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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Moving From Discouragement To Hope (Part 1) | July 10, 2025
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- [narrator] from the pulpit
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- Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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- This is pathway to victory with dr. robert jeffress.
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- Hi, i am robert jeffress.
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- Welcome again to pathway to victory.
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- When a promising relationship goes nowhere,
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- When your dream job ends in a nightmare,
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- When the status quo refuses to budge,
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- It's easy to become discouraged.
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- So what should we do when we find ourselves
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- Feeling more disheartened than hopeful?
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- Well, today we're going to look at a leader
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- From the old testament
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- Who teaches us some invaluable lessons on how to conquer
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- The mountain of feeling blue.
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- My message is titled, "moving from discouragement to hope"
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- As we continue our series, invincible on pathway to victory.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- [narrator] sometimes our emotions are like mountains
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- That stand in our way.
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- Obstacles like doubt, bitterness, or fear
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- 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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- Without doubt, thomas edison was the greatest inventor
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- In the history of our country.
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- There's a reason he's nicknamed "the wizard of menlo park."
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- Think of his inventions, the phonograph, the telegraph,
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- The movie camera, the microphone,
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- The incandescent light bulb, the storage battery,
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- Just among some of his many accomplishments.
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- But what i admire most about edison
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- Is not his accomplishments, but how he handled failure.
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- He is certainly one of the most resilient human beings
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- In our history.
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- For example, after 10,000 attempts to create the light bulb,
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- He said, "i haven't failed.
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- I just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
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- Now, that's a good attitude, isn't it?
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- But perhaps the greatest illustration of edison's resilience
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- Is what happened on one night in december of 1914.
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- His biographer and his son charles records what's happened.
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- After 10 years of trying to create the storage battery
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- Without any success, his finances were depleted.
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- He was going to have to lay off employees,
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- And if that were not enough, on this particular night,
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- A fire erupted in the film room.
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- According to edison's son, charles,
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- Within moments all the packing compounds,
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- Celluloid for records film and flammable goods had gone up
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- In flames.
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- The fire spread quickly throughout the building.
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- Fire departments from eight neighboring towns
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- Converged onto edison's laboratory,
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- But the intensity of the fire was so great
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- And the water pressure so low,
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- The firefighters might as well have been using squirt guns.
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- There wasn't anything anyone could do
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- But watch the buildings and its contents go up in flames.
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- Then it dawned on edison's son, charles,
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- He hadn't seen his father
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- And he wondered how he would respond to this loss.
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- After all, he was 67 years old, too old to start over again.
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- And as charles was worrying about his father,
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- Suddenly he saw his father running across the yard
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- Toward him saying, "charles, go get your mother.
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- Tell her to get her friends.
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- They'll never see a fire like this again."
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- (audience laughs)
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- Charles said the next day his dad called to gather
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- The employees and announced they were rebuilding.
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- He directed some of the people to go to the erie railroad
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- To lease a wrecking crane, and then he dispatched others
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- To rent out machine shops around town.
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- Then almost as an afterthought, edison said,
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- "oh, by the way,
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- Does anybody know where we can get some money?"
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- Charles said, his dad concluded,
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- "you can always make capital out of disaster.
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- We've just cleared out a bunch of old rubbish.
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- We'll build bigger and better on the ruins."
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- And then charles said, with that, my dad rolled up his coat,
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- Curled up on a table and immediately fell asleep.
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- Just imagine for a moment
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- That you were driving into your neighborhood
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- After a day of work.
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- You saw smoke coming up from the rooftops,
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- Fire trucks whooshed by you,
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- And when you arrived at your home,
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- You discovered it was your own home on fire.
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- How would you respond to that loss?
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- Would you respond like thomas edison did
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- Or would you be more like mrs. job
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- Who after her husband experienced tremendous losses,
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- She advised, "why not curse god and die"?
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- We all have to deal at some point in our life
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- With the mountain of discouragement
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- And like the other nine mountains we're talking about
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- In our series, invincible, discouragement
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- Over something big or something small
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- Has a way of overshadowing our lives
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- And separating us from the blessed life
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- God intends for each of us.
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- Today, we're going to talk about moving
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- From discouragement to hope.
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- What are we talking about when we talk about discouragement?
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- I looked it up in webster's this week.
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- To discourage literally means to deprive of courage
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- Or confidence, to be disheartened.
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- I wrote down some other d words
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- That describe discouragement,
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- Demoralized, dismayed, distraught,
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- Depressed, defeated, despairing.
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- That's what discouragement is.
