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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Putting Out The "Not Welcome" Mat (Part 1)

March 3, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Putting Out The "Not Welcome" Mat (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Spirit #War #SpiritualWarfare #Protection #Satan #Enemy #Temptation #ArmorofGod #Righteousness #Self-Righteousness #Jesus #Forgiveness #Grace #Salvation #Faith #RobertJeffress

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Putting Out The "Not Welcome" Mat (Part 1) | March 3, 2026
  • ...
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  • Male announcer: experience a journey that will refresh your
  • 00:00:00.824 --> 00:00:02.926
  • Spirit and renew your faith on the pathway to victory cruise to
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  • Alaska, june 13-20, 2026.
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  • Jeffress: sail aboard holland america's luxurious koningsdam
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  • Through british columbia's beautiful inside passage.
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  • From the pristine waters of glacier bay to the charming
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  • Frontier towns of juneau, ketchikan, and skagway, you'll
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  • Witness god's handiwork on full display.
  • 00:00:24.848 --> 00:00:28.318
  • Announcer: imagine standing on deck surrounded by towering
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  • Glaciers and snowcapped mountains while enjoying
  • 00:00:30.954 --> 00:00:33.556
  • Powerful bible teaching from dr. jeffress.
  • 00:00:33.556 --> 00:00:36.392
  • Then enjoy spirit-lifting worship led by michael o'brien
  • 00:00:36.392 --> 00:00:40.130
  • And share plenty of laughter with dennis swanberg, america's
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  • Minister of encouragement.
  • 00:00:43.333 --> 00:00:45.101
  • Jeffress: this is more than just a vacation.
  • 00:00:45.101 --> 00:00:47.237
  • It's a sacred pause to reconnect with the lord.
  • 00:00:47.237 --> 00:00:50.740
  • Announcer: to reserve your cabin on the 2026 pathway to victory
  • 00:00:50.740 --> 00:00:53.510
  • Cruise to alaska, call ... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:00:53.510 --> 00:01:00.450
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:00.817 --> 00:01:06.956
  • Announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
  • 00:01:06.956 --> 00:01:09.626
  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with dr.
  • 00:01:09.626 --> 00:01:12.795
  • Robert jeffress.
  • 00:01:12.795 --> 00:01:15.331
  • Jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome again
  • 00:01:15.331 --> 00:01:17.300
  • To "pathway to victory."
  • 00:01:17.300 --> 00:01:19.002
  • We all know the importance of taking care of our
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  • Physical health.
  • 00:01:21.704 --> 00:01:23.072
  • We wash our hands, eat right, and exercise, all in an effort
  • 00:01:23.072 --> 00:01:27.076
  • To keep our bodies healthy.
  • 00:01:27.076 --> 00:01:29.078
  • But what about our spiritual health?
  • 00:01:29.078 --> 00:01:31.381
  • How do we protect ourselves against the attacks of
  • 00:01:31.381 --> 00:01:34.017
  • The enemy?
  • 00:01:34.017 --> 00:01:35.385
  • Today i'm going to explain how righteous living creates an
  • 00:01:35.385 --> 00:01:39.022
  • Environment in our hearts that sends satan and his
  • 00:01:39.022 --> 00:01:42.125
  • Demons packing.
  • 00:01:42.125 --> 00:01:43.793
  • My message is titled "putting out the 'not welcome' mat" on
  • 00:01:43.793 --> 00:01:48.298
  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:01:48.298 --> 00:01:52.502
  • Announcer: whether you know it or not, you're in a battle.
  • 00:01:56.706 --> 00:01:58.875
  • Satan has a strategy to attack your faith, disrupt your family,
  • 00:01:58.875 --> 00:02:02.345
  • And derail your future, but god has given you everything you
  • 00:02:02.345 --> 00:02:05.982
  • Need to fight back and win.
  • 00:02:05.982 --> 00:02:08.117
  • In "the divine defense," dr. robert jeffress reveals six
  • 00:02:08.117 --> 00:02:11.888
  • Practical strategies from ephesians chapter 6 to defeat
  • 00:02:11.888 --> 00:02:15.425
  • Satan's destructive plan.
  • 00:02:15.425 --> 00:02:17.260
  • When you put on the full armor of god, satan doesn't have
  • 00:02:17.260 --> 00:02:20.163
  • A prayer.
  • 00:02:20.163 --> 00:02:21.497
  • Request "the divine defense" when you give a generous
  • 00:02:21.497 --> 00:02:23.700
  • Ministry gift to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:02:23.700 --> 00:02:27.370
  • Announcer: stay tuned for a very special "ask dr. jeffress"
  • 00:02:27.437 --> 00:02:30.273
  • Segment after today's message.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: some time ago i had an opportunity to visit with the
  • 00:02:40.183 --> 00:02:43.152
  • Christian health expert jordan rubin who wrote a number of
  • 00:02:43.152 --> 00:02:47.223
  • Bestselling books, including "the maker's diet."
  • 00:02:47.223 --> 00:02:50.994
  • We were scheduled to be on the same television program in
  • 00:02:50.994 --> 00:02:53.963
  • Atlanta and so we shared a car to the studio, and i thought,
  • 00:02:53.963 --> 00:02:57.934
  • "this is great opportunity to get some expert and some
  • 00:02:57.934 --> 00:03:02.205
  • Free advice."
  • 00:03:02.205 --> 00:03:03.840
  • And so i took advantage of the opportunity and i talked to
  • 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:06.342
  • Jordan about this health issue i had every year at flu season.
  • 00:03:06.342 --> 00:03:12.482
  • Invariably, every year, every january or february, some
  • 00:03:12.482 --> 00:03:17.320
  • Well-meaning but mucus-dripping church member would feel
  • 00:03:17.320 --> 00:03:22.158
  • Compelled to share his warm feelings and germs with me via
  • 00:03:22.158 --> 00:03:26.929
  • A handshake.
  • 00:03:26.929 --> 00:03:28.665
  • Now, this was back before the fist bump.
