Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Problem With Prosperity

May 19, 2025 | S25:E238

Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.

#Faith #Peace #Honor #Freedom #Religion #LoveyourNeighbor #WordofGod #Perseverance #Righteousness #inActive #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Foundation #Failure #Contentment #Prosperity #Genesis13

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Problem With Prosperity | May 19, 2025

(music)
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[narrator] from the pulpit
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Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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Hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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Trials have a way of strengthening our resolve
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And teaching us to rely on god,
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But in many cases, times of peace
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And prosperity can be an even greater test of our faith.
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Today we're going to conduct a case study on abraham
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And his nephew lot.
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The consequence of one man's choice reveals
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An important lesson about the dangers of success.
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My message is titled the problem with prosperity.
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On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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(music)
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[narrator] the bible is filled 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,"
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Dr. robert jeffress 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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It was the scottish essayist thomas carlisle who said,
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"for every 100 people who can handle adversity,
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Only one can handle prosperity."
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What is it about prosperity that causes some people
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To stumble in life?
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There's something about prosperity
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That naturally lures people away from god.
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Now, i know what you're thinking.
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I can read your minds by looking at you.
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You're thinking, "pastor,
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This is one message that certainly doesn't apply to me.
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I'm not a wealthy person.
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Well, you better think again."
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The fact is by the world's standard,
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If you know how you're going to eat for the next week,
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You're not worried about food for the next week.
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If you have an automobile to drive,
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If you have a place to stay,
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You are a wealthy person by the world's standards.
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In fact, carolyn pulled up a chart for me just this week
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That says, "in 2022, if you're a family of four,
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Two adults and two children,
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And you have an income of $50,000,
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You are wealthier than 89.7% of the rest of the world."
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We are wealthy, whether we realize it or not.
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And the danger of wealth is it can lead us
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To make decisions apart from god.
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Let me illustrate that.
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There's hardly a person in this room
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Or watching television right now who,
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If you wanted to, couldn't go out to dfw airport
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And either pay for or at least charge
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On a piece of plastic a ticket
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To just about anywhere in the world.
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You could go anywhere you wanted to.
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You might spend the next 30 years paying it off,
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But you could go anywhere in the world you wanted to go
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Without ever asking god about his plan for your life,
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Whether that was in his will for you or not.
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That's the danger of wealth.
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And today, we're going to look at the episode
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In abraham's life that best illustrates
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The problem with prosperity, living apart from god.
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If you have your bibles,
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Turn to genesis chapter 13, beginning with verse 1.
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"so abram went up from egypt to the negev,
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And he and his wife and all that belonged to him;
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And lot, his nephew, was with him."
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Underline that. warning sign.
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This is going to be a problem.
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"now abram was very rich in livestock,
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In silver and in gold.
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And he went on his journeys from the negev as far as bethel,
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To the place where his tent had been at the beginning,
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Between bethel and ai, to the place of the altar,
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Which he had made there formerly;
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And there abram called on the name of the lord."
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Have you ever experienced a failure in your life?
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Failures can do one of two things.
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They can either drive us further away from god,
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Or they can drive us toward god.
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When you have failed, satan will do everything he can
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To persuade you that your life is over.
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This mistake is too big to overcome.
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God can never forgive you.
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You are going to be placed on the shelf forever.
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That's satan's lies. don't believe it.
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There is always a path back to god.
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Go back to verse two for a moment.
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"now abram was very rich in livestock,
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In silver and in gold."
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That word translated, "very rich,"
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Is the hebrew word (speaking in hebrew).
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Literally means heavy. (laughs)
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Abraham was heavy with riches.
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As one expositor says in today's language,
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We would say abraham was loaded.
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Look at verse six.
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"and the land," that is, canaan,
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What would be israel, "could not sustain abraham
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And lot while dwelling together;
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For their possessions were so great
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That they were not able to remain together."
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Their wealth had grown so much, especially in the livestock,
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There wasn't enough land to feed them on.
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And that produced strife.
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Look at verse seven.
