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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Satan's Four Favorite Lies (Part 1)

October 16, 2025 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - Satan's Four Favorite Lies (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 #Satan #Lies #Deception #Mind #Thinking #Devil #Enemy #Contentment #Temptation #Evil #Sin #Pride #Control

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Satan's Four Favorite Lies (Part 1) | October 16, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
  • 00:00:06.729 --> 00:00:09.065
  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
  • 00:00:09.065 --> 00:00:12.235
  • Dr. 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."
  • 00:00:16.573 --> 00:00:18.675
  • Scripture teaches that christians are engaged in a very
  • 00:00:18.675 --> 00:00:21.744
  • Real spiritual battle, and the primary battlefield is
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  • Our minds.
  • 00:00:25.982 --> 00:00:27.383
  • Satan is constantly working to plant destructive thoughts that
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  • Will derail our faith and destroy our future.
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  • Today i want to expose the enemy's most effective weapons
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  • By revealing the four specific lies satan uses to create
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  • Discontent, fear, pride, and bitterness in our lives.
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  • My message is titled "satan's four favorite lies" on today's
  • 00:00:48.138 --> 00:00:52.775
  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:52.775 --> 00:00:55.678
  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: do your children and grandchildren know how to guard
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  • Themselves against satan's attacks?
  • 00:01:04.721 --> 00:01:06.890
  • "in suit up!
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  • The armor of god for kids," dr. robert jeffress shares practical
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  • Strategies to protect your children from satan's influence.
  • 00:01:11.528 --> 00:01:15.064
  • This beautiful book helps you equip the children in your life
  • 00:01:15.064 --> 00:01:18.134
  • And put on the spiritual armor of god every day.
  • 00:01:18.134 --> 00:01:21.471
  • Plus you'll receive the brand new book for adults, "angels and
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  • Demons: fact versus fantasy."
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  • Request both resources when you give a generous gift to
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  • "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: author james allen has said, "every good thought
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  • Produces good fruit, every bad thought produces bad fruit, and
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  • Each man is his own gardener."
  • 00:01:53.503 --> 00:01:57.640
  • That's true, but it's only half true.
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  • Yes, it's true, the thoughts we cultivate in our minds determine
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  • Our actions, our actions determine our destiny, but there
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  • Is another gardener at work in our mind.
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  • He's an enemy.
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  • His goal is to sow bad thoughts that produce bad results, bad
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  • Fruit, and a disastrous destiny.
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  • And that's the truth we're going to talk about today.
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  • For those of you who may have just joined us in this series,
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  • We're in a series right now on "spiritual warfare."
  • 00:02:29.572 --> 00:02:34.043
  • And so far we've talked about the reality of
  • 00:02:34.043 --> 00:02:36.746
  • Spiritual warfare.
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  • We all have that sense that we're in a battle, but it's an
  • 00:02:38.548 --> 00:02:42.752
  • Invisible war, but it's very real.
  • 00:02:42.752 --> 00:02:46.656
  • It's not what you see that can kill you, it's what you
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  • Can't see.
  • 00:02:49.926 --> 00:02:51.361
  • Ephesians 6 says we are all in a death struggle, not against
  • 00:02:51.361 --> 00:02:55.198
  • Other people, flesh and blood, but against the unseen powers
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  • Of darkness.
  • 00:02:59.469 --> 00:03:00.903
  • The reality of spiritual warfare.
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  • We've talked about our enemy in spiritual warfare.
  • 00:03:03.473 --> 00:03:06.576
  • It's not that boss, that mate, that friend who has wronged you,
  • 00:03:06.576 --> 00:03:10.747
  • No, our enemy is satan, our adversary, the devil.
  • 00:03:10.747 --> 00:03:15.418
  • We've talked about satan and his minion of demons, where they
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  • Came from, what their goal is, their strategy for destroying
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  • Your faith, your family, and your future.
  • 00:03:23.559 --> 00:03:27.096
  • And then last time, we began looking at the location of
  • 00:03:27.096 --> 00:03:30.033
  • Spiritual warfare.
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  • If we're supposed to suit up and be ready for this spiritual war,
  • 00:03:31.768 --> 00:03:35.171
  • We've got to know where the battlefield is.
  • 00:03:35.171 --> 00:03:38.074
  • Where is the battlefield? it's not in the home.
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  • It's not in the church primarily.
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  • It's not in washington, d.c.
  • 00:03:43.646 --> 00:03:45.448
  • The real battle that's being fought for your very soul is
  • 00:03:45.448 --> 00:03:49.385
  • Being fought on the battlefield of your mind...
  • 00:03:49.385 --> 00:03:52.855
  • The mind is the location of spiritual warfare.
  • 00:03:52.855 --> 00:03:56.726
  • And we talked about last time how satan loves to sow
  • 00:03:56.726 --> 00:04:01.164
  • Destructive negative thoughts in your mind, but he's always
  • 00:04:01.164 --> 00:04:05.902
  • Trying to sow those bad seeds in your mind that produce
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  • Bad fruit.
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  • We've talked about the means of his communication.
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  • Today we're going to talk about the message he is trying to
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  • Communicate to each one of us.
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  • Whatever satan speaks, jesus said in john 8:44, is a lie.
  • 00:04:20.983 --> 00:04:26.389
  • He speaks from lies.
