Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Moving From Bitterness To Forgiveness | July 16, 2025
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- [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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- Hi, i am robert jeffress.
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- Welcome again to "pathway to victory".
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- When someone offends us, anger is a natural response,
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- But when we allow that anger
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- To simmer the real problems, begin.
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- Unresolved anger festers into bitterness
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- And bitterness is like a deadly poison.
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- Today we're going to talk about how to overcome resentment
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- Before it completely destroys the blessed life
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- God has planned for us.
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- My message is titled,
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- "moving from bitterness to forgiveness".
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- As we continue our series "invincible"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory".
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- ♪ music ♪
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- [announcer] sometimes our emotions are like mountains
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- That stand in our way.
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- Obstacles like doubt, bitterness,
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- Or fear keep us from enjoying a peaceful life of courage.
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- In his book, "invincible conquering the mountains
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- That separate you from the blessed life",
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- Dr. robert jeffress helps you overcome barriers like guilt,
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- Loneliness, lust, grief, anxiety, and more.
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- Discover how to conquer the mountains that hold you back.
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- Request your hardcover copy of "invincible"
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- When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory".
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- ♪ music ♪
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- It's an old story, but it's still one of my favorites.
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- The story about the man who was bitten
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- By a dog was later discovered to have rabies.
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- They rushed the man to the hospital and did test
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- And discovered that he too
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- Had contracted the dreaded disease.
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- This was in the day before there was any cure for rabies.
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- So the doctor had the choice of informing his patient
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- That his case was both terminal and incurable.
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- We'll try to do everything we can
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- The doctor said to make you comfortable,
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- But i strongly urge you to get your affairs together
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- As quickly as possible.
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- Well, the patient was stunned, he couldn't believe it.
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- Finally, he summoned the strength to ask for some paper
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- And a pen, and he began to write as fast as he could.
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- About an hour later, the doctor came by
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- To check up on his patient
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- And he saw that the man was still writing.
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- The doctor said, well, i'm glad
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- To see you're getting your will together.
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- The man looked up and said, doc, this ain't no will.
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- It's a list of all the people
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- I'm going to bite before i die.
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- (audience laughing)
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- You know, we all carry around a list
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- Like that in our minds, don't we?
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- People we want to bite or at least get even with
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- Before we die.
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- Your list might include an employer who has mistreated you,
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- Maybe a friend who betrayed you,
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- Maybe a mate who abandoned you,
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- Possibly even a relative who abused you.
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- Have you discovered that you cannot control
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- What other people do to you?
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- As hard as you try?
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- You cannot control what people do to you,
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- But you can control your response
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- To those hurts that come into your life.
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- You can either release them, let them go,
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- Or you can hold over onto them and turn them over
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- And over again in your heart
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- Until they metastasize into a tumor of bitterness.
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- That's why the writer of hebrews said in hebrews 1215,
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- "see to it that no one of you comes short
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- Of the grace of god,
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- That no root of bitterness bringing up causes trouble,
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- And by it many be defiled."
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- Bitterness is a deadly acid
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- That not only destroys the container
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- In which it's kept the heart,
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- But when it seeps out, it destroys everyone
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- And everything it comes into contact with.
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- And today we're going to discover how to conquer,
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- How to scale the mountain of bitterness
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- By moving from bitterness to forgiveness.
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- I can say without any hesitancy
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- That no decision you make affects your physical, emotional,
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- Or spiritual health anymore
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- Than the issue we're talking about today.
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- Moving from bitterness to forgiveness.
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- If you have your bibles, turn to ephesians chapter four.
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- Ephesians chapter four.
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- First of all, what is the source of bitterness?
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- Two words, unresolved anger.
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- In fact, on your outline i put a little formula
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- That will help you understand bitterness and it's cause.
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- Unresolved anger plus time equals bitterness.
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- Now, what is anger?
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- Anger is the natural, physical
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- And emotional reaction to perceived injustice.
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- It is a natural, physical
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- And emotional reaction to a perceived injustice.
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- Let me ask you a question.
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- Is love wrong?
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- Well, it depends, doesn't it?
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- If you're talking about loving your mate, loving god,
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- Loving your children, no love isn't wrong, it's right.
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- But if you're talking about loving somebody else's mate
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- Or loving greed or loving pornography, then love is wrong.
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- It depends.