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- You know, as i look at scripture,
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- I find there are at least six causes of discouragement
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- According to the bible.
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- One is unresolved anger.
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- Psychologists tell us that depression
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- Is anger turned inward.
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- Whenever somebody wrongs us,
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- We are disappointed in somebody.
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- Sometimes we don't feel like we can express that to them.
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- If it's a mate, we're afraid they'll leave us.
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- If it's an employer and we express our anger,
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- We're afraid they'll fire us.
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- So we turn it inward.
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- And it's like a broken sewer pipe
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- That just flows into our own hearts.
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- Sometime the anger we feel is
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- Over a disappointment in ourself that we feel
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- That builds up.
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- That's why ephesians 4:26 and 27 say,
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- "be angry, and do not sin;
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- Do not let the sun go down on your anger,
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- And give the devil an opportunity."
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- A second cause of discouragement can be unrealistic anxiety.
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- We talked about worry the last time
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- How it saps our strength.
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- If not dealt with over a long period of time,
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- It leads to discouragement.
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- Remember the story of elijah?
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- In 1 kings 18, he had his great battle
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- With the false prophets of baal
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- And successfully defeated them and killed them.
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- It was a high point in his ministry.
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- But then in chapter 19, jezebel, the queen
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- Sent word that she was going to kill elijah.
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- Verse 2 says, "then jezebel sent a messenger to elijah,
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- Saying, 'so may the gods do to me and even more,
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- If i do not make your life as the life of one of them,
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- The prophets by tomorrow about this time.'
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- And elijah was afraid and he arose and he ran for his life."
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- And you know the rest of the story.
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- He sat down under a juniper tree and said,
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- "god, just take my life. i've had it."
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- He was discouraged because of an unrealistic anxiety.
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- He had just killed 800 plus prophets of baal,
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- And yet one woman who was angry, scared the wits out of him.
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- It was unrealistic anxiety, but it led to discouragement.
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- Thirdly, an undefined purpose in life
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- Can cause you to be discouraged.
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- The french poet nicholas belay, said,
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- He is most fatigued who know not what to do.
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- He is most fatigued who knows not what to do.
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- There's something about lack of direction
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- That just wears you out and weighs on you.
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- Thomas carlisle wrote, a man without a purpose
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- Is like a ship without a rudder.
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- Paul had a good cure for that.
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- He said in ephesians 5: 15-17, and the phillips paraphrase,
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- "live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility,
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- Not as people who do not know the meaning
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- And purpose of life but as those who do.
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- Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties
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- Of these days.
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- Don't be vague but firmly grasp what you know to be
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- The will of god."
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- That's good advice.
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- If you want to avoid discouragement,
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- Know what your purpose is.
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- Fourth, unrelenting grief can lead to discouragement.
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- Some of you here today,
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- Some of you watching on pathway to victory or online,
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- This year's been a year of loss for you.
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- You maybe have lost your job, your livelihood.
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- You've lost friendships,
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- Just out of failure to connect over this last year.
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- Many of you have lost a loved one through death.
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- Anytime you lose anything or anyone significant,
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- There is grief.
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- Jesus experienced that.
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- Remember, as he stood in front of the sepulcher
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- Of his best friend, lazarus, who had died,
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- The shortest verse in the bible,
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- John 11:35, "jesus wept."
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- And if you look at the grammar of that passage,
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- It literally says jesus wept and kept on weeping.
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- It was a continual weeping, a sorrow there
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- Over the loss of his best friend.
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- Some of you are experiencing grief right now,
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- And it seems like it will never end.
- 00:11:08.324 --> 00:11:11.694
- But remember what the psalmist said, psalm 30:5,
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- "weeping may last for the night,
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- But a shout of joy comes in the morning."
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- Fifth, unexpected infirmities.
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- Sickness, the breakdown of your body
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- Can cause you to grieve.
- 00:11:28.277 --> 00:11:30.479
- That's just part of old age.
- 00:11:30.479 --> 00:11:32.448
- I have a friend who says, old age is not for sissies,
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- And he's right.
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- Just watching your body and experiencing it deteriorate
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- Can be discouraging.
- 00:11:40.756 --> 00:11:42.291
- Solomon wrote about that in ecclesiastes 12.
- 00:11:42.291 --> 00:11:46.061
- He said, "remember also your creator
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- In the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come
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- And the years draw near when you will say,
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- 'i have no delight in them',
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- Before the sun and the light,
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- The moon and the stars are darkened
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- And the clouds return after the rain."
