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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Putting Out The "Not Welcome" Mat (Part 2)

March 4, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Putting Out The "Not Welcome" Mat (Part 2)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#WordofGod #Prayer #Fellowship #Mercy #Atonement #LoveofGod #Heaven #Forgiveness #TrustGod #Faithfulness #RobertJeffress

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Putting Out The "Not Welcome" Mat (Part 2) | March 4, 2026
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with dr.
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  • Robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • In our ongoing battle against satan and his forces, god has
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  • Equipped us with spiritual armor for our protection.
  • 00:00:22.412 --> 00:00:26.316
  • One of the most critical pieces is the breastplate of
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  • Righteousness, but exactly what is righteousness?
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  • And how does it shield us from the enemy's attacks?
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  • Today i'm going to explain the difference between
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  • Self-righteousness and the righteousness that comes as
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  • A gift from god.
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  • My message is titled, "putting out the 'not welcome' mat," on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪ the fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom ♪
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  • ♪ life, hope, meaning, and joy ♪
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  • ♪ the fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom ♪
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  • ♪ so let us worship let us bow down ♪
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  • ♪ let us fear our god ♪
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  • ♪ the fear of the lord. ♪
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  • ♪ is the beginning of wisdom. ♪
  • 00:01:40.089 --> 00:01:44.761
  • ♪ life, hope, blessing, and joy. ♪
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  • ♪ the fear of the lord. ♪
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  • ♪ is the beginning of wisdom. ♪
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  • ♪ so let us worship. ♪
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  • ♪ let us bow down. ♪
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  • ♪ let us fear our god. ♪
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  • ♪ to him belongs eternal praise ♪
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  • ♪ glorious and righteous are his works, his ways ♪
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  • ♪ to him belongs all reverent praise ♪
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  • ♪ faithful and just are his works, his ways ♪
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  • ♪ so let us worship let us bow down ♪
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  • ♪ so let us worship let us bow down ♪
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  • ♪ let us fear our god ♪
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  • ♪ our god our god ♪
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  • ♪ our god our god ♪♪
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  • [congregation applauding]
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  • Announcer: whether you know it or not, you're in a battle.
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  • Satan has a strategy to attack your faith, disrupt your family,
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  • And derail your future.
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  • But god has given you everything you need to fight back and win.
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  • In "the divine defense," dr. robert jeffress reveals 6
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  • Practical strategies from ephesians chapter 6 to defeat
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  • Satan's destructive plan.
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  • When you put on the full armor of god, satan doesn't have
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  • A prayer.
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  • Request "the divine defense" when you give a generous
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  • Ministry gift to "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: 'abraham believed god, and that belief was credited to
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  • Him as righteousness.'"
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  • Remember early in abraham's pilgrims, pilgrimage, god said,
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  • "abraham, wake up, go outside.
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  • Look at the stars in the sky.
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  • See if you can count them."
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  • And so he started trying to count the stars in the sky, and
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  • God said, "so shall your descendants be."
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  • And genesis 15:6 says at that moment, abraham believed the
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  • Promises of god, and his faith was counted as righteousness.
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  • Abraham wasn't saved by works, he was saved by his faith.
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  • And then paul makes this application in verse 4: "now to
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  • The one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as
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  • What is due."
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  • I should tell you that tomorrow is a religious holiday for
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  • Our staff.
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  • Happens twice a month.
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  • It's called payday, every 15th and 30th, and our staff loves to
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  • Celebrate, but i'll tell you, we have a wonderful staff.
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  • We really do have a wonderful staff, except for one thing,
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  • They are the most ungrateful group of people i have ever met
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  • In my life.
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  • I mean, it would astound you how ungrateful our staff is.
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  • If you don't believe that, just come sit with me tomorrow.
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  • I'm gonna be in my office on payday all day, and not one
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  • Staff member, starting with ben, is gonna come into my office and
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  • Say, "oh, thank you, pastor.
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  • I was so surprised by this gift that appeared in my
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  • Checking account.
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  • You are so gracious.
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  • Thank you, pastor."
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  • Sorry, nobody's gonna do that.
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  • Just like you don't do it.
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  • Why is that?
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  • A wage is not a favor.
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  • It's not a gift.
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  • It's an obligation.
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  • We work and our employer pays us.
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  • So we don't treat it like a favor or a gift.
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  • It's an obligation.
  • 00:06:21.938 --> 00:06:24.173
  • But notice verse 5: "but to the one who does not work, but
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  • Believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is
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  • Credited as righteousness."
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  • If salvation is something i earn by works, then god is obligated
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  • To save us.
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  • But ladies and gentlemen, god refuses to owe any man or
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  • Woman salvation.
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  • It is a gift.
