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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Jesus, The Perfect Healer

December 18, 2024 | S

Robert Jeffress - Jesus, The Perfect Healer
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Healing #Forgiveness #Religion #Jesus #Disease #Sickness #Sin #Righteousness #inActive #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Self-Righteousness #SpiritualHealth #WorkofYourHands #Physicalhealth

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Jesus, The Perfect Healer | December 18, 2024
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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  • Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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  • With dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • Health problems represent some of the most painful and
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  • Devastating trials a person can face.
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  • So when a loved one is suddenly struck with an illness or some
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  • Other ailment, how should we respond?
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  • Today, we're going to look at two miracles performed by jesus
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  • That not only demonstrate his healing power, but illustrate
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  • How we should respond when illness and pain enter our lives
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  • As well.
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  • My message is titled, "jesus the perfect healer" on today's
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  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • 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
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  • Doubled in impact will be used to proclaim god's truth here in
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  • America and around the world.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: this week, i read about a new parasitic flesh
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  • Eating disease that is spreading rapidly in the middle east,
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  • Especially in syria, lebanon, turkey, and iraq.
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  • The disease spreads more rapidly in areas of squalor that are
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  • Being left by the death and destruction campaigns of isis.
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  • The disease causes large open sores on the skin that turn into
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  • Large scars for its victims and permanent disfigurement that
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  • Instead and in turn produces a social stigma as these victims
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  • Feel completely cut off from the rest of their community.
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  • If left untreated, this disease can be fatal.
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  • As i read the horrible details of this new disease, i thought
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  • Yes, this is horrific, but it's really nothing new.
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  • Thousands of years ago, there was a similar skin disease that
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  • Spread rapidly through the middle east.
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  • This disease not only caused physical pain, but it also
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  • Brought emotional distress as its victims also were separated
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  • From their community.
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  • But as horrible as this disease was, it was no match for the
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  • Healing power of jesus christ.
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  • And that's what we're going to see today as we talk about
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  • "jesus the perfect healer."
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  • And today we're going to look at two specific instances of jesus'
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  • Healing power through two very specific miracles.
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  • These miracles are not only a demonstration of christ's
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  • Ability to heal whatever problem we're facing, but they also
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  • Illustrate how we are to respond when illness enters our life or
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  • The life of someone we know or care about.
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  • How are we to respond when illness comes in our life?
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  • We're going to discover that this morning.
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  • First of all, let's look at jesus' encounter with a leper.
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  • Verse 12, "and it came about that while jesus was in one of
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  • The cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy."
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  • Now, let me stop here and say in the bible, leprosy is real, but
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  • It's also a picture of sin in our life.
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  • Let me point out to you four ways that leprosy is like sin.
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  • First of all, like leprosy, sin starts very small.
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  • Sometimes you can't notice somebody has leprosy until it
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  • Has spread rapidly into a full blown case.
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  • It's the same way with sin.
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  • Sin always starts small, but if it's left unchecked and
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  • Untreated in your life, it will grow and grow and grow.
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  • Secondly, like leprosy, sin is hideous when it's seen for what
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  • It really is.
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  • Today, we mock the hideous aspects of sin.
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  • We cover it over.
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  • Have you noticed how our society glorifies sin in the media?
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  • In public, we glorify immorality, we glorify
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  • Drunkenness, we glorify blasphemy against god.
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  • It's ridiculed regularly.
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  • Thirdly, like leprosy, sin is infectious.
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  • That is sin contaminates everyone and everything it comes
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  • In contact with.
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  • And fourth, like leprosy, at least in biblical times, sin
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  • Is incurable.
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  • Today, we're able to cure leprosy.
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  • In biblical times, there was no cure for leprosy and the same is
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  • True about sin.
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  • You cannot rid yourself of sin.
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  • You can't clean yourself up and heal yourself.
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  • Interestingly, in isaiah 64 verse 6, god said through the
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  • Prophet isaiah, your righteousness.
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  • That is the best you can do before god is like a filthy rag
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  • In the sight of god.
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  • Now that word filthy rag in hebrew describes the rag, the
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  • Piece of cloth that a leper would use to wrap his
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  • Oozing wounds.
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  • That rag would catch the pus, it would be filled with
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  • Putrification, it was the leper's rag.
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  • And isaiah the prophet said the best you can do for god, your
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  • Good works with the american cancer society, your work with
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  • Habitat for humanity, your service at first baptist church,
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  • Dallas, the best you can do for god in his sight is like that
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  • Filthy, dirty, disgusting lepers' rag.
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  • We are incapable of cleaning our lives up and curing ourselves
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  • Of leprosy.
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  • This man was distressed by the disease of leprosy.
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  • He wasn't distressed only by his physical suffering, but by his
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  • Emotional suffering as well.
  • 00:06:41.991 --> 00:06:44.360
  • The leper was somebody who was not only physically, but
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  • Ceremonially unclean and because of that, he was exiled from the
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  • Rest of the community.
