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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Our Greatest Test | May 28, 2025
- ♪ music ♪
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- [presenter 1] 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'm robert jeffress
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- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- In the rare moments
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- When everything in life seems to be going well,
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- Sometimes god will send a storm to test our resolve.
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- In fact, god often uses trials to strengthen our faith.
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- Today, we're going to look
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- At one of the most defining moments in abraham's life
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- When god commanded him to sacrifice his son.
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- My message is titled our greatest test
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ("amazing grace")
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- ♪ amazing grace ♪
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- ♪ how sweet the sound ♪
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- ♪ that saved a wretch ♪
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- ♪ like me ♪
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- ♪ i once was lost ♪
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- ♪ but now am found ♪
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- ♪ was blind ♪
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- ♪ but now i see ♪
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- ♪ 'twas grace that taught ♪
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- ♪ my heart to fear ♪
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- ♪ and grace my fears ♪
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- ♪ relieved ♪
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- ♪ how precious did ♪
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- ♪ that grace appear ♪
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- ♪ the hour ♪
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- ♪ i first believed ♪
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- ♪ through many dangers ♪
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- ♪ toils and snares ♪
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- ♪ i have already ♪
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- ♪ come ♪
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- ♪ 'tis grace hath brought ♪
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- ♪ me safe thus far ♪
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- ♪ and grace will lead me home ♪
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- ♪ lead me home ♪
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ when we've been there ♪
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- ♪ 10,000 years ♪
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- ♪ bright shining ♪
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- ♪ as the sun ♪
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- ♪ we've no less days ♪
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- ♪ to sing god's praise ♪
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- ♪ than when ♪
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- ♪ we'd first ♪
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- ♪ begun ♪
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- ♪ god's amazing grace ♪
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- (congregation applauding)
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- [presenter 2] the bible is filled
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- With stories about heroes,
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- ♪ music ♪
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- But abraham rises above the rest
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- As a true champion of faith.
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- In "walking by faith," dr. robert jeffress
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- Shares how to step forward in faith
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- Even when the future appears uncertain.
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- Your faith can thrive despite the challenges you face.
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- Request your copy of "walking by faith"
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- When you give a generous gift
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- To support the ministry of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ music ♪
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- A.w. tozer has written,
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- "it is doubtful that god can use any person greatly,
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- Until he has hurt him deeply."
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- Search through the pages of scripture
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- And you'll discover that the men and women
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- Who were most used by god
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- Were those who went through the severest tests in life.
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- Do you want to be used by god in a significant way?
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- Do you desire to have his stamp of approval on your life?
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- Before you answer too quickly,
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- Consider the experience of abraham.
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- I'm convinced that there is a defining moment
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- In every person's life, a defining moment that reveals
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- What is truly in a person's heart.
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- It reveals his character.
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- For abraham lincoln, the defining moment was the civil war.
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- For george w. bush, it was 9/11.
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- For david, it was that night with bathsheba.
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- For adam and eve, it was that experience
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- With the serpent in the garden.
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- But everybody has a defining moment.
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- Today, we're going to look at abraham's defining moment.
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- It was the greatest test that he ever experienced,
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- And it reveals to us how to respond when those tests,
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- Not if, but when they come into our lives.
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- If you have your bibles, turn to genesis chapter 22,
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- As we look at abraham's greatest test.
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- Here comes the test. look at verse one.
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- "after these things, god tested abraham,
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- And said to him, 'abraham!'
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- And abraham said, 'here am i.'"
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- God tested abraham.
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- Hadn't abraham done enough already?
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- Hadn't he proven his faithfulness?
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- Why in the world would god feel the need
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- To test his friend abraham?
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- For that matter, why does god test any of us?
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- The biographer f.b. meyer has some helpful insight here.
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- He says, "satan tempts us
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- That he might bring out the evil that's in our hearts;
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- God tries or tests us
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- That he may bring out all of the good.
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- Trials are therefore god's vote of confidence in us."
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- Isn't that great?
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- God's test or his vote of confidence in us.
