Robert Jeffress - The Necessary Ingredient (Part 2)

January 17, 2025 | S25:E30

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 - The Necessary Ingredient (Part 2) | January 17, 2025
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • [announcer] from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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  • Of dallas, texas,
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  • This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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  • And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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  • Personal problems can produce two very different outcomes.
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  • Problems can strengthen our relationship with god,
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  • Or problems can destroy our faith in god.
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  • The difference comes down to one single word,
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  • And that word is faith.
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  • Well today, we'll admire several people
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  • Who courageously face their problems
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  • By placing their complete faith in god.
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  • My message is titled "the necessary ingredient"
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  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • ♪ many are they increased that trouble me ♪
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  • ♪ many are they that rise up against me ♪
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  • ♪ many there be which say of my soul ♪
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  • ♪ there is no help for him in god ♪
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  • ♪ but thou oh lord ♪
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  • ♪ are a shield for me ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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  • ♪ thou oh lord ♪
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  • ♪ are a shield for me ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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  • ♪ for thou oh lord ♪
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  • ♪ are a shield for me ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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  • ♪ for thou oh lord ♪
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  • ♪ are a shield, are a shield for me ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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  • ♪ for thou, oh lord ♪
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  • ♪ are a shield, are a shield for me ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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  • ♪ for thou oh lord ♪
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  • ♪ are a shield for me ♪
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  • ♪ my glory and the lifter ♪
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  • ♪ of my head ♪
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  • ♪ of my head ♪
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  • (audience applauding)
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  • [narrator] in a world filled with noise and clutter,
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  • God invites us to look past the distractions
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  • And connect with him on a deeply personal level.
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  • Take a moment to anchor yourself in the calming truth
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  • Of god's word with the brand new 2025
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  • "pathway to victory" daily devotional.
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  • And now with larger print,
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  • The 260 practical insights
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  • From dr. robert jeffress are easier to read.
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  • Request the brand new 2025 "pathway to victory"
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  • Daily devotional when you give a generous gift
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  • To "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • Cain and abel were the first two children of adam and eve.
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  • And remember god said to them,
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  • "i want you to bring a sacrifice to me."
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  • And he prescribed the kind of sacrifice he wanted.
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  • And abel brought a sacrifice,
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  • He was a shepherd and so he brought one of his animals
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  • And offered a blood sacrifice to god.
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  • Cain decided that he would try
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  • To offer his own sacrifice to god,
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  • And he brought some of the produce that he had raised.
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  • And the bible says that god accepted abel's offering,
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  • But he rejected cain's offering,
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  • And cain was so despondent over the fact
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  • That god rejected him,
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  • That he became enraged at his brother abel
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  • And killed him the first murder in the bible.
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  • Why is it that god accepted abel's sacrifice
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  • But rejected cain's offering?
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  • I've heard pastors speculate about that.
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  • I've read bible commentators who said,
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  • "well, it was in their attitude."
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  • Abel brought his sacrifice as an act of love,
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  • But cain brought his to satisfy a religious ritual.
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  • And it was their attitude that made the difference.
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  • That sounds so good, but it's so wrong.
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  • I mean, the fact is the bible tells us exactly
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  • Why god accepted abel's sacrifice and rejected cain.
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  • Look at verse four.
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  • By faith, abel offered to god
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  • A better sacrifice than cain.
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  • Apparently in words we don't have recorded,
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  • God told both men exactly what he wanted.
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  • He prescribed a blood sacrifice,
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  • A blood offering of an innocent animal
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  • That would foretell the coming many years later
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  • Of the lamb of god, jesus christ,
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  • Who would take away the sins of the world.
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  • And abel, although he didn't understand why god said that,
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  • He couldn't see down the corridor of history
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  • To jesus christ,
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  • It made no sense to him
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  • To kill an innocent and good animal.
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  • He obeyed god.
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  • He believed what god said and acted accordingly,
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  • But not cain.
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  • He thought he could come to god any way he wanted to.
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  • In fact, did you know in the new testament, jude 11,
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  • The writer says, "avoid the way of cain."
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  • You know what the way of cain is?
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  • It's trying to come to god on your own terms.
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  • And the world today is filled with people
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  • Who say they can come to god any way they want to.
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  • Doesn't matter what you believe.
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  • It's like you can approach god
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  • Any way you want to from any direction
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  • And still go up the same mountain of truth
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  • And approach the same god.
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  • God says, "no, you cannot come to me any way you choose.
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  • You must come in my way."