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- But notice about anger, you could say the same thing.
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- Is anger wrong?
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- Well, it depends.
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- In ephesians chapter four, verses 26 and 27, look at this.
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- Paul says, "be angry and yet do not sin."
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- "do not let the sun go down on your anger
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- And do not give the devil an opportunity."
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- Isn't that interesting?
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- Be angry, but don't sin.
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- Never in the bible does it say, be lustful,
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- But don't sin or be greedy but don't sin.
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- Greed and lust are always wrong, but not anger.
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- It depends upon how we respond to that anger.
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- We talk about people in a blind rage,
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- They can't even control themself.
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- But other times when you get angry with somebody,
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- Better sense prevails.
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- Maybe it's with an employer or a maid,
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- And you decide to internalize that feeling of anger.
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- That's what malice is.
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- Malice is that inward ill will you feel for another person.
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- You're not overtly angry with them.
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- In fact, people brag on you for
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- How well you're controlling your anger,
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- But inside your seething
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- And you look for any opportunity to act
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- Or speak against the other person
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- Or to do them ill, that's malice.
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- And the bible says, if you contain malice in your heart
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- For a long enough period of time
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- That turns in to bitterness.
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- Make no mistake about it,
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- Anger suppressed is just as deadly in your heart
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- As anger expressed.
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- And that's why again, hebrews 1215 says,
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- "see to it that none of you come short
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- With the grace of god,
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- That no root of bitterness brings up and defiles many."
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- What are the consequences
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- Of long-term unresolved anger of bitterness?
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- First of all, there are real physical consequences
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- To bitterness.
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- The late christian psychiatrist dr. frank minirth
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- Noted that anger decreases the lymphocytes
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- In our bodies and result in depressed antibodies necessary
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- To fight infectious diseases.
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- In fact, dr. minirth made this comment.
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- He said, quote, "pent up anger is probably the leading
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- Cause of death in america."
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- Isn't that amazing?
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- A doctor, a psychiatrist saying,
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- "the leading cause of death in america is unresolved anger."
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- Secondly, beyond physical consequences,
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- There are emotional consequences.
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- It gnaws at your very soul.
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- But the physical emotional consequences
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- Of bitterness pale in comparison
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- To the spiritual consequences of bitterness.
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- What happens spiritually when you refuse to forgive another?
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- Remember the parable told in matthew chapter 18, by jesus,
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- There was a slave who owed the king
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- 10,000 talents of gold.
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- A talent was about 70 or 80 pounds of gold,
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- And here was a slave who owed the king 10,000 talents.
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- I did a calculation that would be about $16 billion
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- In today's dollars.
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- The slave owed him and the king said,
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- "i want my money and i want it now."
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- And the slave said, "king, please be patient
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- And i will repay you everything."
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- I'm not sure exactly how he planned to repay $16 billion,
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- But he begged for mercy.
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- And that hardened king, seeing that slave bow down
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- And begged for his life, something was moved inside
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- Of that hardened king.
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- He had mercy on him and jesus said he forgave him.
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- He released the slave of what was owed.
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- The bible says, "the slave got up, thanked the king,
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- And off he went."
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- And his first stop was to a friend of his, a fellow slave
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- Who owed him 100 denarii.
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- A denarius was 16 cents, 100 denarii would be $16.
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- And he grabbed that fellow slave by the nape of the neck
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- And began to choke him and say, "repay me what you owe me."
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- And that second slave said,
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- "be patient with me and i will repay you everything."
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- But unlike the king,
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- This first slave was unwilling to forgive.
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- And when the king heard about what had happened,
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- He had that first slave dragged into the palace
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- And seething with anger the king said,
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- "how is it that you who have been forgiven
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- So much could refuse to forgive so little?"
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- And then the king ordered that the slave be turned over
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- To the torturers in prison until he should repay everything.
- 00:10:36.781 --> 00:10:42.120
- And then jesus added this to his audience.
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- Matthew 1835, "so shall my heavenly father
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- Do the same to you,
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- If each of you does not forgive your brother
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- From your heart."
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- Don't try to explain away what jesus said.
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- He was very clear.
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- If you don't forgive others,
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- God will not forgive you.
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- Forgiveness is the obligation of those
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- Who have been truly forgiven.
- 00:11:13.151 --> 00:11:16.254
- But how do we move from bitterness to forgiveness?