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- You see, there's a difference
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- Between a test and a temptation.
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- The difference is not the situation, it's the motivation.
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- God tests us.
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- He tests us in order to strengthen our faith;
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- Satan tempts us to destroy our faith.
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- And yet, interestingly, the same word in the bible
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- Is used to describe both tests that god performs
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- And temptations that satan use.
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- The bible says god tested abraham.
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- And what was the test? look at verse two.
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- "and god said, 'abraham, take now your son, your only son.'
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- 'well, god, i've got two sons, ishmael and isaac.'
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- 'no, the son whom you love, isaac,
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- The son through whom the promise would come,
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- And go to the land of moriah,
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- And offer him there as a burnt offering
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- On one of the mountains which i will tell you.'"
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- Sacrifice isaac?
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- Wasn't isaac the child of promise?
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- Wasn't he the one
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- Through whom the whole israelite nation would be born?
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- Why would god do such a thing?
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- Notice that god never explains.
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- He simply commands abraham to destroy
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- That one person who was most important to him.
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- How did he respond? look at verse three.
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- "so abraham rose early in the morning
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- And saddled his donkey,
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- And took two of his young men with him and isaac his son;
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- And he split wood for the burnt offering,
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- And arose and went to the place which god had told him."
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- Notice how abraham obeyed god immediately,
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- He got up in the early morning the next day.
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- He didn't linger, he obeyed god immediately.
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- Just like the time when god told abraham
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- To circumcise himself and his servants,
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- He obeyed god immediately.
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- Finally, after three days they come to that place,
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- Verse five said, "and abraham said to his young men,
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- 'stay here with the donkey,
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- And i and the lad will go over there;
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- And we will worship and we will return to you.'"
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- Here you see something of the remarkable faith of abraham.
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- He believed that he and isaac were going to go,
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- He was going to sacrifice isaac,
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- And somehow he and isaac both would return.
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- How would that be possible if isaac were dead?
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- How would he return with abraham?
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- The writer of hebrews gives us some insight
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- Into abraham's thinking.
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- Look at hebrews 11, verses 17 to 19.
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- "by faith abraham, when he was tested,
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- Offered up isaac, and he who had received the promises
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- Was offering up his only begotten son;
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- It was he to whom it was said,
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- 'in isaac your descendants shall be called.'
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- For abraham considered that god is able
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- To raise people even from the dead,
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- From which he also received him back as a type."
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- Underline that word considered,
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- Abraham considered that god is able.
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- That word considered literally means calculated.
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- He calculated.
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- And the reason for obeying god
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- Was greater than the reason for disobeying god.
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- And so he said, "you know what?
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- I'm going to do what god says.
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- And if i kill isaac, god will bring him back from the dead."
- 00:10:53.375 --> 00:10:58.414
- Now here's why that is fascinating.
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- Nobody had ever been brought back from the dead before.
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- There had never been one resurrection in the bible yet.
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- Abraham had never read first corinthians 15
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- About the resurrection of the dead.
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- Abraham had never gone to an easter service before.
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- He knew nothing about life after death,
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- And yet by faith he believed
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- That god was able even to bring his son back to life again.
- 00:11:23.606 --> 00:11:27.443
- Now that's what you call faith.
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- Abraham believed god.
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- Look at verse six.
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- "so abraham took the wood of the burned offering
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- And he laid it on isaac his son,
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- And he took in his hand the fire and the knife.
- 00:11:38.788 --> 00:11:41.357
- And so the two of them walked on together,
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- And isaac spoke to abraham his father and said,
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- 'my father!'
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- 'here am i, my son,' abraham said.
- 00:11:48.931 --> 00:11:51.901
- Isaac said, 'behold, the fire and the wood,
- 00:11:52.802 --> 00:11:54.770
- But where is the lamb for the burnt offering?'"
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- Can you imagine how that question impacted abraham?
- 00:11:58.073 --> 00:12:04.213
- What did abraham say?
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- Verse eight, "'god will provide for himself a lamb
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- For the burnt offering, my son.'
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- So the two of them walked on together."
