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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - For Pastor's Only (Part 1)

June 5, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - For Pastor's Only (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory provides practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through clear, Biblical teaching.
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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - For Pastor's Only (Part 1) | June 5, 2026
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with dr.
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  • Robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:17.130 --> 00:00:19.265
  • Every day our country seems to wander further and further away
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  • From the christian principles that made us great.
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  • The bible teaches that countries that defy him, as america is
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  • Starting to, will eventually crumble.
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  • So how should christians respond right now?
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  • Today i'm going to show you why the preservation of our nation
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  • Depends upon the effectiveness of local churches and the
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  • Critical role that pastors play in fulfilling that mission.
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  • My message is titled "for pastors only" on today's special
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  • Edition of pathway to victory.
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  • Announcer: as our nation marks 250 years, america
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  • Stands at a crossroads.
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  • Will we return to the god who blessed us or continue down a
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  • Path that leads to ruin?
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  • Through the in god we trust matching challenge, your gift
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  • Today will be doubled in ministry impact.
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  • For 30 years, "pathway to victory" has pierced the
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  • Darkness of our nation with the light of god's word by sharing
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  • Biblical truth that transforms hearts.
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  • Join us in this critical hour by giving toward the in god we
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  • Trust matching challenge today.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: the late comedian rodney dangerfield,
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  • Remember him?
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  • It was the late comedian rodney dangerfield and the local church
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  • That both have something in common.
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  • Both get no respect, as the late comedian used to lament.
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  • I mean, look at it today.
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  • The local church is under vicious attack, and not just
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  • From those with, from without the church, but also from those
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  • Within the church.
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  • In fact, what is so deeply disturbing to me about the most
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  • Recent attacks from within, about the church, is they're
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  • Coming actually from christian leaders.
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  • One pastor, who later had to resign his church because of
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  • Sexual immorality, wrote, quote, "sitting down with a friend over
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  • Coffee is every bit as spiritual as going to church together.
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  • The casual setting provides just as great an opportunity for
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  • Supernatural influence as being in church does--and often
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  • Even more."
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  • Now, if there is no more value to going to church than sitting
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  • Down with a friend for coffee, why in the world would you get
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  • Up and go through the hassle of coming to church on
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  • Sunday morning?
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  • And why would you give sacrificially to an organization
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  • Like the church if it's not doing any more to advance the
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  • Kingdom of god than the local starbucks?
  • 00:02:59.592 --> 00:03:02.895
  • And the fact is, with the leaders disparaging the church
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  • Like that, no wonder church attendance continues to decline.
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  • And futurist george barna predicts that that attendance in
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  • Church will continue to decline.
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  • Within a few years, barna says, millions of people will never
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  • Travel physically to a church but will instead roam the
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  • Internet in search of meaningful spiritual experiences.
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  • And apparently that's all right with barna of since he says,
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  • "the essence of christianity is the development of
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  • People's character."
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  • Spiritual transformation, or even intimate worship, he says,
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  • Does not require worship service, but a personal
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  • Commitment to the spiritual disciplines.
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  • How contrary that is to what the word of god teaches.
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  • Hebrews chapter 10, verses 24 and 25, the
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  • Writer says, "let us consider how to stimulate one another to
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  • Faith and good deeds, not forsaking the assembling of
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  • Ourselves together as is the habit of some."
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  • Spiritual development, even our own spiritual development,
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  • Doesn't take place just in a vacuum.
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  • We need the stimulation, the encouragement that comes from
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  • Other believers.
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  • But, you know, i have to be the first to admit that local
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  • Churches do have some serious flaws.
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  • I can identify with mark buchanan who writes, "i assume
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  • You're like me.
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  • I can get itchy skinned and scratchy throated after an hour
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  • Or so of church.
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  • I can get distracted and cranky when it goes too long.
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  • My feet ache, my backside numbs, my eyes glaze over, my mind
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  • Fogs, my belly growls.
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  • I find myself fighting back yawns.
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  • And i'm the pastor."
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  • I mean, we all identify with that.
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  • But, you know, those who would write off the church as an
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  • Antiquated organization that needs to be replaced by a new
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  • Paradigm forget one important fact.
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  • The church, the local church, was created by god.
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  • The church is god's idea.
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  • It is his way of fulfilling his mission.
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  • He is the one who came up with the composition, the
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  • Organization, the polity, the priority of the church.
  • 00:05:14.627 --> 00:05:18.398
  • Why do christians, especially christian leaders, feel at
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  • Liberty to discard and replace what god created at the expense
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  • Of the death of his own son?
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  • The centrality of the church, the local church, in fulfilling
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  • God's purpose is seen throughout scripture.
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  • In ephesians 3, verses 20 to 21, paul concludes that section by
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  • Saying, "now to him who is able to do exceeding abundantly
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  • Beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that
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  • Works within us, to him be the glory in the church and in
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  • Christ jesus to all generations forever and ever."
