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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The One Prayer God Always Answers | April 22, 2025
- ♪♪♪
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- Male announcer: 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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- Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- It's disappointing when a prayer goes unanswered.
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- Sometimes our heavenly father clearly says, "no."
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- Other times, he tells us to wait,
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- And we don't like either one of those responses.
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- Well, today, we're going to look at a request
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- That god responds to every single time.
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- It's probably not your favorite answer,
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- But you'll soon see why it should be.
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- My message is titled, "the one prayer god always answers,"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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- Male announcer: each day, millions of lost people are
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- Searching for hope and truth.
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- Through "pathway to victory," god's word is reaching into
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- Homes across america and around the world, but there are still
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- So many who haven't heard the saving message of jesus christ.
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- You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
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- You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries who are
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- Sharing the gospel through television and radio.
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- Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide with the
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- Life-changing power of the cross.
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- ♪♪♪
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- Jeffress: you know, in the bible god uses the term
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- "righteousness" in two distinct ways.
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- Sometimes, when the bible talks about "righteousness,"
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- It's talking about a "judicial righteousness,
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- Our standing before god."
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- To be righteous is to be in a right relationship,
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- A right standing with god.
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- Paul said in romans 4, verse 5,
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- "but to the one who does not work,
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- But instead believes in him who justifies the ungodly,
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- His faith is counted as righteousness."
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- The moment you trust in jesus christ
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- For the forgiveness of your sins,
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- In the great courtroom of heaven,
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- God pronounces you forgiven, righteous.
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- You are in a right standing with himself.
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- But, other times, the word "righteousness"
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- In the bible refers to "right acting before god."
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- It's our conduct, our obedience.
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- It's an ethical, not a judicial
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- But an ethical kind of righteousness.
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- For example, in 1 peter 3:12, peter says,
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- "for the eyes of the lord are toward the righteous.
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- And his ears attend to their prayer.
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- But the face of the lord is against those who do evil."
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- One reason we don't get our prayers answered sometime
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- Is we're not acting righteously.
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- We may be in a right relationship with god;
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- We may be forgiven of our sins, but if we don't act righteously,
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- God doesn't hear our prayers.
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- Judicial righteousness.
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- Ethical righteousness.
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- But jesus said the prerequisite for both of them,
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- Both a right standing with god and a right acting
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- Before god is to want it.
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- It's to hunger for it.
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- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
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- My friend and bible scholar r.t. kendall
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- Tells about a time that he was nine years old,
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- And he was staying one night with his grandmother,
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- And the next day, he had a test at school
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- That he wasn't prepared for, so when he awakened
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- The next morning, he told his grandmother
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- That he wasn't feeling well and didn't feel like
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- Going to school.
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- She said, "okay, well, go back to bed."
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- And he protested and said,
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- "well, i would like breakfast first."
- 00:03:57.660 --> 00:03:59.896
- She said, "if you have an appetite,
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- That means there isn't much wrong with you,
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- So you go get dressed for school,
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- And i'll prepare breakfast."
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- We know jesus is saying the same thing here.
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- Your appetite is a pretty good indication
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- Of your spiritual health.
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- If you're a christian this morning and you have a hunger,
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- You have a thirst for being more obedient to god,
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- Then you're in pretty good spiritual shape.
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- You may not feel like it, but you're on the road
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- To spiritual health.
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- In fact, 2 peter 1, verse 3, says,
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- "you have everything you need for life and godliness."
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- If you hunger for an ethical righteousness,
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- Obedience to god, you're on your way to spiritual health,
- 00:04:46.943 --> 00:04:50.580
- But if you're not a christian this morning,
- 00:04:50.580 --> 00:04:53.249
- If you're just here by accident, perhaps you tuned in
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- To this broadcast by accident, but you have a desire,
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- A hunger to be clean, to be forgiven,
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- To be in a right relationship with god,
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- It's a good indication that you are also on your road
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- To spiritual health.
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- In fact, if that's true of you this morning,
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- You are only seven words away from a right relationship
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- With god, and today we're going to discover
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- What those seven words are in a familiar parable.
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- Turn to your bibles into luke chapter 18,
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- Beginning with verse 9, as we look at the one prayer
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- God always promises to answer.
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- Luke chapter 18.
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- Now, this is one of those parables jesus told
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- That's very easy to interpret because luke gives us
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- The right interpretation at the beginning of the parable.
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- He tells us the reason jesus told it.
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- Look at verse 9: "and jesus also told them this parable to some
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- People who trusted in themselves that they were righteous
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- And viewed others with contempt."
