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 - Purpose-Driven Healing (Part 2) | June 9, 2025
- ♪ music ♪
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- [announcer] from the pulpit
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- Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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- This is "pathway to victory with dr. robert jeffress".
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- Hi, i am robert jeffress and welcome again
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- To "pathway to victory".
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- No one manages to escape this life
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- Without injury or illness.
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- Whether somebody you love is struggling with some malady
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- Or you yourself are fighting the battle,
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- Health issues affect us all.
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- Today we're going to look at a miraculous healing recorded
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- In acts chapter three,
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- And consider whether god still answers our petitions
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- For miracles.
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- My message is titled, "purpose-driven healing"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory".
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ i can see jesus ♪
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- ♪ high and exalted ♪
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- ♪ my eyes are fixed upon his face ♪
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- ♪ it shines like the sun ♪
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- ♪ i can see jesus ♪
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- ♪ high and exalted ♪
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- ♪ my eyes are fixed upon his face ♪
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- ♪ it shines like the sun ♪
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- ♪ all praise unto the lamb who sits on the throne ♪
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- ♪ honor and power ♪
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- ♪ and we give you praise unto the lamb ♪
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- ♪ who sits on the throne ♪
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- -♪ honor and power ♪ -♪ dominion and praise ♪
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- ♪ hallelujah ♪
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- ♪ all praise unto the lamb who sits in the throne ♪
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- ♪ oh, we give you praise unto the lamb ♪
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- ♪ who was and is and is to come ♪
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- ♪ he is to come ♪
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- ♪ all praise unto the lamb who sits on the throne ♪
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- ♪ dominion and praise ♪
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- ♪ unto the lamb ♪
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- ♪ who was and is and is to come ♪
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- -♪ who is to come ♪ -♪ hallelujah ♪
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- ♪ hallelujah ♪
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- (applause)
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- [announcer] 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 and 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,
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- Will empower "pathway to victory" to proclaim the gospel
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- And stand for biblical truth.
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- Push back and hold strong against moral decline
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- By joining the salt & light matching challenge.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- Have you ever heard the political axiom
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- That's in operation today,
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- "never let a good crisis go to waste."?
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- Peter had another motto he lived by:
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- Never let a good miracle go to waste.
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- This miracle was not an end unto itself.
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- It gave peter a platform to share the message,
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- The gospel of jesus christ.
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- Now, there is a famous saying that is attributed
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- To st. francis of assisi.
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- I don't know whether he actually said it or not,
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- But if he did, it was an idiotic statement to make.
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- You've heard it a million times,
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- "preach the gospel.
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- When necessary, use words."
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- What does that mean?
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- That sounds so good.
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- People say, "yeah, that's what it means.
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- You don't have to preach to people,
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- You don't have to share the message.
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- Just do good things to people and live a good life
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- And somehow automatically by osmosis,
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- They will come to know jesus as savior."
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- That's ridiculous.
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- First of all, none of us is good enough
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- To lead somebody to christ by the life we lead.
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- We're just not.
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- And even if somebody is attracted
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- By the way we live our life and the good things we do,
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- If we don't tell them why we're doing it,
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- How are they supposed to know?
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- They might attribute our good deeds to confucius,
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- Or buddha, or mohamed, or to our aunt ethel,
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- Who is our model.
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- You know, how do they know who is responsible
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- For the good things we're doing?
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- No, if you're going to share the gospel,
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- You have to use words.
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- Paul said faith comes by what?
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- Hearing, not by seeing.
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- Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of god.
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- Peter understood that.
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- It wasn't enough to do a good deed.
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- He had to give the reason behind what he did,
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- And that's what he does when he delivers this message.
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- And i want you to notice three things peter does
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- In this message.
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- First of all, he declares that jesus is the messiah.
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- Look at verses 14 to 16.
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- He said to these jews,
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- "but you disowned the holy righteous one
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- And asked for a murderer to be granted to you."
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- He was referring to what had just happened
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- Two months earlier when the people cried out
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- For barabbas instead of jesus to be released.
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- "but you put to death the prince of life,
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- The one whom god raised from the dead,
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- A fact to which we are all witnesses.
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- And on the basis of faith in his name,
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- It is the name of jesus
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- That has strengthened this man whom you see and know."