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"and there was strife between the herdsmen
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Of abram's livestock and the herdsman of lot's livestock."
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You know what's interesting?
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This is the first time,
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This is the first chapter in the bible
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Where wealth is mentioned,
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And it's in a negative context.
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Wealth causes conflict.
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Now, it's not saying wealth is necessarily sinful.
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You can use wealth for great good,
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But just be aware that wealth can cause conflict.
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I see it all the time.
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A couple gets married in their young adult years,
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And they barely scrape by,
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Providing for themselves and their family,
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But they get to a certain stage of life
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In which they experience prosperity.
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And guess what?
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They realize they don't need each other,
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And they decide to separate from one another.
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They can be self-sufficient without the other person.
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Or here's a family-run company.
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They start together barely making it,
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Wondering how they're going to meet payroll week after week,
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But god prospers the business.
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And with that business comes disagreements
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Among the family members.
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When should we sell the company?
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Who ought to succeed the ceo?
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And all of these conflicts money creates.
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That's what happened with abraham and the lot.
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It caused conflict. there's not enough land.
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This land isn't big enough for the two of us.
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We've got to do something.
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Now, notice the parenthetical statement in verse seven.
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"now the canaanite and the perizzite were dwelling
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In the land."
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What is that all about?
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You know who lived in canaan before abraham got there?
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This is a bible quiz.
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Who lived in canaan before abraham got there?
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The canaanites. (laughs)
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Took me seven years in seminary to figure that out.
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(congregation laughs)
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The canaanites lived in canaan. they were ungodly.
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They were not thrilled with abraham
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And lot being interlopers who took their land from them.
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And so they were looking for any opportunity
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To overthrow abraham and lot and their family
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And get them out of the land.
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You know what? abraham said, "let's not let that happen.
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Let's don't let there be strife between you and me,
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For we are brothers."
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Abraham understood the truth
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That jesus would echo many years later when he said,
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"a house divided against itself cannot stand."
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You know, people are so ignorant of the bible today.
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They think abraham lincoln was the one
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Who came up with those words.
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Abraham lincoln stole that from jesus.
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Jesus is the one who said,
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"a house divided against itself cannot stand."
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Abraham was saying, "look, lot, we're brothers.
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We're one family. the enemy is not you or me.
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The enemy is them."
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Let's remember we are brothers.
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Christians, we need to remember that today.
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In romans 12:10, paul said,
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"let us be devoted to one another in brotherly love."
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That word "brotherly," (speaking in greek) in greek,
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Means we are from the same womb.
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Paul is saying,
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"the enemy we're facing is not another christian.
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Quit the strife, quit the fighting.
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Our enemy is not other christians.
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The enemy is satan,
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And he's looking for any opportunity to divide christians
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And destroy them."
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We need to remember we are from the same womb,
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The same blood.
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The blood of jesus christ flows through us.
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That's what unites us to one another.
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Abraham understood that.
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Look at the consequences, first of all, for lot.
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Some of you right now are facing a choice:
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About a career, about a move,
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About a mate, about your money.
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You're facing a choice right now.
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I want you to notice the three mistakes lot made
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In his bad decision to take the land
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That looked the best to him.
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First of all, he refused to be content
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With his present circumstances.
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He refused to be content.
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It was that discontent that led him
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To make the wrong decision.
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Look at verse 10.
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"lot lifted up his eyes
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And he saw all the valley of the jordan,
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That it was well watered everywhere.
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This was, by the way,
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"before the lord destroyed sodom and gomorrah,"
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Two cities in that valley.
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But it looked luscious "like the garden of the lord,"
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That is, eden, and "like the land of egypt
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As you go to zoar."
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The bible says as he looked out there
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To what he was going to choose, he saw the land,
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The oasis of the jordan.
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That word "saw" in hebrew means more
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Than he just glanced at it.
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Literally, the word "saw" means to look longingly at,
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To gaze, to say, "that's what i want.
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That's what i need."
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You know what the greatest enemy
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Of contentment/satisfaction
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In your life and my life is?
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It's what i call the oasis syndrome.