- 00:11:59.708 --> 00:12:02.144
- Listen to how he describes old age.
- 00:12:02.144 --> 00:12:05.614
- Remember him, "in the day that the watchmen
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- Of the house tremble and the mighty men's stoop."
- 00:12:08.384 --> 00:12:12.454
- And that's a reference to the loss of strength
- 00:12:12.454 --> 00:12:14.790
- In the arms and the legs.
- 00:12:14.790 --> 00:12:17.126
- "the grinding ones stand idle because they are few."
- 00:12:17.126 --> 00:12:21.597
- That's a reference to the loss of teeth.
- 00:12:21.597 --> 00:12:24.300
- "and those who look through the windows grow dim."
- 00:12:24.300 --> 00:12:28.737
- He's talking about the loss of eyesight, perhaps cataracts.
- 00:12:28.737 --> 00:12:32.541
- "and the doors on the street are shut
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- As the sound of the grinding mill is low."
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- He's talking about the loss of hearing.
- 00:12:38.214 --> 00:12:40.149
- "and the one will arise at the sound of the bird."
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- (chuckles)
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- You find yourself having difficulty sleeping,
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- Getting up early.
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- "and all the daughters of the song will sing softly."
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- Talking about physical infirmities that come with aging,
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- It can be a cause of discouragement.
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- And that reminds me of david jeremiah's story
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- About the elderly couple in florida.
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- Jacob was 92 years old, rebecca was 89,
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- And they were talking about getting married.
- 00:13:09.078 --> 00:13:11.080
- And as they were discussing their possible wedding,
- 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:14.116
- They walked by a drug store and jacob said,
- 00:13:14.116 --> 00:13:16.285
- Let's go in here."
- 00:13:16.285 --> 00:13:17.686
- And so they went in and went back to the pharmacist
- 00:13:17.686 --> 00:13:21.090
- And jacob asked the pharmacist,
- 00:13:21.090 --> 00:13:22.725
- "we're thinking about getting married.
- 00:13:22.725 --> 00:13:24.627
- Do you sell heart medicine here?"
- 00:13:24.627 --> 00:13:26.962
- And the pharmacist said, "oh yes, we have that."
- 00:13:27.897 --> 00:13:30.432
- He said, "what about things for circulatory problems?
- 00:13:30.432 --> 00:13:32.902
- Do you have any medicine for that?"
- 00:13:32.902 --> 00:13:33.969
- "yes, we've got that."
- 00:13:33.969 --> 00:13:34.970
- "what about rheumatism?"
- 00:13:34.970 --> 00:13:36.071
- "you bet, we can fix you up."
- 00:13:36.071 --> 00:13:38.073
- "what about sleeping bills and vitamins and geritol?"
- 00:13:38.073 --> 00:13:41.477
- "you bet, everything you want."
- 00:13:41.477 --> 00:13:43.779
- "what about wheelchairs and walkers? do you have those?"
- 00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:47.349
- "yes. all shape, all speeds are available."
- 00:13:47.349 --> 00:13:51.020
- Jacob looked at rebecca and said to the pharmacist,
- 00:13:52.054 --> 00:13:54.056
- "fine, we'll use this place as our bridal registry."
- 00:13:54.056 --> 00:13:58.227
- (audience laughs)
- 00:13:58.227 --> 00:14:05.034
- Physical infirmities can be challenging,
- 00:14:05.901 --> 00:14:08.938
- Especially for the elderly.
- 00:14:08.938 --> 00:14:11.807
- There's one final cause that's frankly not talked about
- 00:14:11.807 --> 00:14:15.678
- In christian circles much,
- 00:14:15.678 --> 00:14:17.279
- But it needs to be a possible cause of discouragement,
- 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:20.549
- And that's untreated chemical imbalances in your body.
- 00:14:20.549 --> 00:14:25.287
- If you're experiencing continual depression,
- 00:14:25.287 --> 00:14:29.325
- Continual discouragement,
- 00:14:29.325 --> 00:14:30.926
- This is one possibility you need to check out.
- 00:14:30.926 --> 00:14:34.229
- You know, god created us not just as spirits
- 00:14:34.229 --> 00:14:38.000
- But his body, soul and spirit.
- 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:41.904
- We are spiritual beings, but we are physical beings.
- 00:14:41.904 --> 00:14:45.040
- And the bible teaches us that the fall
- 00:14:45.040 --> 00:14:47.643
- Affected all parts of creation, including our bodies.