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  • How is it that god is going to be glorified in this world?
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  • It is through the church.
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  • And remember i've said before, the word church, ecclesia, is
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  • Used 105 times in the new testament; 95 of those times
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  • It's referring not to the overall church, all christians
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  • Everywhere, but it is 'referring' to
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  • Local congregations.
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  • God's plan to fulfill his mission is through
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  • Local congregations.
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  • The church is the visible representation of the body
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  • Of christ.
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  • Well, what is the purpose of the church?
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  • Just as god formed the nation of israel to be his representatives
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  • On earth under the old covenant, god has created the church to
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  • Proclaim his truth and reflect his holiness in the world today.
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  • Remember peter's words in 1 peter 2:9?
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  • He said, "but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy
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  • Nation, a people for god's own possession, that you may
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  • Proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness
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  • Into his marvelous light."
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  • Now, stay with me on this.
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  • God could have created a massive organization called the church
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  • With one pastor, and everybody is a member of that massive
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  • Organization called the church.
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  • But that was not his plan.
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  • Instead, god's plan was to blanket the landscape throughout
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  • The world with local individual communities of believers we call
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  • The local church.
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  • After all, look at the new testament.
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  • Most of the books of the new testament were written to
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  • Individual congregations-- corinth, ephesus, colossi--all
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  • With their own unique opportunities, their own
  • 00:07:43.509 --> 00:07:46.078
  • Problems, their own challenges.
  • 00:07:46.078 --> 00:07:48.681
  • Remember in the book of revelation we studied a couple
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  • Of years ago?
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  • That book was addressed specifically to seven real
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  • Specific local churches in asia minor.
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  • Six of them received a firm reprimand from god.
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  • One was even accused of apostasy.
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  • And yet, in spite of all of their flaws, god said these
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  • Churches were like a lampstand by god in the darkness of
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  • The world.
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  • And that is what the church is; the church is a light in a
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  • Dark world.
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  • We have said that, as christians, our role, jesus
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  • Said, is to be salt and light.
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  • Salt, to preserve our nation, to extend its life so that we can
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  • Be light and share the gospel with as many people as possible.
  • 00:08:30.222 --> 00:08:34.160
  • That is our job, to be salt and light.
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  • But think about salt for a moment.
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  • To be an effective preservative, as it was in jesus's day, to
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  • Preserve, to extend the shelf life of meat, what is
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  • More effective?
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  • One grain of salt or a whole clump of salt?
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  • Now, what about a light?
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  • If you're in the darkness, what would be better?
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  • To have one little 10-watt lamp or a whole cluster of lights?
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  • It's the same way with us.
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  • Yes, individually, we have an assignment, but salt and light
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  • Are much more effective en masse rather than acting
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  • As individuals.
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  • And that's why the church is so effective.
  • 00:09:11.564 --> 00:09:14.066
  • As solomon said, two really are better than one.
  • 00:09:14.133 --> 00:09:17.236
  • We can more effectively be salt and light in this world together
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  • In local communities of believers than we can
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  • Individually on our own.
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  • And that's why god created the church, not just to help you in
  • 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:30.516
  • Your own spiritual development, but to be salt, a preservative,
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  • And to be light in this decaying and darkening world.
  • 00:09:34.587 --> 00:09:37.990
  • And that leads to the thesis of what i wanna share with
  • 00:09:37.990 --> 00:09:40.660
  • You tonight.
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  • Do you know what america's last hope is, what america's greatest
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  • Hope is?
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  • It is the local church.
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  • And i wanna submit to you tonight, this thesis: the
  • 00:09:49.769 --> 00:09:53.039
  • Preservation of our nation for the proclamation of the gospel
  • 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:59.078
  • Depends upon the effectiveness of local churches in fulfilling
  • 00:09:59.145 --> 00:10:04.016
  • Their mission.
  • 00:10:04.016 --> 00:10:05.451
  • Let me say that again.
  • 00:10:05.451 --> 00:10:06.786
  • The preservation of our nation for the proclamation of the
  • 00:10:06.786 --> 00:10:10.423
  • Gospel depends upon the effectiveness of local churches,
  • 00:10:10.423 --> 00:10:15.461
  • Just like first baptist dallas, fulfilling its mission.
  • 00:10:15.461 --> 00:10:20.466
  • And then i wanna go one step further.
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  • The effectiveness of churches in fulfilling their mission depends
  • 00:10:22.635 --> 00:10:28.374
  • Upon pastors fulfilling their calling.
  • 00:10:28.374 --> 00:10:33.679
  • And that is what i want to talk about specifically tonight.
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  • I realize that watching this broadcast, listening by radio or
  • 00:10:36.849 --> 00:10:40.519
  • Podcast to this series, we have numerous pastors and church
  • 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:44.824
  • Leaders who are tuned in to this series.
