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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Refusing To Second Guess Your Right Decisions | May 20, 2025
- (music)
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- [announcer] from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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- Of dallas, texas,
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- This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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- Hi, i'm robert jeffress and welcome again
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- To "pathway to victory."
- 00:00:17.073 --> 00:00:19.008
- After making a sinful decision, it's natural to feel regret.
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- But sometimes we're regretful after making a good decision.
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- Abraham, the great man of faith,
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- Had this experience when he second-guessed his decision
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- To obey god.
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- And if you've ever suffered from believer's remorse,
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- I want you to hear my message today called
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- "refusing to second-guess your right decisions"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- (music)
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- ♪ the fear of the lord ♪
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- ♪ is the beginning of wisdom ♪
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- ♪ life, hope ♪
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- ♪ meaning and joy ♪
- 00:01:03.786 --> 00:01:07.657
- ♪ the fear of the lord ♪
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- ♪ is the beginning of wisdom ♪
- 00:01:10.627 --> 00:01:15.732
- ♪ so let us worship ♪
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- ♪ let us bow down ♪
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- ♪ let us fear our god ♪
- 00:01:24.207 --> 00:01:31.047
- ♪ to him belongs ♪
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- ♪ eternal praise ♪
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- ♪ glorious and righteous ♪
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- ♪ are his works, his ways ♪
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- ♪ to him belongs ♪
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- ♪ all reverent praise ♪
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- ♪ faithful and just ♪
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- ♪ are his works, his ways ♪
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- ♪ in the congregation ♪
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- ♪ with your people ♪
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- ♪ we remember your works ♪
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- ♪ your works ♪
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- ♪ to him belongs ♪
- 00:02:25.134 --> 00:02:28.771
- ♪ eternal praise ♪
- 00:02:28.771 --> 00:02:32.508
- ♪ faithful and just ♪
- 00:02:32.508 --> 00:02:35.878
- ♪ are his works, his ways ♪
- 00:02:35.878 --> 00:02:40.984
- ♪ so let us worship ♪
- 00:02:41.684 --> 00:02:45.021
- ♪ let us bow down ♪
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- ♪ so let us worship ♪
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- ♪ let us bow down ♪
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- ♪ so let us worship ♪
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- ♪ let us bow down ♪
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- ♪ so let us worship ♪
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- ♪ let us bow down ♪
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- ♪ so let us worship ♪
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- ♪ let us bow down ♪
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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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- ♪ our god ♪
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- (congregation applauds)
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- [announcer] the bible is filled with stories about heroes.
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- (music)
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- But abraham rises above the rest
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- As a true champion of faith.
- 00:04:13.676 --> 00:04:15.712
- In his brand new book "walking by faith,"
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- Dr. robert jeffress shares how to step forward in faith
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- Even when the future appears uncertain.
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- Your faith can thrive in a dark and hurting world.
- 00:04:23.986 --> 00:04:27.256
- Request your copy of "walking by faith"
- 00:04:27.256 --> 00:04:29.459
- When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
- 00:04:29.459 --> 00:04:32.362
- (music)
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- Buyer's remorse.
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- You know the concept, don't you?
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- It's that feeling you have after making a large purchase
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- And you begin second-guessing your decision.
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- If only i had bought a bigger size or a different color.
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- If only i had waited for a sale.
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- You know, the only thing more painful
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- Than second-guessing your decisions with regret
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- Is second-guessing those decisions with fear,
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- Doing what you think is the right thing
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- And then starting to fear the consequences.
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- A student decides
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- That they're not going to cheat on the exam,
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- But then they begin to worry,
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- "what if i failed the course?"
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- An employee refuses to follow her boss' edict to cheat,
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- To cut corners,
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- And then she begins to fear, "what if i lose my job?"
- 00:05:32.955 --> 00:05:36.192
- A christian begins to obey god through tithing
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- But then begins to wonder,
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- "what if i don't have enough money?"
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- We had a viewer of "pathway to victory"
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- In virginia recently who wrote to us
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- And said that she had listened to a message on marriage
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- And made the commitment to obey god
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- And stay in her marriage,
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- But then she began to fear,
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- "what if that means i'm condemned to a life
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- Of loneliness and unhappiness?"
- 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:06.823
- You know, we sing the song, or we used to,
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- You'll remember it,
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- "trust and obey,
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- For there's no other way than to be happy in jesus
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- Than to trust and obey."
- 00:06:15.598 --> 00:06:18.401
- It's a nice song but it's somewhat misleading.
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- If you interpret it to mean if you trust and obey god,
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- Everything's going to turn out all right.
- 00:06:25.341 --> 00:06:27.410
- Well, eventually that's true,
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- But it doesn't happen immediately.
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- Sometimes we regret not just wrong decisions
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- But right decisions.
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- As we're going to discover today
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- In our study in the life of abraham,
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- There's only one remedy
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- To regrets over the right decisions we make,
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- And that remedy is faith.