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  • And for us today,
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  • It means believing in jesus christ to be our savior.
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  • Jesus said in john 14:6,
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  • "i am the way, the truth, and the life.
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  • No man comes to the father except by me."
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  • The way to god is not broad, it is narrow.
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  • There is one way,
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  • And that's what abel and cain illustrate to us.
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  • It was by faith that abel offered a better sacrifice.
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  • Let me stop here and just say
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  • I have people ask me all the time,
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  • Well pastor, how could abel be saved?
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  • How could anybody be saved
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  • Before jesus christ gave his life on the cross for us?
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  • Have you ever wondered that,
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  • How were the old testament saints saved?
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  • I've heard people say, "well, in the old testament,
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  • People were saved by works,
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  • But in the new testament, they're saved by christ."
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  • Have you heard that before?
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  • No, god hasn't changed, since the beginning of time,
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  • We've all been saved in the same way.
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  • In fact, i was studying this passage yesterday morning
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  • Just going over it and trying to think,
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  • How can i best illustrate this?
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  • And this little phrase came to me,
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  • And i want you to write it down.
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  • If you ever wonder how it is we are saved,
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  • I want you to write this down, our forgiveness,
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  • Because that's what salvation is.
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  • It's the forgiveness of our sins,
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  • Our forgiveness is,
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  • And then underneath it, write these three things.
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  • Number one, based on god's grace.
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  • It's based on god's grace.
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  • Secondly, it's paid for by christ's blood.
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  • And thirdly, it is received through our faith,
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  • Our forgiveness,
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  • And anybody's forgiveness in history,
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  • Is based on god's grace,
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  • It is paid for by christ's blood,
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  • And it is received through our faith.
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  • Remember ephesians 2:8-9?
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  • For by grace, you have been saved through faith,
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  • And that not of yourselves, it is the gift of god,
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  • Not as a result of works so that no man,
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  • No person may boast.
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  • All of us are saved by god's grace, never by works.
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  • It's always been by god's grace. that's what he says.
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  • He doesn't say for by faith you have been saved.
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  • He says by grace you have been saved.
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  • We are saved by god's grace.
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  • We receive that grace through our faith,
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  • Grace through faith.
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  • Let me illustrate the difference for you this way.
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  • Let's imagine you're walking downtown,
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  • See a crowd gathered together
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  • Underneath a building by a building.
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  • Firetrucks are there.
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  • Everybody's pointing up to the same direction.
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  • They're pointing up to the sixth floor ledge
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  • Where somebody is standing
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  • Out on the ledge of a burning building.
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  • The firemen are below with a safety net,
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  • And they're urging the person up there
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  • On that sixth floor ledge to jump
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  • Before he's destroyed by the fire.
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  • And so that man is trying to decide,
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  • Am i going to jump into that net or not?
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  • Finally, he, in a leap of faith, takes a leap of faith,
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  • And he jumps from that building.
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  • He lands safely in the net and he is saved.
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  • Now if you witnessed that
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  • And somebody were to ask you, how is that man saved,
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  • Would you say he was saved because he jumped?
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  • Was he saved through his jumping? no.
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  • There have been people who have jumped from buildings before
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  • And ended up splattering on the concrete below.
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  • Jumping isn't what saves you.
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  • That man was saved by the net the fireman had provided.
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  • But as long as that man was standing on the ledge,
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  • That net did him no good.
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  • The fireman offered him a provision for salvation.
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  • But the way he took advantage of that provision
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  • Was by faith,
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  • Believing that that net would hold him.
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  • He was saved by the net
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  • That he accessed through jumping.
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  • It's the same way for us. it's not faith that saves us.
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  • We cannot conjure up enough faith to save us.
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  • Faith demands an object.
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  • It's believing that jesus christ died for our sins.
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  • And when we trust in what jesus did,
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  • We are saved by god's grace,
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  • Which is paid for by christ's blood
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  • And received through our faith.
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  • And that's what abel did. abel believed what god said.
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  • He was saved by god's grace,
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  • Which he received through his faith,
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  • Which was ultimately paid for
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  • By christ's death on the cross.
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  • When people say,
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  • "yeah, but that happened before christ paid the debt,"
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  • I tell people abel was saved on credit.
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  • His faith was on credit, as was all of the old testament.
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  • God isn't bound by time like you and i are.
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  • We see past, present, future.
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  • In god's mind, it had already happened,
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  • The death of christ, he was saved on credit,
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  • But it was all by god's grace.
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  • That was abel.