  • 00:10:44.824 --> 00:10:47.760
  • And i want to talk about tonight specifically the role that the
  • 00:10:47.760 --> 00:10:51.630
  • Pastor has in helping the church achieve its mission so that our
  • 00:10:51.630 --> 00:10:55.835
  • Nation can be preserved for the proclamation of the gospel.
  • 00:10:55.835 --> 00:10:59.839
  • You know, the fact is, no local church is any more effective in
  • 00:10:59.905 --> 00:11:04.577
  • Fulfilling its mission than its pastor in fulfilling
  • 00:11:04.577 --> 00:11:08.581
  • His calling.
  • 00:11:08.581 --> 00:11:09.915
  • Why is that?
  • 00:11:09.915 --> 00:11:11.250
  • Why is the church so dependent upon the pastor?
  • 00:11:11.250 --> 00:11:14.520
  • John maxwell explains it in his book, the law of leadership--21
  • 00:11:14.520 --> 00:11:18.390
  • Irrefutable laws of leadership.
  • 00:11:18.390 --> 00:11:20.092
  • He calls it the law of the lid.
  • 00:11:20.092 --> 00:11:22.728
  • And the law of the lid is simply this: no organization rises
  • 00:11:22.728 --> 00:11:27.933
  • Above its leadership.
  • 00:11:27.933 --> 00:11:30.569
  • No organization ever rises above the commitment of its leader.
  • 00:11:30.636 --> 00:11:37.276
  • I know today it's fashionable to say, "well, the pastor is not
  • 00:11:37.276 --> 00:11:40.179
  • That important in the church.
  • 00:11:40.179 --> 00:11:41.547
  • He's just one among many, you know, we're all in
  • 00:11:41.547 --> 00:11:43.549
  • This together.
  • 00:11:43.549 --> 00:11:44.884
  • We don't need to, you know, play like the pastor is anything
  • 00:11:44.884 --> 00:11:47.987
  • Different than anybody else."
  • 00:11:47.987 --> 00:11:49.355
  • That's very popular in some churches to say such a thing.
  • 00:11:49.355 --> 00:11:52.825
  • And yet the fact is, in 1 timothy 3:1, the bible refers to
  • 00:11:52.892 --> 00:11:56.595
  • The pastor as the overseer or the ruler, the leader, of
  • 00:11:56.595 --> 00:12:00.199
  • The church.
  • 00:12:00.199 --> 00:12:01.534
  • When god had a message to deliver to those seven churches
  • 00:12:01.534 --> 00:12:04.470
  • In asia minor, notice how he addressed those letters; he did
  • 00:12:04.470 --> 00:12:07.773
  • Not address the letter to the pastoral oversight committee of
  • 00:12:07.773 --> 00:12:11.777
  • The church at sardis.
  • 00:12:11.777 --> 00:12:13.679
  • And, when he wrote the church of sardis, he didn't say to the
  • 00:12:13.746 --> 00:12:16.215
  • Elders at the church at sardis.
  • 00:12:16.215 --> 00:12:18.951
  • He said, no, i'm addressing this letter to the angelos, the
  • 00:12:19.018 --> 00:12:23.856
  • Messenger, the preacher at the church at sardis.
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  • The fact is, you can debate about church polity as much as
  • 00:12:28.861 --> 00:12:32.498
  • You want to, whether it ought to be congregational or whether it
  • 00:12:32.498 --> 00:12:36.035
  • Ought to be elder rule or this kind of rule or this kind of
  • 00:12:36.035 --> 00:12:40.172
  • Rule, really doesn't matter.
  • 00:12:40.172 --> 00:12:42.308
  • As my late friend the adrian rogers used to say, "anything in
  • 00:12:42.374 --> 00:12:46.145
  • Nature with two heads is a freak, and anything with no head
  • 00:12:46.145 --> 00:12:50.115
  • Is dead."
  • 00:12:50.115 --> 00:12:51.517
  • Now, that is true in marriage; it is true in the company you
  • 00:12:53.052 --> 00:12:57.056
  • Operate; and it is true in the church.
  • 00:12:57.056 --> 00:13:00.359
  • Any organization has to have a leader.
  • 00:13:00.426 --> 00:13:04.096
  • And, in the church, that leader is the pastor; he is the
  • 00:13:04.163 --> 00:13:08.100
  • Overseer, the ruler, the leader of the church.
  • 00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:11.570
  • Now, pastor listening to me tonight, understand what
  • 00:13:11.570 --> 00:13:15.007
  • I'm saying.
  • 00:13:15.007 --> 00:13:16.408
  • Your leadership of the church, your headship of the church, is
  • 00:13:16.408 --> 00:13:21.580
  • Not a privilege to be exploited.
  • 00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:24.283
  • It is a responsibility to be fulfilled.