- 00:14:47.643 --> 00:14:50.913
- In romans 8:22, paul said,
- 00:14:50.913 --> 00:14:52.781
- "for we know that the whole creation groans and suffers
- 00:14:52.781 --> 00:14:56.719
- The pains of childbirth together until now."
- 00:14:56.719 --> 00:15:00.689
- The whole of creation, that means your body
- 00:15:00.689 --> 00:15:03.258
- Is not the way god originally designed it to be.
- 00:15:03.258 --> 00:15:07.262
- And that's why we get sick.
- 00:15:07.262 --> 00:15:09.665
- And we know from science that imbalances of sodium chloride
- 00:15:09.665 --> 00:15:14.937
- In the brain can prevent the transfer of impulses
- 00:15:15.871 --> 00:15:20.342
- From one cell to another cell
- 00:15:20.342 --> 00:15:22.211
- That can lead to depression and discouragement.
- 00:15:22.211 --> 00:15:25.447
- That's why you need to go to a christian physician
- 00:15:25.447 --> 00:15:28.684
- Or a christian psychiatrist if you're feeling that way,
- 00:15:28.684 --> 00:15:32.187
- To see if that is a possibility.
- 00:15:32.187 --> 00:15:35.858
- But there's a cure for discouragement,
- 00:15:36.692 --> 00:15:38.660
- And that's what i want to look at
- 00:15:38.660 --> 00:15:40.062
- In these final moments together.
- 00:15:40.062 --> 00:15:41.764
- If you have your bibles turn to nehemiah chapter four.
- 00:15:41.764 --> 00:15:45.734
- We're going to look for the few moments we have left
- 00:15:45.734 --> 00:15:48.604
- At a case study in discouragement.
- 00:15:48.604 --> 00:15:51.740
- The story of nehemiah illustrates both the causes
- 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:55.077
- And the cures for discouragement.
- 00:15:55.077 --> 00:15:58.680
- Now, you remember there were two history shaping events
- 00:15:58.680 --> 00:16:03.285
- In israel's history that formed her character
- 00:16:03.285 --> 00:16:05.854
- More than any other.
- 00:16:05.854 --> 00:16:07.256
- One was the 400 years in slavery in egypt
- 00:16:07.256 --> 00:16:11.527
- That ended with the exodus.
- 00:16:11.527 --> 00:16:14.129
- The other milestone event was the exile
- 00:16:14.129 --> 00:16:18.233
- For 70 years in babylon.
- 00:16:18.233 --> 00:16:20.235
- Remember, after jerusalem was overthrown,
- 00:16:20.235 --> 00:16:22.905
- The people were taken captive to babylon.
- 00:16:22.905 --> 00:16:25.374
- They longed for their return
- 00:16:25.374 --> 00:16:26.875
- And finally after the end of 70 years, they returned
- 00:16:26.875 --> 00:16:30.179
- To rebuild the temple and to rebuild the wall.
- 00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:34.316
- And nehemiah was tasked with the rebuilding of the wall.
- 00:16:34.316 --> 00:16:39.288
- It was a mammoth construction project
- 00:16:39.288 --> 00:16:41.623
- That he completed in 52 days, but not without opposition.
- 00:16:41.623 --> 00:16:46.862
- He faced discouragement from the people,
- 00:16:47.696 --> 00:16:49.298
- He faced opposition from those already living in the land.
- 00:16:49.298 --> 00:16:52.901
- And when we come to nehemiah chapter four,
- 00:16:52.901 --> 00:16:55.270
- And i hope you've turned there,
- 00:16:55.270 --> 00:16:57.039
- We're halfway through that 52 day construction project,
- 00:16:57.039 --> 00:17:02.911
- And nehemiah records this.
- 00:17:03.479 --> 00:17:06.115
- The people were discouraged.
- 00:17:06.115 --> 00:17:07.816
- I want you to notice the four reasons they were discouraged,
- 00:17:07.816 --> 00:17:11.253
- The four d's that add up to discouragement.
- 00:17:11.253 --> 00:17:14.790
- First of all, the people were drained.
- 00:17:14.790 --> 00:17:17.292
- Look at verse 10.
- 00:17:17.292 --> 00:17:18.694
- Halfway through the project it says,
- 00:17:18.694 --> 00:17:21.463
- "and the strength of the burden bearers is failing."
- 00:17:21.463 --> 00:17:26.168
- "khal" in hebrew.
- 00:17:26.168 --> 00:17:28.137
- Literally, the people are stumbling.