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To believe that there is an oasis out there
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That is different than where i am.
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That if only i could reach that oasis,
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Then i could truly be happy.
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If only i had that job,
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If only i lived in that city,
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If only i had that home,
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If only i had that amount of money,
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If only i had that mate,
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Then i could truly be satisfied in life.
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That's the oasis syndrome.
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Happiness is someplace other than where i am right now.
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You never quite get there.
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It's always someplace just beyond where you are.
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That's why the secret for satisfaction is not more.
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It's the word "contentment."
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Paul said it this way in philippians 4:11.
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"for i have learned to be content
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In whatever circumstances i am."
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That word "contentment" comes from a word
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That literally means containment.
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It refers to somebody whose happiness is found inwardly,
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Not outwardly.
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He is self-contained.
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And, of course, for a christian,
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That containment is a relationship with jesus christ.
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I can do all things through christ who strengthens me.
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Lot didn't have that contentment.
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That led him to make a bad decision.
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Secondly, not only did he refuse to be content,
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He failed to consult god in his decision.
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Genesis 13:11 says,
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"so lot chose for himself all the valleys of the jordan;
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And he journeyed eastward."
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Not once is there any indication he prayed
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To god for wisdom.
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He just made the choice and went after it.
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You know, the longer i'm in a ministry,
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I am convinced that the majority
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Of christians are really atheists.
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I'm not talking about theological atheists.
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Not yet, anyway.
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But they're practical atheists.
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They get up in the morning, they go to work,
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They go through their activity list, they come home,
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They spend their money.
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They do this without ever once thinking about god
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Or consulting god.
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They live their lives as if there were no god,
00:13:36.472 --> 00:13:40.643
Whom they should consult,
00:13:40.643 --> 00:13:42.811
A god to whom they are accountable.
00:13:42.811 --> 00:13:45.014
That's what you call an atheist,
00:13:45.014 --> 00:13:47.283
Somebody who lives apart from/without god.
00:13:47.283 --> 00:13:51.387
James had a word about that in james 4,
00:13:51.387 --> 00:13:54.523
Beginning with verse 13.
00:13:54.523 --> 00:13:56.292
He said, "come now, you who say,
00:13:56.292 --> 00:13:58.260
'today or tomorrow, we'll go to such and such a city,
00:13:58.260 --> 00:14:01.230
And spend a year there and engage
00:14:01.230 --> 00:14:02.898
In business and make a profit.'
00:14:02.898 --> 00:14:05.034
Yet you don't know what your life will be like tomorrow.
00:14:05.034 --> 00:14:09.071
You're just a vapor.
00:14:09.071 --> 00:14:10.773
You're a mist that appears for a little while
00:14:10.773 --> 00:14:13.742
And then vanishes away."
00:14:13.742 --> 00:14:16.211
Is james saying we shouldn't plan? no.
00:14:16.211 --> 00:14:19.214
But he is saying we shouldn't plan without god.
00:14:19.214 --> 00:14:21.617
He says in verse 15, "instead what you ought to say is,
00:14:21.617 --> 00:14:24.687
'if the lord wills, we will live
00:14:24.687 --> 00:14:29.024
And then we'll do this or that.'
00:14:29.024 --> 00:14:31.360
But as it is, you boast in your arrogance;
00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:34.029
And all such boasting is evil."
00:14:34.029 --> 00:14:37.366
What was lot's mistake? he refused to be content.
00:14:37.366 --> 00:14:40.436
He failed to consult god.
00:14:40.436 --> 00:14:42.504
And third, and this is so important,
00:14:42.504 --> 00:14:44.239
He neglected to consider his family in his decision.
00:14:44.239 --> 00:14:48.410
He neglected to consider his family.
00:14:48.410 --> 00:14:50.512
Look at verses 12 and 13.
00:14:50.512 --> 00:14:52.014
"abram settled in the land of canaan,
00:14:52.014 --> 00:14:54.984
While lot settled in the cities of the valley,
00:14:54.984 --> 00:14:58.087
And moved his tents as far as sodom.