- 00:12:10.886 --> 00:12:14.356
- Verse nine says, "then they came to the place
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- Which god had told him;
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- And abraham built the altar there
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- And arranged the wood, and bound his son isaac
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- And laid him on the altar, on top of the wood."
- 00:12:25.668 --> 00:12:29.138
- F.b. meyer says, "at this point, god draws a curtain
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- Around abraham and isaac."
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- We don't hear the most intimate conversation
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- As abraham explains to his son what god had commanded,
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- As isaac willingly submits to the will of his father
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- And places himself on that altar.
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- As we read this, we become aware
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- That something else is going on here.
- 00:12:58.100 --> 00:13:01.503
- This is a great foreshadowing of something that would happen
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- In that exact mountain 2,000 years later,
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- As another son, the son of god,
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- Walked toward that place of sacrifice
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- With wood on his back, a wooden cross.
- 00:13:18.387 --> 00:13:22.725
- As even though he could've struggled
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- And resisted his father,
- 00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:26.495
- Just as isaac could've resisted abraham,
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- This son didn't resist.
- 00:13:28.964 --> 00:13:31.333
- Philippians two says, "the son of god emptied himself
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- And was obedient to the point of death,
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- Even death on a cross."
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- It would be at this very same mountain region
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- That jesus christ would one day offer himself
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- As the sacrifice for our sins.
- 00:13:48.217 --> 00:13:51.887
- And, you know, i had to ask myself the honest question.
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- If god commanded me to take a knife
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- And plunge it into the heart of one of my children
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- And offer them as a burnt sacrifice,
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- Would i do such a thing?
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- I have to be honest with you,
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- I don't think i could.
- 00:14:13.042 --> 00:14:14.443
- Before you judge me too harshly, could you do it?
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- Honestly, would you do it?
- 00:14:20.082 --> 00:14:24.219
- Chuck swindoll provides some great insight on this passage.
- 00:14:25.387 --> 00:14:28.691
- He says, "at the moment abraham
- 00:14:28.691 --> 00:14:30.993
- Lifted that knife in the air,
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- All activity in heaven must have ceased;
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- As the angels looked down with absolute amazement
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- That a mortal man would love his god so much
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- That he was willing to make that kind of sacrifice."
- 00:14:45.841 --> 00:14:49.545
- And immediately, verse 11, "the angel of the lord,"
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- The lord himself, "called abraham from heaven and said,
- 00:14:52.147 --> 00:14:55.351
- 'abraham, abraham!'
- 00:14:55.351 --> 00:14:58.287
- And abraham said, 'here am i.'
- 00:14:58.921 --> 00:15:00.923
- God said, 'do not stretch out your hand against the lad,
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- And do nothing to him;
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- For now i know that you fear god,
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- Since you have not withheld your son,
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- Your only son, from me.'"
- 00:15:11.767 --> 00:15:15.337
- What's the result of that test?
- 00:15:15.971 --> 00:15:18.841
- Well, first of all, god himself provided the sacrifice.
- 00:15:18.841 --> 00:15:22.378
- Look at verse 13.
- 00:15:22.378 --> 00:15:23.679
- "then abraham raised his eyes and he looked,
- 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:26.181
- And behold, behind him a ram
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- Caught in the thicket by his horns;
- 00:15:28.550 --> 00:15:30.786
- And abraham went and took the ram
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- And offered him up for a burnt offering
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- In the place of his son.
- 00:15:35.124 --> 00:15:38.727
- Abraham called the name of that place
- 00:15:38.727 --> 00:15:40.763
- The lord will provide."
- 00:15:40.763 --> 00:15:43.665
- God was teaching not just abraham,
- 00:15:44.433 --> 00:15:46.635
- But all succeeding generations
- 00:15:46.635 --> 00:15:48.837
- The most important truth we can never understand.
- 00:15:48.837 --> 00:15:52.041
- We cannot make an adequate sacrifice for our sins,
- 00:15:52.041 --> 00:15:55.844
- God has to provide the sacrifice.