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  • He demonstrates a faith that saves.
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  • But you know what?
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  • Faith is not only necessary for our salvation,
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  • But also for our sanctification,
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  • For our becoming more like christ.
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  • Look at verse five.
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  • That's demonstrated in the life of enoch.
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  • By faith, enoch was taken up
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  • So that he would not see death,
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  • And he was not found
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  • Because god took him up for he obtained the witness
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  • That before his being taken up, he was pleasing to god.
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  • Underline that word pleasing.
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  • We find the story of enoch
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  • In genesis 5:21-24.
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  • The bible says enoch lived 65 years
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  • And became the father of methuselah.
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  • Remember methuselah,
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  • The oldest man in the bible, lived to be 969.
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  • Well enoch was his father.
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  • Enoch lived 65 years,
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  • And then he and his wife gave birth to methuselah,
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  • And then enoch walked with god 300 more years
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  • After he became the father of methuselah.
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  • Isn't that interesting?
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  • Enoch is known as a person that walked with god,
  • 00:13:37.439 --> 00:13:39.675
  • Even though he spent the first 65 years of his life
  • 00:13:39.675 --> 00:13:43.145
  • Living apart from god.
  • 00:13:43.145 --> 00:13:45.214
  • He made a change in his life.
  • 00:13:45.848 --> 00:13:47.416
  • Perhaps it was the birth of his son that made him realize,
  • 00:13:47.416 --> 00:13:51.186
  • I need to start walking with god.
  • 00:13:51.186 --> 00:13:53.322
  • I need to be an example to my child.
  • 00:13:53.322 --> 00:13:56.425
  • I see that all the time.
  • 00:13:56.425 --> 00:13:58.060
  • Maybe young adults have wandered away from god,
  • 00:13:58.060 --> 00:14:01.263
  • But when they have that first child,
  • 00:14:01.263 --> 00:14:03.532
  • They see how important it is to be back in church
  • 00:14:03.532 --> 00:14:06.635
  • And be rearing their children to know christ.
  • 00:14:06.635 --> 00:14:10.072
  • That was enoch. he wasted the first 65 years of his life.
  • 00:14:10.072 --> 00:14:14.777
  • But isn't it good to know,
  • 00:14:14.777 --> 00:14:17.046
  • It's not how you start in life,
  • 00:14:17.046 --> 00:14:18.781
  • It's how you finish that counts.
  • 00:14:18.781 --> 00:14:21.116
  • Maybe you're living in the far country away from god,
  • 00:14:22.184 --> 00:14:25.521
  • Or maybe you've just recently come back to god.
  • 00:14:25.521 --> 00:14:27.723
  • God doesn't care about your past,
  • 00:14:27.723 --> 00:14:29.291
  • He cares about your future, not the direction you've been,
  • 00:14:29.291 --> 00:14:32.227
  • But the direction you're going in.
  • 00:14:32.227 --> 00:14:33.929
  • That's what makes a difference to god.
  • 00:14:33.929 --> 00:14:36.131
  • Enoch spent the rest of his life serving god.
  • 00:14:36.131 --> 00:14:39.668
  • So all the days of enoch were 365 years.
  • 00:14:39.668 --> 00:14:42.671
  • Now look at this, verse 24, enoch walked with god,
  • 00:14:42.671 --> 00:14:46.642
  • And he was not for god took him.
  • 00:14:46.642 --> 00:14:49.244
  • Every other person in genesis 5 says,
  • 00:14:50.045 --> 00:14:51.847
  • And he died and he died and he died and he died.
  • 00:14:51.847 --> 00:14:55.084
  • Not enoch, no, god just took him, he raptured him.
  • 00:14:55.084 --> 00:14:59.488
  • Enoch is a picture, a type of,
  • 00:14:59.488 --> 00:15:01.824
  • A group of christians in some future age, maybe this one,
  • 00:15:01.824 --> 00:15:04.626
  • Maybe another one in which they won't experience death.
  • 00:15:04.626 --> 00:15:07.730
  • God will just rapture them,
  • 00:15:07.730 --> 00:15:09.498
  • (indistinct) them to catch them up to meet him in the air.
  • 00:15:09.498 --> 00:15:14.036
  • Why did god do that with enoch?
  • 00:15:14.036 --> 00:15:15.971
  • It's because he walked with god.
  • 00:15:15.971 --> 00:15:19.008
  • That doesn't mean he and god took a stroll
  • 00:15:19.008 --> 00:15:21.410
  • On sunday afternoons together.