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- The bible gives us four important steps
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- On that road to forgiveness.
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- Number one, you have to acknowledge first of all
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- That you have been wronged.
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- You have to acknowledge you have been wronged.
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- Some people try to be more spiritual than god is
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- And they want to just say, well,
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- Forgiveness means i'll just play like this never happened.
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- I'll do this mind game and just erase this from my memory.
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- No, that's not what forgiveness is.
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- You cannot forgive somebody you're not willing to blame.
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- Forgiveness is a debt.
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- When somebody wrongs you, they owe you a very real debt.
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- And until you acknowledge the wrong
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- And the debt, you can never release somebody from it.
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- I think about, for example, the story of joseph.
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- We're going to look at the story of joseph this summer,
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- But remember his story when he was a teenager,
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- He was sold into slavery by his brothers
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- And through a series of miraculous circumstances,
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- He ended up being the second in command to pharaoh
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- And egypt decades after his brothers wronged him
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- And left him for dead.
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- They were reunited with joseph.
- 00:12:26.424 --> 00:12:28.293
- And remember what joseph said to them in genesis 50 20,
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- He didn't say, guys, it's good to see you again.
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- Let's just let bygones be bygones.
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- Maybe you all were having a bad day
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- And that's why you did what you did,
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- But let's just forget about it.
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- Did he say that?
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- No.
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- In genesis 50:20, joseph said to his brothers,
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- "and as for you, you meant it for evil."
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- He's very clear.
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- What they did was wrong.
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- And until you're willing to acknowledge what was done
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- To you was wrong, you'll never be able to forgive again.
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- You cannot forgive those.
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- You're not first willing to blame.
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- Acknowledge that you have been wronged.
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- Secondly, trust in the sovereignty of god.
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- Joseph didn't stop there.
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- He said, "you meant it for evil,
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- But god used it for good
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- To bring about this present circumstance
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- And to preserve many people alive."
- 00:13:26.217 --> 00:13:28.853
- You remember the story because joseph ended up in egypt
- 00:13:28.853 --> 00:13:32.023
- And became pharaoh's right hand man.
- 00:13:32.023 --> 00:13:33.758
- He was able to provide food when there was a worldwide
- 00:13:33.758 --> 00:13:37.128
- Famine, not only for egypt but for his brothers
- 00:13:37.128 --> 00:13:39.530
- And father who were the nucleus of the nation of israel.
- 00:13:39.530 --> 00:13:42.500
- I mean, think about it.
- 00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:43.968
- Had there not been a joseph in egypt,
- 00:13:43.968 --> 00:13:47.672
- This nucleus of the israelite nation,
- 00:13:47.672 --> 00:13:50.275
- The 12 sons and jacob, they would've been obliterated.
- 00:13:50.275 --> 00:13:55.546
- There would've been no israel.
- 00:13:56.180 --> 00:13:57.582
- There would've been no jesus the savior of the world
- 00:13:57.582 --> 00:14:00.518
- Who came from the line of david.
- 00:14:00.518 --> 00:14:01.953
- None of that would've happened if joseph
- 00:14:01.953 --> 00:14:04.389
- Had not ended up in egypt.
- 00:14:04.389 --> 00:14:05.890
- And joseph wouldn't have been in egypt if his brothers
- 00:14:05.890 --> 00:14:08.826
- Had not sold him into slavery.
- 00:14:08.826 --> 00:14:11.296
- You meant it for evil, but god used it for god.
- 00:14:11.296 --> 00:14:14.365
- You know what joseph was saying to his brothers?
- 00:14:14.365 --> 00:14:16.100
- He said, "what you did was wrong,
- 00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:18.436
- But thank god i serve a god who's bigger than you are,
- 00:14:18.436 --> 00:14:22.173
- A god who has the power to take the worst things
- 00:14:22.173 --> 00:14:24.943
- You did to me and still use them for good."
- 00:14:24.943 --> 00:14:29.013
- Ladies and gentlemen, let me just say this.
- 00:14:29.948 --> 00:14:31.582
- You will never be able to truly forgive
- 00:14:31.582 --> 00:14:35.386
- Until you trust in the sovereignty of god,
- 00:14:36.287 --> 00:14:38.856
- To believe in a god who is so big, so powerful, so loving.