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- If you have your bibles, turn to genesis 14, genesis 14,
- 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:55.505
- As we discover some help in refusing to second-guess
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- Our right decisions.
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- The kings of the jordan valley
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- That included the cities of sodom and gomorrah,
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- They had lived for years under the reign
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- Of a coalition of eastern kings led by chedorlaomer.
- 00:07:11.654 --> 00:07:16.392
- And so they had paid taxes to chedorlaomer
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- Every year for 12 years.
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- But after 12 years of paying taxes to this monarch,
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- They, kind of like our american colonists,
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- Decided no taxation without representation.
- 00:07:28.671 --> 00:07:32.008
- "we're not going to pay king henry anymore.
- 00:07:32.008 --> 00:07:34.043
- We're not going to pay king chedorlaomer anymore.
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- We're going to stop paying to this coalition of kings."
- 00:07:37.346 --> 00:07:41.417
- They did that in the 13th year, quit paying their taxes.
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- In the 14th year,
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- Chedorlaomer said, "we're not going to put up
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- With this rebellion any longer."
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- So chedorlaomer leads a group of kings from the east
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- And they invade the jordan valley
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- Where these rebellious kings were,
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- Including the kings of sodom and gomorrah.
- 00:07:58.200 --> 00:08:02.772
- And what happens when chedorlaomer invades?
- 00:08:02.772 --> 00:08:06.075
- Well, some of the people fled immediately
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- To the hills of masada.
- 00:08:08.978 --> 00:08:11.013
- Some of them fled there, leaving their possessions behind.
- 00:08:11.013 --> 00:08:14.684
- Verse 10 tells us there were tar pits in the area,
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- Tar that was used earlier to build the tower of babel.
- 00:08:18.387 --> 00:08:21.857
- Some of the kings fled and got stuck in the tar pits,
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- That was the king of sodom and gomorrah.
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- They left behind their treasures.
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- And those residents who stayed,
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- Including the residents of sodom and gomorrah,
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- They were taken captive.
- 00:08:34.937 --> 00:08:37.373
- Now, who was living in sodom and gomorrah
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- When this war broke out
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- And the residents were taken captive?
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- Guess who was there?
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- Our old friend lot.
- 00:08:47.416 --> 00:08:49.919
- It's interesting, the last time we saw a lot in chapter 13,
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- He moved to the edge of sodom, this city of wickedness.
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- He didn't move into it yet,
- 00:08:57.093 --> 00:08:58.861
- But he was kind of attracted to it, tantalized by it,
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- So he moved to the edge.
- 00:09:02.164 --> 00:09:03.599
- When we get to chapter 14,
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- He's right smack-dab in the middle of sodom
- 00:09:05.434 --> 00:09:09.405
- And he ends up getting taken captive by chedorlaomer.
- 00:09:09.405 --> 00:09:12.842
- May i point out an obvious but important truth?
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- The most dangerous place in the world you can be
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- Is outside god's will.
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- When you're outside god's will,
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- You're in the most dangerous place you can be.
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- Likewise, the safest place you can be,
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- Regardless of what's going on around you,
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- Is in the middle of god's will.
- 00:09:34.730 --> 00:09:36.932
- Lot had moved his family outside god's will
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- And so they end up being taken captive
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- Along with the other captives.
- 00:09:43.105 --> 00:09:45.207
- Now what happens?
- 00:09:45.207 --> 00:09:46.409
- Look at verse 13, "then a fugitive,"
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- Somebody escaped from those who had been taken captive,
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- "and told abram the hebrew,
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- Now abram was living by the oaks of mamre."
- 00:09:54.984 --> 00:09:59.355
- Now there's an interesting nuance here
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- In the hebrew language.
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- It says abram was living in canaan
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- By the oaks of mamre.
- 00:10:07.663 --> 00:10:09.398
- That hebrew word living means existing.
- 00:10:09.398 --> 00:10:14.370
- It's the idea of a temporary dwelling place.
- 00:10:14.370 --> 00:10:17.707
- Remember, abraham lived in a tent
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- Even though he was a wealthy man.
- 00:10:20.710 --> 00:10:22.578
- As the old gospel song says,
- 00:10:22.578 --> 00:10:24.146
- "this world is not my home, i'm just a-passing through."
- 00:10:24.146 --> 00:10:28.050
- You know, when i think about that,
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- I think about the late british writer malcom muggeridge.
- 00:10:30.953 --> 00:10:34.056
- He had an autobiography, "chronicles of wasted time,"
- 00:10:34.056 --> 00:10:37.460
- And he talked about in his autobiography
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- As feeling like a stranger in this world, he said.
- 00:10:40.463 --> 00:10:44.266
- And one time a television journalist asked him what he meant
- 00:10:44.266 --> 00:10:47.670
- By living as a stranger in this land,
- 00:10:47.670 --> 00:10:50.272
- And this is what malcom muggeridge said.