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  • Paul said, "for by grace you have been saved through faith;
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  • And that not of yourselves, it is a gift of god; not of works,
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  • Lest any man should boast."
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  • That's why self-righteousness doesn't work.
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  • It's incapable of earning salvation, and it turns god's
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  • Salvation into an obligation.
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  • So that leads to a second kind of righteousness.
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  • We call it imputed righteousness.
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  • That word "impute" is an accounting term.
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  • It simply means to place to somebody's account.
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  • It's the same word that is used in genesis 15:6 about abraham.
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  • "abraham's faith was imputed, credited to his account
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  • As righteousness."
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  • This is righteousness that is received as a gift.
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  • When you become a christian, there are two accounting
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  • Transactions, so to speak, that take place the moment you trust
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  • In christ as your savior.
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  • First of all, god takes all of your sin, and he imputes it to
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  • Jesus christ.
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  • When jesus hung on the cross, he wasn't hanging there because of
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  • His disobedience, but in some inexplicable way, our sin became
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  • His sin.
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  • Our sin got charged to jesus's account, but that's not the only
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  • Thing that happened.
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  • The righteousness, the perfection of jesus, got
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  • Transferred to our account, to those of us who believe
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  • In christ.
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  • 2 corinthians 5:21 explains it this way: "god made him," jesus,
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  • "who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
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  • Righteousness of god in him."
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  • Jesus took our sin, we took his righteousness.
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  • It's the great exchange.
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  • Maybe this illustration will help you understand what
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  • That means.
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  • When our girls were teenagers, they each had checking accounts,
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  • And any money they would earn, they would put in a checking
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  • Account, and i left them alone pretty much to do what they
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  • Wanted to do.
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  • But when they got to a certain age and moved away or moved out
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  • Of the house, i wanted to give them a little bit of a safety
  • 00:08:56.492 --> 00:09:00.262
  • Net so if they were accidentally overdrawn, the bank wouldn't
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  • Refuse payment and--or they wouldn't have a service
  • 00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:09.372
  • Performed that they needed or they'd get an overdraft charge.
  • 00:09:09.372 --> 00:09:13.242
  • And so i linked my checking account to their
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  • Checking account.
  • 00:09:16.512 --> 00:09:18.581
  • And a strange thing started happening.
  • 00:09:18.581 --> 00:09:23.886
  • Every now and then--they were responsible, it didn't happen
  • 00:09:23.886 --> 00:09:26.222
  • Often, but every now and then i'd look on my statement and i
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  • Would see a $7.50 charge from papa john's pizza place in
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  • Waco, texas.
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  • I've never been to papa john's in waco, texas.
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  • I've never had a pizza from papa john's.
  • 00:09:39.902 --> 00:09:42.138
  • I'm sure they're good, but i was being charged for an experience
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  • That i didn't have.
  • 00:09:46.042 --> 00:09:48.044
  • But that's not all that happened.
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  • Somehow magically, a bank computer somewhere lifted money
  • 00:09:49.745 --> 00:09:54.083
  • Out of my account and placed it into the account of
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  • My daughters.
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  • They didn't ask for it.
  • 00:09:59.055 --> 00:10:00.690
  • They didn't earn it.
  • 00:10:00.690 --> 00:10:02.024
  • They had no chance of paying it back, but it got dropped into
  • 00:10:02.024 --> 00:10:05.528
  • Their account all because of a decision they made and i made to
  • 00:10:05.528 --> 00:10:11.000
  • Link our accounts together.
  • 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:12.334
  • Now here's what's interesting.
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  • When they were 18, i wasn't capable of making that decision
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  • For them.
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  • They had to sign a paper that agreed to link their account to
  • 00:10:19.008 --> 00:10:22.578
  • My account, otherwise they were on their own.
  • 00:10:22.578 --> 00:10:25.548
  • When they were 18, they became accountable and they made
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  • Their decision.
  • 00:10:29.251 --> 00:10:30.619
  • It's the same way in becoming a christian.
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  • God doesn't automatically take our sin debt.
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  • God doesn't automatically put his righteousness in our
  • 00:10:36.192 --> 00:10:40.062
  • Spiritual bank account.
  • 00:10:40.062 --> 00:10:41.597
  • It is something that happens only when we agree to
  • 00:10:41.597 --> 00:10:44.867
  • That arrangement.
  • 00:10:44.867 --> 00:10:46.368
  • Who in their right mind wouldn't agree to that arrangement,
  • 00:10:46.368 --> 00:10:49.872
  • Having all of our unrighteousness charged to the
  • 00:10:49.872 --> 00:10:52.608
  • Account of jesus christ and having all of his righteousness
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  • Put in our account?