  • 00:13:24.283 --> 00:13:29.121
  • Because the bible says, "as the under shepherd--" i mean, jesus
  • 00:13:29.188 --> 00:13:32.725
  • Christ is the head of the church, but he's left the
  • 00:13:32.725 --> 00:13:35.527
  • Building for a while, okay?
  • 00:13:35.527 --> 00:13:36.896
  • He's up there in heaven, and he's appointed you, pastor, as
  • 00:13:36.896 --> 00:13:40.266
  • The under shepherd of that congregation.
  • 00:13:40.266 --> 00:13:42.968
  • But, before you feel all empowered and high and mighty
  • 00:13:43.035 --> 00:13:45.905
  • About it, understand this: the bible says, all of us who are
  • 00:13:45.905 --> 00:13:49.341
  • Pastors are one day going to give an account to god for how
  • 00:13:49.341 --> 00:13:53.245
  • We've led our congregations.
  • 00:13:53.245 --> 00:13:55.114
  • Hebrews 13, verse 17, the writer says, "obey your leaders and
  • 00:13:55.114 --> 00:13:58.918
  • Submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those
  • 00:13:58.918 --> 00:14:03.589
  • Who will give an account.
  • 00:14:03.589 --> 00:14:05.624
  • And let them do this with joy and not with grief, for that
  • 00:14:05.624 --> 00:14:10.062
  • Would be unprofitable for you."
  • 00:14:10.062 --> 00:14:12.665
  • People who cause their pastors grief and sorrow and heartache
  • 00:14:12.665 --> 00:14:17.736
  • Are going down a dangerous path, and it will lead to unproductive
  • 00:14:17.736 --> 00:14:23.208
  • Results for them, as well as the church in which they serve.
  • 00:14:23.208 --> 00:14:27.613
  • If you're a pastor, god has given you the responsibility for
  • 00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:31.317
  • Your congregation, and specifically the responsibility
  • 00:14:31.317 --> 00:14:34.653
  • Is to help mobilize your church to be the salt and light god has
  • 00:14:34.653 --> 00:14:39.858
  • Commanded us to be.
  • 00:14:39.858 --> 00:14:41.293
  • So, how is it that a pastor fulfills his calling?
  • 00:14:41.293 --> 00:14:44.363
  • Tonight we're going to look at the three distinct callings of
  • 00:14:44.363 --> 00:14:48.500
  • Every pastor, and i'm gonna take a walk with you down memory lane
  • 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:53.005
  • Tonight as well.
  • 00:14:53.005 --> 00:14:54.473
  • And, first of all, we're gonna talk about the pastor
  • 00:14:54.473 --> 00:14:57.409
  • As preacher.
  • 00:14:57.409 --> 00:14:59.144
  • You know, the pastor's primary responsibility is not vision
  • 00:14:59.211 --> 00:15:02.281
  • Casting, it is not comforting, it is not managing, it's not
  • 00:15:02.281 --> 00:15:06.051
  • Overseeing the staff.
  • 00:15:06.051 --> 00:15:07.419
  • All of those things are a part of a pastor's job description,
  • 00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:10.823
  • But the number one responsibility of any pastor is
  • 00:15:10.823 --> 00:15:14.827
  • To preach the word of god.
  • 00:15:14.827 --> 00:15:17.029
  • In 2 timothy 4, verses 1 and 2, paul told his spiritual protege
  • 00:15:17.096 --> 00:15:21.266
  • Timothy, "i solemnly charge you in the presence of god and of
  • 00:15:21.266 --> 00:15:25.971
  • Christ jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by
  • 00:15:25.971 --> 00:15:29.575
  • The appearing of his kingdom; preach the word; be ready in
  • 00:15:29.575 --> 00:15:33.946
  • Season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with
  • 00:15:33.946 --> 00:15:38.117
  • Great patience and instruction."
  • 00:15:38.117 --> 00:15:41.053
  • What does it mean to preach the word?
  • 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:44.056
  • That word preach means to herald or to announce.
  • 00:15:44.056 --> 00:15:47.726
  • In paul's day, an emperor, if he had a message to deliver to a
  • 00:15:47.793 --> 00:15:51.864
  • Township, he would send his herald to announce the
  • 00:15:51.864 --> 00:15:55.134
  • Emperor's message.
  • 00:15:55.134 --> 00:15:56.535
  • That is what the pastor is to do.
  • 00:15:56.535 --> 00:15:58.370
  • He is to preach, he is to announce the word.
  • 00:15:58.370 --> 00:16:02.541
  • And the clarifying words reprove, rebuke, and exhort give
  • 00:16:02.541 --> 00:16:06.945
  • The sense of urgency with which the pastor is to deliver the
  • 00:16:06.945 --> 00:16:10.382
  • Ruler's message.
  • 00:16:10.382 --> 00:16:11.717
  • That word reprove means to speak persuasively.
  • 00:16:11.717 --> 00:16:14.853
  • To rebuke means to convince of wrongdoing.
