1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. Dr. Robert Jeffress
  4. Episodes
  5. Robert Jeffress - Putting On Your Soul Shoes (Part 1)
Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Putting On Your Soul Shoes (Part 1)

March 10, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Putting On Your Soul Shoes (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#SpiritualWarfare #SpiritualFoundation #ArmorofGod #Success #Victory #Overcoming #Evil #Purpose #Righteousness #Obedience #God'sWill #Preparation #Gospel #Peace #Salvation #RobertJeffress

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Putting On Your Soul Shoes (Part 1) | March 10, 2026
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:00.690
  • Male announcer: alaska is unlike any other place on earth, and
  • 00:00:01.324 --> 00:00:04.994
  • This is your chance to witness god's masterpiece and america's
  • 00:00:05.095 --> 00:00:08.765
  • Priceless treasure, june 13th through 20, 2026.
  • 00:00:08.898 --> 00:00:09.766
  • Dr. robert jeffress: you know, i can hardly wait to show
  • 00:00:12.769 --> 00:00:14.604
  • You alaska.
  • 00:00:14.604 --> 00:00:15.939
  • I've been there before, and every time i witness those
  • 00:00:15.939 --> 00:00:19.275
  • Massive glaciers and towering mountains, i'm reminded of how
  • 00:00:19.275 --> 00:00:23.246
  • Incredibly creative our god is.
  • 00:00:23.246 --> 00:00:25.915
  • Announcer: picture this, waking up to snow-capped peaks outside
  • 00:00:25.915 --> 00:00:29.285
  • Your window, then heading to your refreshing breakfast,
  • 00:00:29.285 --> 00:00:32.422
  • Knowing that all your meals are prepared for you.
  • 00:00:32.422 --> 00:00:34.958
  • The world class service means that you can truly relax.
  • 00:00:34.958 --> 00:00:38.328
  • Jeffress: we'll explore charming villages together.
  • 00:00:38.328 --> 00:00:40.797
  • We'll stroll alongside the still waters of the mountain stream,
  • 00:00:40.797 --> 00:00:44.767
  • And yes, we'll see god's artistry at every turn.
  • 00:00:44.767 --> 00:00:49.038
  • Announcer: reserve your spot on the 2026 "pathway to victory"
  • 00:00:49.038 --> 00:00:52.809
  • Cruise to alaska by calling...
  • 00:00:52.809 --> 00:00:57.847
  • Or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:00:57.847 --> 00:01:00.016
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:01.084 --> 00:01:07.757
  • Announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
  • 00:01:07.757 --> 00:01:10.093
  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with dr.
  • 00:01:10.093 --> 00:01:13.263
  • Robert jeffress.
  • 00:01:13.263 --> 00:01:15.765
  • Jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome again to
  • 00:01:15.765 --> 00:01:17.934
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:01:17.934 --> 00:01:19.402
  • Some people spend their entire lives chasing after career
  • 00:01:19.402 --> 00:01:22.906
  • Success, financial security, or personal pleasure, hoping one of
  • 00:01:22.906 --> 00:01:27.410
  • These pursuits will bring meaning to their existence.
  • 00:01:27.410 --> 00:01:30.914
  • But the bible teaches that true fulfillment comes from
  • 00:01:30.914 --> 00:01:34.017
  • Understanding why god created you, and then aligning your life
  • 00:01:34.017 --> 00:01:38.421
  • With his eternal plan.
  • 00:01:38.421 --> 00:01:40.657
  • Today i'm going to show you how discovering your god-given
  • 00:01:40.657 --> 00:01:43.660
  • Purpose can help you win the spiritual battles you face
  • 00:01:43.660 --> 00:01:47.530
  • Every day.
  • 00:01:47.530 --> 00:01:48.865
  • My message is titled, "putting on your soul shoes," on today's
  • 00:01:48.865 --> 00:01:53.269
  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:01:53.269 --> 00:01:56.306
  • ♪ i can see jesus, high and exalted. ♪
  • 00:01:58.708 --> 00:02:06.149
  • ♪ my eyes are fixed upon his face. ♪
  • 00:02:06.149 --> 00:02:10.353
  • ♪ it shines like the sun. ♪
  • 00:02:10.353 --> 00:02:16.893
  • ♪ i can see jesus, clothed in glory. ♪
  • 00:02:20.797 --> 00:02:28.705
  • ♪ he is high and lifted up. ♪
  • 00:02:28.705 --> 00:02:32.475
  • ♪ and his train fills the temple. ♪
  • 00:02:32.475 --> 00:02:37.747
  • ♪ and all of the angels cry holy. ♪
  • 00:02:37.747 --> 00:02:42.352
  • ♪ all the saints cry holy. ♪
  • 00:02:42.352 --> 00:02:46.322
  • ♪ all creation cries holy. ♪
  • 00:02:46.322 --> 00:02:50.994
  • ♪ holy is the lamb. ♪
  • 00:02:50.994 --> 00:02:56.666
  • ♪ all praise unto the lamb who sits on the throne. ♪
  • 00:02:56.666 --> 00:03:02.071
  • ♪ honor and power. ♪
  • 00:03:02.071 --> 00:03:03.806
  • ♪ dominion and praise. ♪
  • 00:03:03.806 --> 00:03:06.075
  • ♪ unto the lamb who sits on the throne. ♪
  • 00:03:06.075 --> 00:03:09.912
  • ♪ honor and power. ♪
  • 00:03:09.912 --> 00:03:11.914
  • ♪ dominion and praise. ♪
  • 00:03:11.914 --> 00:03:14.384
  • ♪ unto the lamb who sits on the throne. ♪
  • 00:03:14.384 --> 00:03:18.421