  • 00:03:28.665 --> 00:03:31.301
  • This is when i felt compelled to actually shake hands
  • 00:03:31.301 --> 00:03:33.870
  • With people.
  • 00:03:33.870 --> 00:03:35.204
  • And so i would grab his hand and then i would go to the restroom
  • 00:03:35.204 --> 00:03:39.208
  • As quickly as i could and try to wash it off.
  • 00:03:39.208 --> 00:03:42.211
  • Sometime it worked.
  • 00:03:42.211 --> 00:03:43.579
  • Sometimes it didn't work.
  • 00:03:43.579 --> 00:03:44.914
  • But i asked him what he thought i ought to do because that cold
  • 00:03:44.914 --> 00:03:48.284
  • Would turn into bronchial infection, then i'd lose my
  • 00:03:48.284 --> 00:03:51.220
  • Voice, which wasn't a good thing.
  • 00:03:51.220 --> 00:03:53.356
  • And so he surprised me by his answer.
  • 00:03:53.356 --> 00:03:55.124
  • He said, "you know, there's really not a lot you can do to
  • 00:03:55.124 --> 00:03:58.227
  • Keep germs from being attracted to you unless you wanna go
  • 00:03:58.227 --> 00:04:01.464
  • Isolate yourself from everybody and everything."
  • 00:04:01.464 --> 00:04:05.001
  • He said, "but you can make your body inhospitable to germs.
  • 00:04:05.001 --> 00:04:09.839
  • You can go through a regimen of personal hygiene, diet, exercise
  • 00:04:09.839 --> 00:04:16.145
  • That will discourage germs that try to infect you.
  • 00:04:16.145 --> 00:04:20.817
  • They feel unwelcome in your life and go jump on somebody else."
  • 00:04:20.817 --> 00:04:25.154
  • Well, i thought, you know, there's a spiritual application
  • 00:04:25.154 --> 00:04:27.957
  • To that principle.
  • 00:04:27.957 --> 00:04:29.559
  • Have you discovered we can't always keep satan and his demons
  • 00:04:29.559 --> 00:04:34.564
  • From attacking us?
  • 00:04:34.564 --> 00:04:36.332
  • But we can create an environment in our life that is inhospitable
  • 00:04:36.332 --> 00:04:41.604
  • To satan and his helpers.
  • 00:04:41.604 --> 00:04:44.173
  • We can live in such a way that they don't feel welcome in
  • 00:04:44.173 --> 00:04:47.510
  • Our life.
  • 00:04:47.510 --> 00:04:48.845
  • Remember what james said in james chapter 4, verse 7?
  • 00:04:48.845 --> 00:04:52.115
  • Resist the devil, and he will what?
  • 00:04:52.115 --> 00:04:54.517
  • He will flee from you.
  • 00:04:54.517 --> 00:04:57.053
  • Luke 4, jesus was tempted by satan three different times in a
  • 00:04:57.053 --> 00:05:01.124
  • Short amount of time and he resisted satan.
  • 00:05:01.124 --> 00:05:04.494
  • And that account in verse 13 closes with these words: "and
  • 00:05:04.494 --> 00:05:08.498
  • Satan left him for a more opportune time.
  • 00:05:08.498 --> 00:05:13.770
  • We can put out the "not welcome" mat at the entrance to our
  • 00:05:13.770 --> 00:05:19.275
  • Hearts that makes satan feel unwelcome in our life.
  • 00:05:19.275 --> 00:05:23.546
  • Paul had a different name for that "not welcome" mat.
  • 00:05:23.546 --> 00:05:27.717
  • It's called the breastplate of righteousness, and it's what
  • 00:05:27.717 --> 00:05:31.587
  • We're going to talk about today.
  • 00:05:31.587 --> 00:05:32.989
  • If you have your bibles, turn to ephesians chapter 6.
  • 00:05:32.989 --> 00:05:36.426
  • For those of you who may have just joined us, we're in a
  • 00:05:36.426 --> 00:05:38.661
  • Series called "the divine defense."
  • 00:05:38.661 --> 00:05:41.063
  • It's a series on spiritual warfare.
  • 00:05:41.063 --> 00:05:44.400
  • It's a series on how to resist satan's plan to destroy
  • 00:05:44.400 --> 00:05:49.038
  • Your life.
  • 00:05:49.038 --> 00:05:50.540
  • Do you need me to tell you that we're in a spiritual war
  • 00:05:50.540 --> 00:05:53.109
  • Right now?
  • 00:05:53.109 --> 00:05:54.444
  • It's everywhere around us.
  • 00:05:54.444 --> 00:05:55.978
  • We are living not on a playground but on
  • 00:05:55.978 --> 00:05:58.548
  • A battleground.
  • 00:05:58.548 --> 00:05:59.982
  • We are in a war.
  • 00:05:59.982 --> 00:06:02.952
  • Our struggle--our death struggle, paul writes in
  • 00:06:02.952 --> 00:06:06.322
  • Ephesians 6, what is the war against?
  • 00:06:06.322 --> 00:06:09.492
  • We need to know who our adversary.
  • 00:06:09.492 --> 00:06:11.494
  • Ladies and gentlemen, our adversary is not other people
  • 00:06:11.494 --> 00:06:15.031
  • With different philosophies.
  • 00:06:15.031 --> 00:06:17.333
  • Our enemy is not other people of different political parties.
  • 00:06:17.333 --> 00:06:22.071
  • Our adversary is not other people who have different
  • 00:06:22.071 --> 00:06:24.974
  • Sexual choices.
  • 00:06:24.974 --> 00:06:27.210
  • Our enemy is not other people.
  • 00:06:27.210 --> 00:06:30.213
  • Paul said our struggle is not against flesh and blood.
  • 00:06:30.213 --> 00:06:34.517
  • It's against the unseen powers of wickedness in the
  • 00:06:34.517 --> 00:06:37.353
  • Heavenly places.
  • 00:06:37.353 --> 00:06:38.721
  • That's who our war is against.