- 00:15:55.844 --> 00:15:59.148
- Remember the words of hebrews 10 and 4,
- 00:15:59.148 --> 00:16:01.250
- "for it's impossible for the blood of bulls and goats
- 00:16:01.250 --> 00:16:04.086
- To take away our sins,"
- 00:16:04.086 --> 00:16:05.521
- All those old testament sacrifices,
- 00:16:05.521 --> 00:16:07.723
- They were simply a picture of god's sacrifice.
- 00:16:07.723 --> 00:16:12.261
- The lamb of god who would take away the sins of the world,
- 00:16:12.261 --> 00:16:15.597
- The lord jesus christ.
- 00:16:15.597 --> 00:16:17.166
- God must provide the sacrifice,
- 00:16:17.166 --> 00:16:20.069
- And god has provided the sacrifice.
- 00:16:20.069 --> 00:16:24.339
- The second result of this faithfulness
- 00:16:24.339 --> 00:16:26.909
- Was god renews his covenant with abraham.
- 00:16:26.909 --> 00:16:29.945
- Look at verse 16.
- 00:16:29.945 --> 00:16:31.180
- "by myself i have sworn, declares the lord,
- 00:16:31.180 --> 00:16:34.116
- Because you have done this thing
- 00:16:34.116 --> 00:16:35.684
- And have not withheld your son,
- 00:16:35.684 --> 00:16:38.020
- Indeed i will greatly bless you,
- 00:16:38.020 --> 00:16:40.456
- And i will greatly multiply your seed
- 00:16:40.456 --> 00:16:43.292
- As the stars of heaven
- 00:16:43.292 --> 00:16:45.027
- And the sand which is on the seashore."
- 00:16:45.027 --> 00:16:47.496
- God promised, "i am going to do what i promised to do."
- 00:16:47.496 --> 00:16:52.801
- And finally, as a result of this obedience,
- 00:16:53.669 --> 00:16:55.737
- God calls abraham his friend.
- 00:16:55.737 --> 00:16:59.007
- This is the point in which god begins to refer to abraham,
- 00:16:59.007 --> 00:17:03.445
- From that point through all generations,
- 00:17:03.445 --> 00:17:05.948
- As his friend abraham.
- 00:17:05.948 --> 00:17:08.450
- Now i want to show you something very interesting.
- 00:17:08.450 --> 00:17:11.120
- Hold your place here and turn over to james chapter two,
- 00:17:11.120 --> 00:17:14.923
- James commentary on what this obedience meant.
- 00:17:14.923 --> 00:17:19.661
- James says in verse 21, "was not abraham our father
- 00:17:19.661 --> 00:17:24.633
- Justified by works when he offered up isaac
- 00:17:24.633 --> 00:17:28.737
- His son on the altar?
- 00:17:28.737 --> 00:17:30.139
- You see that faith was working with his works,
- 00:17:30.139 --> 00:17:32.908
- And as a result of his work, faith was perfected;
- 00:17:32.908 --> 00:17:36.378
- And the scripture was fulfilled, which said,
- 00:17:36.378 --> 00:17:39.014
- 'and abraham believed god,
- 00:17:39.014 --> 00:17:41.283
- And it was reckoned as righteousness,'
- 00:17:41.283 --> 00:17:44.319
- And he was called the friend of god.
- 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:48.056
- You know that word justified means to make righteous,
- 00:17:48.056 --> 00:17:52.127
- To declare not guilty.
- 00:17:52.127 --> 00:17:54.530
- You know, martin luther had a great word
- 00:17:54.530 --> 00:17:57.099
- About the relationship between faith and works.
- 00:17:57.099 --> 00:18:00.202
- He said, "faith alone saves a person,
- 00:18:00.202 --> 00:18:03.906
- But saving faith is never alone."
- 00:18:04.573 --> 00:18:07.643
- Where there is genuine faith,
- 00:18:08.277 --> 00:18:09.945
- There will be genuine obedience works as well.
- 00:18:09.945 --> 00:18:14.216
- We are saved by god's grace alone.