  • ♪ honor and power. ♪
  • 00:03:18.421 --> 00:03:19.956
  • ♪ dominion and praise. ♪
  • 00:03:19.956 --> 00:03:22.258
  • ♪ unto the lamb who sits on the throne. ♪
  • 00:03:22.258 --> 00:03:26.229
  • ♪ honor and power. ♪
  • 00:03:26.229 --> 00:03:28.164
  • ♪ dominion and praise. ♪
  • 00:03:28.164 --> 00:03:30.133
  • ♪ hallelujah, hallelujah. ♪
  • 00:03:30.133 --> 00:03:34.404
  • ♪ hallelujah. ♪
  • 00:03:34.404 --> 00:03:37.974
  • ♪ hallelujah, hallelujah. ♪
  • 00:03:37.974 --> 00:03:42.712
  • ♪ hallelujah. ♪
  • 00:03:42.712 --> 00:03:45.848
  • ♪ hallelujah, hallelujah. ♪
  • 00:03:45.848 --> 00:03:50.620
  • ♪ hallelujah. ♪
  • 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:54.090
  • ♪ hallelujah, hallelujah. ♪
  • 00:03:54.090 --> 00:03:58.928
  • ♪ hallelujah. ♪
  • 00:03:58.928 --> 00:04:03.299
  • ♪ all praise unto the lamb who sits on the throne. ♪
  • 00:04:03.299 --> 00:04:08.671
  • ♪ honor and power. ♪
  • 00:04:08.671 --> 00:04:10.506
  • ♪ dominion and praise. ♪
  • 00:04:10.506 --> 00:04:12.975
  • ♪ unto the lamb who was and is. ♪
  • 00:04:12.975 --> 00:04:16.713
  • ♪ and is to come. ♪
  • 00:04:16.713 --> 00:04:21.784
  • ♪ all praise unto the lamb who sits on the throne. ♪
  • 00:04:21.784 --> 00:04:26.556
  • ♪ honor and power. ♪
  • 00:04:26.556 --> 00:04:28.925
  • ♪ dominion and praise. ♪
  • 00:04:28.925 --> 00:04:31.227
  • ♪ unto the lamb who was and is. ♪
  • 00:04:31.227 --> 00:04:35.031
  • ♪ and is to come. ♪
  • 00:04:35.031 --> 00:04:39.035
  • ♪ hallelujah. ♪
  • 00:04:39.035 --> 00:04:48.578
  • ♪ hallelujah. ♪♪
  • 00:04:49.212 --> 00:04:59.255
  • Announcer: whether you know it or not, you're in a battle.
  • 00:05:03.226 --> 00:05:05.395
  • Satan has a strategy to attack your faith, disrupt your family,
  • 00:05:05.395 --> 00:05:08.865
  • And derail your future.
  • 00:05:08.865 --> 00:05:10.466
  • But god has given you everything you need to fight back and win.
  • 00:05:10.466 --> 00:05:14.637
  • In "the divine defense," dr. robert jeffress reveals 6
  • 00:05:14.637 --> 00:05:18.374
  • Practical strategies from ephesians chapter 6 to defeat
  • 00:05:18.374 --> 00:05:21.944
  • Satan's destructive plan.
  • 00:05:21.944 --> 00:05:23.746
  • When you put on the full armor of god, satan doesn't have
  • 00:05:23.746 --> 00:05:26.682
  • A prayer.
  • 00:05:26.682 --> 00:05:28.017
  • Request "the divine defense" when you give a generous
  • 00:05:28.017 --> 00:05:30.186
  • Ministry gift to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:05:30.186 --> 00:05:32.422
  • Announcer: stay tuned for a very special "ask dr. jeffress"
  • 00:05:33.956 --> 00:05:36.793
  • Segment after today's message.
  • 00:05:36.793 --> 00:05:38.561
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:05:39.929 --> 00:05:46.702
  • Jeffress: herb kelleher was the founder of southwest airlines,
  • 00:05:46.702 --> 00:05:50.973
  • And one day a journalist asked him a question about how he ran
  • 00:05:50.973 --> 00:05:54.744
  • This very complex organization.
  • 00:05:54.744 --> 00:05:57.680
  • And herb kelleher said, "you know, i can teach you how to run
  • 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:02.518
  • Southwest airlines in 30 seconds.
  • 00:06:02.518 --> 00:06:05.121
  • As long as you understand this one statement, you can make any
  • 00:06:05.121 --> 00:06:08.291
  • Decision you want to.
  • 00:06:08.291 --> 00:06:10.092
  • The statement is this: southwest airlines is the low
  • 00:06:10.092 --> 00:06:14.764
  • Fare airline.
  • 00:06:14.764 --> 00:06:16.165
  • We are not a low fare airline.
  • 00:06:16.165 --> 00:06:18.634
  • We are the low fare airline.
  • 00:06:18.634 --> 00:06:21.471
  • And if you really understand that, you can make the decisions
  • 00:06:21.471 --> 00:06:24.073
  • As well as i can.
  • 00:06:24.073 --> 00:06:25.708
  • For example," he said, "suppose tracy from marketing comes into
  • 00:06:25.708 --> 00:06:29.645
  • Your office and says, 'sir, surveys have shown that
  • 00:06:29.645 --> 00:06:33.049
  • Passengers on our houston to las vegas flight would like
  • 00:06:33.049 --> 00:06:36.786
  • Something other than peanuts.
  • 00:06:36.786 --> 00:06:38.955
  • They would like to have a chicken caesar salad.'
  • 00:06:38.955 --> 00:06:42.658
  • What would you say to tracy?"
  • 00:06:42.658 --> 00:06:44.193
  • The journalist said, "i don't know."
  • 00:06:44.193 --> 00:06:46.162
  • He said, "this is what you would say to tracy.
  • 00:06:46.162 --> 00:06:48.364
  • You'd say, 'tracy, will serving a chicken caesar salad help us
  • 00:06:48.364 --> 00:06:53.870
  • Become the low fare airline between houston and las vegas?
  • 00:06:53.870 --> 00:06:58.341
  • Because if it won't help us become the unchallenged low fare
  • 00:06:58.341 --> 00:07:02.512
  • Airline from houston to las vegas, we're not serving any
  • 00:07:02.512 --> 00:07:06.315
  • Blankety blank chicken salad.'"