  • 00:15:21.410 --> 00:15:23.746
  • To walk with god means to please god.
  • 00:15:23.746 --> 00:15:25.981
  • In fact, that's what the bible says,
  • 00:15:25.981 --> 00:15:29.218
  • He was pleasing to god, hebrews 11:5.
  • 00:15:29.218 --> 00:15:32.588
  • He wanted to please god with all of his life
  • 00:15:32.588 --> 00:15:37.259
  • And what gave him that desire to please god?
  • 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:40.162
  • It was faith.
  • 00:15:40.162 --> 00:15:41.697
  • You see the relationship to faith
  • 00:15:42.464 --> 00:15:44.266
  • In pleasing god beginning in verses six and seven.
  • 00:15:44.266 --> 00:15:48.137
  • Look at this, verse six, and without faith,
  • 00:15:48.137 --> 00:15:50.706
  • It is impossible to please god,
  • 00:15:50.706 --> 00:15:53.075
  • Stay with me on this, this is so important.
  • 00:15:54.009 --> 00:15:57.246
  • Without faith, you cannot please god.
  • 00:15:57.246 --> 00:15:59.815
  • You cannot walk with god.
  • 00:15:59.815 --> 00:16:01.450
  • You cannot obey god without faith.
  • 00:16:01.450 --> 00:16:05.821
  • Now i want to tell you the way i used
  • 00:16:05.821 --> 00:16:07.222
  • To hear people preach this passage and teach it.
  • 00:16:07.222 --> 00:16:09.625
  • I used to hear people say,
  • 00:16:09.625 --> 00:16:11.026
  • Now you can read your bible, tithe, and go to church,
  • 00:16:11.026 --> 00:16:13.395
  • But if you do it without faith,
  • 00:16:13.395 --> 00:16:15.164
  • It's not pleasing to god.
  • 00:16:15.164 --> 00:16:16.999
  • You can stay sexually, morally pure,
  • 00:16:16.999 --> 00:16:20.636
  • But if you stay sexually, morally pure,
  • 00:16:20.636 --> 00:16:23.338
  • Without faith, god doesn't care.
  • 00:16:23.338 --> 00:16:25.841
  • It doesn't count for anything.
  • 00:16:25.841 --> 00:16:27.976
  • You can witness to other people.
  • 00:16:27.976 --> 00:16:29.812
  • You can share your faith with other people,
  • 00:16:29.812 --> 00:16:31.447
  • But if you do it without faith,
  • 00:16:31.447 --> 00:16:33.916
  • That's worthless in god's sight.
  • 00:16:33.916 --> 00:16:36.151
  • And when i heard people say that, i always say,
  • 00:16:36.151 --> 00:16:38.720
  • Well how do you read your bible and tithe
  • 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:40.689
  • And go to church without faith?
  • 00:16:40.689 --> 00:16:42.591
  • What does it mean to read your bible without faith?
  • 00:16:42.591 --> 00:16:45.360
  • I don't get it. that's not what this passage is saying.
  • 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:49.098
  • The word faith and please god is a synonym for obey.
  • 00:16:49.098 --> 00:16:54.436
  • He's saying without faith, it is impossible to obey god.
  • 00:16:55.571 --> 00:17:00.909
  • In other words, you will never consistently read your bible,
  • 00:17:02.111 --> 00:17:04.746
  • Tithe, and go to church.
  • 00:17:04.746 --> 00:17:06.381
  • You'll never consistently stay morally, sexually pure.
  • 00:17:06.381 --> 00:17:10.152
  • You'll never consistently share your faith
  • 00:17:10.152 --> 00:17:12.788
  • With other people without faith.
  • 00:17:12.788 --> 00:17:15.657
  • Without faith, you just won't do it.
  • 00:17:15.657 --> 00:17:18.327
  • Dietrich bonhoeffer said one time
  • 00:17:18.327 --> 00:17:20.129
  • Only those who believe are obedient,
  • 00:17:20.129 --> 00:17:24.099
  • And only those who are obedient truly believe
  • 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:27.503
  • You'll never be obedient to god without faith.
  • 00:17:27.503 --> 00:17:30.172
  • That's what he's saying.
  • 00:17:30.172 --> 00:17:31.573
  • Without faith, you can never continually please god.