- 00:14:38.856 --> 00:14:42.560
- He can take the worst things people have ever done to you
- 00:14:42.560 --> 00:14:45.863
- And use those things for your good and for his glory.
- 00:14:45.863 --> 00:14:50.368
- Now, i want to be very careful here
- 00:14:51.169 --> 00:14:53.838
- 'cause i know this is a sensitive topic.
- 00:14:54.706 --> 00:14:57.208
- They are some of you who are struggling right now
- 00:14:58.142 --> 00:15:00.979
- With forgiving somebody who may have abused you
- 00:15:01.913 --> 00:15:04.949
- Even as a child.
- 00:15:04.949 --> 00:15:06.617
- I've talked to people who have gone through that horror
- 00:15:07.752 --> 00:15:09.887
- And they said, pastor, i just can't believe in a god
- 00:15:09.887 --> 00:15:14.492
- Who would have the power to have prevented that abuse
- 00:15:15.593 --> 00:15:17.996
- Or have stopped that abuse and yet chose not to stop it.
- 00:15:17.996 --> 00:15:21.799
- I can't believe in a god like that.
- 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:24.702
- And i understand that.
- 00:15:25.203 --> 00:15:26.938
- I understand that sentiment,
- 00:15:26.938 --> 00:15:29.007
- But i always try to gently say to them,
- 00:15:29.874 --> 00:15:32.643
- Do you find more comfort in believing in a god
- 00:15:33.578 --> 00:15:37.348
- Who wasn't able to stop the abuse?
- 00:15:38.082 --> 00:15:41.119
- A god who doesn't have the power
- 00:15:41.119 --> 00:15:42.820
- To control the circumstances of your life?
- 00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:46.090
- Do you really want to serve a god that makes you nothing
- 00:15:47.225 --> 00:15:49.260
- But a victim of random circumstances and random people
- 00:15:49.260 --> 00:15:53.398
- And people are free to hurt you
- 00:15:53.398 --> 00:15:54.999
- However they want to without any purpose at all?
- 00:15:54.999 --> 00:15:59.504
- No.
- 00:15:59.704 --> 00:16:01.105
- The comfort comes from believing in the god of the bible.
- 00:16:01.105 --> 00:16:04.475
- The god who works in ways we don't understand.
- 00:16:05.443 --> 00:16:07.412
- A god who would never condone evil or create evil,
- 00:16:07.412 --> 00:16:10.715
- But is able to use evil
- 00:16:10.715 --> 00:16:13.684
- To achieve his purpose in your life and for his glory.
- 00:16:13.684 --> 00:16:18.356
- A god that paul described in romans 8:28,
- 00:16:18.356 --> 00:16:21.092
- "a god who causes all things
- 00:16:21.092 --> 00:16:24.362
- To work together for good to those who love him
- 00:16:24.362 --> 00:16:27.999
- And those who are called according to his purpose."
- 00:16:27.999 --> 00:16:31.369
- Sometimes like joseph, we get to see some good
- 00:16:31.369 --> 00:16:35.239
- That comes out of the hurt we experienced.
- 00:16:35.239 --> 00:16:37.542
- As an old man he was able to look back
- 00:16:37.542 --> 00:16:39.444
- And say to his brothers, you meant it for evil.
- 00:16:39.444 --> 00:16:41.679
- God used it for good.
- 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:43.047
- Many times we live
- 00:16:43.047 --> 00:16:44.549
- And die without ever seeing the ultimate plan of god.
- 00:16:44.549 --> 00:16:46.951
- It won't be till heaven that we get to see
- 00:16:46.951 --> 00:16:49.253
- What that ultimate plan was.
- 00:16:49.253 --> 00:16:51.889
- But whether we see it
- 00:16:51.889 --> 00:16:53.391
- Or not, our healing comes from believing in that kind
- 00:16:53.391 --> 00:16:57.728
- Of sovereign god who causes all things
- 00:16:57.728 --> 00:17:00.898
- To work together for good.
- 00:17:00.898 --> 00:17:03.801
- Third, how do you move from bitterness to forgiveness?
- 00:17:03.801 --> 00:17:06.771
- Admit your own failures and receive god's forgiveness.
- 00:17:06.771 --> 00:17:12.076
- You cannot give away something you don't have yourself.