  • 00:10:56.979 --> 00:10:58.347
  • That's what imputed righteousness is.
  • 00:10:58.347 --> 00:11:00.950
  • You know, the best illustration of the difference between
  • 00:11:00.950 --> 00:11:03.819
  • Self-righteousness and imputed righteousness is found in luke
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  • 18 in a story that jesus told.
  • 00:11:07.623 --> 00:11:10.159
  • Turn in your bibles quickly to luke 18.
  • 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:13.929
  • This is a parable, but notice the setting of the parable.
  • 00:11:13.929 --> 00:11:17.233
  • Jesus told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves
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  • That they were righteous, and they viewed others
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  • With contempt.
  • 00:11:26.709 --> 00:11:28.277
  • Whenever you find self-righteous people, people who think they're
  • 00:11:28.277 --> 00:11:32.381
  • Righteous on their own, they can't help but look at other
  • 00:11:32.381 --> 00:11:35.785
  • People with contempt.
  • 00:11:35.785 --> 00:11:37.386
  • That was the case here.
  • 00:11:37.386 --> 00:11:38.754
  • Two very different men.
  • 00:11:38.754 --> 00:11:40.322
  • Verse 10, jesus said, "two very different men went up to the
  • 00:11:40.322 --> 00:11:44.093
  • Temple to pray, one a pharisee and the other a tax collector."
  • 00:11:44.093 --> 00:11:49.665
  • Now, when we hear the word "pharisee," we think [hissing].
  • 00:11:49.665 --> 00:11:55.237
  • We imagine jesus's audience did that.
  • 00:11:55.237 --> 00:11:57.139
  • "oh, he's the villain, the pharisee."
  • 00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:59.608
  • We see him twisting his mustache, you know,
  • 00:11:59.608 --> 00:12:01.644
  • The pharisee.
  • 00:12:01.644 --> 00:12:03.078
  • But that wasn't the way jesus's audience understood.
  • 00:12:03.078 --> 00:12:05.314
  • The pharisee was the hero in this story.
  • 00:12:05.314 --> 00:12:07.950
  • They were good people, religious people.
  • 00:12:07.950 --> 00:12:09.718
  • They tried to please god.
  • 00:12:09.718 --> 00:12:11.487
  • The pharisee, why did he even need to go to pray?
  • 00:12:11.487 --> 00:12:13.722
  • He was so righteous.
  • 00:12:13.722 --> 00:12:15.291
  • Here's the real villain, the audience thought, the
  • 00:12:15.291 --> 00:12:17.693
  • Tax collector.
  • 00:12:17.693 --> 00:12:19.662
  • Now we don't care for tax collectors, but the jews hated
  • 00:12:19.662 --> 00:12:23.065
  • Them because tax collectors were fellow jews who had purchased
  • 00:12:23.065 --> 00:12:27.603
  • The right from rome to collect taxes on their behalf, and the
  • 00:12:27.603 --> 00:12:31.407
  • Tax collector could charge whatever he wanted to.
  • 00:12:31.407 --> 00:12:34.109
  • As long as he paid the minimum to rome, he could keep the
  • 00:12:34.109 --> 00:12:37.780
  • Profit for himself.
  • 00:12:37.780 --> 00:12:39.615
  • So the jews hated tax collectors because, first of all, they were
  • 00:12:39.615 --> 00:12:42.685
  • Cheating them, and secondly, they were keeping the roman
  • 00:12:42.685 --> 00:12:45.855
  • Government going, which was oppressing israel, so they hated
  • 00:12:45.855 --> 00:12:50.392
  • Tax collectors.
  • 00:12:50.392 --> 00:12:51.727
  • Two very different people go up to the temple to pray.
  • 00:12:51.727 --> 00:12:54.697
  • "the pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself."
  • 00:12:54.697 --> 00:12:59.869
  • I love that.
  • 00:12:59.869 --> 00:13:01.203
  • He thought he was reaching the heavenlies with his prayers, and
  • 00:13:01.203 --> 00:13:04.607
  • They weren't even getting off the ground.
  • 00:13:04.607 --> 00:13:06.342
  • He was preaching to himself, and this is what he prayed: "god, i
  • 00:13:06.342 --> 00:13:10.813
  • Thank you that i'm not like other people.
  • 00:13:10.813 --> 00:13:14.350
  • Swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector
  • 00:13:14.350 --> 00:13:18.153
  • Over here.
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  • Why, look at me, lord.
  • 00:13:19.488 --> 00:13:20.856
  • I fast twice a week.
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  • I pay tithes of all that i get.
  • 00:13:22.191 --> 00:13:24.093
  • When i think about it, lord, you're pretty lucky to have
  • 00:13:24.093 --> 00:13:26.195
  • Fellowship with a person so righteous as i am."