  • 00:16:14.853 --> 00:16:17.623
  • To exhort means to come along and encourage in a positive way.
  • 00:16:17.623 --> 00:16:21.693
  • But paul's message here is not simply to preach; it is to
  • 00:16:21.693 --> 00:16:25.898
  • Preach the word.
  • 00:16:25.898 --> 00:16:28.801
  • No herald in paul's day was free to formulate his own message.
  • 00:16:28.867 --> 00:16:33.872
  • He wasn't free to say, "well, i know the emperor said this, but
  • 00:16:33.939 --> 00:16:36.608
  • I have something else i wanna share with you today."
  • 00:16:36.608 --> 00:16:38.944
  • No, his job was faithfully announce the message that had
  • 00:16:39.011 --> 00:16:42.314
  • Been entrusted to him.
  • 00:16:42.314 --> 00:16:43.849
  • And that is the same way with pastors.
  • 00:16:43.849 --> 00:16:46.752
  • We are to preach the word of god, and that is one way we help
  • 00:16:46.752 --> 00:16:52.191
  • Our congregation be the salt and the light that they have been
  • 00:16:52.191 --> 00:16:56.195
  • Commanded to be.
  • 00:16:56.195 --> 00:16:57.563
  • The pastor as preacher.
  • 00:16:57.563 --> 00:17:00.265
  • The second role is the pastor as a prophet.
  • 00:17:00.332 --> 00:17:04.369
  • And my experience has told me that the world as a whole
  • 00:17:04.436 --> 00:17:08.040
  • Is pretty comfortable with pastors preaching.
  • 00:17:08.040 --> 00:17:11.844
  • They don't want to listen to it, but they don't mind.
  • 00:17:11.844 --> 00:17:14.079
  • They're not threatened by pastors preaching.
  • 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:16.882
  • Even the most hardened atheist doesn't mind a pastor standing
  • 00:17:16.882 --> 00:17:20.853
  • Up in his church and preaching to his people.
  • 00:17:20.853 --> 00:17:23.288
  • I mean, if he's got a congregation filled with
  • 00:17:23.288 --> 00:17:26.024
  • Gullible people listening to these silly stories and myths,
  • 00:17:26.024 --> 00:17:29.862
  • And they want to sit there and pay their money to do that, most
  • 00:17:29.862 --> 00:17:32.898
  • Atheists don't have any problem with that.
  • 00:17:32.898 --> 00:17:34.700
  • Let the pastor preach the word.
  • 00:17:34.766 --> 00:17:38.170
  • However, when a pastor starts criticizing the city council for
  • 00:17:38.237 --> 00:17:44.109
  • Allowing the topless bar to open, or when a pastor starts
  • 00:17:44.109 --> 00:17:48.280
  • Confronting the state board of education about using a textbook
  • 00:17:48.280 --> 00:17:51.950
  • That includes creation as well as evolution, or when a pastor
  • 00:17:51.950 --> 00:17:56.922
  • Organizes a protest in front of a local abortions clinic,
  • 00:17:56.922 --> 00:18:00.726
  • Suddenly he is accused of forsaking his primary calling
  • 00:18:00.792 --> 00:18:04.796
  • And getting involved in the world of politics.
  • 00:18:04.796 --> 00:18:08.033
  • And yet look at the old testament prophets; think of
  • 00:18:08.100 --> 00:18:11.003
  • Isaiah, amos, hosea, michael.
  • 00:18:11.003 --> 00:18:14.339
  • They--micah.
  • 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.707
  • They didn't compartmentalize their message.
  • 00:18:15.707 --> 00:18:17.776
  • They just didn't speak to the citizens of israel, to
  • 00:18:17.843 --> 00:18:21.046
  • God's people.
  • 00:18:21.046 --> 00:18:22.414
  • The fact is they confronted people with more than just about
  • 00:18:22.414 --> 00:18:25.984
  • Their personal relationship with god.
  • 00:18:25.984 --> 00:18:27.953
  • They confronted their culture as a whole when that culture
  • 00:18:27.953 --> 00:18:31.523
  • Departed from the teachings of god's word.
  • 00:18:31.523 --> 00:18:34.626
  • You know, that's what a prophet did in the old testament.
  • 00:18:34.626 --> 00:18:37.462
  • The prophet was simply a man who confronted his culture with
  • 00:18:37.462 --> 00:18:41.166
  • God's word.
  • 00:18:41.166 --> 00:18:42.534
  • The prophet realized that god's interest extended beyond the
  • 00:18:42.534 --> 00:18:47.005
  • Four walls of the temple or the tabernacle.
  • 00:18:47.005 --> 00:18:49.708
  • God was interested in all of his creation.
  • 00:18:49.708 --> 00:18:52.611
  • And, when government and when people as a whole started
  • 00:18:52.611 --> 00:18:55.981
  • Forsaking god's commands, the prophet did not hesitate to
  • 00:18:55.981 --> 00:18:59.851
  • Confront that departure.