00:14:58.087 --> 00:15:03.192
Now the men of sodom were wicked exceedingly
00:15:04.293 --> 00:15:08.230
And sinners against the lord."
00:15:08.230 --> 00:15:11.133
He moved to the edge of sodom.
00:15:13.035 --> 00:15:16.038
What was the mistake?
00:15:17.172 --> 00:15:19.108
He never once thought about how it would affect his family.
00:15:19.108 --> 00:15:23.512
He made this choice because, first of all,
00:15:23.512 --> 00:15:26.015
He underestimated the power of sin.
00:15:26.015 --> 00:15:28.650
Now, listen to me. he underestimated the power of sin.
00:15:28.650 --> 00:15:32.087
Lot was a righteous man.
00:15:32.087 --> 00:15:33.622
He had heard all the stories about what life
00:15:33.622 --> 00:15:35.758
In sodom was like.
00:15:35.758 --> 00:15:37.393
He knew it was an exceedingly wicked place,
00:15:37.393 --> 00:15:40.729
But he thought, "i'm strong enough to withstand it."
00:15:40.729 --> 00:15:43.532
So he moved to the edge of sodom.
00:15:43.532 --> 00:15:47.302
Not into sodom, just on the edge of sodom.
00:15:47.302 --> 00:15:51.640
He probably rationalized it.
00:15:52.508 --> 00:15:54.643
Well, i need to be a witness to this community,
00:15:54.643 --> 00:15:57.112
So i'll get as close to the edge of sin
00:15:57.112 --> 00:16:01.617
As i possibly can.
00:16:01.617 --> 00:16:03.585
But lot's of motivation was not the glory of god.
00:16:04.787 --> 00:16:08.090
It was his own lust that drew him to the edge of sodom.
00:16:08.090 --> 00:16:11.727
His own curiosity.
00:16:11.727 --> 00:16:13.262
Interestingly, next time, when we see lot again,
00:16:13.262 --> 00:16:15.964
He's right smack dab in the middle of sodom.
00:16:15.964 --> 00:16:19.768
He's like the proverbial moth that tries to fly as close
00:16:19.768 --> 00:16:23.338
To the flame as possible without getting burned.
00:16:23.338 --> 00:16:26.675
And it usually doesn't work out real well for the moth.
00:16:26.675 --> 00:16:29.378
It didn't for lot, that's for sure.
00:16:29.378 --> 00:16:32.081
No, wisdom is not getting to the edge of sin,
00:16:32.081 --> 00:16:35.684
It's running as far from sin as you possibly can.
00:16:35.684 --> 00:16:39.021
2 timothy 2:22.
00:16:39.021 --> 00:16:40.789
Paul says, "now flee from youthful lusts,
00:16:40.789 --> 00:16:43.725
And pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,
00:16:43.725 --> 00:16:47.029
With those who call on the lord from a pure heart."
00:16:47.029 --> 00:16:50.666
Not only did he underestimate the power of sin,
00:16:50.666 --> 00:16:54.069
But he overestimated the spiritual strength of his family.
00:16:54.069 --> 00:16:59.174
You see, the bible indicates that lot was distressed
00:17:00.409 --> 00:17:04.346
By the wickedness of sodom,
00:17:05.447 --> 00:17:07.850
But there's no evidence that his wife
00:17:07.850 --> 00:17:09.618
And two daughters were distressed by it.
00:17:09.618 --> 00:17:12.254
Even though lot thought he could handle the temptation,
00:17:12.254 --> 00:17:15.023
He never once thought about what this decision,
00:17:15.023 --> 00:17:18.026
What this move to another city, another place,
00:17:18.026 --> 00:17:21.330
Would mean for his wife and for his two daughters.
00:17:21.330 --> 00:17:24.833
They weren't distressed by the wickedness.
00:17:24.833 --> 00:17:27.603
His wife ends up being destroyed.
00:17:27.603 --> 00:17:30.606
His two daughters married men who were exceedingly wicked,
00:17:30.606 --> 00:17:34.209
The scripture says, and they were destroyed.