  • 00:13:26.195 --> 00:13:29.298
  • That was the pharisee.
  • 00:13:29.298 --> 00:13:31.100
  • Notice he had an i problem.
  • 00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:33.068
  • Seven times, he says, i, i, i, i.
  • 00:13:33.068 --> 00:13:38.140
  • But notice the difference, the tax collector.
  • 00:13:38.140 --> 00:13:41.610
  • Verse 13 says: "the tax collector, standing some
  • 00:13:41.610 --> 00:13:45.981
  • Distance away," not even just from the pharisee, he stood away
  • 00:13:45.981 --> 00:13:52.554
  • From the holy of holies.
  • 00:13:52.554 --> 00:13:55.190
  • He stood away from the altar of sacrifice.
  • 00:13:55.190 --> 00:13:58.460
  • "he was unwilling to even lift up his eyes to heaven, but he
  • 00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:02.731
  • Was beating his breast, saying, 'god, be merciful to me,
  • 00:14:02.731 --> 00:14:09.305
  • The sinner!'"
  • 00:14:09.305 --> 00:14:10.639
  • That's all he could utter: seven words in english, six words
  • 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:14.043
  • In greek.
  • 00:14:14.043 --> 00:14:15.377
  • "god, be merciful to me, the sinner!"
  • 00:14:15.377 --> 00:14:19.848
  • That word "merciful" is rich in theology.
  • 00:14:19.848 --> 00:14:24.386
  • The greek word "merciful" is the same word that's used in
  • 00:14:24.386 --> 00:14:28.457
  • Leviticus 16 in the septuagint, the old testament translation
  • 00:14:28.457 --> 00:14:33.162
  • In greek.
  • 00:14:33.162 --> 00:14:34.530
  • It referred to the mercy seat in the holy of holies.
  • 00:14:34.530 --> 00:14:38.500
  • Remember, in the holy of holies, the high priest could only go in
  • 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:41.837
  • There once a year, and in that holy of holies was a box, the
  • 00:14:41.837 --> 00:14:45.741
  • Ark of the covenant.
  • 00:14:45.741 --> 00:14:47.276
  • There was a lid on that box called the mercy seat.
  • 00:14:47.276 --> 00:14:51.680
  • And on each end of that lid, there was an angel on each end
  • 00:14:51.680 --> 00:14:57.252
  • With its wings spread out, and it was thought that god was
  • 00:14:57.252 --> 00:15:02.157
  • Dwelling between the outstretched wings of
  • 00:15:02.157 --> 00:15:04.927
  • The angels.
  • 00:15:04.927 --> 00:15:06.395
  • Inside the box was a copy of the ten commandments.
  • 00:15:06.395 --> 00:15:10.432
  • And every day of the year, except one, god would look down
  • 00:15:10.432 --> 00:15:14.436
  • On that ark that contained the law of god and see that that law
  • 00:15:14.436 --> 00:15:19.441
  • Had been broken by his people demanding their judgment.
  • 00:15:19.441 --> 00:15:23.412
  • But once a year, the high priest, after he had made an
  • 00:15:23.412 --> 00:15:26.648
  • Atonement for his own sin, took the blood of an innocent animal,
  • 00:15:26.648 --> 00:15:30.419
  • And he had sprinkled it on the mercy seat.
  • 00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:33.922
  • And the picture was now as god looked down, he no longer saw
  • 00:15:33.922 --> 00:15:37.926
  • The law that had been broken by his people, but he saw that
  • 00:15:37.926 --> 00:15:41.997
  • Broken wall covered by the blood of an innocent animal.
  • 00:15:41.997 --> 00:15:45.968
  • And of course, that is a picture of what jesus, the lamb of god,
  • 00:15:45.968 --> 00:15:49.238
  • Would do.
  • 00:15:49.238 --> 00:15:50.572
  • When he died on the cross for our sins, he achieved what no
  • 00:15:50.572 --> 00:15:54.309
  • Other human sacrifice or animal sacrifices could: the remission
  • 00:15:54.309 --> 00:15:59.148
  • Of our sins.
  • 00:15:59.148 --> 00:16:00.783
  • And the bible says, when we trust in jesus to be our savior,
  • 00:16:00.783 --> 00:16:04.853
  • And god looks at us, he no longer sees our sin.
  • 00:16:04.853 --> 00:16:08.390
  • He no longer sees his law that has been broken, but he sees the
  • 00:16:08.390 --> 00:16:12.594
  • Blood of his son that covers all, not some, but all of
  • 00:16:12.594 --> 00:16:18.033
  • Our transgressions.
  • 00:16:18.033 --> 00:16:19.768
  • That is imputed righteousness.