  • 00:17:31.573 --> 00:17:34.710
  • For the person who comes to god, look at this,
  • 00:17:34.710 --> 00:17:37.513
  • Must believe two things,
  • 00:17:37.513 --> 00:17:39.781
  • That he is and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
  • 00:17:39.781 --> 00:17:45.053
  • You'll never live a life that pleases god until a,
  • 00:17:46.088 --> 00:17:48.524
  • You're convinced that god exists.
  • 00:17:48.524 --> 00:17:50.659
  • That's kind of a no brainer, isn't it?
  • 00:17:50.659 --> 00:17:52.928
  • But secondly, you also have to be convinced
  • 00:17:52.928 --> 00:17:55.531
  • That he rewards those who diligently follow after him.
  • 00:17:55.531 --> 00:18:02.171
  • Epicurus was a philosopher,
  • 00:18:02.771 --> 00:18:05.174
  • Greek philosopher who lived before jesus,
  • 00:18:05.174 --> 00:18:07.309
  • And he developed this idea
  • 00:18:07.309 --> 00:18:09.178
  • That our chief goal in life should be pleasure.
  • 00:18:09.178 --> 00:18:12.915
  • And people today criticize that and say,
  • 00:18:13.749 --> 00:18:15.851
  • Oh, that's hedonism.
  • 00:18:15.851 --> 00:18:16.885
  • Eat, drink, and be merry
  • 00:18:16.885 --> 00:18:18.387
  • Because tomorrow we die and they discount it.
  • 00:18:19.321 --> 00:18:20.722
  • But that's not really what epicurus was saying.
  • 00:18:20.722 --> 00:18:22.891
  • I read one commentator this week who pointed out
  • 00:18:22.891 --> 00:18:25.160
  • What he was saying was you ought to decide what you do
  • 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:28.597
  • By that which will give you the most long-term satisfaction.
  • 00:18:28.597 --> 00:18:33.835
  • And actually that's a good test.
  • 00:18:34.469 --> 00:18:36.405
  • What is it that will provide the most
  • 00:18:36.405 --> 00:18:38.407
  • Long-term satisfaction, and it's obedience to god.
  • 00:18:38.407 --> 00:18:43.712
  • You see, you will never consistently walk with god,
  • 00:18:44.746 --> 00:18:47.883
  • Obey god until you're convinced
  • 00:18:47.883 --> 00:18:50.619
  • It's in your best interest to do so,
  • 00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:53.855
  • Until you're absolutely convinced that god will reward you,
  • 00:18:55.057 --> 00:18:59.294
  • Maybe not in the short term,
  • 00:18:59.294 --> 00:19:01.463
  • But in the long term for your obedience to him.
  • 00:19:01.463 --> 00:19:04.900
  • Now he gives us one final example of that
  • 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:07.536
  • In chapter 11:7, noah.
  • 00:19:07.536 --> 00:19:10.739
  • By faith, noah being warned by god about things
  • 00:19:10.739 --> 00:19:14.343
  • Not yet seen in reverence,
  • 00:19:14.343 --> 00:19:17.379
  • He prepared an ark for the salvation of his household
  • 00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:20.282
  • By which he condemned the world
  • 00:19:20.282 --> 00:19:21.750
  • And he became an heir of the righteousness,
  • 00:19:21.750 --> 00:19:23.852
  • Which is according to faith.
  • 00:19:23.852 --> 00:19:25.854
  • Remember the story of noah, genesis 6?
  • 00:19:25.854 --> 00:19:29.124
  • The world had become so evil that god decided
  • 00:19:29.124 --> 00:19:31.326
  • To destroy it with a great flood.
  • 00:19:31.326 --> 00:19:33.729
  • But verse eight says noah found favor in god's eyes,
  • 00:19:33.729 --> 00:19:37.399
  • For no reason other than god's own secret will,
  • 00:19:37.399 --> 00:19:40.335
  • He chose noah and he said to noah,
  • 00:19:40.335 --> 00:19:42.471
  • "noah, i'm going to flood the world.
  • 00:19:42.471 --> 00:19:43.972
  • I'm going to send rain for 40 days and 40 nights,
  • 00:19:43.972 --> 00:19:46.441
  • Destroy the world.
  • 00:19:46.441 --> 00:19:47.609
  • I want you to build an ark for you
  • 00:19:47.609 --> 00:19:48.877
  • And those i'll tell you to put in that ark."
  • 00:19:48.877 --> 00:19:51.813
  • And noah obeyed what god said.
  • 00:19:51.813 --> 00:19:55.017
  • But what's interesting about his obedience is this.
  • 00:19:55.017 --> 00:19:57.719
  • It says he obeyed god being warned of things not yet seen.