- 00:17:28.137 --> 00:17:30.305
- They are staggering. they are toddling.
- 00:17:30.305 --> 00:17:33.909
- There's something about a major project that drains you.
- 00:17:35.043 --> 00:17:39.281
- Vince lombardi famously said,
- 00:17:39.281 --> 00:17:41.817
- Fatigue makes cowards of us all.
- 00:17:41.817 --> 00:17:45.754
- When our bodies grow tired, we become discouraged.
- 00:17:45.754 --> 00:17:49.224
- Weary people are whiny people. never forget that.
- 00:17:49.224 --> 00:17:53.262
- And that was true of the israelites.
- 00:17:53.262 --> 00:17:56.565
- By the way, do you know the most dangerous time
- 00:17:56.565 --> 00:17:59.434
- In a major project in your life?
- 00:17:59.434 --> 00:18:01.537
- It's the halfway point.
- 00:18:01.537 --> 00:18:03.338
- I don't care whether you're talking
- 00:18:04.106 --> 00:18:05.040
- About a construction project
- 00:18:05.040 --> 00:18:07.142
- Or a degree that you're pursuing at a university
- 00:18:07.142 --> 00:18:10.946
- Or a diet that you're on.
- 00:18:10.946 --> 00:18:12.748
- The most dangerous time is that halfway point
- 00:18:12.748 --> 00:18:15.951
- When you've got as much ahead of you as you do behind you.
- 00:18:15.951 --> 00:18:19.354
- And if you're not careful, you can get discouraged.
- 00:18:19.354 --> 00:18:22.724
- If you're not careful on a diet after that halfway point,
- 00:18:22.724 --> 00:18:26.228
- You can think, man, this isn't never going to end.
- 00:18:26.228 --> 00:18:28.997
- And you reach for that bag of oreos, don't do it.
- 00:18:28.997 --> 00:18:32.501
- You can think when you have a construction point.
- 00:18:32.501 --> 00:18:34.503
- Look at how much i've got left to do,
- 00:18:34.503 --> 00:18:36.705
- I might as well give up
- 00:18:36.705 --> 00:18:38.240
- Or that way through a degree program.
- 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:41.109
- One of the wisest things you can do is
- 00:18:41.109 --> 00:18:43.145
- Halfway through a project, take a day off,
- 00:18:43.145 --> 00:18:45.981
- Take a week off and celebrate
- 00:18:45.981 --> 00:18:47.749
- What you've already accomplished
- 00:18:47.749 --> 00:18:49.918
- Instead of looking ahead that all that is ahead of you.
- 00:18:49.918 --> 00:18:53.222
- Secondly, the people were not only drained,
- 00:18:53.222 --> 00:18:56.792
- They were disgruntled.
- 00:18:56.792 --> 00:18:58.594
- Look again at verse 10, "yet there is much rubbish."
- 00:18:58.594 --> 00:19:04.666
- That is the life verse for every parent of a teenager.
- 00:19:05.767 --> 00:19:09.338
- Look around (laughs) there is much rubbish.
- 00:19:10.239 --> 00:19:13.408
- Whenever you're involved in something big and worthwhile,
- 00:19:13.408 --> 00:19:18.013
- There's going to be a lot of garbage,
- 00:19:18.013 --> 00:19:20.315
- Literal and figurative around.
- 00:19:20.315 --> 00:19:22.117
- There's going to be a lot of stuff around you
- 00:19:22.117 --> 00:19:24.920
- That can cause discouragement.
- 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:26.788
- Third, notice the progression here.
- 00:19:26.788 --> 00:19:28.490
- They were drained, they were disgruntled,
- 00:19:28.490 --> 00:19:30.359
- They became dejected.
- 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:32.828
- Look at verse 10 again,
- 00:19:32.828 --> 00:19:34.263
- 'and we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall."
- 00:19:34.263 --> 00:19:37.699
- They said, we're in over our heads, we just can't do it.
- 00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:41.169
- We might as well hang it up.
- 00:19:41.169 --> 00:19:43.805
- And that led to the final d, they were distressed.
- 00:19:43.805 --> 00:19:48.610
- The people were distressed.
- 00:19:48.610 --> 00:19:51.647
- They were so discouraged that they came to the point,
- 00:19:51.647 --> 00:19:53.949
- They said, we can't handle one more problem.
- 00:19:53.949 --> 00:19:56.785
- We've had it.
- 00:19:56.785 --> 00:19:58.353
- If we get one more piece of bad news, we're going to collapse.