  • 00:18:59.851 --> 00:19:01.920
  • Why isn't that happening today?
  • 00:19:01.987 --> 00:19:04.690
  • Why are pastors so reticent to confront their culture when it
  • 00:19:04.756 --> 00:19:09.494
  • Departs from god's commands?
  • 00:19:09.494 --> 00:19:12.397
  • I think there are three reasons pastors are hesitant to act
  • 00:19:12.397 --> 00:19:16.168
  • As prophets.
  • 00:19:16.168 --> 00:19:17.736
  • One reason is a misunderstanding of the bible.
  • 00:19:17.803 --> 00:19:21.640
  • You know, when citing the old testament prophets as a model
  • 00:19:21.707 --> 00:19:24.543
  • For the pastor's prophetic role today, some will say: well, now,
  • 00:19:24.543 --> 00:19:27.579
  • There's a difference between israel and the church.
  • 00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:30.649
  • Israel was a theocracy.
  • 00:19:30.649 --> 00:19:33.485
  • And so that means, when the prophet spoke to the ungodly
  • 00:19:33.485 --> 00:19:37.489
  • Citizens of israel or even to ungodly kings, they were still
  • 00:19:37.489 --> 00:19:41.793
  • Speaking to those who were in a covenant relationship with god.
  • 00:19:41.793 --> 00:19:46.331
  • Well, that's certainly true.
  • 00:19:46.398 --> 00:19:48.233
  • But there are also prophets who spoke to other people
  • 00:19:48.300 --> 00:19:51.670
  • Than israel.
  • 00:19:51.670 --> 00:19:53.005
  • Think about jonah, nahum, daniel, john the baptist; they
  • 00:19:53.005 --> 00:19:56.808
  • All confronted gentile rulers and people with god's word, and
  • 00:19:56.808 --> 00:20:02.281
  • They reminded them of the dire consequences of disobeying
  • 00:20:02.281 --> 00:20:05.617
  • God's commands.
  • 00:20:05.617 --> 00:20:06.985
  • Some people like to point out 1 corinthians chapter 5, that we
  • 00:20:06.985 --> 00:20:09.788
  • Looked at a couple of years ago, where paul was criticizing the
  • 00:20:09.788 --> 00:20:13.258
  • Corinthian church for not disciplining one of its members.
  • 00:20:13.258 --> 00:20:16.061
  • And paul said, "don't judge those who are outside the
  • 00:20:16.061 --> 00:20:19.231
  • Church, but those who are inside the church.
  • 00:20:19.231 --> 00:20:21.733
  • God judges those who are outside the church."
  • 00:20:21.733 --> 00:20:24.703
  • Yet, when you see what paul was saying, he was simply saying,
  • 00:20:24.770 --> 00:20:27.372
  • The church cannot execute a sentence against sinners who
  • 00:20:27.372 --> 00:20:31.510
  • Aren't a part of the church.
  • 00:20:31.510 --> 00:20:32.878
  • We can't fine people; we can't put people in jail.
  • 00:20:32.878 --> 00:20:35.947
  • We can only discipline those who are part of the church.
  • 00:20:36.014 --> 00:20:38.884
  • But he wasn't saying you don't criticize ungodly behavior
  • 00:20:38.950 --> 00:20:43.622
  • By unbelievers.
  • 00:20:43.622 --> 00:20:45.857
  • The fact is we are called to be prophets.
  • 00:20:45.857 --> 00:20:48.460
  • And that means not only speaking to ourselves, speaking to god's
  • 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:51.963
  • Own people, but speaking to the culture.
  • 00:20:51.963 --> 00:20:53.799
  • The second reason pastors many times don't act as prophets is
  • 00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:58.670
  • Because of a misunderstanding of the constitution.
  • 00:20:58.670 --> 00:21:01.707
  • Now, some pastors and many laymen believe that the
  • 00:21:01.773 --> 00:21:04.276
  • Separation of church and state prohibits pastors from
  • 00:21:04.276 --> 00:21:07.746
  • Addressing controversial issues like abortion and same sex
  • 00:21:07.746 --> 00:21:11.850
  • Marriages because such issues are, quote, politics rather than
  • 00:21:11.850 --> 00:21:16.355
  • Spiritual issues.
  • 00:21:16.355 --> 00:21:17.756
  • Now, obviously, any policy, any law that violates god's standard
  • 00:21:17.756 --> 00:21:22.327
  • Is a spiritual issue.
  • 00:21:22.327 --> 00:21:24.996
  • Furthermore, and you know this from previous messages, the
  • 00:21:25.063 --> 00:21:28.300
  • Phrase, separation of church and state, appears nowhere in the
  • 00:21:28.300 --> 00:21:31.737
  • Constitution, much less in the bible.
  • 00:21:31.737 --> 00:21:34.873
  • Obviously, it has been twisted and perverted to mean something
  • 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:40.212
  • That it doesn't mean.