  • 00:16:19.768 --> 00:16:21.904
  • That's what the tax collector was praying: "lord," literally,
  • 00:16:21.904 --> 00:16:26.041
  • "be mercy seated to me, the sinner.
  • 00:16:26.041 --> 00:16:29.812
  • Let the blood cover my sin."
  • 00:16:29.812 --> 00:16:33.449
  • Now, if jesus had stopped here and said, "let's have a pop
  • 00:16:33.449 --> 00:16:36.985
  • Quiz, audience.
  • 00:16:36.985 --> 00:16:38.587
  • You heard the story about two men, two different prayers,
  • 00:16:38.587 --> 00:16:41.857
  • Which man was righteous?
  • 00:16:41.857 --> 00:16:45.094
  • Which man left that day justified in a right
  • 00:16:45.094 --> 00:16:49.364
  • Relationship with god?"
  • 00:16:49.364 --> 00:16:50.732
  • If jesus had asked the audience, they would have said, "oh, hands
  • 00:16:50.732 --> 00:16:53.135
  • Down, the pharisee.
  • 00:16:53.135 --> 00:16:55.337
  • I'm sure the pharisee left that morning, feeling good about his
  • 00:16:55.337 --> 00:16:58.307
  • Time with the lord.
  • 00:16:58.307 --> 00:16:59.641
  • Man, nothing like some quality quiet time with god.
  • 00:16:59.641 --> 00:17:02.644
  • He felt justified."
  • 00:17:02.644 --> 00:17:05.080
  • As far as the tax collector, i think he probably felt as
  • 00:17:05.080 --> 00:17:08.317
  • Miserable as he did when he went up to pray.
  • 00:17:08.317 --> 00:17:11.386
  • He didn't feel like anything had changed.
  • 00:17:11.386 --> 00:17:14.056
  • We don't know what led him in desperation to pray that prayer.
  • 00:17:14.056 --> 00:17:17.759
  • Maybe it was a slow unraveling of his life, or maybe it was
  • 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:21.430
  • Some sin so heinous he didn't even think he was capable of
  • 00:17:21.430 --> 00:17:24.533
  • Doing it, but something, desperation, led him to pray,
  • 00:17:24.533 --> 00:17:29.004
  • Led him to repent of his sin and receive the forgiveness
  • 00:17:29.004 --> 00:17:32.107
  • God gave.
  • 00:17:32.107 --> 00:17:33.475
  • He may have left feeling unjustified.
  • 00:17:33.475 --> 00:17:37.112
  • The pharisee may have left feeling justified, but ladies
  • 00:17:37.112 --> 00:17:40.682
  • And gentlemen, your relationship with god doesn't depend upon how
  • 00:17:40.682 --> 00:17:44.253
  • You feel about it.
  • 00:17:44.253 --> 00:17:46.255
  • It's not about how you feel about your relationship
  • 00:17:46.255 --> 00:17:49.258
  • With god.
  • 00:17:49.258 --> 00:17:50.592
  • It's all about how god feels about his relationship with you.
  • 00:17:50.592 --> 00:17:54.429
  • That's what counts.
  • 00:17:54.429 --> 00:17:55.831
  • And jesus adds the kicker when he says, "i tell you, this man,
  • 00:17:55.831 --> 00:18:00.969
  • The tax collector, went to his house justified rather than
  • 00:18:00.969 --> 00:18:06.308
  • The other."
  • 00:18:06.308 --> 00:18:07.676
  • He may not have felt justified, but he was justified because he
  • 00:18:07.676 --> 00:18:12.181
  • Had expressed sorrow for his sin.
  • 00:18:12.181 --> 00:18:14.416
  • He had placed his trust in the only remedy for his sin, the
  • 00:18:14.416 --> 00:18:18.720
  • Blood sacrifice made on his behalf.
  • 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:22.558
  • Two very different men with two different kinds
  • 00:18:22.558 --> 00:18:25.727
  • Of righteousness.
  • 00:18:25.727 --> 00:18:27.930
  • Well, what is paul talking about, the breastplate
  • 00:18:27.930 --> 00:18:30.065
  • Of righteousness?
  • 00:18:30.065 --> 00:18:31.433
  • He's obviously not talking about self-righteousness, the filthy
  • 00:18:31.433 --> 00:18:34.403
  • Garment that's not going to be capable of saving you from
  • 00:18:34.403 --> 00:18:37.906
  • Satan's attack.
  • 00:18:37.906 --> 00:18:39.308
  • Is he talking about imputed righteousness that we receive
  • 00:18:39.308 --> 00:18:42.711
  • When we become a christian?