  • 00:06:38.721 --> 00:06:41.090
  • You know, i've heard people this week, good people, members of
  • 00:06:41.090 --> 00:06:44.861
  • Our church say, "i'm just so angry.
  • 00:06:44.861 --> 00:06:47.263
  • I don't know what to do.
  • 00:06:47.263 --> 00:06:48.598
  • I'm angry."
  • 00:06:48.598 --> 00:06:49.966
  • That's fine to be angry.
  • 00:06:49.966 --> 00:06:51.300
  • You ought to be angry.
  • 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:52.802
  • The reason we get angry is because we're made in the image
  • 00:06:52.802 --> 00:06:55.104
  • Of god, who gets angry.
  • 00:06:55.104 --> 00:06:57.907
  • God hates injustice.
  • 00:06:57.907 --> 00:06:59.242
  • He hates murder.
  • 00:06:59.242 --> 00:07:00.977
  • God gets angry.
  • 00:07:00.977 --> 00:07:02.345
  • But we need to direct that anger toward the right person.
  • 00:07:02.345 --> 00:07:04.614
  • It's not other people that are the problem.
  • 00:07:04.614 --> 00:07:07.183
  • Other people are the pawns of our enemy.
  • 00:07:07.183 --> 00:07:09.752
  • Our enemy is satan himself.
  • 00:07:09.752 --> 00:07:13.022
  • And if we're going to win in our battle against satan, we better
  • 00:07:13.022 --> 00:07:16.225
  • Use the spiritual weapons that god has given us, and they're
  • 00:07:16.225 --> 00:07:20.463
  • Listed in ephesians chapter 6.
  • 00:07:20.463 --> 00:07:23.733
  • We talked about those spiritual weapons beginning last time.
  • 00:07:23.733 --> 00:07:27.503
  • Remember the first thing he said was put on the belt of truth,
  • 00:07:27.503 --> 00:07:32.074
  • Where he says in ephesians 6:14, "stand firm therefore, having
  • 00:07:32.074 --> 00:07:36.178
  • Girded your loins with truth."
  • 00:07:36.178 --> 00:07:38.681
  • Roman soldiers would first put on that leather belt.
  • 00:07:38.681 --> 00:07:41.918
  • He would tuck in the loose ends of a tunic so he didn't trip
  • 00:07:41.918 --> 00:07:44.921
  • Up himself.
  • 00:07:44.921 --> 00:07:46.289
  • In the same way, these loose thoughts we have, we need to
  • 00:07:46.289 --> 00:07:49.225
  • Confront them with the truth of god's word.
  • 00:07:49.225 --> 00:07:53.329
  • We said that strategy simply means to recognize and replace
  • 00:07:53.329 --> 00:07:57.099
  • Wrong thoughts with god's thoughts.
  • 00:07:57.099 --> 00:07:59.669
  • But the second piece of weaponry is mentioned also in verse 14.
  • 00:07:59.669 --> 00:08:04.440
  • "and having put on the breastplate of righteousness."
  • 00:08:04.440 --> 00:08:09.545
  • What is the breastplate of righteousness?
  • 00:08:09.545 --> 00:08:11.547
  • Well, for a roman soldier, the breastplate was essential.
  • 00:08:11.547 --> 00:08:14.951
  • It was a piece of molded metal that covered the torso and
  • 00:08:14.951 --> 00:08:18.988
  • Protected vital organs like the heart and the lungs and
  • 00:08:18.988 --> 00:08:22.491
  • The bowels.
  • 00:08:22.491 --> 00:08:24.026
  • Well, as christians, we need to put on a breastplate.
  • 00:08:24.026 --> 00:08:28.030
  • But it's not of metal, it's a breastplate of righteousness.
  • 00:08:28.030 --> 00:08:33.436
  • What is righteousness?
  • 00:08:33.436 --> 00:08:35.237
  • That's what we're gonna focus on for the few moments we
  • 00:08:35.237 --> 00:08:37.406
  • Have today.
  • 00:08:37.406 --> 00:08:38.741
  • We better know what our breastplate is made of if it's
  • 00:08:38.741 --> 00:08:41.377
  • Gonna be successful in protecting us.
  • 00:08:41.377 --> 00:08:44.013
  • Now, in the bible, righteousness is used all of the time, but
  • 00:08:44.013 --> 00:08:47.583
  • It's used in three distinct ways, and we need to understand
  • 00:08:47.583 --> 00:08:50.853
  • The difference.
  • 00:08:50.853 --> 00:08:52.221
  • First of all, there's what we call self-righteousness.
  • 00:08:52.221 --> 00:08:56.892
  • The word righteous means to be in a right standing with god,
  • 00:08:56.892 --> 00:09:01.130
  • And self-righteousness is our attempt to earn a right standing
  • 00:09:01.130 --> 00:09:05.534
  • With god through our own effort.
  • 00:09:05.534 --> 00:09:08.871
  • By the way, that's how every other religion in the world is
  • 00:09:08.871 --> 00:09:12.441
  • The same.
  • 00:09:12.441 --> 00:09:13.776
  • You know, you hear people say there are hundreds or thousands
  • 00:09:13.776 --> 00:09:15.478
  • Of other religions in the world.
  • 00:09:15.478 --> 00:09:17.046
  • No, other than christianity, there's only one other religion:
  • 00:09:17.046 --> 00:09:20.583
  • The wrong religion, the religion that is made up
  • 00:09:20.583 --> 00:09:23.953
  • Of self-righteousness.
  • 00:09:23.953 --> 00:09:25.554
  • Did you know there's not really a lot of difference between
  • 00:09:25.554 --> 00:09:27.690
  • Other religions, between the isms?
  • 00:09:27.690 --> 00:09:30.359
  • There's not that much difference between buddhism, hinduism,
  • 00:09:30.359 --> 00:09:35.364
  • Islam, judaism.
  • 00:09:35.364 --> 00:09:37.199
  • There's not that much difference in them in the sense that they
  • 00:09:37.199 --> 00:09:40.836
  • All are based on self-righteousness.