  • 00:04:26.389 --> 00:04:28.758
  • In fact, in john 8:44, jesus called satan a liar and the
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  • Father of all lies.
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  • You can't trust a word he says.
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  • Well, what lies does he want to implant in my heart?
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  • The list is endless.
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  • And that's what we're going to look at today.
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  • Satan's four favorite lies, and they're his favorites because
  • 00:04:47.910 --> 00:04:53.149
  • They have the most devastating impact on your life.
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  • In fact, did you know you can go back to the beginning of time
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  • And that cosmic battle that was fought between lucifer and god,
  • 00:05:00.656 --> 00:05:05.361
  • It started in heaven?
  • 00:05:05.361 --> 00:05:07.330
  • And it was built on these lies, those same lies were responsible
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  • For the very first sin on planet earth that we're going to look
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  • At today.
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  • So it's important we know what these lies are so we can
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  • Recognize them.
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  • The first lie deals with discontent and it's a lie from
  • 00:05:21.411 --> 00:05:26.516
  • The enemy that says, "you don't have what you really need to
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  • Be happy."
  • 00:05:31.053 --> 00:05:32.655
  • God has not given you what you need to be happy.
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  • God has shortchanged you in some way.
  • 00:05:36.192 --> 00:05:39.629
  • Many of you may be familiar with the basketball superstar
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  • David robinson.
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  • He once spoke about superstar michael jordan watching him
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  • Clutch the chicago bulls's first championship trophy.
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  • And as david robinson was watching that, this is what he
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  • Said, "here i am with five cars, two houses, and more money than
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  • I ever thought i would have.
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  • What more could i ask for?
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  • And here's michael jordan, he has more than me and, boy, i'd
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  • Like to have some of the things he has, but is the world setting
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  • A trap for us?
  • 00:06:15.798 --> 00:06:17.500
  • What i had should have been plenty, but no matter how much i
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  • Had, it didn't seem like enough because material things can't
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  • Satisfy your deepest needs."
  • 00:06:28.177 --> 00:06:31.814
  • Robinson was right.
  • 00:06:31.814 --> 00:06:34.183
  • The world is setting a trap, but it's not just the world, it's
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  • The god of this world.
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  • That's what jesus and scripture refer to satan as, the god of
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  • This world, and he is constantly baiting us with the lie that god
  • 00:06:45.161 --> 00:06:49.999
  • Hasn't given us what we really need.
  • 00:06:49.999 --> 00:06:53.302
  • You see that in the very beginning, sin committed on
  • 00:06:53.302 --> 00:06:57.340
  • Planet earth.
  • 00:06:57.340 --> 00:06:58.674
  • Turn to genesis chapter 3, look at genesis 3 beginning with
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  • Verse 1: "now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of
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  • The field which the lord god had made."
  • 00:07:06.816 --> 00:07:09.252
  • Remember, the serpent originally was not that slimy,
  • 00:07:09.252 --> 00:07:12.154
  • Scaly reptile.
  • 00:07:12.154 --> 00:07:13.956
  • He was a beautiful creature.
  • 00:07:13.956 --> 00:07:16.659
  • And satan used him as a medium to voice his thoughts to adam
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  • And eve.
  • 00:07:22.265 --> 00:07:23.699
  • "now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field.
  • 00:07:23.699 --> 00:07:26.836
  • And he said to the woman, 'indeed, has god said, "you
  • 00:07:26.836 --> 00:07:30.573
  • Shall not eat from any tree of the garden"?'"
  • 00:07:30.573 --> 00:07:33.509
  • Satan is always trying to sow doubt in our minds about
  • 00:07:33.509 --> 00:07:37.313
  • God's word.
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  • Did he really say that?
  • 00:07:38.681 --> 00:07:40.016
  • Was that god who spoke?
  • 00:07:40.016 --> 00:07:42.184
  • Does god really speak through scripture today or is that just
  • 00:07:42.184 --> 00:07:45.821
  • Ancient people's thoughts about who god is?
  • 00:07:45.821 --> 00:07:49.759
  • "did god really say not to eat from the tree of the garden?
  • 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:53.863
  • And the woman said to the serpent, 'from the fruit of the
  • 00:07:53.863 --> 00:07:56.766
  • Trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree,
  • 00:07:56.766 --> 00:08:00.570
  • Which is in the middle of the garden, god has said, 'you shall
  • 00:08:00.570 --> 00:08:03.539
  • Not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'"
  • 00:08:03.539 --> 00:08:07.610
  • Think about this.
  • 00:08:07.610 --> 00:08:08.945
  • God had placed adam and eve in an idyllic setting, beautiful,
  • 00:08:08.945 --> 00:08:12.014
  • Perfect setting.
  • 00:08:12.014 --> 00:08:13.382
  • He had created thousands of trees they could enjoy.
  • 00:08:13.382 --> 00:08:16.152
  • "you can have any tree you want except that one, and
  • 00:08:16.152 --> 00:08:21.390
  • It's forbidden."
  • 00:08:21.390 --> 00:08:23.159
  • And what does satan do through the serpent?
  • 00:08:23.159 --> 00:08:25.628
  • He directs eve's attention away from all of god's blessings, all
  • 00:08:25.628 --> 00:08:30.766
  • Of the trees that could have been hers to enjoy.