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- This parable is directed toward a group of people,
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- Specifically the pharisees, who trusted in themselves.
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- Literally, in the greek text, it says,
- 00:06:18.167 --> 00:06:20.403
- "who, based on themselves, thought they were righteous."
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- They thought god looked on them with favor that they had
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- A judicial righteousness; they were not guilty before god;
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- They also were ethically righteous;
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- They did all the right things, but the reason they
- 00:06:36.285 --> 00:06:39.655
- Believed that was a standard that was based on themselves.
- 00:06:39.655 --> 00:06:46.429
- You know, today, there's a lot of talk about having self-esteem
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- And that people suffer from a bad self-image,
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- But the truth is the problem with most of us is not that
- 00:06:54.604 --> 00:06:57.540
- We think too little of ourselves but that we think too much
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- Of ourselves.
- 00:07:00.943 --> 00:07:03.045
- Dr. david myers is a psychologist
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- Who has written a lot about what he calls
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- The "inflated-self syndrome" in america.
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- He reports that, when the college board surveyed
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- High school seniors, they found that amazingly zero percent
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- Of high school seniors thought that they were below average
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- Compared to other students.
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- Sixty percent believed they were in the top ten percent
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- In their ability to get along with others,
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- And he concluded that the most common error in people's
- 00:07:34.043 --> 00:07:37.046
- Self-image is not unrealistically low self-esteem
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- But, rather, self-serving pride.
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- It was not an inferiority complex
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- But a superiority complex.
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- That was the group that jesus was talking to,
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- Those who thought they were righteous.
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- And notice the second phrase he uses:
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- "and they viewed others with contempt."
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- And that's the byproduct of feeling superior.
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- What's the good of being superior if you can't look down
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- On other people, right?
- 00:08:08.578 --> 00:08:10.947
- And there are actually some people who are proud
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- Of their own humility.
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- Whenever i read this parable that jesus told about
- 00:08:15.785 --> 00:08:19.221
- The pharisees, i'm reminded of the third grade
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- Sunday school teacher who, after teaching this lesson
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- To the children, said,
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- "now, children, let's bow our heads in prayer
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- And thank god that we're not like the pharisees."
- 00:08:28.898 --> 00:08:33.436
- There are people who feel that way.
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- The purpose of this parable that jesus told is very clear
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- In verse 9.
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- This parable is not a parable that teaches us how to pray.
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- It's not a parable that answers the question why god
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- Answers some prayers and doesn't answer other prayers.
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- This parable is about how to be righteous,
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- How to be in a right standing with god.
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- And in this parable, we find two very different approaches
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- To god, one that is based on our goodness,
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- Our own works, and one that is based on god's grace.
- 00:09:05.768 --> 00:09:10.006
- Now, let's look at the two characters,
- 00:09:10.006 --> 00:09:12.274
- The two players in this parable.
- 00:09:12.274 --> 00:09:14.377
- Verse 10, jesus said, "two men went up to the temple to pray,
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- One a pharisee and the other a tax collector."
- 00:09:19.915 --> 00:09:23.853
- If jesus were telling the story today, he might say,
- 00:09:23.853 --> 00:09:26.956
- "two people went into the church to pray,
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- A preacher and a prostitute."
- 00:09:29.692 --> 00:09:32.895
- That's the contrast jesus is trying to give us here.
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- The pharisee, let's look at him, first of all.
- 00:09:36.565 --> 00:09:39.568
- Now, today--and this is so important to understand--
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- We think of the "pharisees" as "the villain."
- 00:09:42.638 --> 00:09:46.342
- They were highly revered, respected men.
- 00:09:46.342 --> 00:09:49.679
- They knew the old testament backwards and forwards,
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- And not only that, they were thought
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- To be truly godly people.
- 00:09:55.051 --> 00:09:57.086
- They had a desire to be godly.
- 00:09:57.086 --> 00:10:00.122
- Their problem was they had the wrong idea of godliness.
- 00:10:00.122 --> 00:10:04.527
- They thought that godliness was based on themselves
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- And not the grace of god.
- 00:10:07.830 --> 00:10:11.067
- Now, notice his prayer.
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- The bible says, jesus said,
- 00:10:13.602 --> 00:10:16.005
- "this pharisee, when he went to pray, he stood to pray."
- 00:10:16.005 --> 00:10:21.343
- Now, a lot of people make a big deal out of that:
- 00:10:21.343 --> 00:10:23.679
- "oh, look how proud he is. he stood."
- 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:25.748
- There's nothing wrong with standing to pray.
- 00:10:25.748 --> 00:10:28.350
- In fact, a good jew would stand to pray.