  • 00:09:40.836 --> 00:09:43.372
  • They say if you want a right standing with god, here's a list
  • 00:09:43.372 --> 00:09:46.108
  • Of what to do and not do.
  • 00:09:46.108 --> 00:09:47.910
  • Now, different religions have different lists, but it's still
  • 00:09:47.910 --> 00:09:50.980
  • Do this, do this, do this, don't do that, do this, do this, don't
  • 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:54.450
  • Do that.
  • 00:09:54.450 --> 00:09:55.851
  • Christianity is the only religion that is spelled
  • 00:09:55.851 --> 00:09:58.621
  • D-o-n-e, done.
  • 00:09:58.621 --> 00:10:00.122
  • It's not what we do, it's what christ has done for us.
  • 00:10:00.122 --> 00:10:04.026
  • But self-righteousness is the attempt to earn a right standing
  • 00:10:04.026 --> 00:10:07.463
  • Of god, and it never works, why?
  • 00:10:07.463 --> 00:10:10.733
  • Because our righteousness is, first of all, incapable of
  • 00:10:10.733 --> 00:10:14.103
  • Earning god's forgiveness.
  • 00:10:14.103 --> 00:10:16.172
  • Our righteous efforts are incapable of earning
  • 00:10:16.172 --> 00:10:20.242
  • God's forgiveness.
  • 00:10:20.242 --> 00:10:21.610
  • Do you remember this a few years ago here in the metroplex?
  • 00:10:21.610 --> 00:10:24.146
  • There was an atheist coalition called the coalition for reason,
  • 00:10:24.146 --> 00:10:28.117
  • And around christmas time they put these signs on city buses in
  • 00:10:28.117 --> 00:10:31.721
  • Dallas and fort worth, "you can be good without god."
  • 00:10:31.721 --> 00:10:37.259
  • Remember that?
  • 00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:38.594
  • "you can be good without god."
  • 00:10:38.594 --> 00:10:40.096
  • And that sounds so appealing to people.
  • 00:10:40.096 --> 00:10:42.064
  • "we don't need god to be good.
  • 00:10:42.064 --> 00:10:43.399
  • We're good people basically.
  • 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:44.967
  • We can be good without god."
  • 00:10:44.967 --> 00:10:46.702
  • By the way, that was the same philosophy that gripped our
  • 00:10:46.702 --> 00:10:49.405
  • Nation starting in 1962 when the supreme court and the government
  • 00:10:49.405 --> 00:10:53.676
  • Made a concerted effort to remove any acknowledgment of god
  • 00:10:53.676 --> 00:10:57.313
  • From the public schools.
  • 00:10:57.313 --> 00:10:58.681
  • "we don't need to pray.
  • 00:10:58.681 --> 00:11:00.015
  • We don't need god to be good.
  • 00:11:00.015 --> 00:11:01.350
  • We can teach our children to be good without god.
  • 00:11:01.350 --> 00:11:03.719
  • We don't need the bible.
  • 00:11:03.719 --> 00:11:05.287
  • We don't need the ten commandments to be good.
  • 00:11:05.287 --> 00:11:09.225
  • We can be good without god."
  • 00:11:09.225 --> 00:11:10.893
  • As dr. phil would say, how's that been working out for you?
  • 00:11:10.893 --> 00:11:14.563
  • I mean, is our nation better off 60 years later or worse off?
  • 00:11:14.563 --> 00:11:18.868
  • No, you may be able to be good, but the real point is
  • 00:11:18.868 --> 00:11:21.570
  • You can't be good enough.
  • 00:11:21.570 --> 00:11:24.273
  • You see, the question is not whether we can be good, it's,
  • 00:11:24.273 --> 00:11:26.709
  • Can we be good enough to earn god's forgiveness?
  • 00:11:26.709 --> 00:11:29.545
  • And the answer is no.
  • 00:11:29.545 --> 00:11:31.547
  • Because isaiah 64:6 tells us what god thinks of our
  • 00:11:31.547 --> 00:11:36.085
  • Righteousness, our efforts to please him.
  • 00:11:36.085 --> 00:11:39.255
  • Listen to this.
  • 00:11:39.255 --> 00:11:40.623
  • "for all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all of
  • 00:11:40.623 --> 00:11:43.559
  • Our righteous deeds are like filthy garments; and all of us
  • 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:48.264
  • Wither like a leaf.
  • 00:11:48.264 --> 00:11:49.598
  • Our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."
  • 00:11:49.598 --> 00:11:52.935
  • The best you can do is like a dirty garment before god.
  • 00:11:52.935 --> 00:11:56.272
  • Now, that filthy garment in hebrew actually refers to rags
  • 00:11:56.272 --> 00:12:01.410
  • Associated with a woman's menstrual cycle.
  • 00:12:01.410 --> 00:12:06.182
  • I don't need to go any further.
  • 00:12:06.182 --> 00:12:08.484
  • You get the picture.
  • 00:12:08.484 --> 00:12:10.352
  • God says your very best efforts god views as that filthy,
  • 00:12:10.352 --> 00:12:16.892
  • Bloody rag.
  • 00:12:16.892 --> 00:12:18.627
  • That's what your goodness is like.
  • 00:12:18.627 --> 00:12:21.230
  • Our goodness, our righteousness is incapable of earning our
  • 00:12:21.230 --> 00:12:25.501
  • Salvation, but we don't realize that.
  • 00:12:25.501 --> 00:12:27.503
  • The reason we pronounce ourself good is we compare ourselves to
  • 00:12:27.503 --> 00:12:30.673
  • Other people, and it's usually people worse than we are.
  • 00:12:30.673 --> 00:12:34.143
  • We say, "i may not be perfect, but i'm certainly no
  • 00:12:34.143 --> 00:12:37.446
  • Adolf hitler.
  • 00:12:37.446 --> 00:12:38.781
  • I'm not as bad as adolf.
  • 00:12:38.781 --> 00:12:40.149
  • I'm not as bad as serial killer jeffrey dahmer.
  • 00:12:40.149 --> 00:12:43.385
  • I'm not as bad as serial pedophile jeffrey epstein.
