Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Promise

June 3, 2025 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress explores the theme of waiting on God's promises, focusing on the fulfillment of God's promises and the patience required in trusting His timing. The narrative follows the disciples as they wait in Jerusalem for the fulfillment of Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit. Through an engaging storytelling style, Dr. Jeffress highlights the significance of Jesus' ascension, the disciples' commitment to prayer, and the anticipation of Christ's return. This episode provides a blend of biblical teachings, practical applications, and encouragement for viewers to trust in God's promises while actively spreading the Gospel.

#HolySpirit #Religion #Jesus #PromisesofGod #WaitingonGod #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #KingdomofGod #Baptism

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Promise | June 3, 2025

♪ music ♪
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[narrator] from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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With dr. robert jeffress.
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Hi, i'm robert jeffress and welcome again
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To "pathway to victory."
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Whether sitting in an airport waiting to board
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A delayed flight or stuck in a traffic jam
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Waiting is the ultimate test of our patience,
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But some things, like the fulfillment of god's promises,
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Are worth waiting for.
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Today we're going to talk about waiting
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On god to come through.
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My message is titled the promise.
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On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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♪ music ♪
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[narrator] jesus declared, "you are the salt of the earth
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And the light of the world."
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With so much darkness creeping into our schools
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And communities, now is the time to answer that calling.
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Become the salt & light the world desperately needs
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Through the "pathway to victory"
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Salt & light matching challenge.
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Your gift today doubled in ministry impact will empower
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"pathway to victory," to proclaim the gospel
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And stand for biblical truth, push back and hold strong
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Against moral decline by joining the salt
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And light matching challenge.
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♪ music ♪
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One day when theodore roosevelt was president,
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He was in a very critical meeting in his office
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In the newly constructed west wing.
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There was a knock at the door.
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The door opened and a little boy stuck his head in
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And said to the president, "it's after four o'clock."
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Roosevelt looked at his watch and said, "by jove it is,"
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And he stood up and excused himself
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From the important meeting explaining to those present
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That he had made a promise to his boy
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To play with him in the backyard.
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He said to those men, "it's a difficult thing
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For a boy to wait.
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That's why i never keep my boys waiting."
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Well, waiting is not only difficult for boys,
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It's difficult for all of us, isn't it?
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Especially when we're waiting on a promise
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From our heavenly father.
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2,000 years ago, jesus told us
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That he's coming back to this earth one day
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To right every wrong, to establish his kingdom,
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To reward the righteous, to punish the unrighteous.
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He made that promise 2,000 years ago.
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He said, "behold, i am coming quickly."
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And yet he hasn't come yet,
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And we wait and we wait and we wait.
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But don't forget this, with god,
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A promise delayed is not a promise denied.
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Jesus is coming back on that glorious day.
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That is a promise that has been made
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And will be kept by god himself.
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And today in our study of acts, we're going to look at
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That promise that is yet to be fulfilled
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And we're going to look at another promise
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That has already been fulfilled
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And what it means for you and me today.
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If you have your bibles turn to acts chapter 1.
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Last week we begin our study of acts with an overview
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Of acts, and we saw there really acts
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As the second volume in a two volume set by dr. luke,
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A physician who traveled with the apostle paul,
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But acts is about the founding of the church.
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We're to carry that message to everyone we can
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And our work is continuing
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And that's what we're looking at in acts.
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Now, look at verse three of acts one,
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"to these," that is the disciples,
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"jesus also presented himself alive
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After his suffering by many convincing proofs appearing
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To the disciples over a period of 40 days
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And speaking of things concerning the kingdom of god."
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After the resurrection, luke tells us that jesus was alive
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For 40 days on earth.
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He spent that time with his disciples.
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By the way, if you ever wonder
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What your existence is going to be like in heaven,
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What your new body is going to be like in heaven,
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Just look at jesus.
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His body, his resurrection body was the prototype,
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Colossians says, the bodies were going to receive.
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So he spent time with his disciples doing what?
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He taught them things concerning the kingdom of god.
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This was a crash program for jesus
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To teach everything these disciples needed to know
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To go spread the message,
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And so he taught them things concerning the kingdom of god.
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What is the kingdom of god?
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Well, think about it.
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A king's kingdom refers to that piece of real estate
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That the king rules over.
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It's where what the king wants done gets done,
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A king's kingdom.