- 00:10:28.350 --> 00:10:30.686
- Today, if you go to the western wall,
- 00:10:30.686 --> 00:10:33.556
- The wailing wall, people stand there and pray
- 00:10:33.556 --> 00:10:36.092
- And pour out their hearts to god.
- 00:10:36.092 --> 00:10:37.860
- The problem with this man's prayer was not his posture.
- 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:41.564
- It was his attitude, and you see that in the second phrase:
- 00:10:41.564 --> 00:10:44.967
- "he stood, and he prayed to himself."
- 00:10:44.967 --> 00:10:49.939
- Ha-hah, isn't that a funny phrase?
- 00:10:49.939 --> 00:10:52.441
- "he prayed to himself."
- 00:10:52.441 --> 00:10:54.176
- Now, he probably didn't think he was praying to himself,
- 00:10:54.176 --> 00:10:56.746
- But you look at the prayer here.
- 00:10:56.746 --> 00:10:59.081
- It was a prayer of self-congratulations
- 00:10:59.081 --> 00:11:01.617
- About all he had done.
- 00:11:01.617 --> 00:11:03.586
- Look at verses 11 and 12: "the pharisee stood,
- 00:11:03.586 --> 00:11:06.222
- Praying this to himself: 'god, i thank you that
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- I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers,
- 00:11:10.426 --> 00:11:14.563
- Or even like this tax collector over here, standing next to me.
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- I fast twice a week.
- 00:11:18.968 --> 00:11:21.070
- I pay tithes of all that i get.'"
- 00:11:21.070 --> 00:11:24.807
- This pharisee's problem was he had an "i" problem:
- 00:11:24.807 --> 00:11:28.611
- "i, i, i, i."
- 00:11:28.611 --> 00:11:31.814
- He was focused on himself.
- 00:11:31.814 --> 00:11:35.417
- Have you ever noticed people today who try to give
- 00:11:35.417 --> 00:11:37.453
- A testimony, but they can't help but make themselves
- 00:11:37.453 --> 00:11:41.857
- The hero of the story?
- 00:11:41.857 --> 00:11:43.893
- Their testimonies are what one friend of mine call
- 00:11:43.893 --> 00:11:46.762
- "bragamonies."
- 00:11:46.762 --> 00:11:49.198
- It's about "me, me, me, me, me."
- 00:11:49.198 --> 00:11:53.102
- Contrast him to the other character in this story,
- 00:11:53.102 --> 00:11:57.139
- The tax collector.
- 00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:59.241
- The tax collector.
- 00:11:59.241 --> 00:12:00.576
- The jewish people hated tax collectors for two reasons:
- 00:12:00.576 --> 00:12:04.013
- First of all, they were helping fund the oppressive
- 00:12:04.013 --> 00:12:06.949
- Roman government that was occupying their land,
- 00:12:06.949 --> 00:12:10.419
- But not only that, they were cheating people,
- 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:12.822
- Taking more than they were supposed to take.
- 00:12:12.822 --> 00:12:15.457
- And so this tax collector went up to pray as well.
- 00:12:15.457 --> 00:12:19.895
- Don't miss the point that this tax collector was
- 00:12:19.895 --> 00:12:23.299
- Just as much under god's judgment as the pharisee was.
- 00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:28.470
- They both went to the temple to pray,
- 00:12:28.470 --> 00:12:32.208
- But notice his prayer in contrast to the pharisee's:
- 00:12:32.208 --> 00:12:35.878
- "the tax collector, standing some distance away,
- 00:12:35.878 --> 00:12:40.449
- Was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven,
- 00:12:40.449 --> 00:12:43.853
- But instead was beating his breast, saying,
- 00:12:43.853 --> 00:12:46.922
- 'god, be merciful to me, the sinner.'"
- 00:12:46.922 --> 00:12:52.528
- This is one of the shortest prayers in the bible,
- 00:12:52.528 --> 00:12:55.064
- Seven words in the english language,
- 00:12:55.064 --> 00:12:57.299
- Six words in the greek text, and, yet this prayer reveals
- 00:12:57.299 --> 00:13:00.870
- The two essentials for righteousness,
- 00:13:00.870 --> 00:13:04.373
- For a right standing with god for god's salvation.
- 00:13:04.373 --> 00:13:08.277
- First of all, he expresses sorrow for his sin.
- 00:13:08.277 --> 00:13:13.148
- You hear that in the prayer: "be merciful to me,"
- 00:13:13.148 --> 00:13:16.352
- "the sinner" is what it actually says in greek.
- 00:13:16.352 --> 00:13:20.022
- It's articular.