  • 00:12:43.385 --> 00:12:46.722
  • I'm not like that."
  • 00:12:46.722 --> 00:12:48.724
  • The problem is god doesn't judge us according to other people.
  • 00:12:48.724 --> 00:12:53.495
  • He judges us according to his son.
  • 00:12:53.495 --> 00:12:56.699
  • Acts 17:31 says there's a day coming when god will judge the
  • 00:12:56.699 --> 00:13:00.703
  • World by the man he's appointed, jesus christ.
  • 00:13:00.703 --> 00:13:05.107
  • Jesus is perfect righteousness.
  • 00:13:05.107 --> 00:13:07.977
  • And when god judges us, he doesn't use other people.
  • 00:13:07.977 --> 00:13:11.313
  • He uses the standard of his son.
  • 00:13:11.313 --> 00:13:13.282
  • And by that standard, all of us have sinned and all of us have
  • 00:13:13.282 --> 00:13:17.353
  • Fallen away from god.
  • 00:13:17.353 --> 00:13:19.555
  • Now, some of us have fallen further than others, but it
  • 00:13:19.555 --> 00:13:22.057
  • Really doesn't matter.
  • 00:13:22.057 --> 00:13:23.392
  • We've all fallen short of the glory of god.
  • 00:13:23.392 --> 00:13:26.462
  • I like to use this illustration.
  • 00:13:26.462 --> 00:13:28.564
  • Think about the distance between the north pole and the
  • 00:13:28.564 --> 00:13:31.767
  • South pole.
  • 00:13:31.767 --> 00:13:33.135
  • The geographic distance between the north and south poles
  • 00:13:33.135 --> 00:13:37.006
  • Is considerable.
  • 00:13:37.006 --> 00:13:38.607
  • It's a long way from santa claus in the north to the penguins in
  • 00:13:38.607 --> 00:13:42.144
  • The south.
  • 00:13:42.144 --> 00:13:43.712
  • That difference is considerable, but it's also negligible
  • 00:13:43.712 --> 00:13:48.617
  • Compared to the distance between planet earth and the farthest
  • 00:13:48.617 --> 00:13:53.055
  • Planets on the end of our universe billions and billions
  • 00:13:53.055 --> 00:13:56.558
  • Of light years away.
  • 00:13:56.558 --> 00:13:58.627
  • See what i'm saying?
  • 00:13:58.627 --> 00:13:59.995
  • The difference between human beings may seem to be vast, but
  • 00:13:59.995 --> 00:14:03.432
  • They're not really that much compared to the distance between
  • 00:14:03.432 --> 00:14:07.069
  • Us and the perfection of jesus christ.
  • 00:14:07.069 --> 00:14:10.205
  • Our self-righteousness is incapable of earning salvation,
  • 00:14:10.205 --> 00:14:13.776
  • But there's a second reason god doesn't allow us to earn
  • 00:14:13.776 --> 00:14:16.912
  • His forgiveness.
  • 00:14:16.912 --> 00:14:18.280
  • If we can earn righteousness, salvation no longer is a gift
  • 00:14:18.280 --> 00:14:23.452
  • But an obligation of god.
  • 00:14:23.452 --> 00:14:25.654
  • Lemme say it again.
  • 00:14:25.654 --> 00:14:27.022
  • If we can earn our righteousness or right standing with god, then
  • 00:14:27.022 --> 00:14:31.393
  • Our salvation is not a gift.
  • 00:14:31.393 --> 00:14:33.696
  • It is an obligation of god.
  • 00:14:33.696 --> 00:14:36.398
  • Turn in your bibles over to romans chapter 4 where paul
  • 00:14:36.398 --> 00:14:39.902
  • Explains this so simply we can understand it.
  • 00:14:39.902 --> 00:14:43.072
  • He says, "what then shall we say that abraham, our forefather
  • 00:14:43.072 --> 00:14:47.242
  • According to the flesh, has found?"
  • 00:14:47.242 --> 00:14:49.411
  • Paul's making the argument that salvation is through faith in
  • 00:14:49.411 --> 00:14:52.414
  • God's grace, not in works.
  • 00:14:52.414 --> 00:14:54.450
  • He says let's look at abraham.
  • 00:14:54.450 --> 00:14:56.185
  • Now, abraham was to the israelites like george
  • 00:14:56.185 --> 00:15:00.689
  • Washington is to us.
  • 00:15:00.689 --> 00:15:02.591
  • George washington is the founder of our country.
  • 00:15:02.591 --> 00:15:04.493
  • Abraham was the founder of the nation of israel.
  • 00:15:04.493 --> 00:15:08.397
  • And if anybody could be saved by works, paul said it should have
  • 00:15:08.397 --> 00:15:11.467
  • Been abraham.
  • 00:15:11.467 --> 00:15:12.835
  • I mean, look at all that he did.
  • 00:15:12.835 --> 00:15:15.037
  • He circumcised himself and his servants.
  • 00:15:15.037 --> 00:15:18.307
  • He offered his son isaac as a sacrifice.
  • 00:15:18.307 --> 00:15:21.710
  • I mean, he did it all.
  • 00:15:21.710 --> 00:15:23.245
  • Was abraham saved by his works?
  • 00:15:23.245 --> 00:15:25.247
  • That's not what the scripture says.
  • 00:15:25.247 --> 00:15:27.149
  • "for if abraham," verse 2, "was justified by works, he has
  • 00:15:27.149 --> 00:15:30.786
  • Something to boast about; but not before god.
  • 00:15:30.786 --> 00:15:33.822
  • For what does the scripture say?
  • 00:15:33.822 --> 00:15:36.692
  • Abraham believed god, and that belief was credited to him
  • 00:15:36.692 --> 00:15:42.231
  • As righteousness."
  • 00:15:42.231 --> 00:15:43.799
  • Remember early in abraham's pilgrimage god said, "abraham,
  • 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:49.938
  • Wake up.
  • 00:15:49.938 --> 00:15:51.306
  • Go outside.