00:17:34.209 --> 00:17:37.079
When a father, a mother makes a decision,
00:17:38.614 --> 00:17:41.750
They need to think about what this decision means,
00:17:41.750 --> 00:17:44.319
Not just for themselves, but for their family as well.
00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:48.290
Even though i may have the freedom to do something,
00:17:49.491 --> 00:17:51.560
It doesn't mean i should do it.
00:17:51.560 --> 00:17:53.295
May i be real practical in how i illustrate that?
00:17:53.295 --> 00:17:56.698
Talk about a really controversial subject
00:17:56.698 --> 00:17:59.368
In christian circles today?
00:17:59.368 --> 00:18:01.737
A couple of weeks ago at our dinner with the pastor,
00:18:01.737 --> 00:18:04.573
A young woman who's new to our church said,
00:18:04.573 --> 00:18:06.975
"pastor, what is first baptist policy on alcohol?
00:18:06.975 --> 00:18:11.780
Are members allowed to drink?
00:18:11.780 --> 00:18:13.715
What about the policy toward alcohol?"
00:18:13.715 --> 00:18:16.485
Now, let's be honest, there's no scripture verse that says,
00:18:16.485 --> 00:18:20.189
"no drop of alcohol shall ever pass through thy lips."
00:18:20.189 --> 00:18:24.259
There's no verse that says that.
00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:26.695
There's no verse that says you're going to hell
00:18:26.695 --> 00:18:28.730
If you have a drink.
00:18:28.730 --> 00:18:31.066
The bible says you're not to get drunk.
00:18:31.066 --> 00:18:33.602
And even more than that, you're not allowed anything,
00:18:33.602 --> 00:18:36.271
Anybody or anything,
00:18:36.271 --> 00:18:38.307
Control your life other than the holy spirit of god.
00:18:38.307 --> 00:18:41.610
But there's no absolute prohibition
00:18:41.610 --> 00:18:43.445
Against a christian drinking.
00:18:43.445 --> 00:18:46.715
But that's not the question.
00:18:46.715 --> 00:18:48.650
The question is not whether it's okay for me to do it,
00:18:48.650 --> 00:18:52.921
Whether or not i can handle alcohol.
00:18:52.921 --> 00:18:55.457
It's how my freedom impacts other people.
00:18:55.457 --> 00:18:59.361
Even though my freedom gives me the opportunity to drink,
00:18:59.361 --> 00:19:04.333
How will that affect other people
00:19:04.333 --> 00:19:07.402
Who may not be able to handle alcohol?
00:19:07.402 --> 00:19:10.138
What about my children?
00:19:10.138 --> 00:19:11.740
I don't know if they're able to handle alcohol or not.
00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:15.377
The statistics are right now
00:19:15.377 --> 00:19:17.246
15 million americans are already diagnosed as alcoholics.
00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:22.784
That's 6% of the american population.
00:19:22.784 --> 00:19:27.089
What if you went out to dfw airport,
00:19:27.089 --> 00:19:29.424
You're about to get on a plane, and the ticket agent said,
00:19:29.424 --> 00:19:31.660
"now, before you board today,
00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:33.228
We are required to tell you there's 6 chances in 100
00:19:33.228 --> 00:19:37.065
That this plane is going to crash"?
00:19:37.065 --> 00:19:39.534
How many of you would get on the plane?
00:19:41.236 --> 00:19:43.672
I'm willing to take my chances.
00:19:43.672 --> 00:19:45.674
No sane person would do that.
00:19:45.674 --> 00:19:49.778
Now, are you willing to take that chance yourself?
00:19:49.778 --> 00:19:52.948
You don't know whether you're an alcoholic or not
00:19:52.948 --> 00:19:55.150
Till it's too late.
00:19:55.150 --> 00:19:56.518
And even if you're not,
00:19:56.518 --> 00:19:58.086
Are you absolutely sure your children
00:19:58.086 --> 00:20:00.489
Or grandchildren aren't in that percent, that 6%?