  • 00:08:30.766 --> 00:08:33.703
  • He redirects it toward that one thing god said no to, and he
  • 00:08:33.703 --> 00:08:38.307
  • Continues to do that same thing in our lives again.
  • 00:08:38.307 --> 00:08:41.911
  • Oh, there's a reason god doesn't want you to have this tree.
  • 00:08:41.911 --> 00:08:46.682
  • God is a cosmic killjoy.
  • 00:08:46.682 --> 00:08:49.185
  • He wants to rob you of true happiness in life.
  • 00:08:49.185 --> 00:08:53.189
  • "if only you had this house, if only you had this job, if only
  • 00:08:53.189 --> 00:08:58.694
  • You had this salary, if only you had this mate, then you could
  • 00:08:58.694 --> 00:09:03.165
  • Really be filled with joy and have everything you need."
  • 00:09:03.165 --> 00:09:07.670
  • What happens when we fall for that deception--that somehow god
  • 00:09:07.670 --> 00:09:11.107
  • Has shortchanged us in giving us what we need?
  • 00:09:11.107 --> 00:09:14.677
  • Well, james tells us in james chapter 3, hold your place here
  • 00:09:14.677 --> 00:09:19.048
  • And turn to james chapter 3.
  • 00:09:19.048 --> 00:09:21.183
  • James talks about the consequences of dissatisfaction.
  • 00:09:21.183 --> 00:09:25.888
  • What does discontent do to us?
  • 00:09:25.888 --> 00:09:28.190
  • And he traces it all the way back to the source of
  • 00:09:28.190 --> 00:09:32.094
  • That discontent.
  • 00:09:32.094 --> 00:09:33.529
  • Look at james 3:16, "for where jealousy and selfish ambition
  • 00:09:33.529 --> 00:09:37.767
  • Exist, there is disorder and every evil thing."
  • 00:09:37.767 --> 00:09:41.871
  • And then he says in chapter 4, verses 1 and 2, remember there
  • 00:09:41.871 --> 00:09:44.940
  • Was no chapter division originally.
  • 00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:47.209
  • This is all part of the same discussion.
  • 00:09:47.209 --> 00:09:49.478
  • "what is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?
  • 00:09:49.478 --> 00:09:53.482
  • Is not the source your pleasures, your desires that
  • 00:09:53.482 --> 00:09:57.653
  • Wage war in your members?
  • 00:09:57.653 --> 00:09:59.655
  • For you lust and you don't have; so you commit murder.
  • 00:09:59.655 --> 00:10:02.992
  • You are envious and you cannot obtain;
  • 00:10:02.992 --> 00:10:05.127
  • So you fight and quarrel.
  • 00:10:05.127 --> 00:10:06.562
  • You do not have because you do not ask."
  • 00:10:06.562 --> 00:10:08.731
  • And then look at 4, verse 4: "you adulteresses, do you not
  • 00:10:08.731 --> 00:10:13.269
  • Know that friendship with the world," that is the world
  • 00:10:13.269 --> 00:10:17.173
  • System, "is hostility toward god?
  • 00:10:17.173 --> 00:10:20.476
  • Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes
  • 00:10:20.476 --> 00:10:24.113
  • Himself an enemy of god."
  • 00:10:24.113 --> 00:10:25.981
  • Verse 7, here's the real source of everything, "submit therefore
  • 00:10:25.981 --> 00:10:30.019
  • To god.
  • 00:10:30.019 --> 00:10:31.387
  • Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
  • 00:10:31.387 --> 00:10:35.424
  • He's going from the consequences of discontent all the way up to
  • 00:10:35.424 --> 00:10:40.129
  • What the source is: satan.
  • 00:10:40.129 --> 00:10:42.331
  • Now to help you better understand what james is saying
  • 00:10:42.331 --> 00:10:44.700
  • Here, allow me to paraphrase those words.
  • 00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:48.671
  • I've written a little paraphrase of it that does just
  • 00:10:48.671 --> 00:10:51.540
  • The reverse.
  • 00:10:51.540 --> 00:10:52.875
  • It starts with the source of our discontent and traces it to
  • 00:10:52.875 --> 00:10:56.378
  • Its consequences.
  • 00:10:56.378 --> 00:10:58.881
  • James was in essence saying resist the devil because he is
  • 00:10:58.881 --> 00:11:03.753
  • Promoting a worldly value system that equates money with success,
  • 00:11:03.753 --> 00:11:09.191
  • Sex with love, and power with purpose.
  • 00:11:09.191 --> 00:11:12.895
  • When you adopt these values, you'll start lusting for those
  • 00:11:12.895 --> 00:11:16.132
  • Things that are outside of god's will for your life.
  • 00:11:16.132 --> 00:11:19.735
  • That constant craving not only leads to turmoil within your
  • 00:11:19.735 --> 00:11:23.773
  • Life when you disobey god, but it causes dissension with others
  • 00:11:23.773 --> 00:11:28.711
  • As you jealously crave their possessions and possessions.
  • 00:11:28.711 --> 00:11:34.817
  • Don't you see that chain reaction all around you,
  • 00:11:34.817 --> 00:11:38.821
  • A chain reaction that begins with discontent and ends up in
  • 00:11:38.821 --> 00:11:43.659
  • Adultery or murder or theft and sows discord between believers
  • 00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:49.598
  • And unbelievers?