- 00:17:13.144 --> 00:17:15.513
- It is impossible for you
- 00:17:15.513 --> 00:17:17.014
- To truly forgive others if you've not been forgiven by god.
- 00:17:17.014 --> 00:17:21.352
- In the bible, there's an inseparable link
- 00:17:21.352 --> 00:17:23.521
- Between receiving god's forgiveness
- 00:17:23.521 --> 00:17:25.890
- And extending that forgiveness to others.
- 00:17:25.890 --> 00:17:28.960
- I think about it as an emotional seesaw.
- 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:34.198
- You remember playing on seesaws when you were little.
- 00:17:35.266 --> 00:17:37.001
- You know how it works.
- 00:17:37.001 --> 00:17:38.302
- You get on one end and then hopefully somebody
- 00:17:38.302 --> 00:17:41.139
- Of equal weight gets on the other end.
- 00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:44.909
- And as long as you are balanced,
- 00:17:44.909 --> 00:17:47.044
- The seesaw remains in equilibrium.
- 00:17:47.044 --> 00:17:50.481
- But remember what would happen that jerk you were playing
- 00:17:50.481 --> 00:17:52.717
- With would get off first
- 00:17:52.717 --> 00:17:54.085
- And let you come crashing down the other side.
- 00:17:54.085 --> 00:17:57.054
- Remember that?
- 00:17:57.054 --> 00:17:58.356
- No, to maintain equilibrium,
- 00:17:58.356 --> 00:18:00.591
- You had to maintain the weight on both ends of the seesaw.
- 00:18:00.591 --> 00:18:04.362
- Now, think about that picture.
- 00:18:04.362 --> 00:18:05.897
- Each one of us carries an emotional seesaw in our minds.
- 00:18:05.897 --> 00:18:09.066
- On one end is guilt that we feel
- 00:18:09.066 --> 00:18:12.503
- For things we've done wrong.
- 00:18:12.503 --> 00:18:14.272
- And the only way we can keep from crashing down
- 00:18:14.272 --> 00:18:17.275
- Is if we balance our guilt with blame toward other people
- 00:18:17.275 --> 00:18:20.878
- Who have wronged us.
- 00:18:20.878 --> 00:18:22.346
- And as long as we have the same amount of guilt
- 00:18:22.346 --> 00:18:24.982
- And blame, we're able to rationalize things.
- 00:18:24.982 --> 00:18:28.786
- But whenever you ask somebody to forgive another person,
- 00:18:28.786 --> 00:18:32.223
- It's like asking that person on the blame end
- 00:18:32.223 --> 00:18:34.792
- To get off the seesaw.
- 00:18:34.792 --> 00:18:36.327
- And all you're left with is your guilt over what you've done
- 00:18:36.327 --> 00:18:39.864
- And you come crashing down.
- 00:18:39.864 --> 00:18:41.732
- No, the only way to keep an equilibrium is
- 00:18:42.633 --> 00:18:45.937
- Before you forgive somebody else for what they've done
- 00:18:45.937 --> 00:18:48.539
- And get rid of the blame.
- 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:50.708
- You have to get rid of your guilt.
- 00:18:50.708 --> 00:18:52.777
- And the only way to get rid of your guilt
- 00:18:52.777 --> 00:18:55.079
- Is through faith in jesus christ.
- 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:57.748
- The moment you trust in god for the forgiveness
- 00:18:57.748 --> 00:19:00.718
- Of your sins, it removes the guilt that you have.
- 00:19:00.718 --> 00:19:04.722
- And only then can you quit blaming other people
- 00:19:04.722 --> 00:19:08.226
- For what they've done.
- 00:19:08.226 --> 00:19:09.727
- And that's why ephesians 4:32 says,
- 00:19:09.727 --> 00:19:12.463
- "be kind to one another,
- 00:19:12.463 --> 00:19:14.465
- Tenderhearted, forgiving one another
- 00:19:14.465 --> 00:19:17.902
- Just as god in christ has forgiven you."
- 00:19:17.902 --> 00:19:22.506
- Does that make sense?
- 00:19:22.506 --> 00:19:23.574
- You cannot give to others
- 00:19:23.574 --> 00:19:25.876
- What you have not experienced yourself.