00:20:00.489 --> 00:20:05.594
No.
00:20:06.428 --> 00:20:07.929
Lot made the mistake of not considering his own family
00:20:07.929 --> 00:20:11.733
And the impact this decision would make on them.
00:20:11.733 --> 00:20:14.670
And because of that, he lost everything dear to him.
00:20:14.670 --> 00:20:19.441
What was the result of abraham making the choice he did
00:20:19.441 --> 00:20:24.012
To give up his rights to the land?
00:20:24.012 --> 00:20:25.981
Look at this in verse 14.
00:20:25.981 --> 00:20:28.016
"and the lord said to abram,
00:20:28.016 --> 00:20:29.551
After lot had separated from him,
00:20:29.551 --> 00:20:31.853
'now lift up your eyes and look
00:20:31.853 --> 00:20:34.489
From the place where you are,
00:20:34.489 --> 00:20:35.924
Northward and southward and eastward and westward;
00:20:35.924 --> 00:20:38.760
For all the land which you see,
00:20:38.760 --> 00:20:40.696
I will give it to you and your descendants forever.
00:20:40.696 --> 00:20:44.199
I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth;
00:20:44.199 --> 00:20:47.402
So that if anyone can number the dust of the earth,
00:20:47.402 --> 00:20:50.806
Then your descendants can also be numbered.
00:20:50.806 --> 00:20:53.075
Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth;
00:20:53.075 --> 00:20:56.645
For i will give it to you.'"
00:20:56.645 --> 00:20:59.915
I love what one writer said.
00:20:59.915 --> 00:21:01.316
He said, "for abraham,
00:21:01.316 --> 00:21:02.851
The place of surrender became the place of possession."
00:21:02.851 --> 00:21:07.622
When abraham opened his hands and said,
00:21:08.724 --> 00:21:10.125
"lord, for your glory, i'll surrender this land,"
00:21:10.125 --> 00:21:13.028
God said to abraham, "that's all i needed to hear.
00:21:14.296 --> 00:21:16.431
This land is yours forever and ever and ever.
00:21:16.431 --> 00:21:20.035
Nobody will take it from you."
00:21:20.035 --> 00:21:22.371
The old testament scholar allen ross said it this way:
00:21:23.805 --> 00:21:26.441
Abraham had learned that it was not by his own plan
00:21:26.441 --> 00:21:30.178
Or power that he would come into possession,
00:21:30.178 --> 00:21:32.814
Not by jealously guarding what he thought was his.
00:21:32.814 --> 00:21:36.218
God would give it to him,
00:21:36.218 --> 00:21:37.919
Even if abraham gave it away 100 times.
00:21:37.919 --> 00:21:42.023
The place of surrender became the place of possession.
00:21:43.692 --> 00:21:47.729
Have you learned that lesson yet?
00:21:47.729 --> 00:21:50.298
Do you understand that if you put god's interests
00:21:50.298 --> 00:21:53.435
And the interests of others above your own,
00:21:53.435 --> 00:21:55.404
God will take care of you?
00:21:55.404 --> 00:21:57.939
You may have read recently about david green,
00:21:59.374 --> 00:22:02.611
The founder and ceo of hobby lobby.
00:22:02.611 --> 00:22:05.814
He is a multi-billionaire and a committed christian.
00:22:05.814 --> 00:22:10.285
He recently announced that he's giving away his company,
00:22:10.285 --> 00:22:13.355
His multi-billion-dollar company.
00:22:13.355 --> 00:22:16.558
And he says one of the things
00:22:16.558 --> 00:22:18.226
That motivated him to give it away,
00:22:18.226 --> 00:22:20.061
The foundational belief,
00:22:20.061 --> 00:22:21.396
Was he wasn't the owner of anything.
00:22:21.396 --> 00:22:24.699
It all belonged to god.
00:22:25.534 --> 00:22:27.169
He was just a steward, a manager of what god had given him.
00:22:27.169 --> 00:22:32.040
It was because of that attitude,
00:22:32.808 --> 00:22:33.975
I believe, god blessed david green.