  • 00:07:06.315 --> 00:07:10.019
  • That's pretty direct, pretty clear.
  • 00:07:10.019 --> 00:07:13.155
  • But you know, that kind of clearly defined purpose is the
  • 00:07:13.155 --> 00:07:17.059
  • Key not only to success in business, but success in every
  • 00:07:17.059 --> 00:07:20.863
  • Other area of our life as well.
  • 00:07:20.863 --> 00:07:23.232
  • A clearly defined purpose is like a light, a beacon that
  • 00:07:23.232 --> 00:07:28.137
  • Gives direction in the darkness.
  • 00:07:28.137 --> 00:07:30.907
  • And by the way, understanding your clear purpose in life is
  • 00:07:30.907 --> 00:07:36.445
  • Key to success in spiritual warfare.
  • 00:07:36.445 --> 00:07:41.183
  • In these last weeks we've been studying ephesians chapter 6
  • 00:07:41.183 --> 00:07:44.654
  • That remind us we are in a full-scale war, whether we
  • 00:07:44.654 --> 00:07:48.324
  • Realize it or not, not between people, not against adverse
  • 00:07:48.324 --> 00:07:52.495
  • Circumstances, but against our adversary, the devil.
  • 00:07:52.495 --> 00:07:56.165
  • How many of you believe you were in a spiritual war?
  • 00:07:56.165 --> 00:07:59.235
  • Do you believe that?
  • 00:07:59.235 --> 00:08:00.603
  • How many of you would say, "pastor, i'd rather be a victor
  • 00:08:00.603 --> 00:08:03.339
  • Than a victim in that war"?
  • 00:08:03.339 --> 00:08:05.408
  • Well then, that's why we have to take ephesians 6 seriously.
  • 00:08:05.408 --> 00:08:09.812
  • Paul gives us six weapons, if you will, six strategies that
  • 00:08:09.812 --> 00:08:14.684
  • Ensure our success in defeating satan's plan to destroy
  • 00:08:14.684 --> 00:08:19.689
  • Our life.
  • 00:08:19.689 --> 00:08:21.057
  • Look at ephesians 6, beginning with verse 14: "stand firm
  • 00:08:21.057 --> 00:08:24.894
  • Therefore, having girded your loins with truth."
  • 00:08:24.894 --> 00:08:28.831
  • What is he talking about?
  • 00:08:28.831 --> 00:08:30.333
  • The first weapon was the belt.
  • 00:08:30.333 --> 00:08:33.002
  • Putting on the belt of truth.
  • 00:08:33.002 --> 00:08:36.105
  • That is a strategy that says we need to recognize wrong thoughts
  • 00:08:36.105 --> 00:08:40.643
  • And replace them with god thoughts.
  • 00:08:40.643 --> 00:08:43.012
  • Every temptation, every test, begins in our mind, the belt
  • 00:08:43.012 --> 00:08:47.249
  • Of truth.
  • 00:08:47.249 --> 00:08:48.618
  • And then he goes on to say, "and having put on the breastplate
  • 00:08:48.618 --> 00:08:51.721
  • Of righteousness."
  • 00:08:51.721 --> 00:08:53.055
  • We've looked at that for the last few weeks.
  • 00:08:53.055 --> 00:08:55.291
  • What is the breastplate of righteousness?
  • 00:08:55.291 --> 00:08:58.227
  • Righteousness here means obedience to god.
  • 00:08:58.227 --> 00:09:01.797
  • There is something about obeying god that protects you against
  • 00:09:01.797 --> 00:09:05.267
  • The enemy's plan for your life.
  • 00:09:05.267 --> 00:09:07.703
  • That strategy is simply this: obey what you know to be true.
  • 00:09:07.703 --> 00:09:11.440
  • The biggest problem we have with god's will is not the part we
  • 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:15.511
  • Don't know, it's the part of god's will we do know, we
  • 00:09:15.511 --> 00:09:19.448
  • Do understand.
  • 00:09:19.448 --> 00:09:20.783
  • That's what the breastplate of righteousness is, doing what you
  • 00:09:20.783 --> 00:09:24.120
  • Know god wants you to do.
  • 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:25.821
  • And that brings us to the third weapon in verse 15: "and having
  • 00:09:25.821 --> 00:09:30.059
  • Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of
  • 00:09:30.059 --> 00:09:34.597
  • Peace," what in the world does that mean?
  • 00:09:34.597 --> 00:09:37.767
  • When he uses the word "shod," we think of somebody who puts a
  • 00:09:37.767 --> 00:09:41.704
  • Horseshoe on the hoof of a horse.
  • 00:09:41.704 --> 00:09:44.006
  • We know it has something to do with our feet, but what does
  • 00:09:44.006 --> 00:09:47.009
  • It mean?
  • 00:09:47.009 --> 00:09:48.344
  • Well, to understand this, you have to understand first of all,
  • 00:09:48.344 --> 00:09:51.280
  • The importance of footwear in battle.
  • 00:09:51.280 --> 00:09:54.884
  • You know, i heard a fashion consultant say one time, "i can
  • 00:09:54.884 --> 00:09:57.653
  • Judge a person's appearance by looking at his shoes."
  • 00:09:57.653 --> 00:10:02.291
  • Good shoes not only make a fashion statement.
  • 00:10:02.291 --> 00:10:05.327
  • In paul's day, they were an essential.
  • 00:10:05.327 --> 00:10:07.663
  • They weren't a luxury item.
  • 00:10:07.663 --> 00:10:09.265
  • They were essential in a culture in which you had to walk
  • 00:10:09.265 --> 00:10:12.368
  • Everywhere you went.
  • 00:10:12.368 --> 00:10:14.103
  • And good shoes or boots were absolutely essential for a
  • 00:10:14.103 --> 00:10:18.908
  • Soldier's success and victory.
