Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Promise

June 3, 2025 | S25:E264

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

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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,
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So that he might return to the father."
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In john 16:28 he said, "i'm leaving the world again
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And going to the father."
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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
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To record the multiple births
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That occurred on the day of pentecost.
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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.
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[narrator] set your dvr and join us next time
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For the message, the birthday of the church
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Here on "pathway to victory."
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♪ music ♪
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Robert Jeffress - The Promise

June 3, 2025 | S25:E264

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