Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Problem With Prosperity

May 19, 2025 | 27:29

Dr. Robert Jeffress explores the story of Abraham and his nephew Lot, focusing on the dangers of prosperity and the importance of faith. As Abraham faces conflicts arising from his wealth and land, his choices and surrender to God's will lead to blessings and divine promises. Through the compelling narrative of ancient biblical characters, the audience is challenged to consider the impact of their decisions, the significance of surrendering to God, and the transformative power of faith in navigating life's challenges and temptations.

#Faith #Peace #Honor #Freedom #Religion #LoveyourNeighbor #WordofGod #Perseverance #Righteousness #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.
00:13:29.465 --> 00:13:31.300
They do this without ever once thinking about god
00:13:31.300 --> 00:13:34.536
Or consulting god.
00:13:34.536 --> 00:13:36.472
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 | 27:29

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