- 00:19:58.353 --> 00:20:02.090
- Have you ever felt that way in your life
- 00:20:02.090 --> 00:20:04.593
- Where you get to the point you say,
- 00:20:04.593 --> 00:20:05.894
- I can't take one more bad thing happening,
- 00:20:05.894 --> 00:20:08.163
- Doesn't matter how big or small it is,
- 00:20:08.163 --> 00:20:10.065
- I can't take one more thing?
- 00:20:10.065 --> 00:20:12.367
- And usually that one more thing ends up happening.
- 00:20:12.367 --> 00:20:15.537
- The enemy knows he's got you when you say,
- 00:20:16.438 --> 00:20:19.107
- I can't handle one more thing.
- 00:20:19.107 --> 00:20:21.209
- That's what happened to the israelites
- 00:20:21.209 --> 00:20:22.744
- When they were at the end of themselves.
- 00:20:22.744 --> 00:20:24.813
- Look at verse 11.
- 00:20:24.813 --> 00:20:26.682
- "our enemies said, they will not know or see
- 00:20:26.682 --> 00:20:30.385
- Until we come among them, kill them
- 00:20:30.385 --> 00:20:32.854
- And put a stop to the work."
- 00:20:32.854 --> 00:20:34.923
- Now, that's what the enemies were saying.
- 00:20:34.923 --> 00:20:37.426
- But how did those building the wall know about it?
- 00:20:37.426 --> 00:20:40.562
- This is so key, verse 12.
- 00:20:40.562 --> 00:20:42.197
- "then the jews, our own people who lived near the enemies
- 00:20:42.197 --> 00:20:47.903
- Came and told us 10 times,
- 00:20:48.470 --> 00:20:52.874
- They will come up against us from every place
- 00:20:52.874 --> 00:20:55.777
- Where you turn."
- 00:20:55.777 --> 00:20:57.212
- Do you know people who love to deliver bad news?
- 00:20:58.180 --> 00:21:02.617
- They love to come into your life,
- 00:21:03.352 --> 00:21:05.954
- And they'll say something they heard
- 00:21:05.954 --> 00:21:08.990
- And they'll say to you, they will amplify it 10 times.
- 00:21:08.990 --> 00:21:12.994
- You know, i just think you need to know.
- 00:21:12.994 --> 00:21:14.930
- Everybody is saying.
- 00:21:14.930 --> 00:21:21.503
- Now, they may have heard it one time,
- 00:21:18.433 --> 00:21:23.572
- It's probably from their mate,
- 00:21:23.572 --> 00:21:25.040
- But oh, that's suddenly becomes everybody is saying,
- 00:21:25.040 --> 00:21:28.944
- Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
- 00:21:28.944 --> 00:21:31.046
- When somebody says that to you, ask them,
- 00:21:31.046 --> 00:21:33.115
- "well, exactly who is saying that? could you tell me?"
- 00:21:33.115 --> 00:21:36.685
- "oh, no, no, no. it's confidential."
- 00:21:36.685 --> 00:21:38.587
- "okay, if you can't tell me their name,
- 00:21:38.587 --> 00:21:40.322
- Just tell me how many.
- 00:21:40.322 --> 00:21:41.590
- You said everybody's saying.
- 00:21:41.590 --> 00:21:43.091
- Are you talking about you've heard that
- 00:21:43.091 --> 00:21:44.159
- From a hundred people?"
- 00:21:44.159 --> 00:21:45.360
- "oh, what? no, not a hundred people."
- 00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:47.963
- "would you say 50 people have said that to you?"
- 00:21:47.963 --> 00:21:51.032
- "oh, no, no, no, no, no. not 50."
- 00:21:51.032 --> 00:21:53.335
- Usually, it's them (laughs)
- 00:21:53.335 --> 00:21:55.837
- And maybe their mate or best friend.
- 00:21:55.837 --> 00:21:58.106
- This is what the israelites were doing.
- 00:21:58.106 --> 00:22:00.809
- They were listening to people who bore bad news.
- 00:22:00.809 --> 00:22:04.246
- By the way, proverbs 16:8 says,
- 00:22:04.246 --> 00:22:06.248
- "the words of a tail bearer are as wounds,
- 00:22:06.248 --> 00:22:11.019
- And they go down into the innermost part of the belly."
- 00:22:12.154 --> 00:22:16.391
- This led to the people becoming discouraged.
- 00:22:16.391 --> 00:22:20.429
- They were discouraged, they were drained,
- 00:22:20.429 --> 00:22:22.831
- They were disgruntled, dejected, distressed,
- 00:22:22.831 --> 00:22:25.167
- That led to discouragement.