  • 00:11:49.598 --> 00:11:51.734
  • What motivates, for example, a husband to abandon his wife,
  • 00:11:51.734 --> 00:11:56.539
  • Abandon his children for another mate?
  • 00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:59.408
  • At the heart of it is discontent.
  • 00:11:59.408 --> 00:12:02.211
  • What is it that causes an applicant for a new job to
  • 00:12:02.211 --> 00:12:05.080
  • Inflate his resume to lie in order to get a leg up on
  • 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:09.285
  • Another applicant?
  • 00:12:09.285 --> 00:12:10.653
  • At the heart of it is a discontent with his
  • 00:12:10.653 --> 00:12:13.088
  • Present situation.
  • 00:12:13.088 --> 00:12:15.024
  • What is it that causes a businessman to risk
  • 00:12:15.024 --> 00:12:17.393
  • Imprisonment all for the gain of a little bit more money.
  • 00:12:17.393 --> 00:12:21.964
  • At the heart of that is discontent.
  • 00:12:21.964 --> 00:12:24.733
  • At the root of all chaos and disorder is discontent.
  • 00:12:24.733 --> 00:12:29.471
  • "to be really happy in life, i need a bigger house.
  • 00:12:29.471 --> 00:12:33.542
  • I need a larger salary.
  • 00:12:33.542 --> 00:12:34.977
  • I need a different mate and then i can have what i really need."
  • 00:12:34.977 --> 00:12:40.015
  • When we fall for that lie, god is not giving you what you need
  • 00:12:40.015 --> 00:12:43.719
  • To be happy, we're ready to fall for his next lie, and it's built
  • 00:12:43.719 --> 00:12:48.657
  • Around pride.
  • 00:12:48.657 --> 00:12:50.059
  • You're in control of your destiny.
  • 00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:53.295
  • If god can't be depended upon to give us what we need, then we
  • 00:12:53.295 --> 00:12:57.399
  • Better start looking out for number one.
  • 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:59.935
  • Nobody else is gonna look out for you.
  • 00:12:59.935 --> 00:13:01.871
  • You better look out for yourself.
  • 00:13:01.871 --> 00:13:03.939
  • You must control your destiny and you can control
  • 00:13:03.939 --> 00:13:09.044
  • Your destiny.
  • 00:13:09.044 --> 00:13:10.412
  • That's the essence of pride.
  • 00:13:10.412 --> 00:13:13.182
  • You see that in the garden.
  • 00:13:13.182 --> 00:13:16.185
  • Remember what satan said to eve?
  • 00:13:16.185 --> 00:13:18.387
  • He said, "don't eat from this tree because," verse 5, "god
  • 00:13:18.387 --> 00:13:22.625
  • Knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be
  • 00:13:22.625 --> 00:13:25.561
  • Opened, and you will be like god, knowing good and evil."
  • 00:13:25.561 --> 00:13:31.667
  • I want you to see the connection here between discontent and
  • 00:13:31.667 --> 00:13:36.071
  • Pride, which leads to independence and
  • 00:13:36.071 --> 00:13:39.208
  • Ultimately fear.
  • 00:13:39.208 --> 00:13:41.210
  • Go back to the very first sin in the universe.
  • 00:13:41.210 --> 00:13:43.746
  • It occurred in heaven when lucifer decided he was no longer
  • 00:13:43.746 --> 00:13:48.017
  • Content with being the second banana.
  • 00:13:48.017 --> 00:13:50.653
  • He wasn't content with having the second chair in the
  • 00:13:50.653 --> 00:13:54.290
  • Heavenly boardroom.
  • 00:13:54.290 --> 00:13:56.458
  • He wasn't content being the chief angel.
  • 00:13:56.458 --> 00:13:59.161
  • He wanted to be the big banana himself.
  • 00:13:59.161 --> 00:14:02.431
  • He wanted to be number one.
  • 00:14:02.431 --> 00:14:03.832
  • He wanted the first chair in the heavenly boardroom.
  • 00:14:03.832 --> 00:14:07.770
  • What is it that led satan to believe he was even capable of
  • 00:14:07.770 --> 00:14:12.374
  • Running the universe?
  • 00:14:12.374 --> 00:14:13.776
  • At the heart of it was pride.
  • 00:14:13.776 --> 00:14:16.679
  • Remember what god said to lucifer
  • 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:19.581
  • Before he cast him out of heaven?
  • 00:14:19.581 --> 00:14:21.550
  • Ezekiel 28:17, "your heart was lifted up because of
  • 00:14:21.550 --> 00:14:26.622
  • Your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom by reason of
  • 00:14:26.622 --> 00:14:30.993
  • Your splendor."
  • 00:14:30.993 --> 00:14:32.394
  • Now, here's the jeffress paraphrase of that verse.
  • 00:14:32.394 --> 00:14:35.397
  • You became intoxicated with your god-given beauty, and you
  • 00:14:35.397 --> 00:14:40.169
  • Allowed your thinking to be messed up by your
  • 00:14:40.169 --> 00:14:43.572
  • God-given gifts.
  • 00:14:43.572 --> 00:14:45.874
  • Psychologists have a term for that: delusional.