- 00:10:50.272 --> 00:10:52.808
- "in world war ii,
- 00:10:52.808 --> 00:10:54.310
- I was in north africa when i heard a lieutenant colonel
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- Use the phrase 'displaced person.'
- 00:10:58.013 --> 00:11:02.118
- That phrase was very poignant to me,
- 00:11:02.118 --> 00:11:04.587
- But it's a very good definition of a person
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- Who's come to see that life is not about carnal things,
- 00:11:07.590 --> 00:11:11.293
- It's not about success,
- 00:11:11.293 --> 00:11:12.928
- But it's about eternity rather than time.
- 00:11:12.928 --> 00:11:17.133
- I don't really belong here, i'm simply staying here."
- 00:11:17.133 --> 00:11:22.138
- That was abraham's philosophy.
- 00:11:23.038 --> 00:11:24.507
- I'm not really belong in this world,
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- I'm just staying in this world for now.
- 00:11:27.376 --> 00:11:31.080
- Contrast that to lot,
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- Who thought this world was the final place for him.
- 00:11:33.582 --> 00:11:37.253
- He drove down those stakes in the city of sodom,
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- And isn't it interesting
- 00:11:41.724 --> 00:11:43.192
- That the one who ended up getting uprooted was lot?
- 00:11:43.192 --> 00:11:46.896
- He got taken captive.
- 00:11:46.896 --> 00:11:48.998
- And so, when abraham heard the news from this fugitive
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- That his nephew had been taken captive,
- 00:11:52.201 --> 00:11:54.904
- What was his reaction?
- 00:11:54.904 --> 00:11:57.006
- Abraham wanted to rescue his nephew lot.
- 00:11:57.006 --> 00:12:02.111
- You see, abraham understood that true love
- 00:12:03.179 --> 00:12:05.748
- Is not giving people what they deserve,
- 00:12:05.748 --> 00:12:07.883
- It's giving people what they need.
- 00:12:07.883 --> 00:12:10.319
- Isn't that how god dealt with us?
- 00:12:10.319 --> 00:12:13.122
- In titus 3:4-5, it says,
- 00:12:13.122 --> 00:12:15.891
- "when the kindness of god our savior
- 00:12:15.891 --> 00:12:19.728
- And his love for mankind appeared,
- 00:12:19.728 --> 00:12:22.331
- God saved us not on the basis of deeds,
- 00:12:22.331 --> 00:12:25.467
- Which we've done in righteousness,
- 00:12:25.467 --> 00:12:27.236
- But according to his mercy."
- 00:12:27.236 --> 00:12:29.271
- Aren't you glad we serve a kind god?
- 00:12:29.271 --> 00:12:32.741
- A god who doesn't give us what we deserve,
- 00:12:32.741 --> 00:12:35.578
- Justice, separation from god, punishment for our sins,
- 00:12:35.578 --> 00:12:39.982
- But he gives us what we need, and that is grace.
- 00:12:39.982 --> 00:12:43.018
- That's exactly what abraham did with lot,
- 00:12:43.018 --> 00:12:47.022
- He dealt with him according to grace.
- 00:12:47.022 --> 00:12:49.191
- And from this point on,
- 00:12:49.191 --> 00:12:50.259
- Abraham, who's already a legend,
- 00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:52.361
- Now he moves to superhero status.
- 00:12:52.361 --> 00:12:55.931
- Everybody's talking about abraham.
- 00:12:55.931 --> 00:12:58.300
- And because chedorlaomer left behind all this loot
- 00:12:58.300 --> 00:13:02.538
- As well as all these captives,
- 00:13:02.538 --> 00:13:04.340
- A rich man, abraham, became even richer.
- 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:07.309
- He had all of this stuff now, all of these people,
- 00:13:07.309 --> 00:13:11.447
- What would he do?
- 00:13:11.447 --> 00:13:12.882
- And so we see abraham facing a new test.
- 00:13:12.882 --> 00:13:16.418
- And again, it's a test of not how he handles adversity,
- 00:13:16.418 --> 00:13:19.355
- How does he this newfound prosperity?
- 00:13:19.355 --> 00:13:23.225
- Well, the test comes in the form of two kings that he meets.
- 00:13:23.225 --> 00:13:27.129
- Now, first of all, he meets a king named melchizedek.
- 00:13:27.129 --> 00:13:31.233
- Look at verse 18.
- 00:13:31.233 --> 00:13:32.868
- "and melchizedek, the king of salem,"
- 00:13:32.868 --> 00:13:35.671
- That was probably ancient jerusalem,
- 00:13:35.671 --> 00:13:38.941
- "melchizedek, the king of salem,
- 00:13:38.941 --> 00:13:41.143
- Brought out bread and wine to abraham.
- 00:13:41.143 --> 00:13:44.079
- Now he was a priest of the most high god."
- 00:13:44.079 --> 00:13:46.815
- This is the first time a priest is mentioned in the bible.