- 00:19:25.876 --> 00:19:29.347
- And then finally, and most critically,
- 00:19:29.347 --> 00:19:32.149
- Moving from bitterness to forgiveness,
- 00:19:32.149 --> 00:19:34.252
- There has to come that time when you choose
- 00:19:34.252 --> 00:19:36.420
- To forgive your offender,
- 00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:38.556
- Just as there is a moment in time you choose
- 00:19:38.556 --> 00:19:40.925
- To receive forgiveness.
- 00:19:40.925 --> 00:19:42.593
- When you trust in christ as your savior,
- 00:19:42.593 --> 00:19:44.895
- There has to be an actual time when you choose
- 00:19:44.895 --> 00:19:48.432
- To release your offender of what they've done to you.
- 00:19:48.432 --> 00:19:51.135
- Now remember, when you're forgiving,
- 00:19:51.135 --> 00:19:53.137
- You're not denying the reality of the hurt.
- 00:19:53.137 --> 00:19:56.040
- You're not diminishing it in any way.
- 00:19:56.040 --> 00:19:59.277
- You're not even letting go of your desire to see
- 00:19:59.277 --> 00:20:02.013
- That other person experience justice
- 00:20:02.013 --> 00:20:04.649
- For what they've done to you.
- 00:20:04.649 --> 00:20:06.851
- When you forgive what you're giving up is your right
- 00:20:06.851 --> 00:20:09.287
- For vengeance, your right
- 00:20:09.287 --> 00:20:11.188
- To hurt somebody else for hurting you.
- 00:20:11.188 --> 00:20:15.092
- When you forgive somebody, what you're saying is, god,
- 00:20:15.092 --> 00:20:18.329
- What this person did to me was terrible, it's wrong.
- 00:20:18.329 --> 00:20:21.532
- They deserve to suffer for it,
- 00:20:21.532 --> 00:20:23.768
- But i'm going to let you settle the score.
- 00:20:23.768 --> 00:20:26.437
- Today i'm surrendering this offense
- 00:20:26.437 --> 00:20:28.906
- To you so that i can be free to get on with my life.
- 00:20:28.906 --> 00:20:33.411
- And by the way, you can do that regardless of
- 00:20:33.411 --> 00:20:36.881
- What the other person does or doesn't do.
- 00:20:36.881 --> 00:20:39.950
- Remember in matthew or mark 11:25, jesus said,
- 00:20:39.950 --> 00:20:43.754
- "whenever you stand praying,
- 00:20:43.754 --> 00:20:46.424
- Forgive if you have anything against anyone
- 00:20:46.424 --> 00:20:49.593
- So that your father who is in heaven will also forgive you
- 00:20:49.593 --> 00:20:54.532
- Of your transgressions."
- 00:20:54.532 --> 00:20:56.667
- You can be sitting here in the pews
- 00:20:56.667 --> 00:20:58.402
- Of first baptist church of dallas.
- 00:20:58.402 --> 00:20:59.970
- You can be sitting watching on your laptop or television.
- 00:20:59.970 --> 00:21:02.773
- It may be you haven't seen your offender in years.
- 00:21:02.773 --> 00:21:05.376
- It may be they're even dead,
- 00:21:05.376 --> 00:21:07.945
- But you and you alone have the power to forgive.
- 00:21:07.945 --> 00:21:11.248
- You don't have to wait until that person asks
- 00:21:11.248 --> 00:21:13.484
- For your forgiveness.
- 00:21:13.484 --> 00:21:14.985
- You don't have to wait until they repent.
- 00:21:14.985 --> 00:21:16.987
- You don't have to wait until they make some change.
- 00:21:16.987 --> 00:21:19.023
- When you put conditions on your forgiveness,
- 00:21:19.023 --> 00:21:21.525
- You're making yourself an emotional slave
- 00:21:21.525 --> 00:21:23.694
- To that other person.
- 00:21:23.694 --> 00:21:25.496
- But when you forgive, you're letting go
- 00:21:25.496 --> 00:21:28.632
- So that you can be free to experience the abundant life
- 00:21:28.632 --> 00:21:32.470
- That god has for you.
- 00:21:32.470 --> 00:21:34.638
- And here's the best part, as louis mead says,
- 00:21:35.606 --> 00:21:40.344
- "when you forgive, you set the prisoner free
- 00:21:40.344 --> 00:21:45.282
- And the prisoner you set free is you."