- 00:22:25.167 --> 00:22:27.002
- Now, how do you handle discouragement?
- 00:22:27.002 --> 00:22:30.172
- Well, if somebody says,
- 00:22:30.172 --> 00:22:31.406
- "well, we just need to pray about it."
- 00:22:31.406 --> 00:22:33.141
- Look, if your tower goes flat, you can pray all you want to,
- 00:22:33.141 --> 00:22:37.546
- But eventually the tower has to be inflated.
- 00:22:37.546 --> 00:22:40.649
- Same way with discouragement.
- 00:22:40.649 --> 00:22:42.050
- Yes, we ought to pray,
- 00:22:42.050 --> 00:22:43.885
- But discouraged people need to be encouraged.
- 00:22:43.885 --> 00:22:47.656
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:22:47.656 --> 00:22:52.027
- There's much more for us to learn from nehemiah's story
- 00:22:53.161 --> 00:22:56.765
- About overcoming the mountain of discouragement.
- 00:22:56.765 --> 00:23:00.302
- So, make it a point to join us again next time
- 00:23:00.302 --> 00:23:03.405
- On pathway to victory.
- 00:23:03.405 --> 00:23:05.440
- But right now i want to reiterate
- 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:07.375
- The importance of your generous giving
- 00:23:07.375 --> 00:23:09.945
- To pathway to victory.
- 00:23:09.945 --> 00:23:11.780
- These daily programs are produced
- 00:23:11.780 --> 00:23:13.782
- And sent out at our expense,
- 00:23:13.782 --> 00:23:16.084
- But we rely on your gifts to defray those costs
- 00:23:16.084 --> 00:23:19.721
- So that we can continue sharing the gospel
- 00:23:19.721 --> 00:23:22.724
- Throughout america and around the world
- 00:23:22.724 --> 00:23:25.060
- Without interruption.
- 00:23:25.060 --> 00:23:27.229
- Together, as a global family of believers,
- 00:23:27.229 --> 00:23:30.365
- We can sustain the ministry of pathway to victory.
- 00:23:30.365 --> 00:23:33.902
- And in doing so, god is using people like you and me
- 00:23:33.902 --> 00:23:37.639
- To pierce the darkness with the light of his word.
- 00:23:37.639 --> 00:23:41.710
- Now, please stay right there.
- 00:23:41.710 --> 00:23:43.278
- I'll be back with more pathway to victory in just a moment.
- 00:23:43.278 --> 00:23:47.616
- Jesus told us that if we have faith
- 00:23:48.350 --> 00:23:50.385
- As tiny as a mustard seed, we can move mountains.
- 00:23:50.385 --> 00:23:53.922
- But what does that promise really mean?
- 00:23:53.922 --> 00:23:57.359
- [narrator] in his book, "invincible",
- 00:23:57.359 --> 00:23:58.927
- Dr. robert jeffress helps you conquer the mountains
- 00:23:58.927 --> 00:24:01.363
- That separate you from the blessed life.
- 00:24:01.363 --> 00:24:03.665
- [robert] all of us are going to face mountains in life,
- 00:24:03.665 --> 00:24:06.268
- But those obstacles don't have to stop us in our tracks
- 00:24:06.268 --> 00:24:09.804
- Because with god on our side, we are invincible.
- 00:24:09.804 --> 00:24:13.675
- [narrator] in the pages of "invincible",
- 00:24:13.675 --> 00:24:15.210
- You'll discover how to move from doubt to faith,
- 00:24:15.210 --> 00:24:17.646
- From anxiety to peace, from discouragement to hope,
- 00:24:17.646 --> 00:24:20.715
- From fear to courage, and much more
- 00:24:20.715 --> 00:24:23.285
- Life's up and downs can be overwhelming,
- 00:24:23.285 --> 00:24:25.887
- But in the eyes of the mountain mover,
- 00:24:25.887 --> 00:24:28.156
- Every mountain you face is a mole hill
- 00:24:28.156 --> 00:24:31.092
- And god is ready to take you to the other side of blessing.
- 00:24:31.092 --> 00:24:35.063
- [narrator] you are invited to request a hardcover copy
- 00:24:35.063 --> 00:24:37.132
- Of "invincible" when you give a generous gift
- 00:24:37.132 --> 00:24:39.334
- To pathway to victory.