  • 00:10:18.908 --> 00:10:21.444
  • The thick soles of the roman boot protected that roman
  • 00:10:21.444 --> 00:10:25.748
  • Soldier against jagged rocks or sharp sticks the enemy might
  • 00:10:25.748 --> 00:10:30.386
  • Place underneath the ground.
  • 00:10:30.386 --> 00:10:32.688
  • It would also--those metal cleats that would come out of
  • 00:10:32.688 --> 00:10:36.726
  • Those thick shoes like an athlete's shoes today, these
  • 00:10:36.726 --> 00:10:41.030
  • Metal pieces that protruded from the soles, that was necessary
  • 00:10:41.030 --> 00:10:45.968
  • For giving the soldier stability, being able to stand
  • 00:10:45.968 --> 00:10:49.805
  • In place when he was engaged in hand-to-hand combat.
  • 00:10:49.805 --> 00:10:53.776
  • Well, the question is, what are the spiritual boots that we as
  • 00:10:53.776 --> 00:10:58.214
  • Christian soldiers need to put on?
  • 00:10:58.214 --> 00:11:01.083
  • Well, he tells us in verse 15, it's having your feet shod, not
  • 00:11:01.083 --> 00:11:06.055
  • With leather boots, but "with the preparation of the gospel
  • 00:11:06.055 --> 00:11:10.860
  • Of peace."
  • 00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:12.394
  • Now, if you're looking at your bibles right now, you'll notice
  • 00:11:12.394 --> 00:11:16.966
  • That all of these words are in caps, or maybe they're
  • 00:11:16.966 --> 00:11:21.237
  • Italicized, or maybe they have quotation marks around them.
  • 00:11:21.237 --> 00:11:25.207
  • What does this mean?
  • 00:11:25.207 --> 00:11:26.575
  • You know, i've got about 15 or 20 commentaries on ephesians in
  • 00:11:26.575 --> 00:11:31.113
  • My office.
  • 00:11:31.113 --> 00:11:32.615
  • And i looked through them as i was preparing this message, and
  • 00:11:32.615 --> 00:11:35.951
  • I was amazed how many commentators just skipped over
  • 00:11:35.951 --> 00:11:38.854
  • This verse.
  • 00:11:38.854 --> 00:11:40.222
  • They didn't even try to identify it.
  • 00:11:40.222 --> 00:11:41.824
  • I didn't know that was an option, skipping over verses.
  • 00:11:41.824 --> 00:11:44.660
  • Apparently it is, but it's not for me.
  • 00:11:44.660 --> 00:11:47.363
  • So that didn't help.
  • 00:11:47.363 --> 00:11:48.697
  • But some i read tried to liken this with the assurance
  • 00:11:48.697 --> 00:11:52.301
  • Of salvation.
  • 00:11:52.301 --> 00:11:53.669
  • That's what gives stability to a christian soldier, the assurance
  • 00:11:53.669 --> 00:11:57.072
  • Of his salvation.
  • 00:11:57.072 --> 00:11:58.440
  • But that doesn't work because paul's gonna talk about that
  • 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:01.043
  • Later when he talks about the helmet of salvation.
  • 00:12:01.043 --> 00:12:04.747
  • No, the key to understanding this verse is to understand the
  • 00:12:04.747 --> 00:12:08.717
  • Reason it's in all caps in your bible is because it is a
  • 00:12:08.717 --> 00:12:12.688
  • Quotation from the old testament.
  • 00:12:12.688 --> 00:12:15.825
  • Specifically, this is a paraphrase of isaiah 52,
  • 00:12:15.825 --> 00:12:20.763
  • Verse 7, now look at that verse.
  • 00:12:20.763 --> 00:12:23.566
  • This was written by isaiah 700 years before christ came, but it
  • 00:12:23.566 --> 00:12:28.938
  • Anticipated the coming of christ.
  • 00:12:28.938 --> 00:12:31.140
  • Isaiah said, "how lovely on the mountains are the feet of him
  • 00:12:31.140 --> 00:12:36.812
  • Who brings good news," the gospel, "who announces peace and
  • 00:12:36.812 --> 00:12:42.852
  • Brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and
  • 00:12:42.852 --> 00:12:48.490
  • Says to zion, 'your god reigns!'"
  • 00:12:48.490 --> 00:12:52.361
  • Well, you notice paul by quoting this verse, is linking feet with
  • 00:12:52.361 --> 00:12:57.032
  • The announcement of the coming of christ and specifically about
  • 00:12:57.032 --> 00:13:01.604
  • The salvation that he offers.
  • 00:13:01.604 --> 00:13:04.840
  • That's what feet have to do with.
  • 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:07.209
  • It has to do somebody--with somebody who comes to deliver
  • 00:13:07.209 --> 00:13:10.913
  • The good news of christ's salvation.
  • 00:13:10.913 --> 00:13:14.583
  • If you think that's a stretch, by the way, to link paul's words
  • 00:13:14.583 --> 00:13:18.587
  • And isaiah's words with evangelism, listen to how paul
  • 00:13:18.587 --> 00:13:22.524
  • Uses the same verse in another new testament passage.
  • 00:13:22.524 --> 00:13:26.061
  • It's the one we read just a few moments ago in romans 10.
  • 00:13:26.061 --> 00:13:30.165
  • In romans 10:13, paul promises, "whoever calls on the name of
  • 00:13:30.165 --> 00:13:35.604
  • The lord will be saved.
  • 00:13:35.604 --> 00:13:38.173
  • How will they call upon him in whom they have not believed?
  • 00:13:38.173 --> 00:13:42.011
  • And how will they believe on him in whom they have not heard?
  • 00:13:42.011 --> 00:13:46.649
  • And how will they hear without a preacher?
  • 00:13:46.649 --> 00:13:50.085
  • And how will they preach unless they are sent?
  • 00:13:50.085 --> 00:13:53.589
  • For the scripture says, 'how beautiful are the feet of those
  • 00:13:53.589 --> 00:13:57.927
  • Who bring the good news of good things!'"