  • 00:18:42.711 --> 00:18:44.046
  • I don't think so, because if that were the case, then
  • 00:18:44.046 --> 00:18:47.482
  • Everybody who's a christian would be free from the attacks
  • 00:18:47.482 --> 00:18:49.952
  • Of satan.
  • 00:18:49.952 --> 00:18:51.286
  • No, there's a third kind of righteousness that we have to
  • 00:18:51.286 --> 00:18:54.723
  • Understand if we're going to put on the breastplate of
  • 00:18:54.723 --> 00:18:57.092
  • Righteousness, and that is what i call practiced righteousness.
  • 00:18:57.092 --> 00:19:02.197
  • That's another phrase for obedience.
  • 00:19:02.197 --> 00:19:05.500
  • Now, before we're saved, our good works, our obedience to
  • 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:08.837
  • God, is worthless.
  • 00:19:08.837 --> 00:19:11.173
  • But after we're saved, our obedience is invaluable and it's
  • 00:19:11.173 --> 00:19:15.244
  • Key in protecting us from satan's attacks.
  • 00:19:15.244 --> 00:19:18.614
  • You know, the bible talks about practiced righteousness.
  • 00:19:18.614 --> 00:19:23.485
  • The bible calls that fruit.
  • 00:19:23.485 --> 00:19:25.354
  • We read about it in matthew chapter 7, verses 17 to 19.
  • 00:19:25.354 --> 00:19:29.658
  • Listen to jesus's words: "so every good tree bears good
  • 00:19:29.658 --> 00:19:33.262
  • Fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
  • 00:19:33.262 --> 00:19:36.999
  • A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree
  • 00:19:36.999 --> 00:19:41.436
  • Produce good fruit.
  • 00:19:41.436 --> 00:19:42.771
  • Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and
  • 00:19:42.771 --> 00:19:46.341
  • Thrown into the fire."
  • 00:19:46.341 --> 00:19:48.310
  • Now listen to this.
  • 00:19:48.310 --> 00:19:49.678
  • Even those of us who have been saved by grace, have received
  • 00:19:49.678 --> 00:19:52.648
  • The indwelling of the holy spirit, we have to work
  • 00:19:52.648 --> 00:19:57.719
  • At producing fruit.
  • 00:19:57.719 --> 00:19:59.421
  • Why do we have to work at it?
  • 00:19:59.421 --> 00:20:01.123
  • Because we have headwinds in our own life called the old nature
  • 00:20:01.123 --> 00:20:06.662
  • That still wars against that new nature that wants to please god.
  • 00:20:06.662 --> 00:20:10.932
  • So we have to exert effort to obey god.
  • 00:20:10.932 --> 00:20:14.603
  • I mean, it takes effort.
  • 00:20:14.603 --> 00:20:16.238
  • Let's be honest here.
  • 00:20:16.238 --> 00:20:17.572
  • It takes effort to love your mate unconditionally,
  • 00:20:17.572 --> 00:20:20.876
  • Doesn't it?
  • 00:20:20.876 --> 00:20:22.244
  • Don't say amen too loudly, get the mate upset.
  • 00:20:22.244 --> 00:20:25.914
  • But it takes effort to love your mate unconditionally, to hold
  • 00:20:25.914 --> 00:20:29.685
  • Your tongue when you have a juicy piece of gossip to share,
  • 00:20:29.685 --> 00:20:33.355
  • To keep from being angry when somebody has wronged you.
  • 00:20:33.355 --> 00:20:36.858
  • It takes effort to summon the courage to share your faith with
  • 00:20:36.858 --> 00:20:40.295
  • A family member or a friend.
  • 00:20:40.295 --> 00:20:42.664
  • It takes effort to carve out time to read the bible.
  • 00:20:42.664 --> 00:20:46.335
  • Why does it take effort?
  • 00:20:46.335 --> 00:20:48.537
  • Because we have an old nature that wars against our desires
  • 00:20:48.537 --> 00:20:52.441
  • To obey god.
  • 00:20:52.441 --> 00:20:53.942
  • Now keep thinking about this for a moment.
  • 00:20:53.942 --> 00:20:56.044
  • You know, you don't have to tell birds to practice flying.
  • 00:20:56.044 --> 00:20:59.915
  • You don't have to tell fish to practice swimming.
  • 00:20:59.915 --> 00:21:02.551
  • You don't have to tell babies to practice crying.
  • 00:21:02.551 --> 00:21:06.221
  • And you don't have to tell apple trees to work at, exert
  • 00:21:06.221 --> 00:21:10.625
  • Yourself, to produce apples.
  • 00:21:10.625 --> 00:21:12.861
  • It comes naturally.