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  • He lived outside the camp in leper colonies.
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  • And if he was ever going to come into town or if he ever was
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  • Going to approach a person, he was required to yell out the
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  • Words "tame, tame" hebrew meaning unclean, unclean.
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  • Now here we have a leper filled with leprosy who sees jesus and
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  • What does he do?
  • 00:07:15.324 --> 00:07:16.692
  • He doesn't care about the rules.
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  • He approaches jesus because he's desperate for healing.
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  • Look at verse 12, "and when he saw jesus, he fell on his face
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  • And implored him saying, 'lord, if you are willing, you can make
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  • Me clean.'"
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  • As darrell bock points out, this leper had no doubt about the
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  • Power of jesus to heal him.
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  • He knew he had the ability to heal him.
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  • The question was not about jesus' power, the only thing up
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  • For question was his compassion.
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  • Was jesus willing to heal him?
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  • Could something inside of jesus cause him to want to heal
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  • This leper?
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  • Was jesus someone who really cared about his suffering?
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  • Jesus answered that question by what he did next.
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  • Look at verse 13, "and jesus stretched out his hand and
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  • Touched him, saying, 'i am willing; be cleansed.'
  • 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:08.377
  • And immediately the leprosy left him."
  • 00:08:08.377 --> 00:08:10.713
  • Mark's account of it says, "and jesus moved with compassion."
  • 00:08:10.713 --> 00:08:17.386
  • Aren't you glad we serve a savior who can be moved
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  • With compassion?
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  • Who sees our need?
  • 00:08:22.325 --> 00:08:24.060
  • Something wells up inside of him and he wants to meet that need.
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  • That was jesus.
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  • He said, i am willing and so he reached out and he healed him.
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  • None would understand what jesus was doing when he healed him.
  • 00:08:32.335 --> 00:08:36.639
  • First of all, he was risking infection himself.
  • 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:40.209
  • But not only was he risking physical infection, he was
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  • Saying, i'm willing to become ceremonially unclean myself
  • 00:08:44.580 --> 00:08:49.385
  • Because as soon as jesus touched this diseased man, in god's
  • 00:08:49.385 --> 00:08:53.823
  • Sight, he was unclean as well.
  • 00:08:53.823 --> 00:08:56.092
  • Anybody who touched a leper was unclean.
  • 00:08:56.092 --> 00:08:58.594
  • But here's a great picture of what jesus does for us.
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  • Even though jesus was the sinless perfect son of god, he
  • 00:09:01.497 --> 00:09:06.102
  • Was willing to become contaminated for us.
  • 00:09:06.102 --> 00:09:09.038
  • He was willing to reach out and take our sin and bear it upon
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  • Himself so he could provide us with the righteousness of god.
  • 00:09:12.808 --> 00:09:16.345
  • That's what 2 corinthians 5:21 says, talking about jesus, "he
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  • Who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the
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  • Righteousness of god in him."
  • 00:09:25.087 --> 00:09:27.590
  • Jesus willingly took the stain of our sin so that he could
  • 00:09:27.590 --> 00:09:32.161
  • Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  • 00:09:32.161 --> 00:09:35.898
  • Now, what jesus did next was very strange.
  • 00:09:35.898 --> 00:09:39.502
  • Look at verse 14, "and he ordered him," that is the leper,
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  • "to tell no one."
  • 00:09:43.205 --> 00:09:46.709
  • He's ordered him to tell no one, but look at what he said in
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  • Verse 14.
  • 00:09:49.378 --> 00:09:50.713
  • But he said, "i do want you to go and show yourself to the
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  • Priests and make an offering for your cleansing, just as moses
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  • Commanded for a testimony to them."
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  • See, leviticus 14 said, if somebody is healed from leprosy,
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  • They need to go tell the priest so that the priest can verify
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  • Their healing.
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  • Verse 15 tells us that the news of jesus was spreading even
  • 00:10:08.964 --> 00:10:13.536
  • Further as a result of this miracle.
  • 00:10:13.536 --> 00:10:16.439
  • But then jesus again does something that is
  • 00:10:16.439 --> 00:10:18.841
  • Completely unexpected.
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  • While the momentum is building, look at verse 16, "jesus himself
  • 00:10:20.643 --> 00:10:25.514
  • Would often slip away to the wilderness and pray."
  • 00:10:25.514 --> 00:10:30.786
  • This is a constant theme throughout luke's gospel, the
  • 00:10:30.786 --> 00:10:33.589
  • Prayer life of jesus.
  • 00:10:33.589 --> 00:10:35.791
  • The secret to jesus' power and extraordinary effectiveness was
  • 00:10:35.791 --> 00:10:40.629
  • His commitment to prayer.
  • 00:10:40.629 --> 00:10:43.299
  • Beginning in verse 17, we see jesus perform another miracle,
  • 00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:47.603
  • But unlike the miracle of the leper that was done in private,
  • 00:10:47.603 --> 00:10:50.706
  • This miracle was performed very publicly.