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Well, when we talk about god's kingdom,
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Where does god have authority?
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What is his realm of authority?
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Now, in a theological sense,
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It's the whole universe, isn't it?
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He's sovereign overall,
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But in a practical sense, there's one small corner
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Of the universe where god's rule is not yet complete.
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There's one small corner of the universe
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Where there is a rebellion going against
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The king of the universe
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And that place is called planet earth.
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For god's own reasons, he's allowed this rebellion
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To continue, but it won't continue forever.
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One day jesus christ is returning
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To rule over this earth,
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And the perfect justice so many people crave today,
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They talk about the need for justice.
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God loves justice and he's going to establish
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His justice one day when he returns.
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That's what the kingdom of god is about.
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It's where god rules.
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Jesus said in matthew 13,
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"i want to teach you about the mystery of the kingdom of god."
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And what is the mystery?
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The mystery is while god's literal kingdom on earth
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Has been delayed, not denied,
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But delayed, god is ruling in the hearts
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Of individuals right now who choose to follow him.
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Right now you can be a part of the kingdom of god
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By trusting in christ
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And submitting to god's will in every area of your life.
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You and i face this choice every day,
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Whether we're going to submit to the king or not,
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Whether it's going to be his will or our will.
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If we follow his will, his commands,
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We experience great blessings.
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You don't have to wait till you die
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To experience the blessing of god.
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By submitting yourself to his rule and your life
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You experience the benefits of the kingdom.
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When you disobey him, you experience the consequences
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Of rebellion against the king.
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The kingdom of god has gone underground.
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It's in the hearts of individual believers,
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But one day he is coming.
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Now look at verse 4, "gathering them together,
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Jesus commanded them not to leave jerusalem
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But to wait for what the father had promised,
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'which you heard of from me,' jesus said."
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What is that promise they were to wait for?
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"for john baptized with water,
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But you will be baptized with the holy spirit
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Not many days from now."
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He said, "wait, in jerusalem, i've got a great promise
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That's about to be fulfilled."
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The baptism with the holy spirit.
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Today we get baptized to show what has happened to us
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As christians.
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The bible says, "the moment you trust in christ as savior,
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You are baptized with the holy spirit of god."
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At this point, it was still future.
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They had to wait for the baptism.
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We'll see next week it came on the day of pentecost
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And since the day of pentecost, every christian,
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The moment he trust in christ is baptized
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With the holy spirit of god.
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You don't have to pray for the baptism with the apirit.
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You don't work for it.
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You don't ask for it.
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You can't baptize yourself with the spirit.
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It is something christ does for you.
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He immerses you with his spirit
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And joins you together with the body of christ.
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Now, water baptism over there is a symbol
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Of being baptized with the spirit.
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We get baptized with water
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To show we are identifying as a christian.
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Interesting fact from this point on in the book of acts,
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There is not one example anywhere of a follower of christ
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Who was not immersed in water, water baptized, no such thing
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As a christian who has not been baptized.
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That is the command for every true follower of jesus christ.
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Jesus said, "wait and you will be baptized
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With the holy spirit."
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Now look at verse 6.
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They were going to anticipate that promise to be fulfilled
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So when they had come together for the last time,
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They were asking jesus saying,
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"lord isn't at this time
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You are restoring the kingdom to israel?"
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In spite of all this teaching from jesus,
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They still didn't get it.
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Here is jesus about to send them to heaven
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And they said, "lord, have you not forgotten something,
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You promised you're going to restore the kingdom.
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You're going to get rid of this roman rule
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That we've been suffering under.
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Is it at this time you're going to restore
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The kingdom to israel?"
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Now, had the disciples been completely in error about
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A literal kingdom, this would've been a good time for jesus
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To correct their thinking.
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Instead, how does he answer their question about
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Is it time to restore the kingdom?
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Look at verse 7.
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He said, "it is not for you to know the times
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Or the ethics which the father has fixed
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By his own authority."
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What he's saying is there is going to be a kingdom,
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But you're not going to know when it's coming.
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You don't know when i'm going to return again.
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Remember, you're not on the planning committee,
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You're on the invitation committee.
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Leave the planning to me and my father.
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We will tell you when the kingdom is coming.
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You know we know this intellectually,
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But still people violate this principle all the time.
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One way you can know you're listening to a false preacher
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Or teacher is if they try to set a date for the end times.
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Anybody who does that is a false teacher.