  • 00:19:57.719 --> 00:20:03.825
  • You know what that means?
  • 00:20:04.393 --> 00:20:06.261
  • Up to that point, it had never rained on the earth before.
  • 00:20:06.261 --> 00:20:09.831
  • The earth was watered by subterranean fountains
  • 00:20:09.831 --> 00:20:12.768
  • That provided this mist.
  • 00:20:12.768 --> 00:20:14.336
  • It had not yet rained on the earth
  • 00:20:14.336 --> 00:20:16.338
  • According to genesis 2:5.
  • 00:20:16.338 --> 00:20:18.640
  • So when god said to noah,
  • 00:20:19.207 --> 00:20:21.310
  • "hey, it's going to rain for 40 days and 40 nights,"
  • 00:20:21.310 --> 00:20:24.613
  • That was like saying to noah, hey noah,
  • 00:20:24.613 --> 00:20:27.149
  • It's going to supercalifragilisticexpialidocis
  • 00:20:27.149 --> 00:20:29.885
  • For 40 days and 40 nights.
  • 00:20:29.885 --> 00:20:31.887
  • Lord, would you say that again, please?
  • 00:20:31.887 --> 00:20:34.323
  • He didn't know what rain was.
  • 00:20:34.323 --> 00:20:35.691
  • Never heard of rain, but he believed what god said.
  • 00:20:35.691 --> 00:20:40.996
  • He acted accordingly by building that ark.
  • 00:20:41.897 --> 00:20:44.499
  • And the result was not only the temporary salvation
  • 00:20:44.499 --> 00:20:49.137
  • Of himself and his family, but notice what it says here.
  • 00:20:49.137 --> 00:20:53.008
  • He became an heir of the righteousness,
  • 00:20:53.008 --> 00:20:57.112
  • Which is according to faith,
  • 00:20:57.112 --> 00:20:59.214
  • Noah is the first person in the bible
  • 00:21:00.048 --> 00:21:02.050
  • Who was ever declared righteous.
  • 00:21:02.050 --> 00:21:05.287
  • He is in a right standing with god. why?
  • 00:21:06.121 --> 00:21:10.225
  • Because he believed what god said.
  • 00:21:10.225 --> 00:21:12.728
  • He believed in a god of grace.
  • 00:21:12.728 --> 00:21:16.631
  • He received that grace through faith,
  • 00:21:16.631 --> 00:21:19.901
  • And one day that faith would be paid for
  • 00:21:19.901 --> 00:21:23.672
  • By the blood of jesus christ.
  • 00:21:23.672 --> 00:21:26.408
  • You know one thing you notice as you read
  • 00:21:27.275 --> 00:21:29.111
  • Through hebrews chapter 11 is this,
  • 00:21:29.111 --> 00:21:31.380
  • All of the men and women we're going to look at
  • 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:33.382
  • In the days ahead had one thing in common.
  • 00:21:33.382 --> 00:21:36.284
  • They obeyed god and they died without fully seeing
  • 00:21:36.284 --> 00:21:41.223
  • And realizing the promises of god.
  • 00:21:41.223 --> 00:21:44.426
  • Nevertheless, they kept on obeying god,
  • 00:21:44.426 --> 00:21:47.729
  • And they found that as they did,
  • 00:21:47.729 --> 00:21:49.798
  • As they exercised their faith,
  • 00:21:49.798 --> 00:21:53.201
  • Their faith became stronger.
  • 00:21:53.802 --> 00:21:55.937
  • As they practiced obedience, it became easier to obey god.
  • 00:21:55.937 --> 00:22:01.176
  • What is it that gave them the ability
  • 00:22:01.943 --> 00:22:04.513
  • To keep on following god,
  • 00:22:04.513 --> 00:22:07.015
  • Even when they weren't immediately rewarded for doing so?
  • 00:22:07.015 --> 00:22:11.319
  • It was their faith.
  • 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:13.288
  • They believed that god exists
  • 00:22:13.288 --> 00:22:16.725
  • And that he is a rewarder of those
  • 00:22:16.725 --> 00:22:19.294
  • Who diligently follow after him.
  • 00:22:19.294 --> 00:22:22.297
  • Do you believe that?
  • 00:22:22.764 --> 00:22:24.566
  • Do you really believe that?