  • 00:15:51.306 --> 00:15:52.641
  • Look at the stars in the sky, see if you can count them."
  • 00:15:52.641 --> 00:15:55.144
  • And so he started trying to count the stars in the sky, and
  • 00:15:55.144 --> 00:15:58.614
  • God said, "so shall your descendants be."
  • 00:15:58.614 --> 00:16:02.718
  • And genesis 15:6 says at that moment abraham believed the
  • 00:16:02.718 --> 00:16:07.689
  • Promises of god and his faith was counted as righteousness.
  • 00:16:07.689 --> 00:16:12.694
  • Abraham wasn't saved by works, he was saved by his faith.
  • 00:16:12.694 --> 00:16:16.098
  • And then paul makes this application in verse 4, "now to
  • 00:16:16.098 --> 00:16:19.101
  • The one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as
  • 00:16:19.101 --> 00:16:25.707
  • What is due."
  • 00:16:25.707 --> 00:16:27.876
  • I should tell you that tomorrow is a religious holiday for
  • 00:16:27.876 --> 00:16:32.314
  • Our staff.
  • 00:16:32.314 --> 00:16:33.682
  • Happens twice a month.
  • 00:16:33.682 --> 00:16:35.017
  • It's called payday.
  • 00:16:35.017 --> 00:16:36.385
  • Every 15th and 30th.
  • 00:16:36.385 --> 00:16:38.854
  • And our staff loves to celebrate.
  • 00:16:38.854 --> 00:16:40.622
  • But i'll tell you we have a wonderful staff.
  • 00:16:40.622 --> 00:16:42.524
  • We really do have a wonderful staff except for one thing.
  • 00:16:42.524 --> 00:16:45.894
  • They are the most ungrateful group of people i've ever met in
  • 00:16:45.894 --> 00:16:48.864
  • My life.
  • 00:16:48.864 --> 00:16:50.199
  • I mean, it would astound you how ungrateful our staff is.
  • 00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:53.035
  • If you don't believe that, just come sit with me tomorrow.
  • 00:16:53.035 --> 00:16:56.472
  • I'm gonna be in my office on payday all day and not one staff
  • 00:16:56.472 --> 00:17:01.577
  • Member, starting with ben, is gonna come into my office and
  • 00:17:01.577 --> 00:17:06.215
  • Say, "oh, thank you, pastor.
  • 00:17:06.215 --> 00:17:08.383
  • I was so surprised by this gift that appeared in my
  • 00:17:08.383 --> 00:17:11.019
  • Checking account.
  • 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:12.387
  • You are so gracious.
  • 00:17:12.387 --> 00:17:13.722
  • Thank you, pastor."
  • 00:17:13.722 --> 00:17:15.090
  • Sorry, nobody's gonna do that, just like you don't do it.
  • 00:17:15.090 --> 00:17:18.861
  • Why is that?
  • 00:17:18.861 --> 00:17:20.562
  • A wage is not a favor.
  • 00:17:20.562 --> 00:17:23.499
  • It's not a gift, it's an obligation.
  • 00:17:23.499 --> 00:17:25.801
  • We work and our employer pays us.
  • 00:17:25.801 --> 00:17:28.804
  • So we don't treat it like a favor or a gift.
  • 00:17:28.804 --> 00:17:31.140
  • It's an obligation.
  • 00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:33.375
  • But notice verse 5, "but to the one who does not work, but
  • 00:17:33.375 --> 00:17:38.747
  • Believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is
  • 00:17:38.747 --> 00:17:42.885
  • Credited as righteousness."
  • 00:17:42.885 --> 00:17:45.521
  • If salvation is something i earn by works, then god is obligated
  • 00:17:45.521 --> 00:17:51.293
  • To save us.
  • 00:17:51.293 --> 00:17:52.661
  • But, ladies and gentlemen, god refuses to owe any man or
  • 00:17:52.661 --> 00:17:56.098
  • Woman salvation.
  • 00:17:56.098 --> 00:17:58.100
  • It is a gift.
  • 00:17:58.100 --> 00:17:59.434
  • Paul said, "for by grace you have been saved through faith;
  • 00:17:59.434 --> 00:18:01.937
  • And that not of yourselves, it is a gift of god; not of works,
  • 00:18:01.937 --> 00:18:05.974
  • Lest any man should boast."
  • 00:18:05.974 --> 00:18:08.911
  • That's why self-righteousness doesn't work.
  • 00:18:08.911 --> 00:18:12.114
  • It's incapable of earning salvation, and it turns god's
  • 00:18:12.114 --> 00:18:15.684
  • Salvation into an obligation.
  • 00:18:15.684 --> 00:18:18.420
  • So that leads to a second kind of righteousness.
  • 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:21.056
  • We call it imputed righteousness.
  • 00:18:21.056 --> 00:18:24.259
  • That word impute is an accounting term.
  • 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:26.795
  • It simply means to place to somebody's account.
  • 00:18:26.795 --> 00:18:31.133
  • It's the same word that is used in genesis 15:6 about abraham.
  • 00:18:31.133 --> 00:18:36.638
  • Abraham's faith was imputed, credited to his account
  • 00:18:36.638 --> 00:18:41.410
  • As righteousness.
  • 00:18:41.410 --> 00:18:42.844
  • This is righteousness that is received as a gift.
  • 00:18:42.844 --> 00:18:47.583
  • When you become a christian, there are two accounting
  • 00:18:47.583 --> 00:18:51.420
  • Transactions, so to speak, that take place the moment you trust
  • 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:54.756
  • In christ as your savior.
  • 00:18:54.756 --> 00:18:56.558
  • First of all, god takes all of your sin and he imputes it to
  • 00:18:56.558 --> 00:19:01.830
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:19:01.830 --> 00:19:03.465
  • When jesus hung on the cross, he wasn't hanging there because of
  • 00:19:03.465 --> 00:19:07.302
  • His disobedience, but in some inexplicable way our sin became
  • 00:19:07.302 --> 00:19:12.674
  • His sin.