- 00:18:14.216 --> 00:18:17.419
- But whenever we're saved,
- 00:18:17.419 --> 00:18:18.954
- There's going to be genuine fruit, including obedience,
- 00:18:18.954 --> 00:18:22.324
- That shows us to be righteous to others.
- 00:18:22.324 --> 00:18:26.295
- Abraham, from this point on, was called the friend of god.
- 00:18:26.295 --> 00:18:30.299
- What does this passage mean to us about our greatest test?
- 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:35.103
- I want to give you three quick principles to write down,
- 00:18:35.103 --> 00:18:38.707
- And remember these forever, about god's test in our life.
- 00:18:38.707 --> 00:18:42.477
- Some of you, right now, are going through a tremendous test.
- 00:18:42.477 --> 00:18:46.782
- Number one, god's test may contradict reason.
- 00:18:46.782 --> 00:18:52.120
- Sometimes god asks us to do something
- 00:18:52.921 --> 00:18:54.223
- That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever,
- 00:18:54.223 --> 00:18:58.093
- But it's only because we have a limited perspective.
- 00:18:58.093 --> 00:19:01.296
- We can't see the future,
- 00:19:01.296 --> 00:19:02.698
- But thank god we serve a god who does.
- 00:19:02.698 --> 00:19:05.267
- He knows the future because he's planned the future.
- 00:19:05.267 --> 00:19:08.770
- William barclay, the commentator, said,
- 00:19:08.770 --> 00:19:11.907
- "for everyone at some time,
- 00:19:11.907 --> 00:19:14.243
- There comes something for which there seems to be no reason
- 00:19:14.243 --> 00:19:17.980
- And which defies explanation.
- 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:20.515
- It is then that a person is faced
- 00:19:20.515 --> 00:19:22.618
- With life's hardest battle,
- 00:19:22.618 --> 00:19:25.287
- To accept what he can't understand.
- 00:19:25.287 --> 00:19:28.123
- At such a time, there is only one thing to do:
- 00:19:28.123 --> 00:19:31.393
- Obey and do so without resentment,
- 00:19:31.393 --> 00:19:34.029
- Saying, 'god, you are love
- 00:19:34.029 --> 00:19:37.499
- And i will build my faith on that.'"
- 00:19:37.499 --> 00:19:40.602
- God's tests sometimes contradict reason.
- 00:19:41.470 --> 00:19:44.740
- Secondly, god's tests affect the tender part of our lives.
- 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:50.479
- God's test affect the tender parts of our lives.
- 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:55.450
- You know, sometimes we recommit our life to god,
- 00:19:55.450 --> 00:19:59.121
- And we say, "god, from this point on,
- 00:19:59.121 --> 00:20:01.957
- Whatever you want to do in my life,
- 00:20:02.758 --> 00:20:05.827
- Anything you want to do in my life,
- 00:20:05.827 --> 00:20:08.964
- I submit to you right now.
- 00:20:08.964 --> 00:20:11.099
- You can do anything you want.
- 00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:13.001
- You can have control over anything in my life,"
- 00:20:13.001 --> 00:20:15.637
- But in our minds we have that secret compartment
- 00:20:15.637 --> 00:20:18.573
- That's locked off and blocked away from god,
- 00:20:18.573 --> 00:20:21.743
- That god is not welcome to get involved with.
- 00:20:22.678 --> 00:20:26.114
- One thing we're holding on to,
- 00:20:26.114 --> 00:20:27.916
- It may be a relationship, it may be a position,
- 00:20:27.916 --> 00:20:32.120
- It may be a possession, it may be a dream,
- 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:35.424
- But we say, "god, you can have anything
- 00:20:35.424 --> 00:20:38.193
- Except this one thing."
- 00:20:38.193 --> 00:20:40.329
- Yet when god's test comes, you know what he does?
- 00:20:41.330 --> 00:20:44.399
- He walks right past those anythings
- 00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:47.135
- And zeroes in on that one thing.