  • 00:22:25.167 --> 00:22:28.370
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:22:28.703 --> 00:22:32.641
  • The fact that you're watching "pathway to victory"
  • 00:22:33.675 --> 00:22:35.811
  • Right now is strong evidence that you do indeed believe
  • 00:22:35.811 --> 00:22:39.114
  • That god is real and that he's going to reward you
  • 00:22:39.114 --> 00:22:42.417
  • For following him with everything you've got.
  • 00:22:42.417 --> 00:22:46.221
  • In closing today, let me thank those of you
  • 00:22:46.221 --> 00:22:48.323
  • Who have given generously to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:22:48.323 --> 00:22:51.259
  • I can assure you that god is using your gifts
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  • To inspire faith in the people of god.
  • 00:22:53.728 --> 00:22:56.798
  • I recently heard from mary
  • 00:22:56.798 --> 00:22:59.267
  • Who was in a tough spiritual battle.
  • 00:22:59.267 --> 00:23:00.902
  • She wrote, "pastor jeffress,
  • 00:23:00.902 --> 00:23:02.771
  • Satan dangled his temptations in front of me,
  • 00:23:02.771 --> 00:23:05.807
  • And i took them hook, line, and sinker.
  • 00:23:05.807 --> 00:23:08.410
  • And just like a fish on a hook, i felt helpless,
  • 00:23:08.410 --> 00:23:12.080
  • Like i couldn't get free.
  • 00:23:12.080 --> 00:23:14.015
  • But your teaching changed my way of thinking.
  • 00:23:14.015 --> 00:23:16.985
  • Thank you for helping me get free."
  • 00:23:16.985 --> 00:23:20.255
  • Isn't that great?
  • 00:23:20.255 --> 00:23:21.590
  • Mary chose to place her faith and trust in god,
  • 00:23:21.590 --> 00:23:24.993
  • Even when the outcome was uncertain.
  • 00:23:24.993 --> 00:23:28.096
  • Thanks for sharing your story, mary,
  • 00:23:28.096 --> 00:23:30.265
  • And thanks to all of you who give financially
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  • To make the ministry of "pathway to victory" possible.
  • 00:23:33.068 --> 00:23:36.671
  • Now please stay right here.
  • 00:23:36.671 --> 00:23:37.973
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
  • 00:23:37.973 --> 00:23:40.542
  • In just a moment.
  • 00:23:40.542 --> 00:23:42.043
  • [narrator] when was the last time you heard god
  • 00:23:42.978 --> 00:23:44.880
  • Speak to you from his word?
  • 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:46.681
  • Dr. robert jeffress believes that growing closer
  • 00:23:46.681 --> 00:23:49.117
  • To god begins with reading your bible
  • 00:23:49.117 --> 00:23:51.353
  • And spending time in prayer.
  • 00:23:51.353 --> 00:23:53.588
  • Make god your priority
  • 00:23:53.588 --> 00:23:54.990
  • By spending quality time in his word
  • 00:23:54.990 --> 00:23:57.158
  • With the brand new 2025
  • 00:23:57.158 --> 00:23:58.960
  • "pathway to victory" daily devotional.
  • 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:01.463
  • Of all the ways god could have revealed himself to us,
  • 00:24:01.463 --> 00:24:04.900
  • He chose to do it through the written word,
  • 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:07.903
  • And that's why it's so important for you
  • 00:24:07.903 --> 00:24:09.738
  • And for me to set aside regular time
  • 00:24:09.738 --> 00:24:12.307
  • To read the word of god.
  • 00:24:12.307 --> 00:24:14.543
  • [narrator] whether you've been a christian
  • 00:24:14.543 --> 00:24:15.844
  • For a lot of years or just a short while,
  • 00:24:15.844 --> 00:24:18.146
  • The principles found in this year's devotional
  • 00:24:18.146 --> 00:24:20.482
  • Will help breathe new life into your walk with god.
  • 00:24:20.482 --> 00:24:23.952
  • Ready to get back to the basics of your christian faith?
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  • Request your copy of the 2025
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  • "pathway to victory" daily devotional
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  • When you give a generous gift to support
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  • The ministry of "pathway to victory."
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  • And when you give $75 or more,
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  • Teaching series on dvd and audio disc.
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  • We'll discover one thing all of these men
  • 00:24:44.372 --> 00:24:46.241
  • And women had in common is they believed god
  • 00:24:46.241 --> 00:24:50.178
  • And they acted according to their belief in god.
  • 00:24:50.178 --> 00:24:53.181
  • They did something as a demonstration of their faith.
  • 00:24:53.181 --> 00:24:57.986
  • [narrator] thank you for giving generously
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  • To support the ministry of "pathway to victory."