  • 00:10:50.706 --> 00:10:53.909
  • Look at verse 17, the healing of the paralytic.
  • 00:10:53.909 --> 00:10:57.713
  • "and it came about one day that jesus was teaching: and there
  • 00:10:57.713 --> 00:11:01.884
  • Were some pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who
  • 00:11:01.884 --> 00:11:05.354
  • Had come from every village of galilee and from jerusalem."
  • 00:11:05.354 --> 00:11:09.925
  • Now we learn from mark's account that jesus was actually in a
  • 00:11:09.925 --> 00:11:12.895
  • Home, a very large home teaching and look at verse 18, "and
  • 00:11:12.895 --> 00:11:16.665
  • Behold, some men were carrying on a bed a man who was
  • 00:11:16.665 --> 00:11:21.470
  • Paralyzed, and they were trying to bring him in and set him down
  • 00:11:21.470 --> 00:11:26.375
  • In front of jesus."
  • 00:11:26.375 --> 00:11:28.310
  • Again, we learned from mark's account that there were
  • 00:11:28.310 --> 00:11:30.446
  • Four men.
  • 00:11:30.446 --> 00:11:31.814
  • They had a friend who had been paralyzed.
  • 00:11:31.814 --> 00:11:33.516
  • They wanted him to be with jesus because they believed that jesus
  • 00:11:33.516 --> 00:11:37.419
  • Had the power to heal their friend.
  • 00:11:37.419 --> 00:11:39.188
  • So they carried him on a pallet in order to be placed in front
  • 00:11:39.188 --> 00:11:42.758
  • Of jesus.
  • 00:11:42.758 --> 00:11:44.126
  • But to their disappointment when they got to the home, they
  • 00:11:44.126 --> 00:11:46.095
  • Realized it was standing room only.
  • 00:11:46.095 --> 00:11:48.230
  • There is no way they were gonna get close to the lord.
  • 00:11:48.230 --> 00:11:52.468
  • Now, fortunately, these friends were not the kind of christians
  • 00:11:52.468 --> 00:11:56.105
  • Who tried to determine god's will by circumstances.
  • 00:11:56.105 --> 00:11:59.675
  • Did you know circumstances are one of the poorest way to
  • 00:11:59.675 --> 00:12:02.611
  • Determine god's will?
  • 00:12:02.611 --> 00:12:03.979
  • Did you know that?
  • 00:12:03.979 --> 00:12:05.314
  • Don't depend upon circumstances.
  • 00:12:05.314 --> 00:12:06.849
  • The fact is you can make whatever you want to of
  • 00:12:06.849 --> 00:12:09.618
  • Circumstances, read them however you want.
  • 00:12:09.618 --> 00:12:12.087
  • Fortunately, these four men didn't use negative
  • 00:12:12.087 --> 00:12:14.824
  • Circumstances to deter them.
  • 00:12:14.824 --> 00:12:16.458
  • What did they do?
  • 00:12:16.458 --> 00:12:17.827
  • Look at verse 19, "and not finding any way to bring him in
  • 00:12:17.827 --> 00:12:21.463
  • Because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down
  • 00:12:21.463 --> 00:12:25.835
  • Through the tiles with his stretcher right in the center
  • 00:12:25.835 --> 00:12:29.205
  • In front of jesus."
  • 00:12:29.205 --> 00:12:31.240
  • Verse 20, "and seeing their faith, he said, 'friend, your
  • 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:36.178
  • Sins are forgiven you.'"
  • 00:12:36.178 --> 00:12:39.381
  • Why did jesus say your sins are forgiven instead of healing
  • 00:12:39.381 --> 00:12:42.818
  • The man?
  • 00:12:42.818 --> 00:12:44.153
  • Well, two reasons.
  • 00:12:44.153 --> 00:12:45.487
  • First of all, by forgiving his sins, he was solving the man's
  • 00:12:45.487 --> 00:12:49.291
  • Deepest problems.
  • 00:12:49.291 --> 00:12:51.760
  • You see, our deepest problem is not physical illness.
  • 00:12:51.760 --> 00:12:55.764
  • Physical illness is only a symptom of a deeper problem.
  • 00:12:55.764 --> 00:13:01.570
  • A deeper sickness we all have.
  • 00:13:01.570 --> 00:13:03.706
  • It's the sickness of sin.
  • 00:13:03.706 --> 00:13:06.275
  • You see, physical illness is only a symptom of our sin.
  • 00:13:06.275 --> 00:13:12.281
  • All physical illness is caused by sin.
  • 00:13:12.281 --> 00:13:17.386
  • Now, wait a minute.
  • 00:13:17.386 --> 00:13:18.721
  • Don't misunderstand what i'm saying?