- 00:24:39.334 --> 00:24:40.835
- And when your gift is $75 or more,
- 00:24:40.835 --> 00:24:43.471
- We'll also send you the complete collection of audio
- 00:24:43.471 --> 00:24:45.807
- And video discs for the invincible teaching series
- 00:24:45.807 --> 00:24:48.810
- Along with a personal and group study guide.
- 00:24:48.810 --> 00:24:51.146
- Nothing will prevent your conquering mountains
- 00:24:51.146 --> 00:24:54.149
- In your life any more than doubt.
- 00:24:54.149 --> 00:24:56.952
- We've got this secret fear
- 00:24:56.952 --> 00:24:58.687
- That our doubts are bigger than god's answers.
- 00:24:58.687 --> 00:25:01.456
- Don't worry about that.
- 00:25:01.456 --> 00:25:03.491
- God is big enough to handle your questions.
- 00:25:03.491 --> 00:25:06.361
- [narrator] your generosity today
- 00:25:06.361 --> 00:25:07.762
- Will help us spread the message of victory and hope.
- 00:25:07.762 --> 00:25:10.231
- Thank you for giving generously
- 00:25:10.231 --> 00:25:11.900
- To help us shine the light of christ
- 00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:13.735
- Into the dark corners of our country and world.
- 00:25:13.735 --> 00:25:17.572
- The israelites had plenty of reasons to be discouraged
- 00:25:18.673 --> 00:25:22.277
- And their situations certainly look desperate,
- 00:25:22.277 --> 00:25:25.413
- But it's not helpful to wallow in our sadness too long.
- 00:25:25.413 --> 00:25:29.517
- If you find yourself caught in a cycle of self-pity
- 00:25:29.517 --> 00:25:32.687
- And hopelessness,
- 00:25:32.687 --> 00:25:34.289
- Please make plans to join us again next time.
- 00:25:34.289 --> 00:25:37.459
- Because in the next chapter of nehemiah's story,
- 00:25:37.459 --> 00:25:40.895
- We find the biblical roadmap that takes us
- 00:25:40.895 --> 00:25:44.199
- To a destination of hope.
- 00:25:44.199 --> 00:25:46.501
- Now, stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
- 00:25:46.501 --> 00:25:50.405
- On pathway to victory.
- 00:25:50.405 --> 00:25:52.741
- I heard somebody say this week, and i wrote this down,
- 00:25:53.842 --> 00:25:56.144
- A candle doesn't lose anything
- 00:25:56.144 --> 00:26:00.048
- When it lights another candle.
- 00:26:00.048 --> 00:26:03.051
- That's a profound thought.
- 00:26:03.618 --> 00:26:04.919
- There is nothing of a candle that's diminished
- 00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:07.222
- When it lights another candle.
- 00:26:07.222 --> 00:26:09.758
- And the same thing is true
- 00:26:09.758 --> 00:26:10.959
- When we encourage another christian.
- 00:26:10.959 --> 00:26:14.896
- It doesn't cost us anything.
- 00:26:14.896 --> 00:26:17.465
- [narrator] set your dvr and join us next time
- 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:20.201
- For part two of the message,
- 00:26:20.201 --> 00:26:21.536
- "moving from discouragement to hope"
- 00:26:21.536 --> 00:26:24.072
- -here on pathway to victory.
- 00:26:24.072 --> 00:26:29.511
- Step away from your daily routine and immerse yourself
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- In god's masterpiece...
- 00:26:33.548 --> 00:26:35.216
- On the pathway to victory cruise to alaska...
- 00:26:35.216 --> 00:26:37.419
- June 13 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 will deepen your
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- Faith in powerful ways!
- 00:26:53.001 --> 00:26:54.769
- Experience five-star dining, luxurious staterooms, and
- 00:26:54.769 --> 00:26:58.139
- Exceptional service while visiting iconic ports like
- 00:26:58.139 --> 00:27:01.209
- Juneau, ketchikan, and skagway.
- 00:27:01.209 --> 00:27:03.578
- We'll explore god's word together against the
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- Backdrop of his most impressive handiwork.
- 00:27:06.114 --> 00:27:08.983
- I promise you'll return home with memories that will last a
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- Lifetime and a heart renewed by god's presence.
- 00:27:12.887 --> 00:27:16.758
- To book your spot on the 2026 pathway to victory
- 00:27:16.758 --> 00:27:19.928
- Cruise to alaska, call...
- 00:27:19.928 --> 00:27:21.329
- 888 - 280 - 6747.
- 00:27:21.329 --> 00:27:24.599
- Or, go to ptv.org
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