- 00:13:46.815 --> 00:13:51.487
- Now, what does melchizedek say when he meets abraham?
- 00:13:51.487 --> 00:13:54.723
- "he blessed him," verse 19, and said,
- 00:13:54.723 --> 00:13:57.192
- "blessed be abram of god most high,
- 00:13:57.192 --> 00:13:59.929
- Possessor of heaven and earth."
- 00:13:59.929 --> 00:14:02.932
- The word in hebrew melchizedek uses for god is el elyon.
- 00:14:02.932 --> 00:14:08.037
- It means the creator god, the possessor god,
- 00:14:09.138 --> 00:14:11.473
- The god who owns everything.
- 00:14:11.473 --> 00:14:13.008
- God owns everything in this universe
- 00:14:13.008 --> 00:14:15.044
- Because he created everything in this universe.
- 00:14:15.044 --> 00:14:17.813
- You know, the christian financial consultant ron blue says,
- 00:14:17.813 --> 00:14:21.083
- "the first principle you need to understand
- 00:14:21.083 --> 00:14:23.886
- To get your finances in order
- 00:14:23.886 --> 00:14:25.688
- Is that god owns everything."
- 00:14:25.688 --> 00:14:29.658
- And most of us say, "okay, that's great, ron.
- 00:14:30.859 --> 00:14:32.695
- What's the second principle?"
- 00:14:32.695 --> 00:14:34.330
- Don't skip over that.
- 00:14:34.330 --> 00:14:36.265
- God owns everything you have.
- 00:14:36.265 --> 00:14:38.667
- We own nothing, we're just managers,
- 00:14:38.667 --> 00:14:40.669
- Stewards of what belongs to god.
- 00:14:40.669 --> 00:14:42.938
- And when you understand that,
- 00:14:42.938 --> 00:14:44.540
- It gives you a whole different perspective on your finances.
- 00:14:44.540 --> 00:14:47.676
- Remember, first, god owns it all anyway,
- 00:14:47.676 --> 00:14:50.546
- It's just a question of how much you're going to give back
- 00:14:50.546 --> 00:14:52.982
- To what belongs to him.
- 00:14:52.982 --> 00:14:55.084
- That's what melchizedek reminded abraham.
- 00:14:55.084 --> 00:14:58.487
- Abraham, god owns it all.
- 00:14:58.487 --> 00:15:00.789
- Look at verse 20, and he goes on to say,
- 00:15:00.789 --> 00:15:02.725
- "and blessed be god most high,
- 00:15:02.725 --> 00:15:05.060
- Who has delivered your enemies into your hand."
- 00:15:05.060 --> 00:15:10.032
- Abraham, god's the one
- 00:15:10.032 --> 00:15:11.400
- Who granted you victory over chedorlaomer.
- 00:15:11.400 --> 00:15:15.637
- And there's no pushback from abraham on this.
- 00:15:15.637 --> 00:15:18.273
- Abraham doesn't say, "oh, melchizedek, you don't understand.
- 00:15:18.273 --> 00:15:21.610
- God has no hands but my hands, he has no feet but my feet,
- 00:15:21.610 --> 00:15:24.980
- And blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah."
- 00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:26.515
- No, abraham acknowledges that
- 00:15:26.515 --> 00:15:29.084
- And he acknowledges it by, look at what it says.
- 00:15:29.084 --> 00:15:32.354
- He says, "and he gave, abraham,
- 00:15:32.354 --> 00:15:34.490
- Gave 1/10 of all to melchizedek."
- 00:15:34.490 --> 00:15:38.260
- He gave a tithe of all of his possessions to melchizedek.
- 00:15:38.260 --> 00:15:43.365
- This is the first time tithing is mentioned in the bible.
- 00:15:44.733 --> 00:15:47.970
- Now, having that encounter with the priest,
- 00:15:47.970 --> 00:15:50.506
- Being reminded that god's the one who gave him victory,
- 00:15:50.506 --> 00:15:53.509
- Prepared him for the second king he met,
- 00:15:53.509 --> 00:15:55.878
- Bera, the king of sodom.
- 00:15:55.878 --> 00:15:58.013
- Verse 21, "the king of sodom said to abram,
- 00:15:58.013 --> 00:16:01.683
- 'give the people to me and take the goods for yourself.'"
- 00:16:01.683 --> 00:16:05.254
- Now, you know what i stumbled over all week
- 00:16:05.254 --> 00:16:07.256
- In studying this passage?
- 00:16:07.256 --> 00:16:09.291
- How did the king of sodom get out of the tar pit?
- 00:16:09.291 --> 00:16:12.294
- Last time we saw him,
- 00:16:12.294 --> 00:16:13.662
- He had fled and was caught up in the tar pit,
- 00:16:13.662 --> 00:16:15.631
- It says in chapter 14.
- 00:16:15.631 --> 00:16:17.499
- How did he get out of the tar pit?