  • 00:19:12.674 --> 00:19:14.009
  • Our sin got charged to jesus's account, but that's not the only
  • 00:19:14.009 --> 00:19:17.679
  • Thing that happened.
  • 00:19:17.679 --> 00:19:19.114
  • The righteousness, the perfection of jesus got
  • 00:19:19.114 --> 00:19:22.284
  • Transferred to our account, to those of us who believe
  • 00:19:22.284 --> 00:19:25.954
  • In christ.
  • 00:19:25.954 --> 00:19:27.289
  • 2 corinthians 5:21 explains it this way.
  • 00:19:27.289 --> 00:19:30.325
  • God made him, jesus, who knew no sin to be sin for us that we
  • 00:19:30.325 --> 00:19:36.832
  • Might become the righteousness of god in him.
  • 00:19:36.832 --> 00:19:40.235
  • Jesus took our sin.
  • 00:19:40.235 --> 00:19:42.204
  • We took his righteousness.
  • 00:19:42.204 --> 00:19:43.972
  • It's the great exchange.
  • 00:19:43.972 --> 00:19:46.408
  • Whenever you find self-righteous people, people who think they're
  • 00:19:46.408 --> 00:19:50.512
  • Righteous on their own, they can't help but look at other
  • 00:19:50.512 --> 00:19:53.915
  • People with contempt.
  • 00:19:53.915 --> 00:19:55.517
  • That was the case here.
  • 00:19:55.517 --> 00:19:56.885
  • "two very different men went up to the temple to pray, one a
  • 00:19:56.885 --> 00:20:01.356
  • Pharisee and the other a tax collector."
  • 00:20:01.356 --> 00:20:05.494
  • Jeffress: self-righteousness will never earn us a right
  • 00:20:09.631 --> 00:20:12.567
  • Standing with god.
  • 00:20:12.567 --> 00:20:14.236
  • Our best efforts are like filthy rags in his sight.
  • 00:20:14.236 --> 00:20:18.106
  • But the good news is we don't have to earn god's favor.
  • 00:20:18.106 --> 00:20:22.244
  • Salvation is a gift that comes through faith in jesus
  • 00:20:22.244 --> 00:20:25.380
  • Christ alone.
  • 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:26.848
  • Now, before we close, lemme share a note i received
  • 00:20:26.848 --> 00:20:29.751
  • From steve.
  • 00:20:29.751 --> 00:20:31.119
  • He wrote, "two years ago, the love of my life went into the
  • 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:34.189
  • Hospital and did not make it out.
  • 00:20:34.189 --> 00:20:36.758
  • All my plans, my hopes, and dreams for this life were gone.
  • 00:20:36.758 --> 00:20:41.296
  • I listened to your message about jesus christ, and i gave my life
  • 00:20:41.296 --> 00:20:45.334
  • To him.
  • 00:20:45.334 --> 00:20:46.702
  • I did not realize god would forgive a sinful man like me.
  • 00:20:46.702 --> 00:20:50.605
  • But you have always preached that god will forgive sin.
  • 00:20:50.605 --> 00:20:54.643
  • Thank you, god bless you, and keep declaring the gospel of
  • 00:20:54.643 --> 00:20:58.714
  • Jesus christ."
  • 00:20:58.714 --> 00:21:00.182
  • Well, steve, thank you for sharing your story.
  • 00:21:00.182 --> 00:21:03.151
  • And, friends, this is what our partnership accomplishes.
  • 00:21:03.151 --> 00:21:06.655
  • Because of your faithful support of "pathway to victory," we're
  • 00:21:06.655 --> 00:21:09.624
  • Able to reach people like steve with the life-changing message
  • 00:21:09.624 --> 00:21:13.328
  • Of the gospel.
  • 00:21:13.328 --> 00:21:14.730
  • Thank you for making this ministry possible.
  • 00:21:14.730 --> 00:21:17.833
  • Now, stay right there.
  • 00:21:17.833 --> 00:21:19.201
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:21:19.201 --> 00:21:22.003
  • Announcer: that recurring temptation you can't shake, the
  • 00:21:23.205 --> 00:21:26.007
  • Doubts that creep in during your darkest moments, the tension in
  • 00:21:26.007 --> 00:21:29.478
  • Your closest relationships, these aren't random struggles,
  • 00:21:29.478 --> 00:21:33.014
  • These are part of a strategic attack on your faith, your
  • 00:21:33.014 --> 00:21:35.951
  • Family, and your future.
  • 00:21:35.951 --> 00:21:37.552
  • Jeffress: satan has a personalized plan to discourage,
  • 00:21:37.552 --> 00:21:41.123
  • Deceive, and derail you, but you don't have to live in defeat.
  • 00:21:41.123 --> 00:21:45.761
  • God has given you access to the same power that raised jesus
  • 00:21:45.761 --> 00:21:49.364
  • From the dead.
  • 00:21:49.364 --> 00:21:50.699
  • In my bestselling book "the divine defense," i'll show you
  • 00:21:50.699 --> 00:21:53.935
  • How to put on the full armor of god and use six biblical
  • 00:21:53.935 --> 00:21:57.706
  • Strategies to defeat satan's plan to destroy your life.
  • 00:21:57.706 --> 00:22:02.377
  • Announcer: request "the divine defense" when you give a
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  • Generous gift to "pathway to victory" or when you become a
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  • Pathway partner.
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  • And when your gift is $100 or more, we'll send you the
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  • Complete resource set, including the study guide "suit up: the
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  • Armor of god for kids" and the teaching series on both cd
  • 00:22:15.724 --> 00:22:19.461
  • And dvd.
  • 00:22:19.461 --> 00:22:20.829
  • Jeffress: your mind is the devil's battlefield on which he
  • 00:22:20.829 --> 00:22:25.100
  • Is warring against everything important to you.
  • 00:22:25.100 --> 00:22:30.372
  • It is a battle that seeks to destroy your faith, your family,
  • 00:22:30.372 --> 00:22:34.910
  • And your future.