- 00:13:20.022 --> 00:13:21.423
- There's an article before the word "sinner."
- 00:13:21.423 --> 00:13:23.525
- It's not "be merciful to me, a sinner,"
- 00:13:23.525 --> 00:13:26.695
- Just like everybody else in the world.
- 00:13:26.695 --> 00:13:28.497
- No, "be merciful to me, the sinner."
- 00:13:28.497 --> 00:13:31.200
- "i am the chief sinner of all."
- 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:35.237
- By the way, notice his position.
- 00:13:35.237 --> 00:13:38.741
- He stood some distance away.
- 00:13:38.741 --> 00:13:41.577
- Away from what?
- 00:13:41.577 --> 00:13:43.178
- Well, probably away from the altar of sacrifice,
- 00:13:43.178 --> 00:13:46.515
- Representing the presence of god,
- 00:13:46.515 --> 00:13:49.018
- But he even stood away from the pharisee.
- 00:13:49.018 --> 00:13:51.287
- "oh, i can't be near a holy man.
- 00:13:51.287 --> 00:13:53.722
- I can't be near to him,
- 00:13:53.722 --> 00:13:55.557
- And i certainly can't stand near to god."
- 00:13:55.557 --> 00:13:58.027
- But here's the paradox: by standing far away from god,
- 00:13:58.027 --> 00:14:02.264
- He was closer to god than the pharisee.
- 00:14:02.264 --> 00:14:05.701
- Here's one thing you understand: the more you understand
- 00:14:05.701 --> 00:14:08.570
- The true holiness of god, the more you understand
- 00:14:08.570 --> 00:14:12.875
- How sinful you and i really are.
- 00:14:12.875 --> 00:14:16.578
- A real encounter with the genuine god
- 00:14:16.578 --> 00:14:19.882
- Leads you to understand your own unholiness.
- 00:14:19.882 --> 00:14:24.153
- Isaiah expressed that.
- 00:14:24.153 --> 00:14:26.388
- Remember in isaiah 6, when he had the vision of god
- 00:14:26.388 --> 00:14:29.058
- On his throne and the angels flying around the throne?
- 00:14:29.058 --> 00:14:32.828
- What was isaiah's response?
- 00:14:32.828 --> 00:14:37.132
- He fell down, and he said, "woe to me, for i am undone.
- 00:14:37.132 --> 00:14:40.669
- I am a man of unclean lips."
- 00:14:40.669 --> 00:14:44.173
- Or remember when the apostle peter saw the glorified lord,
- 00:14:44.173 --> 00:14:47.943
- In luke 5:8?
- 00:14:47.943 --> 00:14:49.445
- He said, "depart from me, lord, for i am a sinful man."
- 00:14:49.445 --> 00:14:53.949
- Or remember the apostle john in the book of revelation,
- 00:14:53.949 --> 00:14:57.319
- There on the island of patmos, when he saw the vision
- 00:14:57.319 --> 00:15:00.622
- Of the glorified christ in the state he'll be
- 00:15:00.622 --> 00:15:03.425
- When he returns one day?
- 00:15:03.425 --> 00:15:05.194
- What did he do?
- 00:15:05.194 --> 00:15:06.528
- The bible says he fell down as a dead man.
- 00:15:06.528 --> 00:15:09.732
- That's what happens to any sinner who confronts a holy god.
- 00:15:09.732 --> 00:15:14.269
- You're aware of your need.
- 00:15:14.269 --> 00:15:16.772
- But an expression of sorrow for your sin
- 00:15:16.772 --> 00:15:19.108
- Isn't enough to be forgiven.
- 00:15:19.108 --> 00:15:21.744
- It's not enough for salvation.
- 00:15:21.744 --> 00:15:23.545
- There's a second ingredient you see in this brief prayer,
- 00:15:23.545 --> 00:15:26.782
- And that is, he requested god's mercy to cover his sin.
- 00:15:26.782 --> 00:15:32.955
- He said, "god be merciful to me, the sinner."
- 00:15:32.955 --> 00:15:37.926
- Now, that word, greek word translated,
- 00:15:37.926 --> 00:15:40.629
- "merciful," is not just any word for "mercy."
- 00:15:40.629 --> 00:15:43.766
- It's a very special word.
- 00:15:43.766 --> 00:15:46.035
- It's a word that is a form of the word that was used
- 00:15:46.035 --> 00:15:49.538
- To describe the mercy seat in the temple.
- 00:15:49.538 --> 00:15:54.710
- Remember, in the temple, the holiest place of all
- 00:15:54.710 --> 00:15:57.846
- Was the holy of holies.