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- First of all, he establishes to these jews
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- That jesus is the long-awaited messiah
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- When he uses that phrase, holy and righteous one.
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- That was an old testament term referring to the messiah.
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- It's one of six that peter uses in his preaching.
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- Notice also, he points to both the death
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- And the resurrection of the messiah.
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- "you put him to death, the prince of life,
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- But god raised him from the dead."
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- Now listen to me.
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- When you are sharing an evangelistic message,
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- When you are sharing the gospel with somebody,
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- The gospel message is not about the new life you have.
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- It's not about your breaking an addiction in your life.
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- It's not about a restored marriage that you've experienced.
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- It's not about hearing the birds chirp every morning
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- In a brand new way.
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- None of that is the gospel.
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- The gospel is about the death and resurrection
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- Of jesus christ from the dead.
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- That's what the gospel is.
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- He died for your sins according to the scriptures,
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- And he was raised on the third day,
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- According to the scriptures.
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- And any so-called message that isn't centered on the death
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- And resurrection of christ is a bogus message
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- And will never lead anybody to the savior.
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- That's what we learned from peter.
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- He declared that jesus is the messiah.
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- And by the way, it has to be the death
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- And resurrection of christ.
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- As warren wiersby said,
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- "calvary was man's last word about jesus,
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- But the empty tomb was god's last word about jesus."
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- Secondly, what does peter do
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- After declaring jesus as the messiah?
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- He explains the jews' guilt before god.
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- Look, you can't give somebody the good news
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- Until they embrace the bad news,
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- And the bad news is we are all guilty before god.
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- We are all sinners in need of a savior.
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- You know, i have parents ask me all the time,
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- "how do i know when my child is ready
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- To accept christ as savior, to trust in him?"
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- You know they're ready when they understand sin,
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- That they are sinners in need of a savior
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- And that they understand what jesus did for them.
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- He died for their sins.
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- They have to understand sin,
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- They have to be broken and sorry for their sin,
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- And they have to understand that jesus is their savior.
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- I'm going to climb up on my soapbox for 30 seconds
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- And just say this, parents, whatever you do,
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- Don't talk to your kids
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- About inviting jesus into your heart.
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- "honey, would you like to invite jesus into your heart?"
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- That's like asking a kid,
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- "would you like to invite santa claus into your heart?"
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- I mean, what child wouldn't want to have jesus living in them?
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- That's not the gospel.
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- Never once in the bible is there an invitation
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- To invite jesus into your heart.
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- The invitation in the gospel is to trust in jesus
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- For the forgiveness of your sins.
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- And when a child understands that,
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- He understands that he is ready to become a christian.
- 00:10:06.595 --> 00:10:11.000
- Paul said that he need, or peter was preaching
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- Before these jews and first of all,
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- Before he could deliver the good news,
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- He had to deliver the bad news.
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- They were guilty before god.
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- In verses 13 and 14, he said to these jews
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- In that temple area, "you cried out for barabbas,
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- A murderer, to be released.
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- Instead, you wanted jesus to be crucified."
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- I heard a pastor this week, and he's a friend of mine,
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- And he's a good preacher.
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- He's known for his love of israel, which is good.
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- We ought to all love god's people,
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- But he actually made the statement that the jews had nothing
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- To do with the death of jesus christ, that it is antisemitic
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- To suggest that the jews crucified christ.
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- Pardon me? (laughs)
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- Peter was a jew and he said to these jews he was talking to,
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- "you are the ones that nailed him to the cross."
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- Yeah, it may have been the roman centurion
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- That drove the nails into his hands,
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- But you are the ones who called for him
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- To be crucified, crucified, crucified.
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- No, the jews were responsible.
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- It wasn't just the jewish leaders, it was the jewish people
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- Who were out there calling for the lord to be crucified.
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- That doesn't mean we hate the jews.
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- We love for them.
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- We pray for their salvation.
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- We do everything we can to lead them to christ,
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- But the jews could not be saved
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- Unless they first of all understood their guilt.
- 00:11:36.085 --> 00:11:39.221
- It's interesting in verse 17 how peter deals with it.
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- He's diplomatic, he says,
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- "and now brethren, i know that you acted in ignorance
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- Just as your rulers did."
