 00:26:44.259
  • Being legalistic?
  • 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.794
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next on
  • 00:26:45.794 --> 00:26:48.830
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:48.830 --> 00:26:51.499
  • Jeffress: you present to people a standard of what they should
  • 00:26:51.499 --> 00:26:54.636
  • Be doing, and many christians say, "that's legalism.
  • 00:26:54.636 --> 00:26:57.305
  • I don't have to do anything; i'm under grace, not under the law."
  • 00:26:57.305 --> 00:27:03.144
  • May i remind you that those of us who live under the
  • 00:27:03.144 --> 00:27:05.947
  • New testament, under grace, and not the old testament, the law,
  • 00:27:05.947 --> 00:27:10.385
  • Don't operate according to a lower standard; we have
  • 00:27:10.385 --> 00:27:13.421
  • A higher standard.
  • 00:27:13.421 --> 00:27:15.123
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:27:15.123 --> 00:27:18.226
  • "squabbling over the sabbath," here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:18.226 --> 00:27:27.235