  • 00:13:57.927 --> 00:14:00.896
  • There's that same verse again, isaiah 52:7, "so faith comes by
  • 00:14:00.896 --> 00:14:05.334
  • Hearing and hearing the word of god."
  • 00:14:05.334 --> 00:14:08.270
  • By the way, when paul says, "how will they hear without a
  • 00:14:08.270 --> 00:14:10.706
  • Preacher," he's not talking about a paid professional like i
  • 00:14:10.706 --> 00:14:13.976
  • Am, or he's not talking about some guy with a stained
  • 00:14:13.976 --> 00:14:17.012
  • Glass voice.
  • 00:14:17.012 --> 00:14:18.514
  • No, a preacher is anyone who proclaims the message of
  • 00:14:18.514 --> 00:14:22.584
  • Salvation, and we're all called to announce the good news of
  • 00:14:22.584 --> 00:14:27.456
  • Christ's salvation.
  • 00:14:27.456 --> 00:14:29.124
  • If you haven't picked up on it so far, here's what the
  • 00:14:29.124 --> 00:14:32.461
  • Spiritual boots paul is referring to means.
  • 00:14:32.461 --> 00:14:37.399
  • The boots for a christian soldier is our readiness and our
  • 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:43.339
  • Ability and our commitment to sharing christ with
  • 00:14:43.339 --> 00:14:47.242
  • Other people.
  • 00:14:47.242 --> 00:14:48.577
  • That's what it means to have your feet shod with the
  • 00:14:48.577 --> 00:14:51.947
  • Preparation of the gospel of peace, the spiritual boots that
  • 00:14:51.947 --> 00:14:56.452
  • Paul says you need in spiritual warfare is a commitment as well
  • 00:14:56.452 --> 00:15:01.256
  • As an ability to sharing the gospel message with others.
  • 00:15:01.256 --> 00:15:06.195
  • Now i realize for some people, that's a stretch.
  • 00:15:06.195 --> 00:15:10.032
  • They can't see any relationship between evangelism and
  • 00:15:10.032 --> 00:15:14.103
  • Spiritual warfare.
  • 00:15:14.103 --> 00:15:15.804
  • And so i'm gonna help you with that today and next week.
  • 00:15:15.804 --> 00:15:18.974
  • I'm going to make four statements
  • 00:15:18.974 --> 00:15:20.743
  • I want you to write down, three today and one next week that
  • 00:15:20.743 --> 00:15:24.747
  • Will help you understand the relationship between your
  • 00:15:24.747 --> 00:15:28.117
  • Purpose in life, evangelism, and spiritual warfare.
  • 00:15:28.117 --> 00:15:33.255
  • Are you ready to take these statements down?
  • 00:15:33.255 --> 00:15:35.057
  • Here's number one.
  • 00:15:35.057 --> 00:15:36.425
  • I want you to write this down.
  • 00:15:36.425 --> 00:15:37.860
  • You were created for a great purpose.
  • 00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:41.663
  • God has created you for a great purpose.
  • 00:15:41.663 --> 00:15:45.300
  • Now, you might say, "well, thank you, captain obvious, for
  • 00:15:45.300 --> 00:15:48.637
  • Telling me that," but you need to understand, most people don't
  • 00:15:48.637 --> 00:15:51.707
  • Believe that.
  • 00:15:51.707 --> 00:15:53.075
  • Certainly, most non-christians don't believe that.
  • 00:15:53.075 --> 00:15:55.277
  • They believe they've been taught all their lives that we're just
  • 00:15:55.277 --> 00:15:58.247
  • A biological fluke.
  • 00:15:58.247 --> 00:16:00.549
  • We just happen to be here by chance.
  • 00:16:00.549 --> 00:16:03.952
  • But even non-christians who say they believe that deep down
  • 00:16:03.952 --> 00:16:07.790
  • Sense there's some purpose in their life and they're searching
  • 00:16:07.790 --> 00:16:11.026
  • For what that purpose is.
  • 00:16:11.026 --> 00:16:12.928
  • A recent survey of 7948 college students at 48 different
  • 00:16:12.928 --> 00:16:19.168
  • Colleges, these students were asked to rank what they
  • 00:16:19.168 --> 00:16:23.005
  • Considered very important to them.
  • 00:16:23.005 --> 00:16:25.741
  • The study conducted by johns hopkins university reported that
  • 00:16:25.741 --> 00:16:29.745
  • 16% of students said their number one priority was making a
  • 00:16:29.745 --> 00:16:34.383
  • Lot of money, 16%.
  • 00:16:34.383 --> 00:16:37.152
  • 75% said their first priority was finding a purpose and a
  • 00:16:37.152 --> 00:16:43.692
  • Meaning to my life.
  • 00:16:43.692 --> 00:16:45.794
  • We all want to know what the purpose of our life is.
  • 00:16:45.794 --> 00:16:49.431
  • The bible says we're not here by accident.
  • 00:16:49.431 --> 00:16:52.701
  • We are not the result of some primordial chemical broth
  • 00:16:52.701 --> 00:16:58.340
  • Emoting from the earth, being struck by lightning, producing
  • 00:16:58.340 --> 00:17:01.510
  • The right amino acids that ended up producing you and me.
  • 00:17:01.510 --> 00:17:05.280
  • No, we are here because god has created us, and he's created us
  • 00:17:05.280 --> 00:17:09.585
  • For a great purpose.
  • 00:17:09.585 --> 00:17:10.953
  • Remember god's word to the prophet jeremiah in jeremiah 1,
  • 00:17:10.953 --> 00:17:14.957
  • Verse 5?
  • 00:17:14.957 --> 00:17:16.291
  • God said, "before i formed you in the womb i knew
  • 00:17:16.291 --> 00:17:20.262
  • You, and before you were born i consecrated you; i've appointed
  • 00:17:20.262 --> 00:17:25.567
  • You as a prophet to the nations."