  • 00:13:18.721 --> 00:13:20.122
  • I'm not saying all physical illness is caused by a
  • 00:13:20.122 --> 00:13:23.392
  • Particular sin we've committed, but the reason we all get sick
  • 00:13:23.392 --> 00:13:28.063
  • Is we've all inherited the sin virus from adam.
  • 00:13:28.063 --> 00:13:31.901
  • You see god's plan for us originally never was that we
  • 00:13:31.901 --> 00:13:35.004
  • Would get sick or that we would never die.
  • 00:13:35.004 --> 00:13:37.539
  • But because of adam's sin, we've inherited the sin virus.
  • 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:41.110
  • Romans 5:12 says, "just as through one man sin entered the
  • 00:13:41.110 --> 00:13:45.381
  • World, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men,
  • 00:13:45.381 --> 00:13:49.251
  • Because all sinned."
  • 00:13:49.251 --> 00:13:52.121
  • By saying your sins are forgiven, jesus was dealing with
  • 00:13:52.121 --> 00:13:56.058
  • The greater problem that this man had.
  • 00:13:56.058 --> 00:13:58.093
  • But there was a second reason he did this, jesus pronounced him
  • 00:13:58.093 --> 00:14:01.697
  • Forgiven of his sins to demonstrate that he in fact was
  • 00:14:01.697 --> 00:14:06.502
  • The messiah.
  • 00:14:06.502 --> 00:14:07.870
  • You know, even the pharisees were sharp enough to pick up
  • 00:14:07.870 --> 00:14:10.506
  • On this.
  • 00:14:10.506 --> 00:14:11.840
  • Look at verse 21, "and the scribes and the pharisees began
  • 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:14.910
  • To reason, saying, 'who is this man who speaks blasphemies?
  • 00:14:14.910 --> 00:14:19.648
  • Who can forgive sins, but god alone?'"
  • 00:14:19.648 --> 00:14:22.851
  • Only god has the ability to forgive sins the pharisee said.
  • 00:14:22.851 --> 00:14:27.222
  • You got it right, jesus said, and that's what i'm declaring
  • 00:14:27.222 --> 00:14:30.059
  • To do.
  • 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:31.393
  • Look at verse 22, "but jesus aware of their reasonings,
  • 00:14:31.393 --> 00:14:33.629
  • Answered and said to them, 'why are you reasoning in
  • 00:14:33.629 --> 00:14:36.398
  • Your hearts?
  • 00:14:36.398 --> 00:14:37.733
  • Which is easier, to say, 'your sins have been forgiven you or
  • 00:14:37.733 --> 00:14:40.869
  • Rise up and walk.'"
  • 00:14:40.869 --> 00:14:42.471
  • In other words, jesus was saying, you're right pharisees.
  • 00:14:42.471 --> 00:14:46.709
  • Anybody can go around saying your sins are forgiven.
  • 00:14:46.709 --> 00:14:50.112
  • I could come up to you today and i could say your sins
  • 00:14:50.112 --> 00:14:53.816
  • Are forgiven.
  • 00:14:53.816 --> 00:14:55.150
  • You wouldn't know whether i had the power to forgive your sins
  • 00:14:55.150 --> 00:14:56.952
  • Or not.
  • 00:14:56.952 --> 00:14:58.287
  • Anybody can say that.
  • 00:14:58.287 --> 00:14:59.655
  • Jesus understood that.
  • 00:14:59.655 --> 00:15:00.990
  • So in verse 24 he says, "but in order that you might know that
  • 00:15:00.990 --> 00:15:04.760
  • I, the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins, he
  • 00:15:04.760 --> 00:15:09.131
  • Said to the paralytic, 'i say to you, rise and take up your
  • 00:15:09.131 --> 00:15:13.769
  • Stretcher and go home.'"
  • 00:15:13.769 --> 00:15:16.271
  • In other words, jesus performed this miracle to show that indeed
  • 00:15:16.271 --> 00:15:20.976
  • He was the son of god who had the power to forgive sins.
  • 00:15:20.976 --> 00:15:25.080
  • So one writer says, now it was crunch time.
  • 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:29.218
  • Jesus said, i'm the messiah.
  • 00:15:29.218 --> 00:15:31.153
  • I'm gonna prove it to you by raising up this man from
  • 00:15:31.153 --> 00:15:34.423
  • His palate.
  • 00:15:34.423 --> 00:15:35.791
  • What happened?
  • 00:15:35.791 --> 00:15:37.126
  • Look at verses 25 and 26, "and at once, the man rose up before
  • 00:15:37.126 --> 00:15:40.929
  • Them and he took up what he had been lying on and went home
  • 00:15:40.929 --> 00:15:44.400
  • Glorifying god.
  • 00:15:44.400 --> 00:15:46.368
  • And they were all seized with astonishment and they begin
  • 00:15:46.368 --> 00:15:50.539
  • Glorifying god; and they were filled with fear, saying, 'we
  • 00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:54.543
  • Have seen remarkable things today.'"