  • 00:21:12.861 --> 00:21:14.896
  • For us, it takes a supernatural working for that fruit to
  • 00:21:14.896 --> 00:21:18.633
  • Appear, and that is why the bible over and over again tells
  • 00:21:18.633 --> 00:21:22.604
  • Us to practice righteousness.
  • 00:21:22.604 --> 00:21:26.341
  • Listen to 1 john 3:10: "by this the children of god and the
  • 00:21:26.341 --> 00:21:30.712
  • Children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does
  • 00:21:30.712 --> 00:21:33.615
  • Not," what?
  • 00:21:33.615 --> 00:21:34.950
  • "practice righteousness is not of god, nor the one who does not
  • 00:21:34.950 --> 00:21:39.121
  • Love his brother."
  • 00:21:39.121 --> 00:21:40.589
  • Revelation 22:11: "let the one who does wrong, still do wrong;
  • 00:21:40.589 --> 00:21:44.626
  • Let him who is filthy, still be filthy; let the one who is
  • 00:21:44.626 --> 00:21:47.496
  • Righteous, still practice righteousness."
  • 00:21:47.496 --> 00:21:53.001
  • The breastplate of righteousness that paul is talking about is
  • 00:21:53.001 --> 00:21:57.139
  • The breastplate, the protection, that comes from choosing to obey
  • 00:21:57.139 --> 00:22:01.710
  • God over and over again instead of choosing to disobey god.
  • 00:22:01.710 --> 00:22:07.649
  • And next time, we're going to discover four practical ways
  • 00:22:07.649 --> 00:22:12.888
  • Obedience to god, the breastplate of righteousness,
  • 00:22:12.888 --> 00:22:16.725
  • Protects you from the consequences of satan's attacks.
  • 00:22:16.725 --> 00:22:22.063
  • Jeffress: practiced righteousness is the key to
  • 00:22:26.101 --> 00:22:28.503
  • Protecting ourselves from satan's attacks.
  • 00:22:28.503 --> 00:22:31.606
  • When we choose obedience over disobedience, we let the enemy
  • 00:22:31.606 --> 00:22:35.877
  • Know his influence is simply not welcome in our hearts.
  • 00:22:35.877 --> 00:22:40.315
  • Now, in closing today, i want to express my heartfelt gratitude
  • 00:22:40.315 --> 00:22:43.985
  • To our faithful partners who make this ministry possible.
  • 00:22:43.985 --> 00:22:47.456
  • Your generosity empowers us to proclaim the truth of scripture
  • 00:22:47.456 --> 00:22:51.159
  • With boldness and to touch lives for god's glory.
  • 00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:55.297
  • Every day we hear from people whose lives have been
  • 00:22:55.297 --> 00:22:58.033
  • Transformed by the gospel message they heard on "pathway
  • 00:22:58.033 --> 00:23:01.570
  • To victory."
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  • Men and women across america and around the world are discovering
  • 00:23:02.904 --> 00:23:06.641
  • The freedom that comes through faith in jesus christ, and it's
  • 00:23:06.641 --> 00:23:10.712
  • All made possible because of your faithful support.
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  • So thank you to our pathway partners and everyone who
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  • Together we are piercing the darkness with the light of
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  • God's word.
  • 00:23:22.824 --> 00:23:24.259
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.694
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:23:25.694 --> 00:23:30.298
  • Announcer: that recurring temptation you can't shake, the
  • 00:23:30.298 --> 00:23:33.101
  • Doubts that creep in during your darkest moments, the tension in
  • 00:23:33.101 --> 00:23:36.538
  • Your closest relationships, these aren't random struggles,
  • 00:23:36.538 --> 00:23:40.108
  • These are part of a strategic attack on your faith, your
  • 00:23:40.108 --> 00:23:43.011
  • Family, and your future.
  • 00:23:43.011 --> 00:23:44.679
  • Jeffress: satan has a personalized plan to discourage,
  • 00:23:44.679 --> 00:23:48.183
  • Deceive, and derail you.
  • 00:23:48.183 --> 00:23:50.452
  • But you don't have to live in defeat.
  • 00:23:50.452 --> 00:23:52.854
  • God has given you access to the same power that raised jesus
  • 00:23:52.854 --> 00:23:56.458
  • From the dead.
  • 00:23:56.458 --> 00:23:57.792
  • In my bestselling book, "the divine defense," i'll show you
  • 00:23:57.792 --> 00:24:00.996
  • How to put on the full armor of god and use six biblical
  • 00:24:00.996 --> 00:24:04.799
  • Strategies to defeat satan's plan to destroy your life.
  • 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:09.504
  • Announcer: request "the divine defense" when you give a
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  • Generous gift to "pathway to victory," or when you become
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  • Complete resource set including the study guide, "suit up!