  • 00:21:40.212 --> 00:21:41.546
  • You've heard me say before, this phrase originated with
  • 00:21:41.546 --> 00:21:44.416
  • Thomas jefferson.
  • 00:21:44.416 --> 00:21:45.784
  • He was writing a letter of baptist in danbury, connecticut.
  • 00:21:45.784 --> 00:21:49.087
  • They had heard the rumor that thomas jefferson, then
  • 00:21:49.087 --> 00:21:51.823
  • President, was about to make the congregational church the state
  • 00:21:51.823 --> 00:21:55.660
  • Church that everyone would have to be a part of.
  • 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:58.430
  • And, of course, you know baptists get nervous when
  • 00:21:58.430 --> 00:22:00.532
  • Somebody else is going to be in control other than they.
  • 00:22:00.532 --> 00:22:03.101
  • So they, you know, they got all hot and flustered about it, and
  • 00:22:03.101 --> 00:22:05.704
  • They wrote a letter to thomas jefferson saying, "is this true?
  • 00:22:05.704 --> 00:22:08.807
  • Are you about to make the congregational church the
  • 00:22:08.807 --> 00:22:11.610
  • State church?"
  • 00:22:11.610 --> 00:22:12.944
  • And so president jefferson borrowed a phrase from the
  • 00:22:12.944 --> 00:22:16.415
  • Leading baptist of the day, roger williams.
  • 00:22:16.415 --> 00:22:19.017
  • He took that phrase, separation of church and state, that
  • 00:22:19.017 --> 00:22:21.920
  • Originated with the baptists, and he wrote back to these
  • 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:24.790
  • Baptists and said: don't worry about it.
  • 00:22:24.790 --> 00:22:27.259
  • We're not going to institute a state church like we had
  • 00:22:27.325 --> 00:22:31.830
  • In europe.
  • 00:22:31.830 --> 00:22:33.198
  • The fact is there is a wall of separation, and jefferson's wall
  • 00:22:33.198 --> 00:22:38.870
  • Of separation was meant not to protect the government from the
  • 00:22:38.870 --> 00:22:42.140
  • Church but to protect the church from the government.
  • 00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:44.609
  • That's how he used that phrase.
  • 00:22:44.676 --> 00:22:46.144
  • But never did thomas jefferson or roger williams have in mind
  • 00:22:46.144 --> 00:22:50.582
  • That pastors and churches would not try to influence the culture
  • 00:22:50.582 --> 00:22:55.220
  • In which they existed.
  • 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:56.555
  • Nevertheless, groups today, like the american civil liberties
  • 00:22:56.555 --> 00:22:59.624
  • Union and my favorite group, the americans united for the
  • 00:22:59.624 --> 00:23:02.627
  • Separation of church and state, they regularly try to intimidate
  • 00:23:02.627 --> 00:23:06.631
  • Pastors and churches from influencing legislation or
  • 00:23:06.631 --> 00:23:10.769
  • Elections by threatening their tax exempt status.
  • 00:23:10.769 --> 00:23:13.772
  • My good friend barry lynn, head of americans united for
  • 00:23:13.772 --> 00:23:16.508
  • Separation of church and state, announced he's writing a letter
  • 00:23:16.508 --> 00:23:20.745
  • About pastor jeffress to the internal revenue service,
  • 00:23:20.745 --> 00:23:23.114
  • You know.
  • 00:23:23.114 --> 00:23:24.449
  • Well, he wrote a letter when i was pastoring wichita falls.
  • 00:23:24.449 --> 00:23:27.118
  • You know what? anybody can write a letter.
  • 00:23:27.118 --> 00:23:29.287
  • A ten year old can write a letter
  • 00:23:29.287 --> 00:23:30.655
  • To the internal revenue service, doesn't mean one thing at all.
  • 00:23:30.655 --> 00:23:34.960
  • But what i want to say to you pastors who are watching
  • 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:37.329
  • Tonight, you cannot afford to allow people like barry lynn and
  • 00:23:37.329 --> 00:23:42.501
  • Others intimidate you and muzzle you from sharing the truth of
  • 00:23:42.501 --> 00:23:47.072
  • God's word.
  • 00:23:47.072 --> 00:23:48.406
  • That is important that you stand up for your rights as
  • 00:23:48.406 --> 00:23:51.009
  • An american.
  • 00:23:51.009 --> 00:23:52.344
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:52.344 --> 00:23:57.315
  • Jeffress: i firmly believe that hope for our nation is found
  • 00:23:57.315 --> 00:24:00.385
  • Within the walls of churches across america.
  • 00:24:00.385 --> 00:24:03.622
  • And as we approach america's 250th anniversary, we need to
  • 00:24:03.622 --> 00:24:07.692
  • Ask ourselves, are we doing everything we can to uphold the
  • 00:24:07.692 --> 00:24:11.796
  • Biblical values that shaped our great nation?