  • 00:14:45.874 --> 00:14:50.479
  • Satan forgot he was a creature and thought he was the creator.
  • 00:14:50.479 --> 00:14:55.851
  • And we make the same mistake today.
  • 00:14:55.851 --> 00:14:59.021
  • It's no wonder that lucifer, after he was banished from
  • 00:14:59.021 --> 00:15:02.458
  • Heaven because of his pride, tried to plant the same seeds of
  • 00:15:02.458 --> 00:15:06.295
  • Discontent he felt in eve's heart.
  • 00:15:06.295 --> 00:15:09.531
  • You don't have what you need to be truly happy, but guess
  • 00:15:09.531 --> 00:15:13.168
  • What, eve?
  • 00:15:13.168 --> 00:15:14.503
  • You don't have to settle for what god gives you or doesn't
  • 00:15:14.503 --> 00:15:16.905
  • Give you.
  • 00:15:16.905 --> 00:15:18.240
  • You can be like god himself.
  • 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:21.677
  • You don't have to be satisfied with being a creature.
  • 00:15:21.677 --> 00:15:25.180
  • You can be like the creator.
  • 00:15:25.180 --> 00:15:27.850
  • And ever since that time, you and i have been tempted with the
  • 00:15:27.850 --> 00:15:31.286
  • Idea, the thought that, as one positive thinking preacher said,
  • 00:15:31.286 --> 00:15:35.357
  • "if it's going to be, it's up to me.
  • 00:15:35.357 --> 00:15:38.794
  • I control my destiny.
  • 00:15:38.794 --> 00:15:41.196
  • I'm the one who decides what happens with my life."
  • 00:15:41.196 --> 00:15:44.700
  • You see it everywhere--that spirit of independence.
  • 00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:48.237
  • Discontent, i'm not happy with what god's doing in my life
  • 00:15:48.237 --> 00:15:52.574
  • Leads to what?
  • 00:15:52.574 --> 00:15:53.909
  • Pride and independence from god, and we celebrate
  • 00:15:53.909 --> 00:15:57.479
  • That independence.
  • 00:15:57.479 --> 00:15:58.847
  • How many of you have ever been to a graduation ceremony before
  • 00:15:58.847 --> 00:16:02.251
  • Of any kind?
  • 00:16:02.251 --> 00:16:03.585
  • We've all had to sit through--i mean, we've gotten to experience
  • 00:16:03.585 --> 00:16:05.821
  • The joy with others of those.
  • 00:16:05.821 --> 00:16:08.991
  • Probably somewhere in one of those you heard the famous words
  • 00:16:08.991 --> 00:16:12.628
  • That are often quoted at graduation time called invictus.
  • 00:16:12.628 --> 00:16:17.132
  • Remember how it goes?
  • 00:16:17.132 --> 00:16:18.734
  • "out of the night that covers me, black from the pit from pole
  • 00:16:18.734 --> 00:16:22.471
  • To pole.
  • 00:16:22.471 --> 00:16:23.806
  • I think whatever god's may be for my unconquerable soul.
  • 00:16:23.806 --> 00:16:27.910
  • It matters not how straight the gate, how charged with
  • 00:16:27.910 --> 00:16:31.180
  • Punishments the scroll.
  • 00:16:31.180 --> 00:16:32.915
  • I am the master of my fate.
  • 00:16:32.915 --> 00:16:35.384
  • I am the captain of my soul."
  • 00:16:35.384 --> 00:16:39.421
  • No, no, no, 1000 times no, we are not the masters of our fate.
  • 00:16:39.421 --> 00:16:46.628
  • We're not the captains of anything.
  • 00:16:46.628 --> 00:16:48.997
  • Psalm 100, verse 3 says, "for the lord himself is god, it is
  • 00:16:48.997 --> 00:16:53.836
  • He who made us and not we ourselves.
  • 00:16:53.836 --> 00:16:56.905
  • We are his people and we are the sheep of his pasture."
  • 00:16:56.905 --> 00:17:01.443
  • We think we control our destiny.
  • 00:17:01.443 --> 00:17:04.413
  • We think the choices we make are so important, and to an extent,
  • 00:17:04.413 --> 00:17:08.550
  • They can be important, but they don't have the final word in
  • 00:17:08.550 --> 00:17:12.054
  • Our destiny.
  • 00:17:12.054 --> 00:17:13.522
  • We're like passengers on an ocean liner on a long journey.
  • 00:17:13.522 --> 00:17:17.860
  • Those passengers think they have all kinds of choices--what to
  • 00:17:17.860 --> 00:17:21.530
  • Eat, what time to eat, go to play shuffleboard or cards or
  • 00:17:21.530 --> 00:17:25.200
  • Take a nap.
  • 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:26.535
  • They think they can make all of these choices, but at all the
  • 00:17:26.535 --> 00:17:29.204
  • Time they're exercising their free will.
  • 00:17:29.204 --> 00:17:32.207
  • They're in a ship where the captain is determining the
  • 00:17:32.207 --> 00:17:35.344
  • Ultimate destination and so it is with us.
  • 00:17:35.344 --> 00:17:39.681
  • We have a master of our soul, a captain of our faith, and it is
  • 00:17:39.681 --> 00:17:44.920
  • God himself.
  • 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:47.122
  • That's what pride is--
  • 00:17:47.122 --> 00:17:48.624
  • The idea i can control my destiny.