  • 00:17:25.567 --> 00:17:28.570
  • Now many times we use this verse to defend the pro-life position.
  • 00:17:28.570 --> 00:17:34.176
  • Abortion is the murder of the unborn, and we have no right to
  • 00:17:34.176 --> 00:17:38.580
  • Kill the baby that god has created because every child has
  • 00:17:38.580 --> 00:17:43.051
  • Been created, formed, skillfully made by god, and that's
  • 00:17:43.051 --> 00:17:47.689
  • All true.
  • 00:17:47.689 --> 00:17:49.057
  • But i want you to notice what god said to jeremiah.
  • 00:17:49.057 --> 00:17:51.994
  • He didn't say, "your purpose came about after you were born,
  • 00:17:51.994 --> 00:17:57.399
  • Or while you were in the womb."
  • 00:17:57.399 --> 00:17:59.434
  • He says, "before i even formed you in the womb, jeremiah,
  • 00:17:59.434 --> 00:18:04.706
  • Before you were conceived, i knew you."
  • 00:18:04.706 --> 00:18:08.310
  • That word "know" in hebrew means to have an intimate
  • 00:18:08.310 --> 00:18:11.847
  • Relationship with.
  • 00:18:11.847 --> 00:18:13.715
  • He didn't just know about jeremiah, he didn't know at some
  • 00:18:13.715 --> 00:18:16.952
  • Point jeremiah was gonna be conceived.
  • 00:18:16.952 --> 00:18:19.188
  • He entered into a relationship with jeremiah before he was
  • 00:18:19.188 --> 00:18:22.791
  • Conceived, and before he was born, god said, "i consecrated
  • 00:18:22.791 --> 00:18:27.296
  • You, i set you apart for a great purpose, to be a prophet to
  • 00:18:27.296 --> 00:18:31.667
  • The nations."
  • 00:18:31.667 --> 00:18:33.035
  • But jeremiah is not the only one who's been selected by god.
  • 00:18:33.035 --> 00:18:36.672
  • God has a great purpose for your life as well.
  • 00:18:36.672 --> 00:18:39.775
  • Now, when we talk about our purpose, we have to understand
  • 00:18:39.775 --> 00:18:43.378
  • There's an eternal purpose that all of us were created for, and
  • 00:18:43.378 --> 00:18:47.249
  • That is to have fellowship with god, to become more like jesus
  • 00:18:47.249 --> 00:18:51.253
  • Christ every day, for whom god foreknew he predestined to
  • 00:18:51.253 --> 00:18:55.657
  • Become conformed to the image of his son.
  • 00:18:55.657 --> 00:18:58.994
  • God's ultimate plan for us is to
  • 00:18:58.994 --> 00:19:01.096
  • Enjoy him in heaven forever, to worship
  • 00:19:01.096 --> 00:19:03.665
  • Him day and night, to enjoy unhindered
  • 00:19:03.665 --> 00:19:06.702
  • Fellowship with god.
  • 00:19:06.702 --> 00:19:08.036
  • And by the way, that time is coming.
  • 00:19:08.036 --> 00:19:10.105
  • In revelation 22, verse 3, after
  • 00:19:10.105 --> 00:19:13.075
  • The destruction of the present
  • 00:19:13.075 --> 00:19:14.610
  • Heaven and the present earth, after john sees the new heaven
  • 00:19:14.610 --> 00:19:18.080
  • And the new earth, revelation 22, verse 3 says: "and there
  • 00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:21.883
  • Will no longer be any curse: and the throne of god and of the
  • 00:19:21.883 --> 00:19:25.787
  • Lamb will be in it, and his bond-servants will serve him."
  • 00:19:25.787 --> 00:19:31.560
  • We're looking forward, god is looking forward, to that day
  • 00:19:31.560 --> 00:19:34.796
  • When we serve and worship god without any interference.
  • 00:19:34.796 --> 00:19:39.601
  • No longer are we pulled away from god by sin.
  • 00:19:39.601 --> 00:19:42.337
  • No longer are we distracted by this world.
  • 00:19:42.337 --> 00:19:44.873
  • We'll be able to obey god completely and perfectly.
  • 00:19:44.873 --> 00:19:49.378
  • But that's in the new heaven and the new world.
  • 00:19:49.378 --> 00:19:53.048
  • If that's god's goal, if that's his eternal plan for us, why
  • 00:19:53.048 --> 00:19:57.052
  • Doesn't god just rapture us to heaven the moment he saves us?
  • 00:19:57.052 --> 00:20:02.391
  • Jeffress: god has a clear mission for your life, and that
  • 00:20:05.827 --> 00:20:08.764
  • Mission is to share the gospel with as many people as possible.
  • 00:20:08.764 --> 00:20:13.168
  • When you align your purpose with god's purpose, you'll discover
  • 00:20:13.168 --> 00:20:16.872
  • The fulfillment you've been searching for.
  • 00:20:16.872 --> 00:20:19.908
  • Well, at "pathway to victory," we take that mission seriously.
  • 00:20:19.908 --> 00:20:23.578
  • Every day this program reaches millions of people across
  • 00:20:23.578 --> 00:20:26.615
  • America and around the world with the life-changing message
  • 00:20:26.615 --> 00:20:30.352
  • Of jesus christ, and it's all made possible through the
  • 00:20:30.352 --> 00:20:33.555
  • Faithful support of friends just like you.
  • 00:20:33.555 --> 00:20:36.858
  • Your generous giving allows us to broadcast on television,
  • 00:20:36.858 --> 00:20:40.262
  • Radio, and digital platforms, reaching people who desperately
  • 00:20:40.262 --> 00:20:44.766
  • Need to hear the truth of god's word.
  • 00:20:44.766 --> 00:20:47.636
  • So thank you to our pathway partners and everyone who
  • 00:20:47.636 --> 00:20:51.139
  • Partners with us to fulfill the great commission.
  • 00:20:51.139 --> 00:20:54.509
  • Together we are piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:20:54.509 --> 00:20:58.347
  • God's word.