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  • The armor of god for kids," and the teaching series on both cd
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  • And dvd.
  • 00:24:26.588 --> 00:24:27.923
  • Jeffress: your mind is the devil's battlefield on which he
  • 00:24:27.923 --> 00:24:32.160
  • Is warring against everything important to you.
  • 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:37.332
  • It is a battle that seeks to destroy your faith, your family,
  • 00:24:37.332 --> 00:24:42.003
  • And your future.
  • 00:24:42.003 --> 00:24:43.371
  • Announcer: thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
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  • Your generous ministry gift helps us broadcast biblical
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  • Truth on television, radio, and online, equipping believers like
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  • You to stand firm and live victoriously.
  • 00:24:53.181 --> 00:24:56.284
  • Together we're piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:24:56.284 --> 00:24:59.187
  • God's word.
  • 00:24:59.187 --> 00:25:01.923
  • Jeffress: are you merely trying to earn god's favor through good
  • 00:25:01.990 --> 00:25:04.960
  • Works, or have you received his gift of salvation through faith
  • 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:09.297
  • In christ alone?
  • 00:25:09.297 --> 00:25:10.899
  • If you haven't, i urge you to trust in jesus today for the
  • 00:25:10.899 --> 00:25:15.236
  • Forgiveness of your sins.
  • 00:25:15.236 --> 00:25:17.472
  • Well, we've discovered the difference between righteousness
  • 00:25:17.472 --> 00:25:20.642
  • That saves us and righteousness that shields us, and next time
  • 00:25:20.642 --> 00:25:25.113
  • We're going to see exactly how obedience to god protects us in
  • 00:25:25.113 --> 00:25:29.284
  • Four powerful ways.
  • 00:25:29.284 --> 00:25:31.152
  • I'll show you why stopping the barbarian at the gate today
  • 00:25:31.152 --> 00:25:35.323
  • Prevents him from destroying your life tomorrow.
  • 00:25:35.323 --> 00:25:38.927
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:38.927 --> 00:25:41.630
  • Series, "the divine defense."
  • 00:25:41.630 --> 00:25:45.133
  • Jeffress: the bible talks about the schemes, the plans, of
  • 00:25:45.133 --> 00:25:48.003
  • The devil.
  • 00:25:48.003 --> 00:25:49.371
  • Did you know he has, right now, a personalized blueprint with
  • 00:25:49.371 --> 00:25:53.475
  • Your name at the top of it, that details how he's going to
  • 00:25:53.475 --> 00:25:57.078
  • Destroy your faith, your family, and your future?
  • 00:25:57.078 --> 00:26:00.782
  • He's got a plan of attack.
  • 00:26:00.782 --> 00:26:03.151
  • You say, "how could i ever withstand an adversary
  • 00:26:03.151 --> 00:26:06.554
  • Like that?"
  • 00:26:06.554 --> 00:26:07.922
  • Well, fortunately, god has given us everything we need to resist
  • 00:26:07.922 --> 00:26:12.360
  • Satan's plan to destroy us.
  • 00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:15.296
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:26:15.296 --> 00:26:18.566
  • "stopping the barbarian at the gate," here on "pathway
  • 00:26:18.566 --> 00:26:21.803
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:21.803 --> 00:26:24.606
  • Announcer: experience a journey that will refresh your spirit
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  • And renew your faith on the "pathway to victory" cruise to
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  • Frontier towns of juneau, ketchikan, and skagway, you'll
  • 00:26:44.926 --> 00:26:49.164
  • Witness god's handiwork on full display.
  • 00:26:49.164 --> 00:26:52.500
  • Announcer: imagine standing on deck, surrounded by towering
  • 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:55.236
  • Glaciers and snowcapped mountains while enjoying
  • 00:26:55.236 --> 00:26:57.872
  • Powerful bible teaching from dr. jeffress.
  • 00:26:57.872 --> 00:27:00.642
  • Then enjoy spirit-lifting worship led by michael o'brien
  • 00:27:00.642 --> 00:27:04.446
  • And share plenty of laughter with dennis swanberg, america's
  • 00:27:04.446 --> 00:27:07.682
  • Minister of encouragement.
  • 00:27:07.682 --> 00:27:09.284
  • Jeffress: this is more than just a vacation.
  • 00:27:09.284 --> 00:27:11.386
  • It's a sacred pause to reconnect with the lord.
  • 00:27:11.386 --> 00:27:14.856
  • Announcer: to reserve your cabin on the 2026 "pathway to victory"
  • 00:27:14.856 --> 00:27:17.826
  • Cruise to alaska, call...
  • 00:27:17.826 --> 00:27:22.363
  • Or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:22.363 --> 00:27:22.363