- 00:16:17.499 --> 00:16:19.134
- Well, maybe abraham rescued him.
- 00:16:19.134 --> 00:16:21.336
- But when he gets out of the tar pit, he says,
- 00:16:21.336 --> 00:16:23.672
- "abram, you've got all of this new treasure
- 00:16:23.672 --> 00:16:27.242
- That belonged to my people,
- 00:16:27.242 --> 00:16:28.744
- And you've got all of my people, the residents of sodom,
- 00:16:28.744 --> 00:16:32.448
- So i want to make a deal with you.
- 00:16:32.448 --> 00:16:34.917
- And here's the deal, you keep the money,
- 00:16:34.917 --> 00:16:38.454
- I'll take the captives back,
- 00:16:38.454 --> 00:16:40.255
- And it's a win-win for both of us."
- 00:16:40.255 --> 00:16:43.926
- And what does abram say to that?
- 00:16:43.926 --> 00:16:45.794
- "no deal. no deal."
- 00:16:45.794 --> 00:16:48.730
- Why? verses 22 and 23, abram said to the king of sodom,
- 00:16:48.730 --> 00:16:52.601
- "i have sworn to the lord god most high,
- 00:16:52.601 --> 00:16:55.537
- Possessor of heaven and earth,
- 00:16:55.537 --> 00:16:57.339
- That i will not take a thread or a sandal thong
- 00:16:57.339 --> 00:17:00.742
- Or anything that is yours,
- 00:17:00.742 --> 00:17:02.411
- For fear you would say, 'i have made abram rich.'"
- 00:17:02.411 --> 00:17:07.516
- He said, "if i get into this deal with you,
- 00:17:08.617 --> 00:17:11.687
- I might be richer for it,
- 00:17:11.687 --> 00:17:13.956
- But god's glory will be diminished.
- 00:17:13.956 --> 00:17:16.658
- If i take this money from you
- 00:17:16.658 --> 00:17:20.095
- And give you the captives back,
- 00:17:20.095 --> 00:17:22.397
- People will say what a shrewd negotiator you were
- 00:17:22.397 --> 00:17:25.801
- Instead of how great god is.
- 00:17:25.801 --> 00:17:28.036
- So this is what i'm going to do,
- 00:17:28.036 --> 00:17:29.338
- I'm not going to take any of your possessions.
- 00:17:29.338 --> 00:17:31.406
- If my men want it, the 318, they're entitled to it.
- 00:17:31.406 --> 00:17:35.144
- But i'm not going to take anything from you
- 00:17:35.144 --> 00:17:38.347
- That would diminish the glory of god.
- 00:17:38.347 --> 00:17:40.315
- I want people to know god is the one
- 00:17:40.315 --> 00:17:42.985
- Who has given the victory."
- 00:17:42.985 --> 00:17:44.720
- That explains abraham's whole life.
- 00:17:45.854 --> 00:17:49.158
- His whole focus was the glory of god,
- 00:17:49.158 --> 00:17:52.761
- Making god look bigger and better to an unbelieving world.
- 00:17:52.761 --> 00:17:57.199
- That's why abraham is the only person
- 00:17:57.199 --> 00:18:00.068
- Whom god called, "my friend.
- 00:18:00.068 --> 00:18:03.505
- My friend, abraham."
- 00:18:03.505 --> 00:18:05.607
- He got it.
- 00:18:05.607 --> 00:18:07.075
- He understood the whole reason we're here on this earth
- 00:18:07.075 --> 00:18:09.978
- For such a brief period of time
- 00:18:09.978 --> 00:18:12.014
- Is to glorify god, to point people to god.
- 00:18:12.014 --> 00:18:15.484
- After refusing the gifts of the king of sodom,
- 00:18:15.484 --> 00:18:18.754
- It was after these things
- 00:18:18.754 --> 00:18:20.622
- That a bad case of believer's remorse set in.
- 00:18:20.622 --> 00:18:25.727
- "after these things,
- 00:18:26.361 --> 00:18:27.863
- The word of the lord came to abram in a vision, saying,
- 00:18:27.863 --> 00:18:30.232
- 'do not fear, abram.'"
- 00:18:30.232 --> 00:18:34.670
- Why did he say, "do not fear"?
- 00:18:35.470 --> 00:18:36.805
- Because apparently abraham was fearing.
- 00:18:36.805 --> 00:18:39.441
- God looked down on his servant
- 00:18:39.441 --> 00:18:40.943
- And saw him having these restless nights
- 00:18:40.943 --> 00:18:43.045
- In which he tossed and turned.
- 00:18:43.045 --> 00:18:44.846
- He said, "abram, don't be afraid."
- 00:18:44.846 --> 00:18:48.083
- What was abraham afraid of?
- 00:18:48.083 --> 00:18:49.685
- He was having believer's remorse
- 00:18:49.685 --> 00:18:51.887
- For making the right decision.
- 00:18:51.887 --> 00:18:54.122
- The first phrase describes what he was fearing, what if?