- 00:15:57.846 --> 00:16:00.082
- It was behind the veil, and only one person
- 00:16:00.082 --> 00:16:03.085
- Could enter into the holy of holy once a year.
- 00:16:03.085 --> 00:16:06.288
- That was the high priest.
- 00:16:06.288 --> 00:16:08.390
- Remember, in the holy of holies, behind the veil,
- 00:16:08.390 --> 00:16:10.959
- There was the ark of the covenant, and that ark,
- 00:16:10.959 --> 00:16:14.463
- Among other things, contained the two tablets,
- 00:16:14.463 --> 00:16:17.633
- Moses's tablets with the ten commandments.
- 00:16:17.633 --> 00:16:20.569
- On top of the ark, which was more like a box,
- 00:16:20.569 --> 00:16:23.639
- There was a lid covered in gold.
- 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:26.508
- It was called the mercy seat, and on each end
- 00:16:26.508 --> 00:16:30.946
- Of the mercy seat was the replication of an angel,
- 00:16:30.946 --> 00:16:36.318
- A cherub, and the cherub, on each end,
- 00:16:36.318 --> 00:16:39.321
- Had outstretched wings.
- 00:16:39.321 --> 00:16:42.291
- They were thought to protect the holiness of god,
- 00:16:42.291 --> 00:16:45.427
- And it was believed that the spirit of god dwelt
- 00:16:45.427 --> 00:16:48.130
- Between the cherubim on that ark of the covenant.
- 00:16:48.130 --> 00:16:52.267
- And the picture was very clear:
- 00:16:52.267 --> 00:16:54.136
- It's a picture of god's judgment.
- 00:16:54.136 --> 00:16:55.938
- God, a holy god, is looking down on the law, his law,
- 00:16:55.938 --> 00:17:00.342
- Which he gave his people,
- 00:17:00.342 --> 00:17:02.044
- A law which the israelites broke every day of every year.
- 00:17:02.044 --> 00:17:06.448
- It was a picture of the judgment that god's people deserved
- 00:17:06.448 --> 00:17:10.986
- For the law they had broken, but once a year on yom kippur,
- 00:17:10.986 --> 00:17:16.391
- The day of atonement, the high priest,
- 00:17:16.391 --> 00:17:19.561
- After making an atonement for his own sins,
- 00:17:19.561 --> 00:17:22.397
- Would take the blood of an innocent animal,
- 00:17:22.397 --> 00:17:24.967
- And he would come into the holy of holies
- 00:17:24.967 --> 00:17:27.503
- In the presence of god, and he would take that blood,
- 00:17:27.503 --> 00:17:30.472
- And he would sprinkle it on the mercy seat that covered
- 00:17:30.472 --> 00:17:33.976
- The broken law, and the picture was,
- 00:17:33.976 --> 00:17:37.446
- As god looked down, he no longer saw
- 00:17:37.446 --> 00:17:40.282
- The law that had been broken, but he saw the covering,
- 00:17:40.282 --> 00:17:43.719
- The atoning of that innocent animal.
- 00:17:43.719 --> 00:17:47.322
- And, of course, all of that was a picture of what jesus christ,
- 00:17:47.322 --> 00:17:51.927
- Our perfect high priest, would do one day.
- 00:17:51.927 --> 00:17:55.964
- The high priest, for hundreds of years,
- 00:17:55.964 --> 00:17:58.167
- Would have to come in year after year after year.
- 00:17:58.167 --> 00:18:02.137
- He would have to, first of all, make an atonement
- 00:18:02.137 --> 00:18:04.206
- For his own sins.
- 00:18:04.206 --> 00:18:05.707
- He would come with the blood of an animal,
- 00:18:05.707 --> 00:18:08.243
- And he had to do it repeatedly.
- 00:18:08.243 --> 00:18:11.113
- But jesus christ is our perfect high priest,
- 00:18:11.113 --> 00:18:14.850
- And he's entered not a man-made temple but the true temple,
- 00:18:14.850 --> 00:18:18.287
- The presence of god, and he approached the temple of god
- 00:18:18.287 --> 00:18:21.456
- And the throne of god, not with the blood of the animal
- 00:18:21.456 --> 00:18:24.426
- That was worthless but with his own blood,
- 00:18:24.426 --> 00:18:27.429
- And he obtained, what?
- 00:18:27.429 --> 00:18:28.830
- Eternal redemption.