- 00:20:47.135 --> 00:20:50.272
- If you don't remember one thing else i say today,
- 00:20:51.273 --> 00:20:53.775
- Remember this: god's tests
- 00:20:53.775 --> 00:20:58.580
- Never deal with those things that are trivial to us,
- 00:20:58.580 --> 00:21:03.051
- God's test always deal with those things
- 00:21:03.051 --> 00:21:05.654
- That are treasure to us.
- 00:21:05.654 --> 00:21:08.790
- It was that way for abraham,
- 00:21:08.790 --> 00:21:10.625
- It will be that way for you as well.
- 00:21:10.625 --> 00:21:13.495
- And finally, and this is encouraging i hope to you,
- 00:21:13.495 --> 00:21:16.365
- God's tests are designed for our strengthening,
- 00:21:16.365 --> 00:21:20.469
- God puts us sometimes in the furnace of testing,
- 00:21:21.403 --> 00:21:24.906
- Not to destroy us, but to strengthen us.
- 00:21:24.906 --> 00:21:29.044
- You know, in biblical times,
- 00:21:29.044 --> 00:21:30.946
- Whenever a jeweler was going to make
- 00:21:30.946 --> 00:21:33.548
- A piece of gold jewelry, he would take a piece of gold
- 00:21:33.548 --> 00:21:36.551
- And, first of all, heat it up
- 00:21:36.551 --> 00:21:38.587
- Until it reached a molten state, a liquid state.
- 00:21:38.587 --> 00:21:42.524
- And when it was at that point,
- 00:21:42.524 --> 00:21:43.925
- The impurities, any impurities in the gold,
- 00:21:43.925 --> 00:21:46.962
- Would rise to the surface
- 00:21:46.962 --> 00:21:48.363
- And he would skim off those impurities.
- 00:21:48.363 --> 00:21:51.266
- And the way he knew that those impurities were gone
- 00:21:51.266 --> 00:21:54.403
- Is when he could look into that molten gold
- 00:21:54.403 --> 00:21:57.005
- And see the reflection of his own face.
- 00:21:57.005 --> 00:22:01.143
- God does the same thing for us.
- 00:22:01.143 --> 00:22:03.078
- He sends the fire into our life to burn away the impurities.
- 00:22:03.078 --> 00:22:07.816
- That's exactly what peter was talking about
- 00:22:07.816 --> 00:22:10.852
- In first peter verse six and seven of chapter one.
- 00:22:10.852 --> 00:22:14.322
- "in this you greatly rejoice,
- 00:22:14.322 --> 00:22:16.958
- Even though now for a little while, if necessary,
- 00:22:16.958 --> 00:22:19.795
- You've been distressed by various trials,
- 00:22:19.795 --> 00:22:22.731
- So that the proof of your faith,
- 00:22:22.731 --> 00:22:24.699
- Being more precious than gold which is perishable,
- 00:22:24.699 --> 00:22:29.004
- Even though tested by fire,
- 00:22:29.004 --> 00:22:31.206
- May be found to result in praise and glory and honor
- 00:22:31.206 --> 00:22:34.176
- At the revelation of jesus christ."
- 00:22:34.176 --> 00:22:36.645
- God is allowing you to go through this test
- 00:22:36.645 --> 00:22:39.915
- So that the impurities of life can be removed
- 00:22:39.915 --> 00:22:43.351
- And he can look in our face
- 00:22:43.351 --> 00:22:44.953
- And see the image of his own son, the lord jesus christ.
- 00:22:44.953 --> 00:22:48.924
- That's what god is doing.
- 00:22:48.924 --> 00:22:51.860
- And here's the encouraging word.
- 00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:54.396
- When you're going through that furnace
- 00:22:54.396 --> 00:22:55.964
- And the fire is burning hot,
- 00:22:55.964 --> 00:22:58.433
- Warren wiersbe says, "remember,
- 00:22:58.433 --> 00:23:02.170
- God has his eye on the clock
- 00:23:02.170 --> 00:23:05.674
- And his hand on the thermostat.
- 00:23:05.674 --> 00:23:08.276
- He knows exactly how long and how hot."