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- You made a mistake.
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- Perhaps you didn't understand
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- That he was really the messiah,
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- But now that he has been raised from the dead,
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- You are without excuse.
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- That's exactly what he's saying in verse 18.
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- "but the things which god announced beforehand
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- By the mouth of all the prophets,
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- That his christ would suffer, he has thus fulfilled."
- 00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:10.252
- So what does he do as a result of this message?
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- Notice the third component.
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- Peter calls for repentance.
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- Therefore, "therefore repent," change your mind,
- 00:12:16.025 --> 00:12:21.363
- "return, so that your sins might be wiped away."
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- There again is what the gospel is about,
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- That your sins might be wiped away.
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- That phrase wiped away is the same idea that david,
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- King david expressed in the psalms when he said,
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- "blot out my transgressions."
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- In biblical times, papyrus,
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- Writing surfaces were so expensive,
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- You had to use it over and over again.
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- You dare not write in an acid-based ink
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- Or it would take hold and it could never be erased.
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- You would write in an acid-free ink
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- So that when you're finished with the document,
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- You could take a sponge and you could wipe away
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- What had been written on it.
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- That is a picture of what the blood of christ
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- Does for you and me.
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- When god forgives us, he wipes away our sin.
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- He erases it.
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- He remembers it no more.
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- The invitation is to have your sins wiped away,
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- But it doesn't stop there.
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- "in order that the times of refreshing come
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- From the presence of god."
- 00:13:21.590 --> 00:13:23.893
- It goes on to say, "that he might send jesus,
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- The christ appointed for you,
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- Whom heaven must receive until the period
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- Of restoration of all things."
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- What is he talking about, the times of refreshing,
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- The times of restoration?
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- These are all references to the millennium,
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- The thousand year reign of christ
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- When god will fulfill his promise
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- To believing the israel.
- 00:13:42.978 --> 00:13:44.914
- You see, for jews to come to faith in christ,
- 00:13:44.914 --> 00:13:47.716
- There was both a personal blessing,
- 00:13:47.716 --> 00:13:50.252
- Their sins were washed away,
- 00:13:50.252 --> 00:13:51.854
- But there was a national blessing,
- 00:13:51.854 --> 00:13:54.023
- That god's promise to abraham would be fulfilled.
- 00:13:54.023 --> 00:13:58.260
- That's what he was inviting them to do.
- 00:13:58.260 --> 00:14:00.896
- How did the crowd react to peter's bold message?
- 00:14:00.896 --> 00:14:05.467
- We're going to see the reaction in acts four next time,
- 00:14:05.467 --> 00:14:09.838
- But today, i want to close with two timeless truths
- 00:14:09.838 --> 00:14:13.943
- That apply for us today.
- 00:14:13.943 --> 00:14:16.645
- Truth number one, i want you to listen carefully,
- 00:14:16.645 --> 00:14:20.449
- 'cause this is going to surprise some of you.
- 00:14:21.383 --> 00:14:23.285
- Truth number one is: the church's mission
- 00:14:23.285 --> 00:14:26.722
- Is to meet the spiritual needs of people.
- 00:14:26.722 --> 00:14:31.327
- The mission of the church is not to heal everybody.
- 00:14:32.394 --> 00:14:35.230
- It's not to feed everybody, it's not to clothe everybody.
- 00:14:35.230 --> 00:14:38.467
- It is to meet the spiritual needs of people.
- 00:14:38.467 --> 00:14:41.370
- You know, a lot of people don't understand that.
- 00:14:41.370 --> 00:14:43.539
- They really view that the church
- 00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:45.474
- Is some sanctified social agency, that, "oh,
- 00:14:45.474 --> 00:14:48.610
- There's a need in our community,
- 00:14:48.610 --> 00:14:49.912
- If there's a need in our country, oh,
- 00:14:49.912 --> 00:14:51.213
- The church ought be right there doing it.
- 00:14:51.213 --> 00:14:53.115
- You know, that's our job.
- 00:14:53.115 --> 00:14:54.216
- We're a sanctified social agency."
- 00:14:54.216 --> 00:14:56.251
- No, that's not what the church has been mandated to do.
- 00:14:56.251 --> 00:15:00.689
- You know, peter drucker, many of you know his name.