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Jesus said in matthew 24:36,
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"no man knows the day or the hour."
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It's not for us to know the time.
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But notice what jesus said.
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It is important for you to know, he said in verse 8,
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"but here's what you need to know.
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You will receive power
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When the holy spirit has come upon you
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And you shall be my witnesses both in jerusalem
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And in judea and samaria
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And even to the uttermost parts of the earth."
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When the holy spirit comes in just a few days,
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He's empowering you, not so you can go around
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Feeling spiritual goosebumps.
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That's not why the holy spirit is here.
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It's not to make you feel good, warm and fuzzy
00:11:17.633 --> 00:11:20.436
Every time you worship.
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No, it's to equip you, empower you for your one assignment,
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To go into the world and be my witnesses.
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That word witnesses, martyras in greek,
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Literally means martyr.
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We get our word martyr from it.
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You're going to give your very life
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To do the one thing i've asked you to do
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And notice where they were going to be witnesses in jerusalem,
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Then in judea and samaria
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And then to the uttermost parts of the earth.
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That's the outline of the whole book of acts.
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The gospel preached in jerusalem.
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Then because of persecution, they got moved out to judea
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And samaria and then because of more persecution,
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They went out into the uttermost parts of the earth.
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And that's our assignment today
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To take the gospel everywhere.
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That's what they needed to understand.
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It's not for you to know the timing,
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It's for you to understand the command.
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Now, we are about to see one of the greatest miracles
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Of all time that you hear very little talked about,
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And that is jesus ascension into heaven.
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Look at verse 9.
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"after he had said these things,
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He was lifted up while they were looking on
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And a cloud received him out of their sight."
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If you've been to the mount of olives, like many of us have,
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You know what a sight it is to stand there
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And realize you're exactly where jesus was
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And to think about what it must have been like
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For those disciples
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To see him slowly lifting up off the ground
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And going higher and higher and higher
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And higher until they watched him disappear into a cloud.
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Why was the ascension important?
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Let me just mention two reasons on your outline.
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First of all, "jesus ascension was necessary,
00:13:03.138 --> 00:13:05.975
So that he might return to the father."
00:13:05.975 --> 00:13:08.410
In john 16:28 he said, "i'm leaving the world again
00:13:08.410 --> 00:13:12.414
And going to the father."
00:13:12.414 --> 00:13:13.983
Jesus' rightful place is at the right hand of his father.
00:13:13.983 --> 00:13:18.153
You know what he's doing right now in heaven?
00:13:18.153 --> 00:13:20.322
Why it's important for him to be at the right hand
00:13:20.322 --> 00:13:22.424
Of the father?
00:13:22.424 --> 00:13:23.359
For your benefit, for mine.
00:13:23.359 --> 00:13:25.327
Hebrew 7:25 says,
00:13:25.327 --> 00:13:26.896
"he lives right now to make intercession for us."
00:13:26.896 --> 00:13:31.100
He is our advocate.
00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:32.534
1 john 1 says, "our lawyer in heaven."
00:13:32.534 --> 00:13:34.937
You say, "well, why do we need a lawyer in heaven?"
00:13:34.937 --> 00:13:37.506
Because we have an accuser named satan
00:13:37.506 --> 00:13:39.909
And the bible says he's before the throne of god
00:13:39.909 --> 00:13:42.845
Day and night accusing you and me before the father.
00:13:42.845 --> 00:13:47.383
He's talking to the father.
00:13:47.983 --> 00:13:50.386
He's saying, "look at that guy claims to be a christian.
00:13:50.386 --> 00:13:54.490
Look at what he's doing.
00:13:54.490 --> 00:13:55.991
Look at her, look at what she's thinking.
00:13:55.991 --> 00:13:58.761
They belong with me, god in hell forever."
00:13:58.761 --> 00:14:02.331
And jesus interjects, he interrupts.
00:14:02.331 --> 00:14:04.900
He says, "you're right, satan, they belong in hell,
00:14:04.900 --> 00:14:08.504
But i paid the price to free them forever.
00:14:08.504 --> 00:14:12.708
They're mine and you are not about to get
00:14:12.708 --> 00:14:15.210
Your hands on 'em."
00:14:15.210 --> 00:14:16.679
That's what jesus is doing.
00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:18.714
He is our advocate, the bible says.