  • 00:17:48.624 --> 00:17:51.360
  • And that thought, that belief leads to a third lie that we're
  • 00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:55.864
  • Susceptible to, and that is one that is based in fear.
  • 00:17:55.864 --> 00:18:00.235
  • That is, you are all alone.
  • 00:18:00.235 --> 00:18:03.372
  • Now here's the great irony of all of this.
  • 00:18:03.372 --> 00:18:06.341
  • We think pride and sovereignty over our choices, we think pride
  • 00:18:06.341 --> 00:18:13.182
  • And independence produces confidence in people.
  • 00:18:13.182 --> 00:18:16.185
  • It gives people great confidence.
  • 00:18:16.185 --> 00:18:18.086
  • It doesn't.
  • 00:18:18.086 --> 00:18:19.454
  • It gives people fear.
  • 00:18:19.454 --> 00:18:21.990
  • People are filled with fear when they are unshackled from the
  • 00:18:21.990 --> 00:18:26.728
  • Truth that there is a god controlling their destiny.
  • 00:18:26.728 --> 00:18:30.232
  • You know why that is?
  • 00:18:30.232 --> 00:18:31.567
  • It's because once somebody decides that there is no god and
  • 00:18:31.567 --> 00:18:34.770
  • He has no power over their lives, then it makes people
  • 00:18:34.770 --> 00:18:39.575
  • Victims of random events or random circumstances in
  • 00:18:39.575 --> 00:18:45.214
  • Their life.
  • 00:18:45.214 --> 00:18:46.648
  • It doesn't take long living on this planet to realize you're
  • 00:18:46.648 --> 00:18:50.552
  • Not in control of your circumstances.
  • 00:18:50.552 --> 00:18:52.955
  • A disloyal mate, a maverick cancer cell, an unexpected
  • 00:18:52.955 --> 00:18:58.560
  • Accident or illness suddenly makes you realize, you're not in
  • 00:18:58.560 --> 00:19:04.900
  • Control of the situation.
  • 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:07.202
  • That's what happens and that's why people are so filled
  • 00:19:07.202 --> 00:19:10.138
  • With fear.
  • 00:19:10.138 --> 00:19:11.473
  • It doesn't produce confidence in people to think that
  • 00:19:11.473 --> 00:19:14.443
  • Circumstances or other people are free to do to them whatever
  • 00:19:14.443 --> 00:19:18.080
  • They desire to do.
  • 00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:19.448
  • Does that give you any confidence?
  • 00:19:19.448 --> 00:19:21.583
  • No, we need to know there is a god who is bigger than the
  • 00:19:21.583 --> 00:19:25.187
  • Circumstances, bigger than the enemies in our life, but
  • 00:19:25.187 --> 00:19:29.691
  • Independence always produces fear.
  • 00:19:29.691 --> 00:19:32.327
  • I think it's interesting--the very first negative emotion in
  • 00:19:32.327 --> 00:19:35.864
  • The bible isn't jealousy, it's not bitterness, it's not greed,
  • 00:19:35.864 --> 00:19:41.069
  • It's not lust, it's fear.
  • 00:19:41.069 --> 00:19:43.705
  • Did you know that?
  • 00:19:43.705 --> 00:19:45.040
  • The very first negative emotion in the bible is fear.
  • 00:19:45.040 --> 00:19:48.243
  • After adam and eve disobeyed god, they went and hid from god
  • 00:19:48.243 --> 00:19:53.215
  • And remember god came looking for them?
  • 00:19:53.215 --> 00:19:55.284
  • And verse 10, "i heard the sound of you in the garden, and i was
  • 00:19:55.284 --> 00:19:59.788
  • Afraid because i was naked; so i hid myself."
  • 00:19:59.788 --> 00:20:05.193
  • That's always the result of acting independently from god.
  • 00:20:05.193 --> 00:20:09.865
  • When we act independently from god, when we unshackle ourselves
  • 00:20:09.865 --> 00:20:13.702
  • From the responsibility we have to obey god, we're filled not
  • 00:20:13.702 --> 00:20:17.673
  • With confidence, but with fear.
  • 00:20:17.673 --> 00:20:21.877
  • Are you familiar with the author named michael crichton?
  • 00:20:21.877 --> 00:20:26.048
  • If you don't know his name, you know his books and movies.
  • 00:20:26.048 --> 00:20:29.351
  • He's deceased now, but he was the author of "jurassic park,"
  • 00:20:29.351 --> 00:20:33.388
  • "the andromeda strain," and i remember years ago he wrote an
  • 00:20:33.388 --> 00:20:36.992
  • Article that i clipped and put in my permanent file because it
  • 00:20:36.992 --> 00:20:40.362
  • Made such an impression upon me.
  • 00:20:40.362 --> 00:20:42.731
  • The article was titled, "let's stop scaring ourselves."
  • 00:20:42.731 --> 00:20:47.803
  • And in that article he listed all the numerous things human
  • 00:20:47.803 --> 00:20:51.673
  • Beings have come up to be scared by and how those things have
  • 00:20:51.673 --> 00:20:55.277
  • Changed through the years.
  • 00:20:55.277 --> 00:20:57.212
  • Listen to some of these fears that have seized control of our
  • 00:20:57.212 --> 00:21:01.249
  • Culture over the last 60 or so years.