- 00:18:28.830 --> 00:18:31.366
- That's what the writer of hebrews said
- 00:18:31.366 --> 00:18:32.935
- In hebrews chapter 9, verses 11 to 12:
- 00:18:32.935 --> 00:18:35.504
- "but when christ appeared as a high priest
- 00:18:35.504 --> 00:18:38.540
- Of the good things to come, he entered through the greater
- 00:18:38.540 --> 00:18:41.543
- And more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands,
- 00:18:41.543 --> 00:18:44.713
- That is, not to say of this creation,
- 00:18:44.713 --> 00:18:47.015
- And not through the blood of goats and calves,
- 00:18:47.015 --> 00:18:49.851
- But through his own blood.
- 00:18:49.851 --> 00:18:51.820
- He entered the holy place once for all,
- 00:18:51.820 --> 00:18:55.090
- Having obtained eternal redemption."
- 00:18:55.090 --> 00:18:58.860
- Why do i mention this?
- 00:18:58.860 --> 00:19:01.363
- Because, when this tax collector said,
- 00:19:01.363 --> 00:19:04.266
- "lord, be merciful to me," he was asking for a blood
- 00:19:04.266 --> 00:19:09.271
- Atonement, a covering that would wipe away his sins.
- 00:19:09.271 --> 00:19:14.543
- He understood he was powerless to forgive himself.
- 00:19:14.543 --> 00:19:17.746
- He needed the forgiveness that was based on the sacrifice
- 00:19:17.746 --> 00:19:20.782
- Of the true high priest, jesus christ.
- 00:19:20.782 --> 00:19:24.686
- You see that even in the way he prayed.
- 00:19:24.686 --> 00:19:29.157
- James montgomery boice points out the simple
- 00:19:29.157 --> 00:19:31.760
- Sentence structure of this prayer.
- 00:19:31.760 --> 00:19:34.529
- It's a prayer that starts with god and ends with the sinner
- 00:19:34.529 --> 00:19:39.067
- But has mercy in the middle.
- 00:19:39.067 --> 00:19:42.204
- It is god's mercy, it is god's grace that connects sinful man
- 00:19:42.204 --> 00:19:48.343
- To a holy god.
- 00:19:48.343 --> 00:19:51.079
- "god, be merciful to me, the sinner."
- 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:55.817
- Two men with two very different ways to approach god,
- 00:19:55.817 --> 00:19:59.888
- One who tries to approach god, based on his own righteousness,
- 00:19:59.888 --> 00:20:04.026
- And one who approaches god, based on god's grace.
- 00:20:04.026 --> 00:20:09.998
- Now, if jesus had stopped right here with a prayer and said,
- 00:20:09.998 --> 00:20:15.103
- "now i'm gonna give you a pop quiz, audience.
- 00:20:15.103 --> 00:20:17.739
- You've heard the story.
- 00:20:17.739 --> 00:20:19.341
- Which man walked away from the mountain justified,
- 00:20:19.341 --> 00:20:24.613
- In a right relationship with god?"
- 00:20:24.613 --> 00:20:26.748
- The audience, without a doubt, would've said,
- 00:20:26.748 --> 00:20:29.084
- "why, the pharisee, of course.
- 00:20:29.084 --> 00:20:32.654
- The pharisee is the one who ended up righteous.
- 00:20:32.654 --> 00:20:35.324
- I mean, look at all of the things he's done: he's tithed.
- 00:20:35.324 --> 00:20:38.427
- He's fasted.
- 00:20:38.427 --> 00:20:39.795
- He's not like these adulterers and murderers.
- 00:20:39.795 --> 00:20:42.564
- He's righteous.
- 00:20:42.564 --> 00:20:46.635
- Why would that tax collector think a little seven-word prayer
- 00:20:46.635 --> 00:20:50.972
- Suddenly makes everything all right with god?"
- 00:20:50.972 --> 00:20:53.408
- Haven't you heard that before?
- 00:20:53.408 --> 00:20:55.143
- How can people think that praying a prayer of salvation
- 00:20:55.143 --> 00:20:57.446
- Erases all of the bad that they've ever done before?
- 00:20:57.446 --> 00:21:02.117
- They would've picked the pharisee for sure,
- 00:21:02.117 --> 00:21:05.554
- And that's why jesus turns their expectations upside down
- 00:21:05.554 --> 00:21:09.224
- In verse 14.
- 00:21:09.224 --> 00:21:10.559
- He says, "no, i tell you, this man, the tax collector,
- 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:15.130
- Went to his house justified rather than the other."
- 00:21:15.130 --> 00:21:22.804
- You know what's interesting to me?
- 00:21:22.804 --> 00:21:25.207
- I'm sure, when the pharisee finished his self-congratulatory
- 00:21:25.207 --> 00:21:28.643
- Prayer, i'm sure he felt great.