00:14:18.714 --> 00:14:21.116
But secondly, jesus' ascension was necessary
00:14:21.116 --> 00:14:24.053
For the coming of the spirit.
00:14:24.053 --> 00:14:25.688
John 16:7 says, "i tell you the truth,
00:14:25.688 --> 00:14:28.324
It is to your advantage that i go away
00:14:28.324 --> 00:14:30.726
For if i do not go away, the helper will not come to you."
00:14:30.726 --> 00:14:35.464
We have something the disciples had not had up to this point
00:14:35.464 --> 00:14:40.235
And that is the full power of the holy spirit living in us.
00:14:40.235 --> 00:14:44.940
That's why the ascension was important.
00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:47.476
Now, look at verse 10.
00:14:47.476 --> 00:14:48.711
Here they are, (chuckling) get the picture,
00:14:48.711 --> 00:14:50.546
Gazing in the sky, can't believe what they saw.
00:14:50.546 --> 00:14:54.450
It says in verse 10,
00:14:54.450 --> 00:14:55.751
"as they were gazing intently into the sky,
00:14:55.751 --> 00:14:57.953
Behold two men in white clothing stood beside them,
00:14:57.953 --> 00:15:02.024
Angels, and they said, 'men of galilee,
00:15:02.024 --> 00:15:06.161
Why do you stand looking into the sky?'"
00:15:06.161 --> 00:15:09.865
That was a general rebuke.
00:15:10.432 --> 00:15:11.867
It was kind of like john wayne saying in the "cowboys,"
00:15:11.867 --> 00:15:14.269
"what are you doing?
00:15:14.269 --> 00:15:15.104
We're burning daylight."
00:15:15.104 --> 00:15:16.538
Remember that phrase, "we are burning day."
00:15:16.538 --> 00:15:18.607
You're burning daylight, you're wasting time.
00:15:18.607 --> 00:15:21.410
It's time to get back to what the lord told you to do.
00:15:21.410 --> 00:15:23.846
You don't have much time to complete the assignment,
00:15:23.846 --> 00:15:26.882
But beyond the gentle rebuke, there is a promise.
00:15:26.882 --> 00:15:30.953
These angels said this, "jesus who has been taken up
00:15:30.953 --> 00:15:35.290
From you into heaven will come in just the same way."
00:15:35.290 --> 00:15:40.629
Underline that, "in just the same way
00:15:41.463 --> 00:15:43.699
As you have watched him go into heaven."
00:15:43.699 --> 00:15:46.035
You know what that tells me?
00:15:46.035 --> 00:15:47.669
When jesus comes back,
00:15:47.669 --> 00:15:49.171
He's coming back exactly the same way he left, visibly.
00:15:49.171 --> 00:15:52.775
Everybody's going to see it.
00:15:52.775 --> 00:15:54.843
And more importantly, it's literally,
00:15:54.843 --> 00:15:58.180
He's coming back, literally.
00:15:58.180 --> 00:16:00.349
Think about it.
00:16:00.349 --> 00:16:01.650
A literal jesus in a literal body ascended
00:16:01.650 --> 00:16:04.953
From a literal mount of olives into a literal heaven.
00:16:04.953 --> 00:16:08.824
Heaven's not some state of mind
00:16:08.824 --> 00:16:11.026
Anymore than the mount of olives is a state of mind.
00:16:11.026 --> 00:16:13.595
They are both geographical realities
00:16:13.595 --> 00:16:16.598
And that same literal jesus
00:16:16.598 --> 00:16:19.034
Who is in a literal heaven is descending back
00:16:19.034 --> 00:16:21.870
To a literal earth forever and ever and ever.
00:16:21.870 --> 00:16:25.174
Zacharia 14:4, written 700 years before the birth of christ
00:16:25.174 --> 00:16:30.145
Prophesied that in that day the messiah's feet will stand
00:16:30.145 --> 00:16:34.817
On the mount of olives,
00:16:34.817 --> 00:16:36.118
Which is in front of jerusalem on the east
00:16:36.118 --> 00:16:38.720
And the mount of olives will be split in its middle
00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:41.690
From east to west.
00:16:41.690 --> 00:16:43.358
When he comes back again,
00:16:43.358 --> 00:16:44.860
It's going to be such a cataclysmic event.
00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:47.296
The whole mountain is going to be split in two.
00:16:47.296 --> 00:16:50.833
That's the literal coming of jesus.