- 00:15:00.689 --> 00:15:03.125
- He was the management expert, american management expert.
- 00:15:03.125 --> 00:15:07.329
- Many people don't know he was also a christian.
- 00:15:07.329 --> 00:15:10.366
- And i read an article he wrote one time
- 00:15:10.366 --> 00:15:12.167
- About effective churches and he said,
- 00:15:12.167 --> 00:15:14.203
- "for churches to be really effective for god,
- 00:15:14.203 --> 00:15:17.272
- They have to learn to say no to certain good ministries
- 00:15:17.272 --> 00:15:22.277
- That other people think they ought to be engaged in."
- 00:15:22.277 --> 00:15:24.480
- And he used this illustration.
- 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:26.215
- He said if you go to the american lung association
- 00:15:26.215 --> 00:15:29.518
- And you say to them,
- 00:15:29.518 --> 00:15:30.819
- "have you seen those frightening statistics
- 00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:32.788
- That 97% of all americans have ingrown toenails?
- 00:15:32.788 --> 00:15:35.991
- What are you going to do about it?"
- 00:15:35.991 --> 00:15:37.960
- The american lung association will basically say to you,
- 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:40.629
- "our interest in people stops above the neck
- 00:15:40.629 --> 00:15:43.465
- And below the navel.
- 00:15:43.465 --> 00:15:44.933
- We don't care about ingrown toenails,
- 00:15:45.768 --> 00:15:47.870
- We don't care about anything except a person's lungs.
- 00:15:47.870 --> 00:15:52.107
- That is our focus."
- 00:15:52.107 --> 00:15:54.576
- Peter drucker says, "the church needs to be the same way.
- 00:15:54.576 --> 00:15:58.380
- Many people feel like the church exists
- 00:15:58.380 --> 00:16:00.649
- To take care of every problem and it's terribly hard
- 00:16:00.649 --> 00:16:04.019
- For them to say no.
- 00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:06.055
- And yet, the effective churches are the ones that say no."
- 00:16:06.055 --> 00:16:12.995
- Think about this.
- 00:16:13.429 --> 00:16:14.730
- Every government agency,
- 00:16:14.730 --> 00:16:16.632
- Every social agency in america today is all focused,
- 00:16:16.632 --> 00:16:21.303
- They're all focused on the same thing,
- 00:16:21.303 --> 00:16:23.272
- Taking care of the needs of people
- 00:16:23.272 --> 00:16:25.007
- On this side of the grave.
- 00:16:25.007 --> 00:16:27.443
- Only the church of jesus christ takes care
- 00:16:27.443 --> 00:16:30.245
- Of people's needs on the other side of the grave,
- 00:16:30.245 --> 00:16:33.449
- For all eternity.
- 00:16:33.449 --> 00:16:35.384
- When jesus gave the great commission, he didn't say,
- 00:16:35.384 --> 00:16:37.886
- "go into all the world and feed the hungry,
- 00:16:37.886 --> 00:16:40.289
- Clothe the naked, provide shelter for the homeless."
- 00:16:40.289 --> 00:16:43.459
- He said, "go into all the world," and what?
- 00:16:43.459 --> 00:16:46.462
- Make disciples.
- 00:16:46.462 --> 00:16:48.363
- How do you do it?
- 00:16:48.363 --> 00:16:49.665
- Baptizing them in the name of the father,
- 00:16:49.665 --> 00:16:51.433
- Son, and holy spirit.
- 00:16:51.433 --> 00:16:53.802
- Evangelism, "teaching them
- 00:16:53.802 --> 00:16:56.839
- To observe all things whatsoever i commanded you."
- 00:16:56.839 --> 00:16:59.875
- That's what the unique mission of the church is.
- 00:16:59.875 --> 00:17:02.744
- "well, pastor, what about that passage in james?
- 00:17:02.744 --> 00:17:05.247
- If you see a brother or sister in need
- 00:17:05.247 --> 00:17:07.116
- And you don't answer their need, your faith is worthless."?
- 00:17:07.116 --> 00:17:10.853
- That's exactly right.
- 00:17:10.853 --> 00:17:12.354
- The key is a brother or sister, a fellow christian.