00:22:33.975 --> 00:22:36.845
And he'll do the same with you.
00:22:36.845 --> 00:22:38.880
Maybe not financially, but spiritually
00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:41.349
And in every other way that counts.
00:22:41.349 --> 00:22:44.286
What about those dreams, those possessions,
00:22:44.286 --> 00:22:46.688
Those relationships?
00:22:46.688 --> 00:22:48.957
You can hold on to them tightly just like lot did
00:22:48.957 --> 00:22:52.160
And end up losing everything.
00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:54.563
Or you can open up your hands, give it to god,
00:22:54.563 --> 00:22:57.265
Trust him to do what is right and best for you.
00:22:57.265 --> 00:23:01.736
As i read the story this week,
00:23:01.736 --> 00:23:03.572
I thought of the words of jim elliot,
00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:07.542
That faithful missionary who was killed
00:23:07.542 --> 00:23:09.911
By the auca indians in ecuador.
00:23:09.911 --> 00:23:13.181
When he was a college student,
00:23:13.181 --> 00:23:14.649
He had written in his spiritual journal these words:
00:23:14.649 --> 00:23:18.286
He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep
00:23:18.286 --> 00:23:23.391
To gain what he cannot lose.
00:23:24.626 --> 00:23:27.195
That was abraham.
00:23:28.730 --> 00:23:30.932
(music)
00:23:30.932 --> 00:23:33.869
Abraham provided a marvelous example for us.
00:23:36.338 --> 00:23:39.508
He was a man of faith,
00:23:39.508 --> 00:23:41.142
Unencumbered by the entrapments of his times.
00:23:41.142 --> 00:23:44.346
And this is my dream for you as well.
00:23:44.346 --> 00:23:46.781
You too can be a man or woman of faith.
00:23:46.781 --> 00:23:50.085
Now, before we wrap up today's message,
00:23:50.085 --> 00:23:52.587
I have some great news to share
00:23:52.587 --> 00:23:54.389
With our "pathway to victory" family.
00:23:54.389 --> 00:23:56.658
Recently, "pathway to victory" has taken on new territory.
00:23:56.658 --> 00:24:00.629
In addition to reaching new cities in north america,
00:24:00.629 --> 00:24:03.899
We're expanding into international regions as well.
00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:07.402
In some cases, my sermons are translated
00:24:07.402 --> 00:24:10.138
Into foreign languages.
00:24:10.138 --> 00:24:12.173
Well, we celebrate these victories
00:24:12.173 --> 00:24:14.309
Because each one represents new opportunities
00:24:14.309 --> 00:24:17.879
To reach even more people with the gospel of jesus christ.
00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:22.050
And each one gives us an even greater platform
00:24:22.050 --> 00:24:24.920
To bring light into the darkness.
00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:27.822
So if you're among those who support "pathway to victory,"
00:24:27.822 --> 00:24:31.059
I hope this is an encouragement to you.
00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:33.695
God is multiplying our ministry together,
00:24:33.695 --> 00:24:36.531
As we pierce the darkness with the light of his word.
00:24:36.531 --> 00:24:40.468
Now, stay right there.
00:24:40.468 --> 00:24:41.770
I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
00:24:41.770 --> 00:24:44.239
In just a moment.
00:24:44.239 --> 00:24:45.440
[narrator] in the midst of our chaotic world
00:24:46.808 --> 00:24:49.010
And the personal problems that we face,
00:24:49.010 --> 00:24:51.379
Is it possible to find peace and contentment?
00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:54.316
Abraham did, and so can you.
00:24:54.316 --> 00:24:56.751
In "walking by faith," dr. robert jeffress shows you
00:24:56.751 --> 00:24:59.955
How to make courageous decisions,
00:24:59.955 --> 00:25:01.856
Ones that are far outside your comfort zone.
00:25:01.856 --> 00:25:04.960
In doing so, god will prove faithful.
00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:07.896
Abraham was far from perfect.
00:25:07.896 --> 00:25:09.798
He made mistakes, including some really big ones.