- 00:18:54.122 --> 00:18:58.560
- What if, he began to wonder,
- 00:18:58.560 --> 00:19:00.395
- "what if chedorlaomer isn't defeated,
- 00:19:00.395 --> 00:19:03.398
- He's just simply regrouping
- 00:19:03.398 --> 00:19:04.766
- And he's going to come and attack me again?"
- 00:19:04.766 --> 00:19:06.835
- What if, what if, what if?
- 00:19:06.835 --> 00:19:08.437
- Do you know nothing will paralyze you with fear any more
- 00:19:08.437 --> 00:19:11.773
- Than that phrase, what if, what if?
- 00:19:11.773 --> 00:19:15.310
- Play these mind games,
- 00:19:15.310 --> 00:19:16.645
- What if this happens, what if this happen?
- 00:19:16.645 --> 00:19:18.647
- One time i read an interesting study
- 00:19:18.647 --> 00:19:20.382
- By dr. walter calvert that says
- 00:19:20.382 --> 00:19:23.619
- Only 8% of the things we worry about actually ever happen.
- 00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:28.156
- Did you know that? 8%.
- 00:19:28.156 --> 00:19:30.726
- 92% of the things
- 00:19:30.726 --> 00:19:32.394
- That we stay awake at night worrying about never happen.
- 00:19:32.394 --> 00:19:36.698
- Isn't that just like satan,
- 00:19:37.633 --> 00:19:39.735
- To paralyze you with what if fear,
- 00:19:39.735 --> 00:19:43.305
- Lies that never come true?
- 00:19:43.305 --> 00:19:45.641
- John 8:44 says, jesus said, "satan is a liar,
- 00:19:45.641 --> 00:19:49.378
- And he is the father of all lies."
- 00:19:49.378 --> 00:19:52.748
- God says to abraham, "don't fear, i am your shield.
- 00:19:53.982 --> 00:19:58.754
- I'm your shield, i'm your protector.
- 00:19:59.955 --> 00:20:02.924
- You don't have to worry about chedorlaomer,
- 00:20:02.924 --> 00:20:04.960
- I'm your protector."
- 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.795
- God says he's our hedge,
- 00:20:06.795 --> 00:20:08.864
- He's built a hedge around every believer.
- 00:20:08.864 --> 00:20:13.869
- You know, satan is a liar,
- 00:20:13.869 --> 00:20:15.604
- But that doesn't mean everything he says is a lie.
- 00:20:15.604 --> 00:20:18.807
- Sometimes even satan gets it right.
- 00:20:18.807 --> 00:20:21.743
- Remember what he said about job in job 1:10?
- 00:20:21.743 --> 00:20:24.546
- He said to god, "no wonder job worships you.
- 00:20:24.546 --> 00:20:27.749
- Haven't you placed a hedge around him and his household
- 00:20:27.749 --> 00:20:31.520
- And everything that is his?
- 00:20:31.520 --> 00:20:34.022
- You're the protector of job,
- 00:20:34.022 --> 00:20:35.457
- No wonder he worships you," satan says.
- 00:20:35.457 --> 00:20:38.060
- And it was true,
- 00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:39.428
- God had put a hedge around job and his family.
- 00:20:39.428 --> 00:20:41.663
- But then god lowered the hedge,
- 00:20:41.663 --> 00:20:44.599
- He gave satan temporary permission to go after job,
- 00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:48.670
- But it was all still part of god's plan.
- 00:20:48.670 --> 00:20:52.341
- Listen to me, that's the reason we don't have to fear.
- 00:20:52.341 --> 00:20:55.510
- Proverbs 12:21 says,
- 00:20:55.510 --> 00:20:57.946
- "no harm befalls the righteous."
- 00:20:57.946 --> 00:21:01.616
- Now that's a lousy translation of the hebrew
- 00:21:01.616 --> 00:21:04.586
- Because we know that's not true.
- 00:21:04.586 --> 00:21:06.588
- No harm befalls the righteous?
- 00:21:06.588 --> 00:21:08.390
- Lots of harm befalls righteous people,
- 00:21:08.390 --> 00:21:11.093
- Terrible things happen to righteous people.
- 00:21:11.093 --> 00:21:13.662
- But that's not what the hebrew text says.
- 00:21:13.662 --> 00:21:15.664
- It literally says,
- 00:21:15.664 --> 00:21:17.065
- "nothing without purpose happens to the godly."
- 00:21:17.065 --> 00:21:21.703
- That is there is nothing that comes into your life
- 00:21:21.703 --> 00:21:25.207
- That has not been allowed by a good, loving, perfect god.
- 00:21:25.207 --> 00:21:28.910
- And if it's come through the will of god,
- 00:21:28.910 --> 00:21:30.879
- It comes for your good and for the glory of god.
- 00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:35.150
- Believers, don't fear, god is our shield.