- 00:17:12.354 --> 00:17:16.358
- We have a great responsibility in our church
- 00:17:16.358 --> 00:17:19.128
- To watch out for the needs of one another
- 00:17:19.128 --> 00:17:21.463
- And we'll see that illustrated in the book of acts.
- 00:17:21.463 --> 00:17:23.732
- The early church, if anybody had a need,
- 00:17:23.732 --> 00:17:26.502
- Their need was taken care of by other people in the church,
- 00:17:26.502 --> 00:17:29.705
- But there is no mandate to take care
- 00:17:29.705 --> 00:17:32.407
- Of the physical needs of people.
- 00:17:32.407 --> 00:17:34.810
- That's why peter didn't spend the rest
- 00:17:35.644 --> 00:17:37.646
- Of the day healing people.
- 00:17:37.646 --> 00:17:39.081
- Instead, he preached the gospel to people
- 00:17:39.081 --> 00:17:42.184
- That would provide the ultimate healing they need.
- 00:17:42.184 --> 00:17:44.953
- Second truth i see in this passage is:
- 00:17:44.953 --> 00:17:47.389
- All healing ultimately comes from god.
- 00:17:47.389 --> 00:17:51.093
- Peter's, was very clear in his message.
- 00:17:51.093 --> 00:17:54.863
- He said, "this didn't come from me,
- 00:17:54.863 --> 00:17:56.331
- It came from the name, the authority of jesus."
- 00:17:56.331 --> 00:18:00.669
- Does god heal people today?
- 00:18:00.669 --> 00:18:02.638
- You bet he does.
- 00:18:02.638 --> 00:18:04.907
- Sometimes god heals directly, he just heals.
- 00:18:05.807 --> 00:18:10.045
- Some of you have experienced that before.
- 00:18:10.045 --> 00:18:13.115
- Sometimes god uses doctors
- 00:18:13.682 --> 00:18:17.252
- And he uses medicine to bring about healing.
- 00:18:17.252 --> 00:18:20.088
- You say, "now where do you get that in the bible?"
- 00:18:20.088 --> 00:18:22.391
- I'm so glad you asked.
- 00:18:22.391 --> 00:18:23.992
- Isaiah 38.
- 00:18:23.992 --> 00:18:25.661
- King hezekiah was given the message
- 00:18:25.661 --> 00:18:28.096
- That he was going to die soon
- 00:18:28.096 --> 00:18:29.598
- And he needed to get his affairs together
- 00:18:29.598 --> 00:18:32.134
- And so he cried out to god for healing.
- 00:18:32.134 --> 00:18:34.336
- God granted him an extra 15 years.
- 00:18:34.336 --> 00:18:37.573
- But how did god provide that healing?
- 00:18:37.573 --> 00:18:39.808
- He did it through isaiah.
- 00:18:39.808 --> 00:18:41.376
- Isaiah 38:21, "and isaiah had said,
- 00:18:41.376 --> 00:18:44.813
- 'let them take a lump of figs and lay it on
- 00:18:44.813 --> 00:18:48.083
- For a plaster upon the boil and he shall recover.'"
- 00:18:48.083 --> 00:18:53.188
- The figs in the plaster were the best medicine they had then
- 00:18:53.188 --> 00:18:56.191
- To take care of the problem,
- 00:18:56.191 --> 00:18:57.759
- But god used it to extend 15 more years to hezekiah's life.
- 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:02.531
- I mean, he eventually died,
- 00:19:02.531 --> 00:19:04.132
- But he got 15 years more of life.
- 00:19:04.132 --> 00:19:07.269
- When you come to james chapter five, verse 14,
- 00:19:07.269 --> 00:19:10.539
- One of the earliest books written in the new testament,
- 00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:13.075
- James said, "is any among you sick?
- 00:19:13.075 --> 00:19:15.711
- Then he must call for the elders of the church
- 00:19:15.711 --> 00:19:19.448
- And they are to pray over him,
- 00:19:19.448 --> 00:19:21.817
- Anointing him with oil in the name of the lord."
- 00:19:21.817 --> 00:19:26.755
- And when you look at that verse in the greek language,
- 00:19:26.755 --> 00:19:29.992
- It actually is a participial phrase
- 00:19:29.992 --> 00:19:32.561
- That could be translated this way.