  • 00:24:11.796 --> 00:24:15.400
  • That's why i'm asking you to partner with "pathway to
  • 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:17.869
  • Victory" right now.
  • 00:24:17.869 --> 00:24:20.038
  • Your gift between now and july 5 will be matched and therefore
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  • Doubled in impact through the in god we trust
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  • Matching challenge.
  • 00:24:27.546 --> 00:24:28.980
  • Together we can get god's word to even more people, build up
  • 00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:32.951
  • Believers in their faith, and pierce the darkness
  • 00:24:32.951 --> 00:24:36.021
  • With the light of god's word.
  • 00:24:36.021 --> 00:24:38.123
  • Stay right there.
  • 00:24:38.123 --> 00:24:39.624
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:39.624 --> 00:24:42.761
  • Announcer: as our nation celebrates 250 years, do we
  • 00:24:44.696 --> 00:24:48.600
  • Still remember the faith that built america?
  • 00:24:48.600 --> 00:24:51.736
  • Dr. robert jeffress has created a beautiful book to make sure
  • 00:24:51.736 --> 00:24:55.273
  • That we and our families never forget.
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  • The brand new 250th commemorative edition
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  • Of "america is a christian nation" is an 88 page, full
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  • Color, large print coffee table book packed with inspiring
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  • Stories from our nation's history, breathtaking imagery of
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  • America, select portraits of our founding fathers, and powerful
  • 00:25:11.189 --> 00:25:15.260
  • Truth from god's word.
  • 00:25:15.260 --> 00:25:17.162
  • Jeffress: america was founded on the principles of the
  • 00:25:17.162 --> 00:25:19.698
  • Judeo-christian faith as revealed in the bible, and our
  • 00:25:19.698 --> 00:25:23.201
  • Future depends on returning to that biblical foundation.
  • 00:25:23.201 --> 00:25:27.606
  • Announcer: request the 250th commemorative edition of
  • 00:25:27.606 --> 00:25:30.842
  • "america is a christian nation" when you give a generous
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  • Ministry gift to "pathway to victory."
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  • You'll also receive the "in god we trust" dvd video and mp3
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  • Format audio disc set featuring two powerful messages from
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  • Dr. jeffress and 12 patriotic performances by the
  • 00:25:45.390 --> 00:25:48.994
  • First baptist dallas choir and orchestra.
  • 00:25:48.994 --> 00:25:51.663
  • And with your ministry gift of $100 or more, we'll also send
  • 00:25:51.663 --> 00:25:55.900
  • You the complete "america and the bible" teaching series on
  • 00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:59.638
  • Dvd video and mp3 format audio disc.
  • 00:25:59.638 --> 00:26:03.441
  • Your gift today will be doubled in impact through the in god we
  • 00:26:03.441 --> 00:26:07.312
  • Trust matching challenge as together we pierce the darkness
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  • With the light of god's word.
  • 00:26:11.349 --> 00:26:13.618
  • Jeffress: i hope today's message has given you a fresh
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  • Appreciation for the vital role your local church
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  • Plays in god's plan.
  • 00:26:20.992 --> 00:26:23.528
  • If you have a pastor who faithfully preaches the word
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  • Of god, thank him, pray for him, and stand behind him.
  • 00:26:26.164 --> 00:26:31.002
  • Well, next time i'm going to share what it looks like when
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  • Pastors have the courage to confront the culture,
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  • Even when it's costly.
  • 00:26:37.242 --> 00:26:39.411
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:39.411 --> 00:26:41.780
  • Series, "america and the bible."
  • 00:26:41.780 --> 00:26:44.816
  • Jeffress: it is a fear, many times, of a misunderstanding
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  • Of the constitution that causes pastors to silence themselves.
  • 00:26:49.521 --> 00:26:53.425
  • A third reason pastors don't act as prophets many times is
  • 00:26:53.425 --> 00:26:56.528
  • A fear of controversy.
  • 00:26:56.528 --> 00:26:58.897
  • Now, pastors make for easy targets of criticism, even from
  • 00:26:58.897 --> 00:27:02.333
  • Church members.
  • 00:27:02.333 --> 00:27:03.735
  • You know, it's easy for laymen to say, "well, pastor, we're
  • 00:27:03.735 --> 00:27:06.004
  • Behind you, keep standing for the truth, we're right there
  • 00:27:06.004 --> 00:27:09.040
  • With you," unless church attendance starts to fall
  • 00:27:09.040 --> 00:27:13.445
  • And receipts start to diminish a little bit, and then suddenly
  • 00:27:13.445 --> 00:27:16.514
  • It's "off with his head," you know?
  • 00:27:16.514 --> 00:27:19.751
  • Male announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two
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  • Of the message, "for pastors only," here on "pathway
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  • To victory."
  • 00:27:25.490 --> 00:27:28.226