00:16:50.833 --> 00:16:53.102
Now, that's the promise that is temporary delayed,
00:16:53.102 --> 00:16:56.538
But here's the other promise
00:16:56.538 --> 00:16:58.207
That would be fulfilled in just a few days.
00:16:58.207 --> 00:17:00.676
The promise of the coming of the spirit.
00:17:00.676 --> 00:17:03.278
Notice how the disciples waited for the promise.
00:17:03.278 --> 00:17:05.981
Look at verses 12 to 14.
00:17:05.981 --> 00:17:08.350
After the ascension, "they returned to jerusalem
00:17:08.350 --> 00:17:10.786
From the mount called olivet, which is near jerusalem,
00:17:10.786 --> 00:17:14.289
And when they had entered the city,"
00:17:14.289 --> 00:17:15.991
Verse 13, "they went up to the upper room
00:17:15.991 --> 00:17:18.927
Where they are were staying."
00:17:18.927 --> 00:17:21.130
We don't know where this upper room is.
00:17:21.130 --> 00:17:22.798
We think we have an idea.
00:17:22.798 --> 00:17:24.766
It was a room big enough to accommodate 120 people.
00:17:24.766 --> 00:17:27.936
It may have been the place where jesus had the last supper
00:17:27.936 --> 00:17:30.906
With his disciples before he was betrayed.
00:17:30.906 --> 00:17:34.443
There's a listing of who met in that upper room.
00:17:34.443 --> 00:17:37.746
You see the disciples, 11 of the 12,
00:17:37.746 --> 00:17:42.050
Remember judas had defected.
00:17:42.050 --> 00:17:44.453
Verse 14, "these all were with one mind,
00:17:44.453 --> 00:17:47.489
Continually devoting themselves to prayer,
00:17:47.489 --> 00:17:50.759
Along with the women, and mary,
00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:53.228
The mother of jesus was with his brothers."
00:17:53.228 --> 00:17:56.532
And they were praying, they were waiting,
00:17:56.532 --> 00:17:58.767
But they were also working.
00:17:58.767 --> 00:18:00.369
There were some unfinished business they had to take care of
00:18:00.369 --> 00:18:03.372
Before the baptism with the holy spirit
00:18:03.372 --> 00:18:05.407
And the beginning of the church.
00:18:05.407 --> 00:18:06.975
They had a leadership position to fill.
00:18:06.975 --> 00:18:09.378
They had lost the disciple judas who had killed himself
00:18:09.378 --> 00:18:13.148
After his betrayal.
00:18:13.148 --> 00:18:14.716
Look at verse 15, "at this time, peter stood up in the midst
00:18:14.716 --> 00:18:18.520
Of the brethren and said, 'brethren, the scripture
00:18:18.520 --> 00:18:21.990
Had to be fulfilled,
00:18:21.990 --> 00:18:23.325
Which the holy spirit foretold by the mouth
00:18:23.325 --> 00:18:26.195
Of david concerning judas who became a guide to those
00:18:26.195 --> 00:18:30.465
Who arrested jesus.'"
00:18:30.465 --> 00:18:32.501
So peter said, "we're going to select another apostle."
00:18:32.501 --> 00:18:36.638
Peter gave two qualifications.
00:18:36.638 --> 00:18:38.674
First of all, whoever it is had to have been with jesus
00:18:38.674 --> 00:18:42.211
From the beginning, from the beginning
00:18:42.211 --> 00:18:44.213
Of those three years of ministry.
00:18:44.213 --> 00:18:46.181
And secondly, he had to be an eye witness
00:18:46.181 --> 00:18:49.351
To the resurrection.
00:18:49.351 --> 00:18:51.386
And so they took nominations from the floor
00:18:51.386 --> 00:18:53.889
Who could meet these qualifications?
00:18:53.889 --> 00:18:55.891
Somebody nominated a man called joseph
00:18:55.891 --> 00:18:58.360
Who is known as barsabbas.
00:18:58.360 --> 00:19:00.162
Another person nominated mathias.
00:19:00.162 --> 00:19:02.264
We really don't know much about him
00:19:02.264 --> 00:19:04.433
And so they all prayed that god would give them direction
00:19:04.433 --> 00:19:09.238
Over their choice.
00:19:09.671 --> 00:19:11.039
And what did they do after they prayed? (chuckling)
00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:14.142
They rolled the dice.