- 00:19:32.561 --> 00:19:36.031
- "call for the elders of the church, let them pray,
- 00:19:37.032 --> 00:19:41.403
- And having anointed him with oil
- 00:19:41.403 --> 00:19:44.640
- In the name of the lord jesus, let them pray."
- 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:47.876
- Having already anointed him, let them pray.
- 00:19:47.876 --> 00:19:50.979
- In other words, that phrase anointing
- 00:19:50.979 --> 00:19:53.582
- Is a subservient phrase to the main verb, pray.
- 00:19:53.582 --> 00:19:57.986
- In james' day, oil was a medicinal agent.
- 00:19:58.854 --> 00:20:01.390
- It was thought to bring healing.
- 00:20:01.390 --> 00:20:03.058
- What james is saying is, if you have somebody who is sick,
- 00:20:03.058 --> 00:20:06.428
- Yes, go to the doctor.
- 00:20:06.428 --> 00:20:08.497
- Yes, use chemotherapy,
- 00:20:08.497 --> 00:20:10.198
- Use whatever you have at your disposal.
- 00:20:10.198 --> 00:20:13.101
- Do that, of course.
- 00:20:13.101 --> 00:20:15.504
- But the most important thing you can do,
- 00:20:15.504 --> 00:20:17.306
- Having done that already, is to pray.
- 00:20:17.306 --> 00:20:21.109
- That's what the word of god says.
- 00:20:21.109 --> 00:20:23.712
- How are we to respond when we face illness?
- 00:20:23.712 --> 00:20:27.282
- Or somebody we know faces illness?
- 00:20:27.282 --> 00:20:30.185
- First of all, we are to pray.
- 00:20:30.185 --> 00:20:33.588
- Pray.
- 00:20:33.822 --> 00:20:34.923
- Secondly, we could and should,
- 00:20:35.557 --> 00:20:37.659
- Seek the best medical care available.
- 00:20:37.659 --> 00:20:40.095
- Whatever god has provided for us,
- 00:20:40.095 --> 00:20:42.297
- Let's take advantage of that.
- 00:20:42.297 --> 00:20:44.366
- Pray, go to the doctor, seek healing,
- 00:20:44.366 --> 00:20:48.036
- And thirdly, leave the results to god.
- 00:20:48.036 --> 00:20:52.474
- That's the prayer of faith.
- 00:20:52.474 --> 00:20:54.443
- The prayer of faith is saying,
- 00:20:54.443 --> 00:20:55.544
- "god, this is what i'm praying for.
- 00:20:55.544 --> 00:20:57.179
- This is what i want, but i believe you know what is best."
- 00:20:57.179 --> 00:21:01.883
- Boldly pray, quietly rest in god's answer.
- 00:21:01.883 --> 00:21:06.655
- Sometimes god says yes to our request for healing.
- 00:21:06.655 --> 00:21:09.691
- -he just like that. -(fingers snap)
- 00:21:09.691 --> 00:21:12.861
- You know, be honest with you.
- 00:21:12.861 --> 00:21:15.197
- I don't ever get that excited about stories i hear
- 00:21:15.197 --> 00:21:17.766
- About people's healing,
- 00:21:17.766 --> 00:21:19.668
- Because i know however miraculous it was,
- 00:21:19.668 --> 00:21:22.304
- It was also temporary, just like hezekiah's.
- 00:21:22.304 --> 00:21:25.574
- We're all going to get sick and die
- 00:21:25.574 --> 00:21:28.310
- Unless the rapture comes first.
- 00:21:28.310 --> 00:21:31.380
- All healing is temporary
- 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:33.849
- Until we experience the ultimate healing.
- 00:21:33.849 --> 00:21:37.252
- But sometimes yes, god says yes, he extends our life,
- 00:21:37.252 --> 00:21:41.723
- He provides additional time on this earth.
- 00:21:41.723 --> 00:21:44.993
- Sometimes god says no.
- 00:21:44.993 --> 00:21:47.929
- For 60 plus years he has said no to joni eareckson tada.
- 00:21:49.064 --> 00:21:53.835
- He said no to both of my parents who requested healing
- 00:21:54.936 --> 00:21:58.540
- And were anointed with oil and prayed, but god said no.