- 00:21:35.150 --> 00:21:40.255
- And then he goes on to say, "and i am your reward, abraham."
- 00:21:41.623 --> 00:21:44.926
- Why did he say that?
- 00:21:44.926 --> 00:21:46.328
- I think abraham not only had a case of the what ifs,
- 00:21:46.328 --> 00:21:50.365
- But he was also suffering from the if only regrets.
- 00:21:50.365 --> 00:21:54.870
- "did i really want to give up all that money,
- 00:21:54.870 --> 00:21:57.305
- All that treasure?
- 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.908
- I could have done some good things with that money.
- 00:21:59.908 --> 00:22:03.245
- If only i'd kept it,
- 00:22:03.245 --> 00:22:04.780
- I could trade in my tent for a mansion in highland park.
- 00:22:04.780 --> 00:22:08.517
- I could trade in this lousy chariot for a sodom sedan.
- 00:22:09.851 --> 00:22:13.021
- I mean, i could have more.
- 00:22:13.021 --> 00:22:15.424
- Maybe i made the wrong mistakes.
- 00:22:15.424 --> 00:22:18.527
- What if i had kept this money?
- 00:22:18.527 --> 00:22:21.630
- If only i'd kept it, i would be richer."
- 00:22:21.630 --> 00:22:24.399
- What does god say?
- 00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:25.934
- "abraham, i'm not only your shield, i am your reward."
- 00:22:25.934 --> 00:22:30.372
- You know, the bible says in hebrews 11:6,
- 00:22:31.573 --> 00:22:33.975
- "those who come to god must believe two things.
- 00:22:33.975 --> 00:22:37.612
- That god is, and that he is a rewarder
- 00:22:37.612 --> 00:22:41.716
- Of those who diligently follow him."
- 00:22:41.716 --> 00:22:44.986
- There is a reward for obeying god.
- 00:22:44.986 --> 00:22:47.189
- It doesn't always come immediately,
- 00:22:47.189 --> 00:22:49.591
- But it always comes ultimately.
- 00:22:49.591 --> 00:22:52.127
- A.w. tozer in his book "the knowledge of the holy" said,
- 00:22:53.495 --> 00:22:57.132
- "the most important thing about us
- 00:22:57.132 --> 00:23:00.735
- Is what comes into our mind when we think about god."
- 00:23:00.735 --> 00:23:05.407
- When you think about god, what comes into your mind?
- 00:23:06.741 --> 00:23:09.578
- Only those who think of god as their shield, their reward,
- 00:23:10.979 --> 00:23:15.951
- Can avoid the regret and fears that come
- 00:23:17.052 --> 00:23:19.988
- For making the right decisions.
- 00:23:19.988 --> 00:23:23.425
- (music)
- 00:23:23.425 --> 00:23:26.094
- This study on the life of abraham,
- 00:23:29.831 --> 00:23:31.700
- Although an ancient story,
- 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:33.235
- Contains a wealth of practical insight
- 00:23:33.235 --> 00:23:35.837
- That you can apply to your life today.
- 00:23:35.837 --> 00:23:38.573
- And i'm urging you to stick with us
- 00:23:38.573 --> 00:23:40.242
- For the remainder of the month
- 00:23:40.242 --> 00:23:41.877
- As we study this remarkable man of faith.
- 00:23:41.877 --> 00:23:45.213
- Now, in the time remaining today,
- 00:23:45.213 --> 00:23:46.915
- I want to share a special note i received from beth.
- 00:23:46.915 --> 00:23:50.318
- She wrote, "last year i discovered 'pathway to victory.'
- 00:23:50.318 --> 00:23:54.322
- Since then, i've learned a lot
- 00:23:54.322 --> 00:23:55.757
- About how to walk closer with jesus,
- 00:23:55.757 --> 00:23:58.193
- To trust in him,
- 00:23:58.193 --> 00:23:59.561
- And to live the way the bible says to.
- 00:23:59.561 --> 00:24:02.864
- Right now, my family and i are going through a difficult
- 00:24:02.864 --> 00:24:05.567
- And uncertain time.
- 00:24:05.567 --> 00:24:07.335
- I routinely turn to 'pathway to victory'
- 00:24:07.335 --> 00:24:10.071
- For reminders that god knows the trials we are facing.
- 00:24:10.071 --> 00:24:14.409
- He is in control, and he has a purpose in it.
- 00:24:14.409 --> 00:24:18.013
- Thank you and 'pathway to victory' for all that you do."
- 00:24:18.013 --> 00:24:21.983
- Beth, i'm so glad that "pathway to victory"
- 00:24:21.983 --> 00:24:24.152
- Is a blessing to you during this difficult time.
- 00:24:24.152 --> 00:24:26.988
- And remember, her thank you note belongs to every one of you
- 00:24:26.988 --> 00:24:31.159
- Who supports "pathway to victory"
- 00:24:31.159 --> 00:24:33.194
- And makes this ministry possible.