- 00:21:46.117 --> 00:21:50.721
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:21:51.055 --> 00:21:55.326
- Perhaps you're listening right now
- 00:21:56.060 --> 00:21:57.495
- And thinking about a relationship in your life
- 00:21:57.495 --> 00:22:00.364
- That's in disrepair
- 00:22:00.364 --> 00:22:02.066
- And you've been uncertain what to do, what to say,
- 00:22:02.066 --> 00:22:05.102
- Or how to get even.
- 00:22:05.102 --> 00:22:07.004
- If there's one truth i want you
- 00:22:07.004 --> 00:22:08.739
- To take away from today's program it's this,
- 00:22:08.739 --> 00:22:12.009
- Forgiveness is a choice you make to let go
- 00:22:12.009 --> 00:22:15.446
- Of your right to hurt someone else who has hurt you.
- 00:22:15.446 --> 00:22:19.283
- Now, in closing today, i want to thank those of you
- 00:22:20.284 --> 00:22:22.353
- Who faithfully support "pathway to victory".
- 00:22:22.353 --> 00:22:25.423
- Your generosity allows me to teach the bible
- 00:22:25.423 --> 00:22:28.426
- With boldness on relevant topics like this one
- 00:22:28.426 --> 00:22:32.163
- And your gifts truly make a difference.
- 00:22:32.163 --> 00:22:35.466
- Not long ago, i heard from a listener in pennsylvania
- 00:22:35.466 --> 00:22:38.302
- Who wrote, pastor jeffress, i grew up in foster homes
- 00:22:38.302 --> 00:22:42.273
- Until the age of 18.
- 00:22:42.273 --> 00:22:44.341
- I spent my life angry at my mother.
- 00:22:44.341 --> 00:22:46.610
- Until i heard you teach about forgiveness
- 00:22:46.610 --> 00:22:50.114
- And its power, it changed everything for me.
- 00:22:50.114 --> 00:22:53.584
- I will be forever grateful to god
- 00:22:53.584 --> 00:22:55.686
- For that message and series.
- 00:22:55.686 --> 00:22:58.355
- Isn't that a wonderful outcome?
- 00:22:58.355 --> 00:23:00.524
- And when you give generously the "pathway to victory",
- 00:23:00.524 --> 00:23:03.160
- You play a significant role
- 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:05.463
- In moving mountains like this one.
- 00:23:05.463 --> 00:23:08.299
- God uses your generosity to deliver hope
- 00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:11.735
- And forgiveness through "pathway to victory".
- 00:23:11.735 --> 00:23:14.839
- Thank you so much for your partnership in this ministry.
- 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:18.742
- Now stay right there.
- 00:23:18.742 --> 00:23:20.044
- I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
- 00:23:20.044 --> 00:23:22.646
- In just a moment.
- 00:23:22.646 --> 00:23:24.882
- Jesus told us that if we have faith as tiny
- 00:23:24.882 --> 00:23:26.550
- As a mustard seed, we can move mountains.
- 00:23:26.550 --> 00:23:29.620
- But what does that promise really mean?
- 00:23:29.620 --> 00:23:32.256
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:32.256 --> 00:23:33.491
- [announcer] in his book, "invincible",
- 00:23:33.491 --> 00:23:34.959
- Dr. robert jeffress helps you conquer the mountains
- 00:23:34.959 --> 00:23:36.961
- That separate you from the blessed life.
- 00:23:36.961 --> 00:23:39.263
- [robert] all of us are going to face mountains in life,
- 00:23:39.263 --> 00:23:41.832
- But those obstacles don't have to stop us in our tracks
- 00:23:41.832 --> 00:23:45.436
- Because with god on our side, we are invincible.
- 00:23:45.436 --> 00:23:49.273
- [announcer] in the pages of "invincible",
- 00:23:49.273 --> 00:23:50.808
- You'll discover how to move from doubt to faith,
- 00:23:50.808 --> 00:23:53.244
- From anxiety to peace, from discouragement to hope,
- 00:23:53.244 --> 00:23:56.280
- From fear to courage, and much more.
- 00:23:56.280 --> 00:23:58.883
- Life's up and downs can be overwhelming,
- 00:23:58.883 --> 00:24:01.485
- But in the eyes of the mountain mover,
- 00:24:01.485 --> 00:24:03.754
- Every mountain you face is a molehill
- 00:24:03.754 --> 00:24:06.757
- And god is ready to take you to the other side of blessing.