00:19:14.142 --> 00:19:16.078
(audience laughing)
00:19:16.078 --> 00:19:17.479
Now, you probably didn't think rolling the dice
00:19:17.479 --> 00:19:19.715
Is a biblical thing to do, but it was right here.
00:19:19.715 --> 00:19:22.884
They called it the casting of lots.
00:19:22.884 --> 00:19:25.587
You know what that was?
00:19:25.587 --> 00:19:26.788
They would take two stones
00:19:26.788 --> 00:19:28.657
And they would write the name of each nominee
00:19:28.657 --> 00:19:30.859
On one of the stones.
00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:33.161
They put it in an urn, they shook it and they rolled it
00:19:33.161 --> 00:19:37.266
And the first stone out was god's choice.
00:19:37.266 --> 00:19:41.303
Now, proverbs tells us the lot is cast,
00:19:41.303 --> 00:19:44.406
But the lord makes his choice.
00:19:44.406 --> 00:19:47.843
God worked through that process somehow,
00:19:47.843 --> 00:19:50.812
But that's how they came up with mathias.
00:19:51.713 --> 00:19:54.483
And now that they had their 12 apostles,
00:19:54.483 --> 00:19:56.952
They were ready to wait for the supernatural coming
00:19:56.952 --> 00:20:00.022
Of a holy spirit of god in acts 2.
00:20:00.022 --> 00:20:03.225
As we close today, i want to just share with you
00:20:03.225 --> 00:20:05.794
Three practical applications from this passage
00:20:05.794 --> 00:20:09.731
That speak to each one of us here today.
00:20:09.731 --> 00:20:13.068
A truth about our life,
00:20:13.068 --> 00:20:14.836
About our responsibility and our hope.
00:20:14.836 --> 00:20:17.105
First of all, the truth about our life.
00:20:17.105 --> 00:20:19.741
This passage reminds us
00:20:19.741 --> 00:20:21.109
That god is sovereign over our circumstances,
00:20:21.109 --> 00:20:25.681
Our choices, and even our mistakes.
00:20:25.681 --> 00:20:29.251
Isn't that a comforting thought?
00:20:29.251 --> 00:20:30.952
He's really sovereign overall.
00:20:30.952 --> 00:20:33.355
Was the selection of judas a mistake?
00:20:33.355 --> 00:20:36.525
Well, you could make that argument.
00:20:36.525 --> 00:20:38.060
I mean, after all, look at what he did,
00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:40.295
But it was all part of god's plan.
00:20:40.295 --> 00:20:43.298
You can look at your own mistakes.
00:20:43.298 --> 00:20:44.933
Are they something god willed?
00:20:44.933 --> 00:20:48.937
Well, probably not,
00:20:48.937 --> 00:20:51.340
But god is able to use your worst mistakes
00:20:51.340 --> 00:20:54.509
For his ultimate purpose.
00:20:54.509 --> 00:20:56.545
When i think about that, i think about moses
00:20:56.545 --> 00:20:58.613
And the old testament.
00:20:58.613 --> 00:21:00.215
Did god desire for moses to kill that egyptian soldier
00:21:00.215 --> 00:21:03.785
Out of anger and bury him in the sand?
00:21:03.785 --> 00:21:05.687
No, that wasn't something god desired,
00:21:05.687 --> 00:21:08.357
But isn't it interesting that god used that
00:21:08.357 --> 00:21:11.293
And the 40 years moses spent hiding in the wilderness
00:21:11.293 --> 00:21:14.863
As a result of that, he used that to train moses
00:21:14.863 --> 00:21:17.866
To prepare him for his greatest life's work,
00:21:17.866 --> 00:21:20.702
The leading of the exodus when he was 80 years of age.
00:21:20.702 --> 00:21:23.805
He used moses' mistake for good.
00:21:23.805 --> 00:21:27.275
There's a second truth here that i find
00:21:27.275 --> 00:21:29.277
And that's about our responsibility.
00:21:29.277 --> 00:21:31.947
Our primary mission is to spread the gospel.
00:21:31.947 --> 00:21:35.851
Now, just think about this.
00:21:35.851 --> 00:21:37.786
Why has god left us here for these few years we have?
00:21:37.786 --> 00:21:42.891
This passage tells us for you shall be my what?
00:21:43.892 --> 00:21:48.597
Witnesses.