- 00:21:58.540 --> 00:22:03.845
- And he says no to others as well.
- 00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:06.314
- I think about the pastor of this church for 50 years,
- 00:22:06.314 --> 00:22:10.218
- Dr. george w. truett.
- 00:22:10.218 --> 00:22:12.788
- Many of you know that in the last year his life,
- 00:22:12.788 --> 00:22:15.524
- He was in horrific, excruciating pain
- 00:22:15.524 --> 00:22:18.794
- And he was allergic to all painkillers.
- 00:22:18.794 --> 00:22:22.431
- So he had no assistance from painkillers.
- 00:22:22.431 --> 00:22:24.933
- He was in terrible pain.
- 00:22:24.933 --> 00:22:26.601
- And members of the church wondered,
- 00:22:26.601 --> 00:22:28.670
- "why would god allow a godly servant like dr. truett
- 00:22:28.670 --> 00:22:33.141
- To get sick to begin with and then to go
- 00:22:33.141 --> 00:22:35.277
- Through such horrific suffering?"
- 00:22:35.277 --> 00:22:38.647
- And dr. truett used to comfort this congregation by saying,
- 00:22:38.647 --> 00:22:43.051
- Especially during the last year of his life,
- 00:22:43.051 --> 00:22:46.221
- "not my will but thine be done."
- 00:22:46.221 --> 00:22:50.258
- That's what every christian can rest in.
- 00:22:51.126 --> 00:22:53.428
- God hears us, but he knows what's best.
- 00:22:53.428 --> 00:22:56.665
- As he said to the apostle paul who asked three times
- 00:22:56.665 --> 00:22:59.668
- For healing, when paul begged god to heal him, god said,
- 00:22:59.668 --> 00:23:03.438
- "no, my grace is sufficient for you."
- 00:23:03.438 --> 00:23:07.476
- And so paul concluded most gladly,
- 00:23:07.476 --> 00:23:09.644
- "therefore, i will rather boast about my weaknesses
- 00:23:09.644 --> 00:23:14.182
- So that the power of christ may dwell in me."
- 00:23:14.182 --> 00:23:18.253
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:18.253 --> 00:23:23.959
- Maybe you or someone you love is going through a season
- 00:23:23.959 --> 00:23:26.828
- Of suffering right now.
- 00:23:26.828 --> 00:23:28.697
- I pray that god uses this study in acts
- 00:23:28.697 --> 00:23:31.266
- To heighten your confidence in his purpose.
- 00:23:31.266 --> 00:23:34.703
- Paul said it best, "in our weakness, god makes us strong."
- 00:23:34.703 --> 00:23:40.141
- Well, in closing today,
- 00:23:40.141 --> 00:23:41.810
- I want to tell you about an incredible opportunity
- 00:23:41.810 --> 00:23:43.945
- To double the impact of your ministry gift
- 00:23:43.945 --> 00:23:47.115
- Through the salt & light matching challenge.
- 00:23:47.115 --> 00:23:50.185
- As you give between now and july 6th,
- 00:23:50.185 --> 00:23:52.954
- Your gift will have twice the ministry impact
- 00:23:52.954 --> 00:23:56.191
- Until we reach the finish line.
- 00:23:56.191 --> 00:23:58.560
- The bible reminds us that you are the salt of the earth
- 00:23:58.560 --> 00:24:02.464
- And you are the light of the world.
- 00:24:02.464 --> 00:24:04.966
- Therefore, this is not a time to retreat,
- 00:24:04.966 --> 00:24:07.802
- But to step forward and advance the kingdom of god.
- 00:24:07.802 --> 00:24:11.540
- Your gift today toward the matching challenge
- 00:24:11.540 --> 00:24:13.875
- Will empower us to communicate the gospel
- 00:24:13.875 --> 00:24:16.778
- And push back against the moral decline
- 00:24:16.778 --> 00:24:19.447
- We see all around us.
- 00:24:19.447 --> 00:24:21.283
- Please get in touch with us before the july 6th deadline
- 00:24:21.283 --> 00:24:25.186
- As we seize this window of opportunity
- 00:24:25.186 --> 00:24:28.156
- That god has opened for us.
- 00:24:28.156 --> 00:24:30.158
- Thank you in advance for your generous support.