  • 00:15:54.543 --> 00:15:58.947
  • And as i said at the outset of this message, there are two
  • 00:15:58.947 --> 00:16:02.017
  • Reasons luke concluded these miracles in his gospel.
  • 00:16:02.017 --> 00:16:05.421
  • First of all, to demonstrate that jesus, in fact, was the
  • 00:16:05.421 --> 00:16:09.625
  • Messiah by his authority over disease.
  • 00:16:09.625 --> 00:16:12.261
  • But secondly, these miracles illustrate how we're to respond
  • 00:16:12.261 --> 00:16:18.233
  • When illness or any other great need comes into our life.
  • 00:16:18.233 --> 00:16:22.838
  • Let me close today by suggesting three very clear and timeless
  • 00:16:22.838 --> 00:16:27.242
  • Principles for what we as christians should do when
  • 00:16:27.242 --> 00:16:30.846
  • Illness comes into our life or the life of someone we
  • 00:16:30.846 --> 00:16:33.649
  • Care about.
  • 00:16:33.649 --> 00:16:34.983
  • Number one, we are to ask god for healing.
  • 00:16:34.983 --> 00:16:39.188
  • We're to ask god for healing.
  • 00:16:39.188 --> 00:16:41.290
  • Look at 1 john 5 verse 14, "and this is the confidence which we
  • 00:16:41.290 --> 00:16:46.195
  • Have before him, that if we ask anything according to his will,
  • 00:16:46.195 --> 00:16:52.134
  • He hears us."
  • 00:16:52.134 --> 00:16:54.770
  • Now, i want you to listen to me very clearly on this.
  • 00:16:54.770 --> 00:16:58.140
  • There is no promise in the bible anywhere that promises that if
  • 00:16:58.140 --> 00:17:02.144
  • You ask god for something, he will automatically give it
  • 00:17:02.144 --> 00:17:04.646
  • To you.
  • 00:17:04.646 --> 00:17:05.981
  • No promise like that in the bible.
  • 00:17:05.981 --> 00:17:08.317
  • What there is a promise in the bible of is this, you can ask
  • 00:17:08.317 --> 00:17:12.621
  • God anything no matter how unlikely it seems that would
  • 00:17:12.621 --> 00:17:16.558
  • Happen, you can ask god for anything and he will answer that
  • 00:17:16.558 --> 00:17:20.863
  • Prayer request according to his will.
  • 00:17:20.863 --> 00:17:24.967
  • Now that phrase, according to his will is not a cop
  • 00:17:24.967 --> 00:17:27.202
  • Out phrase.
  • 00:17:27.202 --> 00:17:28.537
  • It's not a way of letting god off the hook saying, okay, lord,
  • 00:17:28.537 --> 00:17:30.973
  • If you can do it, fine, but if you can't, muster up the power
  • 00:17:30.973 --> 00:17:33.842
  • To do it.
  • 00:17:33.842 --> 00:17:35.177
  • We'll just write it off to it wasn't your will.
  • 00:17:35.177 --> 00:17:37.146
  • No, god's will is a border around your life.
  • 00:17:37.146 --> 00:17:44.286
  • Not meant to keep good things from entering into your life,
  • 00:17:44.286 --> 00:17:48.023
  • But to keep bad things from entering into your life or
  • 00:17:48.023 --> 00:17:51.393
  • Things that are not the best to enter your life.
  • 00:17:51.393 --> 00:17:54.930
  • And when we say, "god, i want you to do this, but only if it's
  • 00:17:54.930 --> 00:17:58.767
  • According to your will."
  • 00:17:58.767 --> 00:18:00.202
  • That is the true prayer of faith.
  • 00:18:00.202 --> 00:18:03.639
  • You see the bible says, we are to ask boldly for anything that
  • 00:18:03.639 --> 00:18:07.910
  • Is in our heart, but we quietly trust in god to do what is best.
  • 00:18:07.910 --> 00:18:13.315
  • That's what real faith praying is all about.
  • 00:18:13.315 --> 00:18:17.252
  • That's what the leper did, didn't he?
  • 00:18:17.252 --> 00:18:18.820
  • He said, "lord, if you are willing, i know you can
  • 00:18:18.820 --> 00:18:23.158
  • Cleanse me."
  • 00:18:23.158 --> 00:18:24.526
  • A.w. tozer
  • 00:18:24.526 --> 00:18:25.861
  • Once said, "the hard work of prayer is getting yourself
  • 00:18:25.861 --> 00:18:29.831
  • Into the state of mind in which you prefer the will of god over
  • 00:18:29.831 --> 00:18:34.436
  • Your own."
  • 00:18:34.436 --> 00:18:36.405
  • Isn't that what jesus did in the garden?
  • 00:18:36.405 --> 00:18:39.274
  • He boldly asked god to provide another way than the cross.
  • 00:18:39.274 --> 00:18:42.477
  • "father, if it be your will remove this experience from me."