- 00:21:28.643 --> 00:21:32.981
- I'm sure he left the temple mount that day, saying,
- 00:21:32.981 --> 00:21:35.951
- "you know, nothing like some good quality prayer time
- 00:21:35.951 --> 00:21:38.820
- With the lord," and i imagined that the tax collector probably
- 00:21:38.820 --> 00:21:43.725
- Left just as miserable as he went,
- 00:21:43.725 --> 00:21:48.163
- Feeling bad and terrible about his sin, but guess what?
- 00:21:48.163 --> 00:21:53.435
- Your relationship with god isn't based on how you feel
- 00:21:53.435 --> 00:21:57.639
- About your relationship with god.
- 00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:59.408
- It's how god views you, how he sees you,
- 00:21:59.408 --> 00:22:03.812
- How he feels about you, and jesus said,
- 00:22:03.812 --> 00:22:06.047
- "i'm telling you, regardless of this tax collector's feelings,
- 00:22:06.047 --> 00:22:10.085
- He left the mountain that day justified,
- 00:22:10.085 --> 00:22:15.290
- Declared not guilty because his prayer wasn't based
- 00:22:15.290 --> 00:22:19.828
- On his righteousness.
- 00:22:19.828 --> 00:22:21.663
- It was based on my mercy."
- 00:22:21.663 --> 00:22:24.599
- And then jesus adds this word, these familiar words:
- 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:28.036
- "for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
- 00:22:28.036 --> 00:22:33.008
- But he who humbles himself will be exalted.
- 00:22:33.008 --> 00:22:39.147
- The person who refuses to bow before god and admit his need
- 00:22:39.147 --> 00:22:45.020
- For forgiveness will, one day, be humbled.
- 00:22:45.020 --> 00:22:50.392
- One day, he will be shocked to hear from the lord
- 00:22:50.392 --> 00:22:53.462
- He thought he served, utter these words:
- 00:22:53.462 --> 00:22:56.798
- "depart from me, you worker of iniquity,
- 00:22:56.798 --> 00:23:00.435
- For i never knew you.
- 00:23:00.435 --> 00:23:04.372
- On the other hand, the person who bows before god and says,
- 00:23:04.372 --> 00:23:09.244
- "god, i am a sinner; i am the sinner,
- 00:23:09.244 --> 00:23:12.380
- And i have no hope except jesus christ,"
- 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:16.251
- Person who humbles themself will one day be exalted
- 00:23:16.251 --> 00:23:20.288
- And will be welcomed into god's kingdom.
- 00:23:20.288 --> 00:23:25.293
- As a.w. tozer said, "in ourselves, nothing.
- 00:23:25.293 --> 00:23:31.533
- In christ, everything."
- 00:23:31.533 --> 00:23:34.903
- ♪♪♪
- 00:23:34.903 --> 00:23:40.108
- Jeffress: when we ask for righteousness,
- 00:23:40.108 --> 00:23:41.943
- We can be absolutely certain that god will answer our prayer.
- 00:23:41.943 --> 00:23:46.848
- Well, in closing i wanna read
- 00:23:46.848 --> 00:23:48.550
- An encouraging note i received from debra.
- 00:23:48.550 --> 00:23:51.286
- She wrote, "i've been a christian most of my life,
- 00:23:51.286 --> 00:23:54.322
- And i'm now 64 years old.
- 00:23:54.322 --> 00:23:56.691
- My husband passed away this year unexpectedly.
- 00:23:56.691 --> 00:24:00.228
- In the months that followed, your messages have become
- 00:24:00.228 --> 00:24:02.964
- My lifeline.
- 00:24:02.964 --> 00:24:04.633
- Thank you for your teaching."
- 00:24:04.633 --> 00:24:07.102
- Well, friends, when you support "pathway to victory,"
- 00:24:07.102 --> 00:24:10.305
- And when you especially become a pathway partner, you're making
- 00:24:10.305 --> 00:24:14.309
- It possible for people like debra to find hope and healing.
- 00:24:14.309 --> 00:24:18.914
- Thanks for linking arms with us.
- 00:24:18.914 --> 00:24:21.182
- Together, god is using our partnership to pierce
- 00:24:21.182 --> 00:24:24.519
- The darkness with the light of his word.
- 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:27.355
- Now, stay right there.
- 00:24:27.355 --> 00:24:28.690
- I'll be back with more in just a moment.
- 00:24:28.690 --> 00:24:31.793
- Jeffress: we know that easter is much more than chocolate bunnies
- 00:24:34.496 --> 00:24:37.132
- And easter eggs.