  • 00:20:58.347 --> 00:20:59.681
  • Now please stay right there.
  • 00:20:59.681 --> 00:21:01.049
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:21:01.049 --> 00:21:05.220
  • Announcer: that recurring temptation you can't shake, the
  • 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:08.056
  • Doubts that creep in during your darkest moments, the tension in
  • 00:21:08.056 --> 00:21:11.526
  • Your closest relationships; these aren't random struggles
  • 00:21:11.526 --> 00:21:15.063
  • These are part of a strategic attack on your faith, your
  • 00:21:15.063 --> 00:21:17.999
  • Family, and your future.
  • 00:21:17.999 --> 00:21:19.634
  • Jeffress: satan has a personalized plan to discourage,
  • 00:21:19.634 --> 00:21:23.138
  • Deceive, and derail you.
  • 00:21:23.138 --> 00:21:25.374
  • But you don't have to live in defeat.
  • 00:21:25.374 --> 00:21:27.809
  • God has given you access to the same power that raised jesus
  • 00:21:27.809 --> 00:21:31.413
  • From the dead.
  • 00:21:31.413 --> 00:21:32.748
  • In my bestselling book, "the divine defense," i'll show you
  • 00:21:32.748 --> 00:21:35.984
  • How to put on the full armor of god and use six biblical
  • 00:21:35.984 --> 00:21:39.755
  • Strategies to defeat satan's plan to destroy your life.
  • 00:21:39.755 --> 00:21:44.426
  • Announcer: request "the divine defense" when you give a
  • 00:21:44.426 --> 00:21:46.595
  • Generous gift to "pathway to victory" or when you become a
  • 00:21:46.595 --> 00:21:49.564
  • Pathway partner.
  • 00:21:49.564 --> 00:21:50.899
  • And when your gift is $100 or more, we'll send you the
  • 00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:54.469
  • Complete resource set including the study guide, "suit up!
  • 00:21:54.469 --> 00:21:57.606
  • The armor of god for kids," and the teaching series on both cd
  • 00:21:57.606 --> 00:22:01.510
  • And dvd.
  • 00:22:01.510 --> 00:22:02.844
  • Jeffress: your mind is the devil's battlefield on which he
  • 00:22:02.844 --> 00:22:07.115
  • Is warring against everything important to you.
  • 00:22:07.115 --> 00:22:12.287
  • It is a battle that seeks to destroy your faith, your family,
  • 00:22:12.287 --> 00:22:16.958
  • And your future.
  • 00:22:16.958 --> 00:22:18.326
  • Announcer: thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
  • 00:22:18.326 --> 00:22:20.796
  • Your generous ministry gift helps us broadcast biblical
  • 00:22:20.796 --> 00:22:23.965
  • Truth on television, radio, and online, equipping believers like
  • 00:22:23.965 --> 00:22:28.136
  • You to stand firm and live victoriously.
  • 00:22:28.136 --> 00:22:31.273
  • Together we're piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:22:31.273 --> 00:22:34.142
  • God's word.
  • 00:22:34.142 --> 00:22:35.510
  • Jeffress: take a moment to consider how you're spending
  • 00:22:37.612 --> 00:22:39.748
  • Your time and energy.
  • 00:22:39.748 --> 00:22:41.516
  • Are you pouring your life into temporary pursuits that will
  • 00:22:41.516 --> 00:22:44.953
  • Never truly satisfy, or are you investing in god's eternal
  • 00:22:44.953 --> 00:22:49.558
  • Purpose of reaching people with the gospel?
  • 00:22:49.558 --> 00:22:52.961
  • Eternal beings can only be satisfied by eternal things.
  • 00:22:52.961 --> 00:22:58.333
  • Well, you may still be wondering how sharing your faith protects
  • 00:22:58.333 --> 00:23:01.369
  • You in spiritual warfare.
  • 00:23:01.369 --> 00:23:03.705
  • Next time i'm going to reveal the powerful connection between
  • 00:23:03.705 --> 00:23:07.375
  • Fulfilling your purpose and defeating satan's attacks.
  • 00:23:07.375 --> 00:23:11.446
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:23:11.446 --> 00:23:14.049
  • Series, "the divine defense."
  • 00:23:14.049 --> 00:23:17.385
  • Jeffress: the only way to satisfy that sense of eternity
  • 00:23:17.385 --> 00:23:21.423
  • That god has placed in every heart, the only way that can be
  • 00:23:21.423 --> 00:23:24.392
  • Satisfied is with an eternal companion and an
  • 00:23:24.392 --> 00:23:28.330
  • Eternal purpose.
  • 00:23:28.330 --> 00:23:30.732
  • That eternal companion is god.
  • 00:23:30.732 --> 00:23:33.768
  • The eternal purpose that gives our life meaning is to make
  • 00:23:33.768 --> 00:23:38.707
  • God's purpose your purpose, to dedicate your life to doing that
  • 00:23:38.707 --> 00:23:43.879
  • One thing he has left us on planet earth to do.
  • 00:23:43.879 --> 00:23:47.916
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part 2 of the
  • 00:23:47.916 --> 00:23:51.219
  • Message, "putting on your soul shoes," here on "pathway
  • 00:23:51.219 --> 00:23:54.689
  • To victory."
  • 00:23:54.689 --> 00:24:00.996
  • Julianne thompson: hi, dr. jeffress.
  • 00:24:04.833 --> 00:24:06.535
  • Today's question, it's kind of a hard one, but i know you'll be
  • 00:24:06.535 --> 00:24:09.271
  • Up for the challenge.
  • 00:24:09.271 --> 00:24:10.872
  • Today's question is, should christians support the
  • 00:24:10.872 --> 00:24:13.842
  • Death penalty?
  • 00:24:13.842 --> 00:24:15.176
  • How does the death penalty align with forgiveness?