00:21:48.597 --> 00:21:50.065
Do you realize that if you're a christian,
00:21:50.065 --> 00:21:51.767
Your primary title is not mother, father,
00:21:51.767 --> 00:21:56.571
Husband, wife, pastor, deacon,
00:21:56.571 --> 00:22:01.710
Your primary title is your job assignment, witness.
00:22:02.711 --> 00:22:06.181
We are to be a witness for christ.
00:22:06.181 --> 00:22:09.584
That ought to be our thinking every morning when we wake up
00:22:09.584 --> 00:22:13.255
And when we go to bed at night.
00:22:13.255 --> 00:22:14.756
How can i win more people to faith in christ?
00:22:14.756 --> 00:22:18.827
That's our mission.
00:22:18.827 --> 00:22:20.228
And then a word about our hope.
00:22:20.228 --> 00:22:23.031
That is, a promise delayed is not a promise denied.
00:22:23.031 --> 00:22:27.502
Jesus told his disciples to wait
00:22:27.502 --> 00:22:29.471
For the coming of the holy spirit.
00:22:29.471 --> 00:22:31.006
10 days later, the holy spirit came just as he promised,
00:22:31.006 --> 00:22:35.377
But jesus made another promise to his disciples
00:22:35.377 --> 00:22:38.346
And to each of us.
00:22:38.346 --> 00:22:40.182
He said, "let not your heart be troubled,
00:22:40.182 --> 00:22:42.250
Neither let it be afraid.
00:22:42.250 --> 00:22:43.952
You believe in god, believe in me,
00:22:43.952 --> 00:22:46.655
For i go to prepare a place for you,
00:22:46.655 --> 00:22:49.591
And if i go and prepare a place for you,
00:22:49.591 --> 00:22:51.893
I will come again to take you unto myself that where i am,
00:22:51.893 --> 00:22:57.132
There you may be also."
00:22:57.632 --> 00:22:59.868
For 2,000 years we've been waiting for that promise,
00:23:00.936 --> 00:23:04.806
For that promise of his coming.
00:23:04.806 --> 00:23:07.609
Remember with god a promise delayed is not a promise denied.
00:23:07.609 --> 00:23:12.948
One day jesus christ is coming back again.
00:23:13.849 --> 00:23:19.521
The same jesus who was taken up
00:23:19.521 --> 00:23:21.456
Shall return in the very same way.
00:23:21.456 --> 00:23:25.293
And in this broken world that we all have to live in
00:23:25.293 --> 00:23:28.230
Right now, the promised return of christ
00:23:28.230 --> 00:23:32.267
Is not only our best hope.
00:23:32.267 --> 00:23:35.237
It's our only hope.
00:23:35.704 --> 00:23:37.973
Even so, come quickly, lord jesus, come quickly.
00:23:37.973 --> 00:23:44.246
♪ music ♪
00:23:44.246 --> 00:23:49.284
This hope in christ return has been fueling the church
00:23:49.284 --> 00:23:52.587
Since jesus first ascended into heaven
00:23:52.587 --> 00:23:55.557
And it will keep us going until the day he comes again.
00:23:55.557 --> 00:23:59.828
Now in the time remaining today,
00:23:59.828 --> 00:24:01.696
I want to inform you about our "pathway to victory,"
00:24:01.696 --> 00:24:05.000
Salt & light matching challenge
00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:07.669
That just began earlier this week.
00:24:07.669 --> 00:24:10.305
Your generous gift between now and july 6th will be matched
00:24:10.305 --> 00:24:14.576
And therefore doubled in impact until we reach the goal
00:24:14.576 --> 00:24:18.313
Of $1 million.
00:24:18.313 --> 00:24:20.448
As christians in america, we're called to be
00:24:20.448 --> 00:24:22.450
The salt of the earth and the light of the world.
00:24:22.450 --> 00:24:25.820
In a time when moral darkness seems to grow every day,
00:24:25.820 --> 00:24:29.891
Your gift toward the matching challenge will help us
00:24:29.891 --> 00:24:32.360
Communicate god's word through our television, radio,
00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:36.064
Digital, and print ministry, while equipping christians
00:24:36.064 --> 00:24:39.734
To stand firm on the promises of god.
00:24:39.734 --> 00:24:43.271
Thank you in advance for your generous support.
00:24:43.271 --> 00:24:46.641
Now, stay right there.
00:24:46.641 --> 00:24:47.943
I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
00:24:47.943 --> 00:24:50.745
In just a moment.