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  • Your giving empowers this broadcast ministry
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  • To proclaim the practical, applicable,
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  • Life-changing truth of the gospel to a world in need.
  • 00:25:07.128 --> 00:25:12.701
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:25:13.034 --> 00:25:14.336
  • The same grace that saved noah
  • 00:25:14.336 --> 00:25:16.504
  • So many thousands of years ago
  • 00:25:16.504 --> 00:25:18.707
  • Is the same grace that saves you and me today.
  • 00:25:18.707 --> 00:25:22.143
  • And we both receive that grace through faith,
  • 00:25:22.143 --> 00:25:26.114
  • Before jesus came, after jesus came,
  • 00:25:26.114 --> 00:25:28.617
  • It's all the same.
  • 00:25:28.617 --> 00:25:30.251
  • Well, faith not only saves and sanctifies,
  • 00:25:30.251 --> 00:25:33.088
  • Faith also submits.
  • 00:25:33.088 --> 00:25:35.490
  • And next time, we're going to look at two people
  • 00:25:35.490 --> 00:25:37.592
  • Who demonstrated that kind of faith,
  • 00:25:37.592 --> 00:25:40.528
  • Submitting to a future they couldn't yet see.
  • 00:25:40.528 --> 00:25:44.132
  • Stay tuned for a preview
  • 00:25:44.132 --> 00:25:45.400
  • Of what's coming up next in our series,
  • 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:47.469
  • Spiritual fitness.
  • 00:25:47.469 --> 00:25:50.105
  • We want a priest that we can touch.
  • 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:53.508
  • We want a temple that we can go into.
  • 00:25:53.508 --> 00:25:56.177
  • We want a sacrifice that we can smell.
  • 00:25:56.177 --> 00:25:59.214
  • We're tired of this invisible priest
  • 00:25:59.214 --> 00:26:01.383
  • Who's in an invisible temple in heaven
  • 00:26:01.383 --> 00:26:03.618
  • Who's offered this invisible sacrifice.
  • 00:26:03.618 --> 00:26:07.355
  • Do you ever feel that way sometimes?
  • 00:26:07.355 --> 00:26:09.024
  • But real faith requires believing
  • 00:26:09.024 --> 00:26:11.693
  • In that which is invisible.
  • 00:26:11.693 --> 00:26:14.496
  • [narrator] set your dvr and join us next time
  • 00:26:14.496 --> 00:26:16.731
  • For the message "going without knowing"
  • 00:26:16.731 --> 00:26:19.567
  • On "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:19.567 --> 00:26:27.942
  • If you could go back in time
  • 00:26:28.543 --> 00:26:30.045
  • And walk with the apostle paul on one of his journeys,
  • 00:26:30.045 --> 00:26:33.048
  • Would you do it?
  • 00:26:33.048 --> 00:26:34.449
  • This may, let's go together on the life-changing
  • 00:26:34.449 --> 00:26:36.951
  • "pathway to victory" journeys of paul mediterranean cruise.
  • 00:26:36.951 --> 00:26:41.756
  • [narrator] embark on a voyage of elegance and refinement.
  • 00:26:41.756 --> 00:26:44.559
  • Aboard the luxurious celebrity ascent.
  • 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:47.328
  • Enjoy lavish state rooms,
  • 00:26:47.328 --> 00:26:48.997
  • Spacious balconies, and world class dining.
  • 00:26:48.997 --> 00:26:52.000
  • You'll experience breathtaking views, famous beaches,
  • 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:55.437
  • And crystal clear water in beautiful island destinations
  • 00:26:55.437 --> 00:26:58.940
  • Like santorini, mykonos, and crete.
  • 00:26:58.940 --> 00:27:02.043
  • Walk with me and other believers
  • 00:27:02.043 --> 00:27:03.778
  • In the very places where god's word was written.
  • 00:27:03.778 --> 00:27:07.248
  • Join us as we study his word together.
  • 00:27:07.248 --> 00:27:09.984
  • Surrounded by natural beauty,
  • 00:27:09.984 --> 00:27:11.920
  • We will seek our creator in his creation.
  • 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:16.191
  • [narrator] reserve your spot
  • 00:27:16.191 --> 00:27:17.325
  • On the "pathway to victory"
  • 00:27:17.325 --> 00:27:18.693
  • Journeys of paul mediterranean cruise.
  • 00:27:18.693 --> 00:27:21.329
  • Call (888) 280-6747, or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:21.329 --> 00:27:21.329