  • 00:18:42.477 --> 00:18:47.482
  • But then he said, "yet not my will, but your will be done."
  • 00:18:47.482 --> 00:18:53.055
  • Whenever we face a need in our life, we're not to try to say,
  • 00:18:53.055 --> 00:18:58.026
  • Gee i wonder if this is god's will or not.
  • 00:18:58.026 --> 00:18:59.861
  • And i don't know if i should pray about this or not.
  • 00:18:59.861 --> 00:19:01.730
  • No, ask him anything that he places in your heart.
  • 00:19:01.730 --> 00:19:05.667
  • Boldly ask, but quietly trust in him to do what is best.
  • 00:19:05.667 --> 00:19:10.172
  • That is faith praying.
  • 00:19:10.172 --> 00:19:12.040
  • Sometimes god says yes and he heals.
  • 00:19:12.040 --> 00:19:14.910
  • Sometimes like in the case of paul himself, god says no, but
  • 00:19:14.910 --> 00:19:18.847
  • Whatever need we have, we are to ask god to answer that need.
  • 00:19:18.847 --> 00:19:23.485
  • Secondly, when illness comes into our life, we ought to
  • 00:19:23.485 --> 00:19:26.588
  • Examine our lives for unconfessed sin.
  • 00:19:26.588 --> 00:19:30.759
  • Examine our lives for unconfessed sin.
  • 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:33.895
  • Now, not all illness is the result of our own individual
  • 00:19:33.895 --> 00:19:37.566
  • Sins, but sometimes it is.
  • 00:19:37.566 --> 00:19:40.235
  • Sometimes if we are living apart from god, god will use illness,
  • 00:19:40.235 --> 00:19:44.973
  • Not as a way of punishing us, but as a way to get
  • 00:19:44.973 --> 00:19:48.043
  • Our attention.
  • 00:19:48.043 --> 00:19:49.411
  • And that's why one question we need to ask when we face illness
  • 00:19:49.411 --> 00:19:53.515
  • Is, is there anything in my life that may be displeasing to god?
  • 00:19:53.515 --> 00:19:57.853
  • That's what the james 5 passage is all about that we read just a
  • 00:19:57.853 --> 00:20:01.456
  • Moment ago.
  • 00:20:01.456 --> 00:20:02.824
  • Remember in james 5:14, james says, "is any among you sick?
  • 00:20:02.824 --> 00:20:06.795
  • Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray
  • 00:20:06.795 --> 00:20:10.399
  • Over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the lord."
  • 00:20:10.399 --> 00:20:14.670
  • If you have a sickness, you ought to have other people pray
  • 00:20:14.670 --> 00:20:17.639
  • For you.
  • 00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:19.007
  • You ought to have the spiritual leaders in the church
  • 00:20:19.007 --> 00:20:20.342
  • Pray for you.
  • 00:20:20.342 --> 00:20:21.677
  • We're gonna do that in just a few moments.
  • 00:20:21.677 --> 00:20:23.045
  • People always wonder, what does this mean anointing him with oil
  • 00:20:23.045 --> 00:20:27.082
  • In the name of the lord?
  • 00:20:27.082 --> 00:20:30.252
  • Some people believe that oil was a medicinal agent which it was
  • 00:20:30.252 --> 00:20:34.423
  • In the new testament times.
  • 00:20:34.423 --> 00:20:36.058
  • Perhaps james is saying whenever you're ill, you ought to seek
  • 00:20:36.058 --> 00:20:39.294
  • The best medical treatment you can find, but you also ought
  • 00:20:39.294 --> 00:20:42.164
  • To pray.
  • 00:20:42.164 --> 00:20:43.498
  • Some people say the anointing represents the holy spirit.
  • 00:20:43.498 --> 00:20:46.668
  • It's representative of the holy spirit's power.
  • 00:20:46.668 --> 00:20:49.771
  • But whatever this is, this is a subsidiary phrase, anointing him
  • 00:20:49.771 --> 00:20:54.810
  • With oil.
  • 00:20:54.810 --> 00:20:56.144
  • The command is when somebody is sick, you're sick, let people
  • 00:20:56.144 --> 00:20:59.881
  • Pray for you.
  • 00:20:59.881 --> 00:21:01.249
  • That's where the power is.
  • 00:21:01.249 --> 00:21:02.584
  • Is not in the oil, it's not in the mud, it's not ever in
  • 00:21:02.584 --> 00:21:05.687
  • Anything else.
  • 00:21:05.687 --> 00:21:07.022
  • It is in the prayer.
  • 00:21:07.022 --> 00:21:09.157
  • Whenever we're sick, we ought to have people pray for us.
  • 00:21:09.157 --> 00:21:12.160
  • But notice what he goes on to say, "and the prayer offered in
  • 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:15.030
  • Faith will restore the one who is sick, and the lord will raise
  • 00:21:15.030 --> 00:21:18.100
  • Him up, and if he has committed sins, they will forgive him.