  • 00:21:01.249 --> 00:21:04.519
  • In 1975, "newsweek" magazine warned that global temperatures
  • 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:10.158
  • Were falling and could result in a worldwide famine.
  • 00:21:10.158 --> 00:21:14.396
  • Ten years later, scientists were warning of a rise in global
  • 00:21:14.396 --> 00:21:18.567
  • Temperatures that threatened the survival of our planet.
  • 00:21:18.567 --> 00:21:22.371
  • In the 1960s, we were warned of the dangers of overpopulation,
  • 00:21:22.371 --> 00:21:28.243
  • With one global think tank predicting that by 2030, the
  • 00:21:28.243 --> 00:21:32.114
  • World's population would be 14 billion people.
  • 00:21:32.114 --> 00:21:36.418
  • By the end of the 20th century, fertility rates had fallen to
  • 00:21:36.418 --> 00:21:41.123
  • Half of what they were in the 1950s.
  • 00:21:41.123 --> 00:21:44.693
  • We once were worried that power lines cause cancer.
  • 00:21:44.693 --> 00:21:48.263
  • Remember that?
  • 00:21:48.263 --> 00:21:49.598
  • After $25 billion was spent in relocating power lines or the
  • 00:21:49.598 --> 00:21:54.302
  • People living near them, it was discovered that not only are
  • 00:21:54.302 --> 00:21:57.839
  • Power lines not harmful, but the magnetic fields that they were
  • 00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:02.043
  • Feared to be carcinogenic can actually be helpful in some
  • 00:22:02.043 --> 00:22:07.048
  • Medical treatments.
  • 00:22:07.048 --> 00:22:08.884
  • Killer bees, cancer inducing deodorants, swine flu epidemics,
  • 00:22:08.884 --> 00:22:14.122
  • Economic collapses, giant asteroids, and the anticipated
  • 00:22:14.122 --> 00:22:17.692
  • Meltdown from y2k are just some of the other manufactured fears
  • 00:22:17.692 --> 00:22:23.165
  • In the last 60 years that have plagued society.
  • 00:22:23.165 --> 00:22:27.803
  • The more we teach people in our schools, teach our children
  • 00:22:27.803 --> 00:22:31.173
  • There is no god, things are simply random, the more fear
  • 00:22:31.173 --> 00:22:35.944
  • That grips our hearts.
  • 00:22:35.944 --> 00:22:38.113
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:22:38.113 --> 00:22:43.318
  • Jeffress: satan's deceptions are powerful, but they're no match
  • 00:22:43.318 --> 00:22:46.788
  • For god's truth.
  • 00:22:46.788 --> 00:22:48.256
  • When we recognize satan's lies and replace them with scripture,
  • 00:22:48.256 --> 00:22:52.294
  • We can experience the freedom and victory christ died to give
  • 00:22:52.294 --> 00:22:56.097
  • To us.
  • 00:22:56.097 --> 00:22:57.432
  • At "pathway to victory," our mission is clear: to pierce the
  • 00:22:57.432 --> 00:23:00.802
  • Darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:00.802 --> 00:23:03.171
  • Every day we're reaching people across america and around the
  • 00:23:03.171 --> 00:23:06.107
  • World who desperately need to hear the gospel message and grow
  • 00:23:06.107 --> 00:23:10.512
  • In their understanding of scripture.
  • 00:23:10.512 --> 00:23:12.781
  • Through our television broadcasts, radio programs, and
  • 00:23:12.781 --> 00:23:15.851
  • Digital outreach, we're bringing the hope of jesus christ to
  • 00:23:15.851 --> 00:23:19.588
  • Those who are searching for truth in an increasingly
  • 00:23:19.588 --> 00:23:22.791
  • Dark world.
  • 00:23:22.791 --> 00:23:24.125
  • Thanks to all of you who give generously and especially to our
  • 00:23:24.125 --> 00:23:27.529
  • Pathway partners.
  • 00:23:27.529 --> 00:23:29.097
  • Your faithful support enables us to reach millions with the
  • 00:23:29.097 --> 00:23:32.200
  • Gospel each week through "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:35.670
  • Now, stay right there.
  • 00:23:35.670 --> 00:23:37.005
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:23:37.005 --> 00:23:40.575
  • Announcer: remember when you were a kid and seeing the
  • 00:23:41.910 --> 00:23:43.945
  • Difference between good and bad was easy to tell the good guys
  • 00:23:43.945 --> 00:23:47.616
  • Versus the bad guys, all in good fun?
  • 00:23:47.616 --> 00:23:51.586
  • But this was never a real battle, but there's a real
  • 00:23:51.586 --> 00:23:54.823
  • Battle going on for the lives of our children and grandchildren,
  • 00:23:54.823 --> 00:23:58.193
  • And it's up to us to prepare them.
  • 00:23:58.193 --> 00:24:00.462
  • Equip the children in your life to stand firm in god's truth
  • 00:24:00.462 --> 00:24:03.865
  • With "suit up! the armor of god for kids."
  • 00:24:03.865 --> 00:24:07.102
  • This full color, fully illustrated hardcover book helps
  • 00:24:07.102 --> 00:24:10.539
  • You teach your children to put on the spiritual armor of god
  • 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:13.775
  • Every day.