- 00:23:08.276 --> 00:23:13.515
- And there'll be a time when that furnace will be turned off.
- 00:23:14.683 --> 00:23:18.787
- You'll emerge from that furnace of testing
- 00:23:18.787 --> 00:23:22.390
- And your faith will be even stronger
- 00:23:22.390 --> 00:23:25.093
- And purer than it's ever been.
- 00:23:25.093 --> 00:23:27.629
- That's what god is doing in your life right now.
- 00:23:28.563 --> 00:23:33.268
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:33.602 --> 00:23:37.439
- Whatever tests you're going through right now,
- 00:23:38.373 --> 00:23:40.775
- Rest assured that god wants nothing more
- 00:23:40.775 --> 00:23:43.778
- Than to make you stronger.
- 00:23:43.778 --> 00:23:45.714
- My prayer is that you'll allow god
- 00:23:45.714 --> 00:23:47.883
- To have his way with you
- 00:23:47.883 --> 00:23:49.918
- No matter how painful the circumstances might become.
- 00:23:49.918 --> 00:23:53.922
- Now, in closing today,
- 00:23:53.922 --> 00:23:55.490
- Let me share an encouraging word from gregory in arizona.
- 00:23:55.490 --> 00:23:58.927
- He wrote, "pastor jeffress, in recent years
- 00:23:58.927 --> 00:24:02.063
- I chose to run away from god.
- 00:24:02.063 --> 00:24:04.199
- My niece pointed me to your bible teaching,
- 00:24:04.199 --> 00:24:07.202
- And i was completely convicted
- 00:24:07.202 --> 00:24:08.937
- About the state of my relationship with god.
- 00:24:08.937 --> 00:24:11.907
- Once again, he has reached out and touched me
- 00:24:11.907 --> 00:24:15.076
- And set me on a path back home to him."
- 00:24:15.076 --> 00:24:18.613
- Well, we rejoice with you, gregory.
- 00:24:18.613 --> 00:24:21.182
- And to those of you who support "pathway to victory,"
- 00:24:21.182 --> 00:24:23.852
- You're allowing us to touch lives all around the world
- 00:24:23.852 --> 00:24:26.788
- Through radio and television
- 00:24:26.788 --> 00:24:28.557
- And the many books and resources we offer.
- 00:24:28.557 --> 00:24:31.826
- Thank you for standing boldly with me today
- 00:24:31.826 --> 00:24:34.729
- As a partner in ministry
- 00:24:34.729 --> 00:24:36.665
- And as an ambassador for jesus christ.
- 00:24:36.665 --> 00:24:39.801
- Now, stay right there.
- 00:24:39.801 --> 00:24:41.102
- I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
- 00:24:41.102 --> 00:24:43.538
- In just a moment.
- 00:24:43.538 --> 00:24:44.973
- [presenter 2] in the midst of our chaotic world
- 00:24:45.941 --> 00:24:48.209
- And the personal problems that we face,
- 00:24:48.209 --> 00:24:50.545
- Is it possible to find peace and contentment?
- 00:24:50.545 --> 00:24:53.481
- Abraham did, and so can you.
- 00:24:53.481 --> 00:24:55.884
- In "walking by faith," dr. robert jeffress shows you
- 00:24:55.884 --> 00:24:59.154
- How to make courageous decisions,
- 00:24:59.154 --> 00:25:01.022
- Ones that are far outside your comfort zone.
- 00:25:01.022 --> 00:25:04.125
- In doing so, god will prove faithful.
- 00:25:04.125 --> 00:25:07.028
- Abraham was far from perfect.
- 00:25:07.028 --> 00:25:08.997
- He made mistakes, including some really big ones.
- 00:25:08.997 --> 00:25:12.200
- But through it all, he walked with god in faith,
- 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:15.537
- And you can too.
- 00:25:15.537 --> 00:25:16.938
- [presenter 2] in this dynamic book,
- 00:25:16.938 --> 00:25:18.506
- Dr. jeffress explains how to walk by faith
- 00:25:18.506 --> 00:25:21.376
- In a faithless world, squarely founded on the wisdom
- 00:25:21.376 --> 00:25:24.846
- Gained from the story of abraham.