  • 00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:22.871
  • Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one
  • 00:21:22.871 --> 00:21:26.675
  • Another so that you might be healed."
  • 00:21:26.675 --> 00:21:28.610
  • What is all this talk about sin?
  • 00:21:28.610 --> 00:21:30.946
  • James is saying not all sickness is caused by sin, but sometimes
  • 00:21:30.946 --> 00:21:35.283
  • It is.
  • 00:21:35.283 --> 00:21:36.651
  • And if your sickness is the result of sin, you need to
  • 00:21:36.651 --> 00:21:39.287
  • Confess your sins to one another as well.
  • 00:21:39.287 --> 00:21:41.623
  • Examine your life for unconfessed sin and then
  • 00:21:41.623 --> 00:21:44.626
  • Thirdly, seek the prayers of others.
  • 00:21:44.626 --> 00:21:48.363
  • When you face illness or some other great need in your life,
  • 00:21:48.363 --> 00:21:51.500
  • You ought to seek the prayers of others.
  • 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:54.169
  • Notice what james says here, "pray for one another so that
  • 00:21:54.169 --> 00:21:59.207
  • You might be healed.
  • 00:21:59.207 --> 00:22:00.675
  • The effective prayer of a righteous person can
  • 00:22:00.675 --> 00:22:05.280
  • Accomplish much."
  • 00:22:05.280 --> 00:22:07.616
  • Don't ever forget this.
  • 00:22:07.616 --> 00:22:09.751
  • Throughout the new testament, whenever god sees a group of
  • 00:22:09.751 --> 00:22:14.623
  • Christians praying for the same thing, god sits up and takes
  • 00:22:14.623 --> 00:22:18.960
  • Notice of it.
  • 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:21.062
  • God is impressed when he sees christians praying together for
  • 00:22:21.062 --> 00:22:26.501
  • The same thing.
  • 00:22:26.501 --> 00:22:27.869
  • Isn't that true in the book of acts?
  • 00:22:27.869 --> 00:22:29.204
  • Remember peter was in prison, the church held a prayer meeting
  • 00:22:29.204 --> 00:22:32.841
  • At a home and they were praying for the release of their leader
  • 00:22:32.841 --> 00:22:35.811
  • When god miraculously released peter and he ended up showing up
  • 00:22:35.811 --> 00:22:39.614
  • At the home and the people couldn't believe it.
  • 00:22:39.614 --> 00:22:41.016
  • They thought it was peter's ghost.
  • 00:22:41.016 --> 00:22:42.617
  • They couldn't believe god actually answered prayer.
  • 00:22:42.617 --> 00:22:45.153
  • God takes notice when his people are praying together for the
  • 00:22:45.153 --> 00:22:48.657
  • Same thing.
  • 00:22:48.657 --> 00:22:50.025
  • And that means when you're facing a great need in your
  • 00:22:50.025 --> 00:22:51.793
  • Life, don't keep it to yourself.
  • 00:22:51.793 --> 00:22:53.762
  • Let other people pray for you because the bible promises the
  • 00:22:53.762 --> 00:22:57.866
  • Effective prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much.
  • 00:22:57.866 --> 00:23:02.771
  • How do we respond when illness comes into our life?
  • 00:23:02.771 --> 00:23:05.707
  • We need to ask god boldly to answer our prayer.
  • 00:23:05.707 --> 00:23:09.878
  • We need to examine our lives for unconfessed sin and we need to
  • 00:23:09.878 --> 00:23:14.149
  • Seek the prayers of other godly christians.
  • 00:23:14.149 --> 00:23:20.155
  • Jeffress: i'm delighted that you chose to follow along today in
  • 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:26.928
  • This study of luke chapter 5.
  • 00:23:26.928 --> 00:23:29.297
  • The fact that you're listening
  • 00:23:29.297 --> 00:23:30.732
  • Right now is strong evidence that you're personally motivated
  • 00:23:30.732 --> 00:23:34.669
  • To follow christ.
  • 00:23:34.669 --> 00:23:36.438
  • Well, by now, i hope you've heard about our matching
  • 00:23:36.438 --> 00:23:39.307
  • Challenge taking place right now in the amount of $1.5 million.
  • 00:23:39.307 --> 00:23:45.080
  • We're calling it the pathway to victory: light the darkness
  • 00:23:45.080 --> 00:23:48.850
  • Matching challenge
  • 00:23:48.850 --> 00:23:50.185
  • And for good reason, from the very beginning, god's light has
  • 00:23:50.185 --> 00:23:53.788
  • Pierced the darkness.
  • 00:23:53.788 --> 00:23:55.524
  • In genesis 1, the creator commanded, "let there be light."
  • 00:23:55.524 --> 00:24:00.195
  • And at that precise moment, the darkness was consumed by
  • 00:24:00.195 --> 00:24:04.466
  • The light.