- 00:24:37.132 --> 00:24:38.767
- Easter celebrates the most important event
- 00:24:38.767 --> 00:24:40.869
- In all of human history.
- 00:24:40.869 --> 00:24:43.071
- Announcer: in "the power of the cross,"
- 00:24:43.071 --> 00:24:44.673
- Dr. robert jeffress retraces the steps of jesus
- 00:24:44.673 --> 00:24:47.742
- Each day of holy week, from bethany to jerusalem
- 00:24:47.742 --> 00:24:51.513
- To calvary and to the empty tomb.
- 00:24:51.513 --> 00:24:55.050
- Jeffress: through his incredible sacrifice,
- 00:24:55.050 --> 00:24:56.785
- Jesus conquered sin and death once and for all.
- 00:24:56.785 --> 00:25:00.288
- And this beautifully illustrated book provides a trustworthy and
- 00:25:00.288 --> 00:25:03.992
- Approachable way to share the good news with someone you love.
- 00:25:03.992 --> 00:25:09.564
- Announcer: "the power of the cross" is a full-color, 96-page,
- 00:25:09.564 --> 00:25:12.834
- Large-print book filled with imagery from the holy land
- 00:25:12.834 --> 00:25:16.371
- And photographic depictions of key scriptural events
- 00:25:16.371 --> 00:25:19.641
- That bring holy week to life.
- 00:25:19.641 --> 00:25:22.577
- Request "the power of the cross" when you give a generous gift
- 00:25:22.577 --> 00:25:25.814
- To pathway to victory.
- 00:25:25.814 --> 00:25:28.116
- And as you give $75 or more, you'll also receive eight
- 00:25:28.116 --> 00:25:32.420
- Powerful messages by dr. jeffress from the holy land
- 00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:36.091
- On dvd and mp3 format audio disc.
- 00:25:36.091 --> 00:25:39.628
- It's called "live from israel."
- 00:25:39.628 --> 00:25:42.530
- Thank you for partnering with pathway to victory
- 00:25:42.530 --> 00:25:45.266
- To share the life-changing truth of the gospel,
- 00:25:45.266 --> 00:25:47.769
- This easter season.
- 00:25:47.769 --> 00:25:49.871
- Together, we are proclaiming the radical transforming power
- 00:25:49.871 --> 00:25:53.608
- Of the cross of christ, the only hope
- 00:25:53.608 --> 00:25:56.378
- For our beloved country and world.
- 00:25:56.378 --> 00:26:00.215
- Jeffress: when we express sorrow for our sin and ask
- 00:26:04.252 --> 00:26:07.122
- For god's mercy to cover our sin,
- 00:26:07.122 --> 00:26:10.191
- We can know for certain that god will answer our prayer
- 00:26:10.191 --> 00:26:14.029
- And put us in a right standing with him.
- 00:26:14.029 --> 00:26:17.399
- Next time we'll begin a new series called "unleashed"
- 00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:21.302
- In which we'll discover how to experience more of god's power
- 00:26:21.302 --> 00:26:25.306
- In our everyday lives.
- 00:26:25.306 --> 00:26:27.275
- If you're longing for greater joy in your worship,
- 00:26:27.275 --> 00:26:30.512
- More answered prayers, and freedom from stubborn habits,
- 00:26:30.512 --> 00:26:34.416
- Make plans to join us for this powerful new study, "unleashed."
- 00:26:34.416 --> 00:26:39.487
- Stay tuned for a preview of the first message, coming up
- 00:26:39.487 --> 00:26:42.590
- On "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:42.590 --> 00:26:45.760
- Jeffress: god isn't over here reserving something extra
- 00:26:45.827 --> 00:26:47.529
- That you need to beg him and ask him to do in your life.
- 00:26:47.529 --> 00:26:49.464
- He has granted to you everything you need to lead a supernatural,
- 00:26:49.464 --> 00:26:54.502
- A fulfilling existence while here on earth.
- 00:26:54.502 --> 00:27:01.643
- He has granted to you everything pertaining
- 00:27:01.643 --> 00:27:04.045
- To life and to godliness.
- 00:27:04.045 --> 00:27:07.849
- And everything he has given you is all
- 00:27:07.849 --> 00:27:10.085
- Wrapped up in the holy spirit of god.
- 00:27:10.085 --> 00:27:13.054
- Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time
- 00:27:14.189 --> 00:27:16.491
- For the message "you're richer than you think,"
- 00:27:16.491 --> 00:27:18.960
- Part of the series, "unleashed: experiencing the power of the
- 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:22.530
- Holy spirit," here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:27:22.530 --> 00:27:22.530