- 00:25:24.846 --> 00:25:27.282
- Request your copy of "walking by faith"
- 00:25:27.282 --> 00:25:29.918
- When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
- 00:25:29.918 --> 00:25:32.954
- And when you give $75 or more,
- 00:25:32.954 --> 00:25:35.690
- We'll also send you all 11 messages
- 00:25:35.690 --> 00:25:38.193
- For the "walking by faith" series on dvd video
- 00:25:38.193 --> 00:25:41.496
- And mp3 format audio disc,
- 00:25:41.496 --> 00:25:43.999
- Along with the personal and group study guidebook.
- 00:25:43.999 --> 00:25:47.168
- If the story of abraham tells us anything,
- 00:25:47.168 --> 00:25:49.437
- It tells us this.
- 00:25:49.437 --> 00:25:50.939
- It doesn't matter how old you are,
- 00:25:50.939 --> 00:25:52.474
- It doesn't matter how far you've drifted away from god,
- 00:25:52.474 --> 00:25:55.243
- You can come back.
- 00:25:55.243 --> 00:25:56.678
- [presenter 2] your gift today
- 00:25:56.678 --> 00:25:57.646
- Is important and appreciated,
- 00:25:57.646 --> 00:25:59.481
- As we impact your home and reach a nation
- 00:25:59.481 --> 00:26:02.183
- And world in spiritual need.
- 00:26:02.183 --> 00:26:04.419
- God is clearly using "pathway to victory"
- 00:26:04.419 --> 00:26:07.255
- To fulfill his mandate,
- 00:26:07.255 --> 00:26:08.757
- To pierce the darkness with the light of his word.
- 00:26:08.757 --> 00:26:11.926
- Thank you for investing in this important gospel work.
- 00:26:11.926 --> 00:26:16.564
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:26:16.898 --> 00:26:17.899
- The men and women whom god uses
- 00:26:17.899 --> 00:26:19.701
- To accomplish great things
- 00:26:19.701 --> 00:26:21.536
- Also endure the most severe tests in life.
- 00:26:21.536 --> 00:26:25.573
- It was true for the heroes of scripture,
- 00:26:25.573 --> 00:26:27.976
- And it's true for us today as well.
- 00:26:27.976 --> 00:26:30.712
- Well, in the book of genesis, moses recounts
- 00:26:30.712 --> 00:26:33.248
- When abraham chose a bride for his son isaac.
- 00:26:33.248 --> 00:26:37.085
- Are you in the throes of choosing a life partner
- 00:26:37.085 --> 00:26:39.954
- Or perhaps you know somebody who is?
- 00:26:39.954 --> 00:26:42.657
- Next time, i'll share with you four lessons we derive
- 00:26:42.657 --> 00:26:45.827
- From isaac's experience.
- 00:26:45.827 --> 00:26:47.762
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
- 00:26:47.762 --> 00:26:50.398
- In our series "walking by faith."
- 00:26:50.398 --> 00:26:53.835
- There is more space devoted to finding a mate
- 00:26:54.803 --> 00:26:58.206
- Than there is about the creation of the universe,
- 00:26:58.206 --> 00:27:01.176
- In genesis one, about the tower of babel
- 00:27:01.176 --> 00:27:06.114
- Or the fall of mankind into sin.
- 00:27:06.114 --> 00:27:09.117
- Why is it?
- 00:27:09.117 --> 00:27:10.051
- Why does god spend so much time
- 00:27:10.051 --> 00:27:12.554
- Talking about finding a mate?
- 00:27:12.554 --> 00:27:14.756
- [presenter 3] set your dvr and join us next time
- 00:27:14.756 --> 00:27:16.991
- For the message finding the perfect mate
- 00:27:16.991 --> 00:27:19.861
- Here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:27:19.861 --> 00:27:23.431
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:27:23.765 --> 00:27:23.765