  • 00:24:04.466 --> 00:24:05.834
  • This miracle set the stage for a grand narrative that culminates
  • 00:24:05.834 --> 00:24:10.071
  • In the birth of jesus christ, the light of the world.
  • 00:24:10.071 --> 00:24:13.675
  • Friend, it's our privilege together to shine christ's light
  • 00:24:13.675 --> 00:24:18.146
  • In the darkest corners of the world.
  • 00:24:18.146 --> 00:24:20.615
  • So would you join me in this noble cause to pierce
  • 00:24:20.615 --> 00:24:24.152
  • The darkness with the light of god's word?
  • 00:24:24.152 --> 00:24:27.022
  • Thank you for entrusting your gifts to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:27.022 --> 00:24:30.926
  • We couldn't do this without friends like you.
  • 00:24:30.926 --> 00:24:34.529
  • Let's stay right there.
  • 00:24:34.529 --> 00:24:35.864
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:35.864 --> 00:24:40.635
  • Announcer: the one thing god wants more than
  • 00:24:40.702 --> 00:24:42.671
  • Anything else in this world is time with you.
  • 00:24:42.671 --> 00:24:45.740
  • Make god your priority by spending quality time
  • 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:48.977
  • In his word with the brand-new 2025
  • 00:24:48.977 --> 00:24:51.413
  • "'pathway to victory' daily devotional."
  • 00:24:51.413 --> 00:24:53.715
  • This year's devotional has a beautiful navy blue leather
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  • Cover with inlaid brown and gold foil accents.
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  • And now with larger print, the 260 practical insights
  • 00:24:58.920 --> 00:25:02.657
  • From dr. robert jeffress are easier to read.
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  • This stunning 532 page devotional makes an ideal
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  • Christmas gift for loved ones
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  • Who want to grow in their faith too.
  • 00:25:09.965 --> 00:25:12.100
  • Jeffress: of all the ways god could have revealed himself
  • 00:25:12.167 --> 00:25:14.703
  • To us, he chose to do it through the written word.
  • 00:25:14.703 --> 00:25:18.306
  • And that's why it's so important for you and for me to set aside
  • 00:25:18.306 --> 00:25:21.643
  • Regular time to read the word of god.
  • 00:25:21.643 --> 00:25:25.246
  • Announcer: every season carries an uplifting theme.
  • 00:25:25.313 --> 00:25:27.949
  • Begin the new year by exploring god's will for your life.
  • 00:25:27.949 --> 00:25:32.520
  • In spring and summer, grow stronger in christ
  • 00:25:32.520 --> 00:25:35.156
  • With insights from colossians.
  • 00:25:35.156 --> 00:25:37.025
  • And in the fall and winter, embrace the father who loves you
  • 00:25:37.025 --> 00:25:40.161
  • With inspirational readings based on the parable
  • 00:25:40.161 --> 00:25:42.797
  • Of the prodigal son.
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  • When the day-to-day problems of life feel overwhelming, take
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  • A moment to anchor yourself in the calming truth of god's word
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  • With the brand new 2025 "pathway to victory" daily devotional.
  • 00:25:51.239 --> 00:25:55.577
  • Your gift of support not only provides you with this life
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  • Giving resource, it empowers us to spread the hope filled
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  • Message of jesus christ as well.
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  • Thank you for supporting the ministry
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  • Of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:06.187 --> 00:26:08.323
  • Jeffress: aren't you glad that we serve a savior who can be
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  • Moved with compassion when he sees our need?
  • 00:26:13.695 --> 00:26:17.532
  • And while there's no promise in the bible that says god will
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  • Always grant our wishes, we can ask for anything and be
  • 00:26:20.502 --> 00:26:25.273
  • Confident that he will answer according to his good and
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  • Perfect will.
  • 00:26:29.210 --> 00:26:30.545
  • Well, christmas provides a great reason to celebrate because as
  • 00:26:30.545 --> 00:26:34.349
  • An angel of the lord said, "today, there has been born for
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  • You a savior who is christ the lord."
  • 00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:42.424
  • And next time, we're going to set all the distractions aside
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  • And fully engage in the miraculous birth of jesus.
  • 00:26:46.094 --> 00:26:50.231
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:50.231 --> 00:26:53.068
  • Series, "reigniting your passion for christ."
  • 00:26:53.068 --> 00:26:56.571
  • Jeffress: how many different ways can you tell
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  • The christmas story?
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  • The plot line doesn't change or it shouldn't change in what
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  • You're telling.
  • 00:27:04.979 --> 00:27:06.347
  • The characters certainly don't change.
  • 00:27:06.347 --> 00:27:08.083
  • So how do you get something fresh out of
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  • The christmas story?
  • 00:27:11.352 --> 00:27:12.721
  • That's a challenge every pastor has.
  • 00:27:12.721 --> 00:27:15.523
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:27:15.590 --> 00:27:18.960
  • "stop and smell the manger" here on "pathway to victory."
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