- 00:24:33.194 --> 00:24:35.564
- We couldn't help beth and others like her without your help.
- 00:24:35.564 --> 00:24:40.135
- Now stay right there,
- 00:24:40.135 --> 00:24:41.436
- I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
- 00:24:41.436 --> 00:24:43.838
- In just a moment.
- 00:24:43.838 --> 00:24:45.040
- [announcer] in the midst of our chaotic world
- 00:24:46.141 --> 00:24:48.176
- And the personal problems that we all face,
- 00:24:48.176 --> 00:24:50.779
- Is it possible to find peace and contentment?
- 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:53.548
- Abraham did, and so can you.
- 00:24:53.548 --> 00:24:55.884
- In his brand new book "walking by faith,"
- 00:24:55.884 --> 00:24:58.286
- Dr. robert jeffress shows you
- 00:24:58.286 --> 00:24:59.888
- How to make courageous decisions,
- 00:24:59.888 --> 00:25:01.856
- Ones that are far outside your comfort zone.
- 00:25:01.856 --> 00:25:04.392
- In doing so, god will prove faithful.
- 00:25:04.392 --> 00:25:06.995
- Abraham was far from perfect.
- 00:25:06.995 --> 00:25:08.964
- He made mistakes, including some really big ones.
- 00:25:08.964 --> 00:25:12.400
- But through it all, he walked with god in faith.
- 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:15.904
- And you can as well.
- 00:25:15.904 --> 00:25:17.472
- [announcer] in this dynamic new book, "walking by faith,"
- 00:25:17.472 --> 00:25:20.041
- Dr. jeffress explains how to walk by faith
- 00:25:20.041 --> 00:25:22.544
- In a faithless world,
- 00:25:22.544 --> 00:25:24.012
- Squarely founded on the wisdom gained
- 00:25:24.012 --> 00:25:26.214
- From the story of abraham.
- 00:25:26.214 --> 00:25:28.149
- Request your copy of "walking by faith"
- 00:25:28.149 --> 00:25:30.285
- When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
- 00:25:30.285 --> 00:25:33.088
- And when you give $75 or more,
- 00:25:33.088 --> 00:25:35.690
- We'll also send you all 11 messages
- 00:25:35.690 --> 00:25:38.126
- For the new "walking by faith" series
- 00:25:38.126 --> 00:25:40.295
- On dvd video and mp3 format audio disc,
- 00:25:40.295 --> 00:25:43.865
- Along with the personal and group study guide.
- 00:25:43.865 --> 00:25:46.635
- If the story of abraham tells us anything,
- 00:25:46.635 --> 00:25:48.870
- It tells us this.
- 00:25:48.870 --> 00:25:50.372
- It doesn't matter how old you are,
- 00:25:50.372 --> 00:25:51.906
- It doesn't matter how far you've drifted away from god,
- 00:25:51.906 --> 00:25:54.709
- You can come back.
- 00:25:54.709 --> 00:25:56.244
- [announcer] your gift today is important and appreciated
- 00:25:56.244 --> 00:25:58.513
- As we impact your home and reach a nation and world
- 00:25:58.513 --> 00:26:01.783
- In spiritual need.
- 00:26:01.783 --> 00:26:03.318
- God is clearly using "pathway to victory"
- 00:26:03.318 --> 00:26:05.887
- To fulfill his mandate,
- 00:26:05.887 --> 00:26:07.389
- To pierce the darkness with the light of god's word.
- 00:26:07.389 --> 00:26:10.492
- Thank you for investing in this important gospel work.
- 00:26:10.492 --> 00:26:14.295
- Making a strong moral choice is sometimes hard,
- 00:26:18.333 --> 00:26:22.103
- And sometimes even our best efforts can leave us wondering
- 00:26:22.103 --> 00:26:25.407
- Whether we made the right call.
- 00:26:25.407 --> 00:26:27.809
- But through abraham's story,
- 00:26:27.809 --> 00:26:29.244
- We see that the only remedy to believer's remorse
- 00:26:29.244 --> 00:26:32.781
- Is our trust and faith in god.
- 00:26:32.781 --> 00:26:35.517
- Well, 2,000 years ago,
- 00:26:35.517 --> 00:26:37.519
- Jesus christ came to die on the cross for our sins
- 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:40.855
- So that we could spend eternity in heaven with him.
- 00:26:40.855 --> 00:26:44.292
- But what about people who lived before jesus' time on earth?
- 00:26:44.292 --> 00:26:48.096
- Could they be saved as well?
- 00:26:48.096 --> 00:26:50.331
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
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- In our series "walking by faith."
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- You know, sin is a real problem we all face.
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- It can't be ignored, it can't be glossed over.
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- Somebody has to pay for our sin.
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- As philip yancey said,
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- "grace is only free because the giver of grace
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- Is the one who bore the cost himself."
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- [announcer] set your dvr and join us next time
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- For the message "the night abraham was saved"
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- Here on "pathway to victory."
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