00:25:09.798 --> 00:25:13.034
But through it all, he walked with god in faith,
00:25:13.034 --> 00:25:16.371
And you can, too.
00:25:16.371 --> 00:25:17.772
[narrator] in this dynamic book,
00:25:17.772 --> 00:25:19.341
Dr. jeffress explains how to walk
00:25:19.341 --> 00:25:21.443
By faith in a faithless world,
00:25:21.443 --> 00:25:23.845
Squarely founded on the wisdom gained
00:25:23.845 --> 00:25:26.081
From the story of abraham.
00:25:26.081 --> 00:25:28.116
Request your copy of "walking by faith"
00:25:28.116 --> 00:25:30.685
When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
00:25:30.685 --> 00:25:33.688
And when you give $75 or more,
00:25:33.688 --> 00:25:36.424
We'll also send you all 11 messages
00:25:36.424 --> 00:25:38.960
For the walking by faith series on dvd video
00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:42.263
And mp3 format audio disk,
00:25:42.263 --> 00:25:44.766
Along with the personal and group study guide book.
00:25:44.766 --> 00:25:47.969
If the story of abraham tells us anything,
00:25:47.969 --> 00:25:50.205
It tells us this.
00:25:50.205 --> 00:25:51.673
It doesn't matter how old you are.
00:25:51.673 --> 00:25:53.208
It doesn't matter how far you've drifted away from god.
00:25:53.208 --> 00:25:56.011
You can come back.
00:25:56.011 --> 00:25:57.512
[narrator] your gift today is important and appreciated
00:25:57.512 --> 00:26:00.281
As we impact your home and reach a nation
00:26:00.281 --> 00:26:02.951
And world in spiritual need.
00:26:02.951 --> 00:26:05.186
God is clearly using "pathway to victory"
00:26:05.186 --> 00:26:08.023
To fulfill his mandate,
00:26:08.023 --> 00:26:09.524
To pierce the darkness with the light of his word.
00:26:09.524 --> 00:26:12.694
Thank you for investing in this important gospel work.
00:26:12.694 --> 00:26:16.297
(music)
00:26:17.065 --> 00:26:18.800
He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep
00:26:18.800 --> 00:26:22.537
In order to gain what he cannot lose.
00:26:22.537 --> 00:26:26.041
That's a lesson that we can take a lifetime to absorb.
00:26:26.041 --> 00:26:29.844
Unless, of course,
00:26:29.844 --> 00:26:31.146
We learn from great men of faith like abraham,
00:26:31.146 --> 00:26:33.548
Who led the way.
00:26:33.548 --> 00:26:35.283
It's natural to feel regret after making a wrong
00:26:35.283 --> 00:26:38.253
And sinful decision,
00:26:38.253 --> 00:26:40.121
But sometimes we're regretful after making a good decision.
00:26:40.121 --> 00:26:44.526
And next time i'm going to share
00:26:44.526 --> 00:26:46.194
How to avoid what i call believer's remorse.
00:26:46.194 --> 00:26:50.365
Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
00:26:50.365 --> 00:26:53.001
In our series, walking by faith.
00:26:53.001 --> 00:26:56.104
Sometimes we regret not just wrong decisions,
00:26:57.238 --> 00:27:00.942
But right decisions.
00:27:00.942 --> 00:27:02.677
As we're going to discover today
00:27:02.677 --> 00:27:04.312
In our study in the life of abraham,
00:27:04.312 --> 00:27:07.148
There's only one remedy to regrets
00:27:07.148 --> 00:27:10.385
Over the right decisions we make,
00:27:10.385 --> 00:27:12.887
And that remedy is faith.
00:27:12.887 --> 00:27:15.523
[narrator] set your dvr and join us next time for
00:27:16.725 --> 00:27:18.893
The message refusing to second guess your right decisions
00:27:18.893 --> 00:27:22.831
Here on "pathway to victory."
00:27:22.831 --> 00:27:22.831

Robert Jeffress - The Problem With Prosperity

May 19, 2025 | S25:E238

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