- 00:24:06.757 --> 00:24:10.761
- [announcer] you are invited to request a hardcover copy
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- Of "invincible" when you give a generous gift
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- 00:24:22.606 --> 00:24:25.643
- And group study guide.
- 00:24:25.643 --> 00:24:27.011
- Nothing will prevent your conquering mountains
- 00:24:27.011 --> 00:24:29.847
- In your life any more than doubt.
- 00:24:29.847 --> 00:24:32.550
- We've got this secret fear
- 00:24:32.550 --> 00:24:34.285
- That our doubts are bigger than god's answers.
- 00:24:34.285 --> 00:24:37.087
- Don't worry about that.
- 00:24:37.087 --> 00:24:39.089
- God is big enough to handle your questions.
- 00:24:39.089 --> 00:24:41.992
- [announcer] your generosity today
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- Will help us spread the message of victory and hope.
- 00:24:43.394 --> 00:24:45.829
- Thank you for giving generously to help us shine the light
- 00:24:45.829 --> 00:24:48.832
- Of christ into the dark corners of our country and world.
- 00:24:48.832 --> 00:24:56.173
- Perhaps you've been betrayed by someone you once trusted
- 00:24:57.308 --> 00:25:01.211
- Or hurt by a colleague who lied to you.
- 00:25:01.211 --> 00:25:04.148
- Let me assure you that god wants to move mountains for you
- 00:25:04.148 --> 00:25:08.218
- And he knows how you feel right now.
- 00:25:08.218 --> 00:25:11.021
- Remember, jesus himself endured betrayal by his friends,
- 00:25:11.021 --> 00:25:15.092
- Hatred from his adversaries,
- 00:25:15.092 --> 00:25:17.261
- And even humiliation from those who nailed him to the cross.
- 00:25:17.261 --> 00:25:21.498
- Even so he graciously extends forgiveness
- 00:25:21.498 --> 00:25:24.768
- To anyone who's ready to receive it.
- 00:25:24.768 --> 00:25:28.505
- Well, sadly, many christians today are possessed
- 00:25:28.505 --> 00:25:31.475
- By their possessions.
- 00:25:31.475 --> 00:25:33.110
- So next time we're going
- 00:25:33.110 --> 00:25:34.511
- To talk about conquering the mountain of materialism
- 00:25:34.511 --> 00:25:38.182
- By moving from materialism to contentment.
- 00:25:38.182 --> 00:25:41.919
- Stay tuned for a preview
- 00:25:41.919 --> 00:25:43.187
- Of what's coming up next on "pathway to victory".
- 00:25:43.187 --> 00:25:47.091
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:25:47.091 --> 00:25:48.559
- A materialistic person is not an unspiritual person.
- 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:52.262
- We all have a spiritual side to us.
- 00:25:52.262 --> 00:25:55.065
- We all have a spiritual longing for fulfillment,
- 00:25:55.065 --> 00:25:58.035
- For peace, for security.
- 00:25:58.035 --> 00:26:02.339
- The materialist doesn't give up his spiritual pursuits.
- 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:05.309
- He just finds them, satisfies them in a different way.
- 00:26:05.309 --> 00:26:09.213
- [announcer] set your dvr and join us next time
- 00:26:09.213 --> 00:26:11.382
- For the message "moving from materialism to contentment"
- 00:26:11.382 --> 00:26:15.019
- Here on "pathway to victory".
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- ♪ music ♪
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- Step away from your daily routine
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- And immerse yourself in god's masterpiece
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- On the "pathway to victory" cruise to alaska,
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- June 13th through 20, 2026.
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- Imagine starting each day immersed in god's word,
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- Then stepping out to witness god's grandeur
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- From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles.
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- These moments in god's creation
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- Will deepen your faith in powerful ways.
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- [announcer] experience five star dining,
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- Luxurious state rooms and exceptional service
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- While visiting iconic ports
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- Like juno, ketchikan and skagway.
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- We'll explore god's word together against the backdrop
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- Of his most impressive handiwork.
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- I promise your return home with memories
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- That will last a lifetime
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- And a heart renewed by god's presence.
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- [announcer] to book your spot
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- On the 2026 "pathway to victory" cruise to alaska
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- Call 888-280-6747 or go to ptv.org.
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