00:24:50.745 --> 00:24:52.247
Is fear holding you back from sharing your faith?
00:24:53.281 --> 00:24:56.051
Millions of christians have the desire,
00:24:56.051 --> 00:24:58.153
But lack the courage to speak up.
00:24:58.153 --> 00:25:00.188
With god's holy spirit, you can become unstoppable.
00:25:00.188 --> 00:25:03.758
Our enemy hates for the church to grow, not just in numbers,
00:25:03.758 --> 00:25:07.696
But in it's influence for the gospel.
00:25:07.696 --> 00:25:10.131
And he will do everything he can to stop it.
00:25:10.131 --> 00:25:13.535
So we must do everything we can to stop him.
00:25:13.535 --> 00:25:17.005
In my faith-building book, "unstoppable power",
00:25:17.005 --> 00:25:20.275
You'll discover how to call upon the holy spirit
00:25:20.275 --> 00:25:23.011
To be your confidence in any situation.
00:25:23.011 --> 00:25:26.648
In his best-selling book, unstoppable power,
00:25:26.648 --> 00:25:29.451
Dr. robert jeffress reveals how you can boldy proclaim
00:25:29.451 --> 00:25:32.921
The gospel with the same confidence the apostles had.
00:25:32.921 --> 00:25:35.991
You're invited to request the book, unstoppable power,
00:25:35.991 --> 00:25:39.127
When you give a generous gift to the pathway to victory
00:25:39.127 --> 00:25:41.963
Salt and light matching challenge.
00:25:41.963 --> 00:25:43.999
And when your gift is $75 or more,
00:25:43.999 --> 00:25:46.868
You'll also receive the companion study guide,
00:25:46.868 --> 00:25:49.604
Along with the complete unstoppable power
00:25:49.604 --> 00:25:51.940
Teaching series on dvd video and audio disc.
00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:55.477
We face the same kind of growing opposition
00:25:55.477 --> 00:25:59.547
In the 21st century as those 1st century christians experienced.
00:25:59.547 --> 00:26:04.886
That opposition was no match for the power of jesus christ.
00:26:04.886 --> 00:26:09.257
Remember, your gift today will have twice the impact
00:26:09.257 --> 00:26:12.127
Thanks to the pathway to victory
00:26:12.127 --> 00:26:13.795
Salt and light matching challenge.
00:26:13.795 --> 00:26:15.730
Thank you for partnering with pathway to victory
00:26:15.730 --> 00:26:18.466
As we boldly proclaim the gospel in a world
00:26:18.466 --> 00:26:21.236
That has lost it's way.
00:26:21.236 --> 00:26:23.805
Waiting is never easy,
00:26:24.305 --> 00:26:26.441
Especially when the wait is longer than you expected,
00:26:26.441 --> 00:26:29.978
But a promise delayed is not a promise denied.
00:26:29.978 --> 00:26:34.082
And we can trust that god's timing will be perfect.
00:26:34.082 --> 00:26:38.153
Well, today we spent most of our time
00:26:38.153 --> 00:26:39.888
Talking about the promise that is ye to be kept,
00:26:39.888 --> 00:26:42.857
The return of jesus christ.
00:26:42.857 --> 00:26:44.959
But next time we're going to focus on the promise
00:26:44.959 --> 00:26:47.762
That has already been fulfilled,
00:26:47.762 --> 00:26:50.165
The baptism with the holy spirit.
00:26:50.165 --> 00:26:52.734
Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
00:26:52.734 --> 00:26:55.203
In our series, "unstoppable power."
00:26:55.203 --> 00:26:59.174
It was dr. luke who was the one
00:26:59.808 --> 00:27:02.143
To record the multiple births
00:27:02.143 --> 00:27:05.146
That occurred on the day of pentecost.
00:27:05.146 --> 00:27:08.083
3,000 people were born again on the same day
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And the reverberations of that miraculous event
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Still reverberate in our lives today.
00:27:16.858 --> 00:27:20.061
[narrator] set your dvr and join us next time
00:27:20.061 --> 00:27:22.263
For the message, the birthday of the church
00:27:22.263 --> 00:27:25.300
Here on "pathway to victory."
00:27:25.300 --> 00:27:27.068
♪ music ♪
00:27:27.068 --> 00:27:27.068

Robert Jeffress - The Promise

June 3, 2025 | 27:29

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