  • 00:24:13.775 --> 00:24:15.143
  • Each interactive lesson includes discussion questions, practical
  • 00:24:15.143 --> 00:24:18.680
  • Applications, and prayers you can say together.
  • 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:21.683
  • Jeffress: in my new children's book, "suit up," i share the
  • 00:24:21.683 --> 00:24:25.020
  • Weapons and armor god has gifted us for protection, and i give
  • 00:24:25.020 --> 00:24:29.324
  • Practical ways to protect our children and grandchildren from
  • 00:24:29.324 --> 00:24:33.461
  • Satan's influence.
  • 00:24:33.461 --> 00:24:35.030
  • Announcer: request "suit up!
  • 00:24:35.030 --> 00:24:36.364
  • The armor of god for kids" when you give a generous gift to
  • 00:24:36.364 --> 00:24:39.668
  • Support the ministry of pathway to victory or when you become a
  • 00:24:39.668 --> 00:24:42.971
  • Pathway partner, you'll also receive "angels and demons:
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  • Fact versus fantasy."
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  • It's a brand new book for adults providing a simple biblical
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  • Understanding of angels and demons.
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  • You the "spirit wars" messages series on both cd and dvd and
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  • The best selling book by dr. jeffress, "the divine defense."
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  • Thank you for your faithfulness as together we pierce the
  • 00:25:06.194 --> 00:25:09.264
  • Darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:25:09.264 --> 00:25:11.800
  • Jeffress: the lies of discontent and pride are all around us in
  • 00:25:14.102 --> 00:25:17.405
  • Our culture.
  • 00:25:17.405 --> 00:25:18.773
  • We're constantly bombarded with messages that we need more to be
  • 00:25:18.773 --> 00:25:22.410
  • Happy and that we can control our own destiny, but as we've
  • 00:25:22.410 --> 00:25:26.615
  • Seen today, these deceptions only lead to fear and anxiety
  • 00:25:26.615 --> 00:25:30.785
  • Rather than the peace god wants us to experience.
  • 00:25:30.785 --> 00:25:34.289
  • Well, there's one more lie that satan uses to keep us in
  • 00:25:34.289 --> 00:25:37.692
  • Spiritual bondage, and it may be his most effective weapon
  • 00:25:37.692 --> 00:25:41.529
  • Of all.
  • 00:25:41.529 --> 00:25:42.864
  • Next time, we're going to discover how bitterness enslaves
  • 00:25:42.864 --> 00:25:46.401
  • Us to the very people who heard us.
  • 00:25:46.401 --> 00:25:49.070
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:49.070 --> 00:25:51.706
  • Series, "spirit wars."
  • 00:25:51.706 --> 00:25:53.742
  • Jeffress: you can hold on to that bitterness or you can
  • 00:25:55.110 --> 00:25:58.179
  • Choose to release, let go of that bitterness.
  • 00:25:58.179 --> 00:26:01.716
  • I'm not talking about rationalizing what the other
  • 00:26:01.716 --> 00:26:04.285
  • Person did or denying what they did; to forgive, though, means
  • 00:26:04.285 --> 00:26:08.723
  • Literally to let go.
  • 00:26:08.723 --> 00:26:10.859
  • When you forgive, you let go of your right to hurt that person
  • 00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:15.363
  • For hurting you.
  • 00:26:15.363 --> 00:26:16.698
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two of the
  • 00:26:16.698 --> 00:26:19.901
  • Message "satan's four favorite lies,"
  • 00:26:19.901 --> 00:26:23.038
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:23.038 --> 00:26:25.840
  • Announcer: experience the beauty of alaska with the "pathway to
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  • Victory" family june 13 through 20, 2026.
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  • Sail through the calm waters of the legendary inside passage
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  • With dr. robert jeffress aboard holland america's
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  • Magnificent koningsdam.
  • 00:26:41.656 --> 00:26:43.758
  • Be inspired by award winning musician michael o'brien's
  • 00:26:43.758 --> 00:26:46.895
  • Powerful worship.
  • 00:26:46.895 --> 00:26:48.229
  • Share laughter with dennis swanberg, america's minister of
  • 00:26:48.229 --> 00:26:51.399
  • Encouragement, all while exploring frontier towns like
  • 00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:54.836
  • Juneau, skagway, and ketchikan.
  • 00:26:54.836 --> 00:26:57.272
  • Jeffress: there's something powerful about connecting with
  • 00:26:57.272 --> 00:26:59.841
  • God and fellow believers in the majesty
  • 00:26:59.841 --> 00:27:02.544
  • Of his untamed wilderness.
  • 00:27:02.544 --> 00:27:04.579
  • From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles, these moments in
  • 00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:08.850
  • God's creation will deepen your faith in powerful ways.
  • 00:27:08.850 --> 00:27:12.821
  • Announcer: join us for a spiritual journey through some
  • 00:27:12.821 --> 00:27:14.923
  • Of creation's most spectacular displays.
  • 00:27:14.923 --> 00:27:17.892
  • Don't wait.
  • 00:27:17.892 --> 00:27:19.260
  • Our best cabins are going fast.
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  • Secure your alaska adventure now.
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  • Call...
  • 00:27:22.697 --> 00:27:25.700
  • Or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:25.700