  • 00:22:34.910 --> 00:22:36.278
  • Announcer: thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
  • 00:22:36.278 --> 00:22:39.014
  • Your generous ministry gift helps us broadcast biblical
  • 00:22:39.014 --> 00:22:41.917
  • Truth on television, radio, and online, equipping believers like
  • 00:22:41.917 --> 00:22:46.087
  • You to stand firm and live victoriously.
  • 00:22:46.087 --> 00:22:49.224
  • Together, we're piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:22:49.224 --> 00:22:52.093
  • God's word.
  • 00:22:52.093 --> 00:22:53.462
  • Jeffress: right now you may be relying on your good works to
  • 00:22:55.096 --> 00:22:58.366
  • Gain acceptance with god.
  • 00:22:58.366 --> 00:23:00.569
  • Perhaps you think that because you're a decent person or better
  • 00:23:00.569 --> 00:23:04.005
  • Than most god will accept you.
  • 00:23:04.005 --> 00:23:06.808
  • Friends, that's a dangerous assumption.
  • 00:23:06.808 --> 00:23:09.578
  • God's standard isn't other people.
  • 00:23:09.578 --> 00:23:11.880
  • It's his perfect son jesus christ.
  • 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:14.516
  • And by that standard, all of us fall short.
  • 00:23:14.516 --> 00:23:18.320
  • Next time we're going to discover a third kind of
  • 00:23:18.320 --> 00:23:20.989
  • Righteousness that protects us from satan's attacks.
  • 00:23:20.989 --> 00:23:24.559
  • It's called practiced righteousness, and it's
  • 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:28.230
  • Essential for putting on the breastplate of righteousness.
  • 00:23:28.230 --> 00:23:31.399
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:23:31.399 --> 00:23:33.902
  • Series "the divine defense."
  • 00:23:33.902 --> 00:23:36.071
  • Jeffress: now, listen to this.
  • 00:23:37.472 --> 00:23:38.807
  • Even those of us who have been saved by grace, have received
  • 00:23:38.807 --> 00:23:41.776
  • The indwelling of the holy spirit, we have to work at
  • 00:23:41.776 --> 00:23:46.882
  • Producing fruit.
  • 00:23:46.882 --> 00:23:48.617
  • Why do we have to work at it?
  • 00:23:48.617 --> 00:23:50.285
  • Because we have headwinds in our own life called the old nature
  • 00:23:50.285 --> 00:23:55.857
  • That still wars against that new nature that wants to please god.
  • 00:23:55.857 --> 00:24:00.095
  • So we have to exert effort to obey god.
  • 00:24:00.095 --> 00:24:03.899
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two of the
  • 00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:07.269
  • Message "putting out the 'not welcome' mat" here on "pathway
  • 00:24:07.269 --> 00:24:10.872
  • To victory."
  • 00:24:10.872 --> 00:24:14.309
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:24:14.309 --> 00:24:21.116
  • Julianne thompson: hi, dr. jeffress.
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  • It's so good to see you.
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  • Jeffress: thank you.
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  • Julianne: of course, thanks for taking time out of your busy
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  • Schedule to answer a few questions from our
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  • Listeners and viewers.
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  • I have a question from sarah, who lives in kansas city.
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  • She says, "how am i supposed to treat mary the mother of jesus?
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  • Is it right to pray for her intervention?
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  • Should i be including her in my prayers to the father?"
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  • Jeffress: that's a great question, and a lot of
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  • Christians are confused about this.
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  • Julianne, i found christians tend to go to one of two
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  • Extremes when it comes to mary.
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  • Some people make the mistake of worshiping mary, and there's
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  • Nothing in scripture that commands us to do that.
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  • They think they must pray to mary and that somehow she's a
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  • Go-between between them and god.
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  • The good news is we don't need any go-between.
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  • There's one go-between, jesus christ.
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  • 1 timothy 2 says, "for there's one god and one mediator, one
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  • Bridge builder between god and men,
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  • And it's the man christ jesus."
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  • So it's wrong to worship mary, to pray to mary.
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  • But the other extreme some christians go to is to
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  • Ignore mary.
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  • They're so intent on not making a mistake with mary they just
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  • Play like she doesn't exist, and that's wrong as well.
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  • I believe we ought to admire mary and seek to imitate
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  • Her faith.
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  • I mean, she was the mother of the messiah, and god chose her
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  • For a reason.
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  • One reason was because she was pure.
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  • I mean, if she had been sexually immoral she could have been
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  • Forgiven, but she certainly wouldn't have been qualified to
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  • Be the virgin mother of jesus as the old testament prophesied.
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  • So because she kept herself pure god would use her, and, you
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  • Know, we can learn from that.
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  • God doesn't require us to be perfect, none of us is that, but
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  • He wants us to keep our lives as morally pure as possible.
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  • You know, i think about a hot day in august.
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  • If you go inside and you want a drink of water and let's just
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  • Say you've got two choices, a crystal glass that is grimed
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  • Over with grudge and grime and so forth or there's an empty
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  • Peanut butter jar that's completely cleaned out and
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  • Perfectly clean, which one do you wanna drink water out of?
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  • Well, it's the same way with god.
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  • Given the choice of a pure vessel or a dirty vessel, he's
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  • Going to choose the pure vessel, and mary was that.
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  • She also illustrates faith, the willing to sacrifice whatever it
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  • Takes to please god.
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  • You know, she could have been disqualified from being married,
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  • She could have ended her relationship with joseph or had
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  • It ended, but she was willing to risk that which was most
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  • Important to her in order to serve god.
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  • You find that in the beautiful magnificat, her prayer she
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  • Records in luke chapter 1.
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  • She's completely surrendered to god's will.
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  • And so i think for us today if we want to learn from
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  • Mary--don't worship mary.
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  • That's never commanded.
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  • But learn from mary and imitate her faith.
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  • Julianne: thank you, dr. jeffress.
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  • If you'd like to read more questions and answers from
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  • Dr. jeffress, you can visit ptv.org/read.
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  • You can also submit your questions by clicking the "ask
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  • Dr. jeffress" button.
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