  • 00:24:15.176 --> 00:24:18.647
  • Jeffress: well, the death penalty is something that's
  • 00:24:18.647 --> 00:24:20.982
  • Commanded in scripture.
  • 00:24:20.982 --> 00:24:22.651
  • In genesis chapter 9, immediately after the flood when
  • 00:24:22.651 --> 00:24:26.521
  • Noah and his family were repopulating the earth and
  • 00:24:26.521 --> 00:24:29.958
  • Civilization was being recreated, god gave noah this
  • 00:24:29.958 --> 00:24:34.029
  • Principle that was to be applicable to all generations.
  • 00:24:34.029 --> 00:24:38.466
  • He said, "whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall
  • 00:24:38.466 --> 00:24:43.872
  • Be shed."
  • 00:24:43.872 --> 00:24:45.206
  • If somebody kills a person, then that person is to have his
  • 00:24:45.206 --> 00:24:48.510
  • Life taken.
  • 00:24:48.510 --> 00:24:49.844
  • And the reason god instituted capital punishment was to show
  • 00:24:49.844 --> 00:24:53.582
  • How valuable life is.
  • 00:24:53.582 --> 00:24:55.750
  • God's the one who creates life, and to kill somebody is to
  • 00:24:55.750 --> 00:24:59.988
  • Destroy a life god created.
  • 00:24:59.988 --> 00:25:02.791
  • Now we're not to engage personally in killing
  • 00:25:02.791 --> 00:25:05.493
  • Other people.
  • 00:25:05.493 --> 00:25:06.861
  • That's the job of government.
  • 00:25:06.861 --> 00:25:08.597
  • And in romans 13 in the new testament, the word of god
  • 00:25:08.597 --> 00:25:12.267
  • Reaffirms that.
  • 00:25:12.267 --> 00:25:13.602
  • Paul is talking about governing authorities.
  • 00:25:13.602 --> 00:25:16.538
  • He said there is no authority except that which god has
  • 00:25:16.538 --> 00:25:19.574
  • Ordained, and he has charged governing authorities with
  • 00:25:19.574 --> 00:25:23.678
  • Punishing evildoers and rewarding the righteous.
  • 00:25:23.678 --> 00:25:26.982
  • And then paul says god has not given government the sword
  • 00:25:26.982 --> 00:25:31.419
  • For nothing.
  • 00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:32.787
  • In other words, god has given government the ability to take a
  • 00:25:32.787 --> 00:25:36.458
  • Life for those who act unjustly, and so i think, again, we need
  • 00:25:36.458 --> 00:25:41.630
  • To support what the bible says and believing government has
  • 00:25:41.630 --> 00:25:45.133
  • That right to take the harshest penalty possible and that is the
  • 00:25:45.133 --> 00:25:49.871
  • Taking of a life.
  • 00:25:49.871 --> 00:25:51.206
  • Now people wonder, "well, what about forgiveness?"
  • 00:25:51.206 --> 00:25:54.209
  • Well, you and i are commanded to forgive other people.
  • 00:25:54.209 --> 00:25:57.679
  • You know, when i forgive somebody, i let go of my desire
  • 00:25:57.679 --> 00:26:01.182
  • To hurt them for hurting me.
  • 00:26:01.182 --> 00:26:03.818
  • The bible calls that vengeance.
  • 00:26:03.818 --> 00:26:05.854
  • The word of god says: "vengeance is mine.
  • 00:26:05.854 --> 00:26:08.289
  • I will repay, saith the lord."
  • 00:26:08.289 --> 00:26:10.659
  • We're to give up a desire for vengeance, but we can never give
  • 00:26:10.659 --> 00:26:14.029
  • Up our desire for justice.
  • 00:26:14.029 --> 00:26:16.498
  • Justice is the punishment god or others may exact from our
  • 00:26:16.498 --> 00:26:21.002
  • Offender for what they do to us.
  • 00:26:21.002 --> 00:26:23.304
  • I remember in one of the churches i served there was a
  • 00:26:23.304 --> 00:26:25.740
  • Man whose daughter had been brutally murdered, and he dealt
  • 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:28.977
  • And struggled with forgiveness, and he felt like he had forgiven
  • 00:26:28.977 --> 00:26:31.880
  • The killer.
  • 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:33.248
  • But then he was invited by the prosecution to testify on their
  • 00:26:33.248 --> 00:26:36.785
  • Behalf against the one who had murdered his daughter, and he
  • 00:26:36.785 --> 00:26:39.688
  • Asked me, "should i do that if i've forgiven this person?"
  • 00:26:39.688 --> 00:26:43.291
  • I said, "absolutely you're free to do that because what you're
  • 00:26:43.291 --> 00:26:46.895
  • After is not vengeance, you've given that up, but justice is
  • 00:26:46.895 --> 00:26:51.332
  • Something government does to the one who killed your daughter."
  • 00:26:51.332 --> 00:26:54.836
  • So again, we should and can give up our desire for vengeance, but
  • 00:26:54.836 --> 00:26:59.140
  • We can never give up our desire for justice.
  • 00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:02.310
  • Capital punishment is god's justice against murderers.
  • 00:27:02.310 --> 00:27:07.816
  • Julianne: such a good distinction.
  • 00:27:07.816 --> 00:27:09.150
  • It's a good reminder too.
  • 00:27:09.150 --> 00:27:10.518
  • I'm like, if he can forgive, i can too.
  • 00:27:10.518 --> 00:27:13.488
  • That's a really powerful example.
  • 00:27:13.488 --> 00:27:15.356
  • Thank you, dr. jeffress.
  • 00:27:15.356 --> 00:27:16.958
  • If you'd like to read more questions and answers from dr.
  • 00:27:16.958 --> 00:27:19.828
  • Jeffress, you can visit ptv.org/read.
  • 00:27:19.828 --> 00:27:23.364
  • You can also submit your questions by scanning the qr
  • 00:27:23.364 --> 00:27:26.468
  • Code on the screen.
  • 00:27:26.468 --> 00:27:26.468