- 00:24:30.158 --> 00:24:33.361
- Now stay right there, i'll be back
- 00:24:33.361 --> 00:24:35.063
- With more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
- 00:24:35.063 --> 00:24:38.633
- [announcer] is fear holding you back
- 00:24:39.434 --> 00:24:40.869
- From sharing your faith?
- 00:24:40.869 --> 00:24:42.270
- Millions of christians have the desire
- 00:24:42.270 --> 00:24:44.239
- But lack the courage to speak up.
- 00:24:44.239 --> 00:24:46.341
- With god's holy spirit, you can become unstoppable.
- 00:24:46.341 --> 00:24:49.945
- Our enemy hates for the church to grow,
- 00:24:49.945 --> 00:24:52.447
- Not just in numbers, but in its influence for the gospel.
- 00:24:52.447 --> 00:24:56.384
- And he will do everything he can to stop it.
- 00:24:56.384 --> 00:24:59.754
- So we must do everything we can to stop him.
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- In my faith-building book, "unstoppable power",
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- You'll discover how to call upon the holy spirit
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- To be your confidence in any situation.
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- [announcer] in his bestselling book, "unstoppable power",
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- Dr. robert jeffress reveals
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- How you can boldly proclaim the gospel
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- With the same confidence the apostles had.
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- You're invited to request the book, "unstoppable power",
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- When you give a generous gift
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- To the "pathway to victory" salt & light matching challenge.
- 00:25:26.848 --> 00:25:30.218
- And when your gift is $75 or more,
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- You'll also receive the companion study guide,
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- Along with the complete "unstoppable power" teaching series
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- On dvd video and audio disc.
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- We face the same kind of growing opposition
- 00:25:41.529 --> 00:25:46.201
- In the 21st century
- 00:25:46.201 --> 00:25:48.069
- As those first century christians experienced.
- 00:25:48.069 --> 00:25:50.905
- That opposition was no match for the power of jesus christ.
- 00:25:50.905 --> 00:25:55.443
- [announcer] remember, your gift today
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- As we boldly proclaim the gospel
- 00:26:04.552 --> 00:26:06.621
- In a world that has lost its way.
- 00:26:06.621 --> 00:26:10.291
- When we petition god for healing,
- 00:26:10.959 --> 00:26:13.328
- He doesn't always say yes.
- 00:26:13.328 --> 00:26:15.697
- But in every case, we can rest assured
- 00:26:15.697 --> 00:26:18.233
- That he knows what's best for us.
- 00:26:18.233 --> 00:26:21.069
- And as long as we know christ as savior,
- 00:26:21.069 --> 00:26:23.738
- We will experience the ultimate healing in heaven.
- 00:26:23.738 --> 00:26:27.976
- Well, persecution is on the rise around the world
- 00:26:27.976 --> 00:26:31.012
- And in america as well.
- 00:26:31.012 --> 00:26:32.914
- So how should we respond, not if,
- 00:26:32.914 --> 00:26:35.850
- But when persecution comes?
- 00:26:35.850 --> 00:26:38.353
- Stay tuned for a preview
- 00:26:38.353 --> 00:26:39.621
- Of what's coming up next in our series,
- 00:26:39.621 --> 00:26:41.990
- "unstoppable power".
- 00:26:41.990 --> 00:26:44.259
- Don't say anything offensive, you'll lose your crowd.
- 00:26:45.326 --> 00:26:49.330
- Don't say anything that's divisive
- 00:26:49.330 --> 00:26:52.100
- Or you really won't be successful.
- 00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:55.437
- And yet, the most offensive thing you can say
- 00:26:55.437 --> 00:26:58.339
- When sharing the gospel,
- 00:26:58.339 --> 00:27:00.141
- That jesus is the only way to heaven,
- 00:27:00.141 --> 00:27:02.477
- That offensive claim was the cornerstone
- 00:27:02.477 --> 00:27:06.681
- Of the early church.
- 00:27:06.681 --> 00:27:08.450
- [announcer] set your dvr
- 00:27:08.450 --> 00:27:09.617
- And join us next time for the message,
- 00:27:09.617 --> 00:27:11.619
- "no other name", here on "pathway to victory".
- 00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:14.923
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:27:14.923 --> 00:27:14.923