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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Say Goodbye To Spiritual Regrets

May 22, 2025 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Say Goodbye To Spiritual Regrets
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#WalkwithGod #Fear #Spirit #Religion #Obedience #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Regret #Loss #Disobedience #Reward

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Say Goodbye To Spiritual Regrets | May 22, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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  • With 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."
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  • You and i have been given one life to live, none of us knows
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  • Exactly how many days we have left, but we do know this, every
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  • Day can have an eternal impact.
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  • Today, i wanna help you refocus your attention on the things of
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  • God because, when all is said and done, god's kingdom is the
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  • Only one that will endure.
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  • My message is titled, "say goodbye to spiritual regrets,"
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  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: god doesn't want you to carry around the weight of
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  • Sins he's already forgiven.
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  • In his bestselling book, "say goodbye to regret," dr. robert
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  • Jeffress helps you live beyond the would-haves, could-haves,
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  • And should-haves to embrace the future god has planned for you.
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  • You can't undo the past, but there's plenty you can do to
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  • Reshape tomorrow and eternity.
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  • Discover the biblical secrets for regret-free living when you
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  • Request the book, "say goodbye to regret."
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  • Thank you for giving generously to "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: our friend, irwin lutzer, who was just here a
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  • Couple of weeks ago, has written in his book, "five minutes after
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  • You die," "five minutes after you die, you will either have
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  • Had your first glimpse of heaven with its euphoria and bliss or
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  • Your first genuine experience of unrelenting horror or regret.
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  • Either way, your future will be irrevocably fixed and
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  • Eternally unchangeable.
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  • In those first few moments after you die, you will be more alive
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  • Than you've ever been.
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  • Vivid memories of your friends and of your life on planet earth
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  • Will be mingled with a daunting anticipation of eternity.
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  • You will either have had your first glimpse of christ or your
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  • First encounter with evil like you have never known before.
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  • And it will be too late to change your address."
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  • Let me ask you honestly, how does the thought of dying and
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  • Facing god, how does that make you feel?
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  • Are you thrilled at the prospect of meeting god or does your
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  • Thought terrify you?
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  • If we were honest today, i think many of us would say,
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  • "we're terrified at that thought, that prospect," many
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  • Christians are fearful of ever standing before god.
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  • Why is that?
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  • I think, if you get down to the essence of it, that fear is part
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  • Of the nagging sensation that they've not done enough to be
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  • Obedient to god.
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  • Yes, they know they're saved by grace, but they still know there
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  • Are some lacking areas in their life.
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  • For most christians, their prayer lives are sporadic, they
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  • Can count on one finger the number--or one hand the number
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  • Of people they've led to faith in christ with plenty of fingers
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  • Left over, the only thing they're more ashamed of than
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  • Their lack of knowledge about their bible is about their lack
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  • Of desire to even read the bible.
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  • Most christians have some secret sin in their life that they're
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  • Terrified will be exposed and judged by god.
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  • No wonder people are fearful of meeting god.
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  • Now, the easy, pat answer to that is, "oh, well, they just
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  • Need to understand grace, because grace means god's gonna
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  • Treat all christians just alike when they get to heaven," but
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  • Common sense, and more importantly, biblical truth,
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  • Tells us otherwise.
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  • Secondly, the passage reminds us that some christians will
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  • Experience greater rewards than others in heaven, some will have
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  • Special privileges, special positions of authority, special
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  • Praise from the master.
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  • There are rewards, real rewards awaiting those who are faithful.
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  • And third, this passage reminds us that many christians will
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  • Experience real, measurable loss because of their lack of
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  • Faithfulness, obedience.
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  • You say, "well, where is that?"
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  • Again, look at verse 15, of 1 corinthians 3, "if any man's
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  • Work is burned up, he will suffer," what?
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  • "loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
  • 00:04:57.653 --> 00:05:03.559
  • Remember the question you're supposed to ask an unbeliever,
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  • "if you were to stand before god and he were to ask you, 'why
  • 00:05:06.529 --> 00:05:09.098
  • Should i let you into heaven,' what would you say?"
  • 00:05:09.098 --> 00:05:12.268
  • Well, let me change that question, for christians, "if
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  • You were to stand," no, "when you stand before god one day and
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  • He is to ask you, 'what do you regret most about your
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  • Relationship with me,' what would you say?"
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  • Most of us don't have to wait until we die to come up with
  • 00:05:32.889 --> 00:05:35.391
  • Those regrets, we know exactly what they are.
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  • And today, for the few minutes we have, we're going to look at
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  • The most common regrets christians have about their
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  • Spiritual life, and how to avoid them, and how to reverse their
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  • Effects in our life.
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  • Number one, and i hear this so often, "i wish i had become a
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  • Christian or i wish i'd become more serious about my walk with
  • 00:05:56.846 --> 00:06:00.983
  • God earlier in my life."
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  • Both of these regrets have to do with wasted time.
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  • Now, again, it would be easy to say, "it doesn't matter how long
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  • You've been a christian or how short of time, you have the
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  • Same reward."
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  • In fact, some people actually use jesus's own words to try to
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  • Prove that point.
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  • They teach the story, they go to the story jesus told in matthew
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  • 20, the parable about the landowner who had a large
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  • Vineyard and he needed some workers to help him harvest
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  • The crops.
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  • And so, as was the custom, a group gathered and he hired them
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  • At six o'clock in the morning, a group of workers at the
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  • Beginning of the work day, made an agreement what he would
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  • Pay them.
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  • A few hours later, he realized he needed more workers, so he
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  • Went out and hired some more.
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  • And then, finally, at 5 p.m.,
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  • One hour before quitting time, he hired another group of
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  • Workers just for an hour.
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  • When six o'clock rolled around, the end of the day, it was time
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  • To give everybody their wages, and so they lined up to receive
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  • Their wages.
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  • And they started with the ones who had been hired most
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  • Recently, at five o'clock, and then went back to those who had
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  • Been hired at the beginning of the day.
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  • So the landowner meets that first worker who was hired at
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  • Five, and to his surprise, the landowner gives him a
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  • Full-day's wage.
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  • Well, word spreads quickly in the line about what had
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  • Happened, and people started thinking, "gosh, if he gave a
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  • Whole day's wage to a guy who only worked an hour, do
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  • The math.
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  • I mean, i've been here for several hours, i've been here
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  • For 12 hours, i'm going to make a fortune."
  • 00:07:36.112 --> 00:07:39.248
  • But to their disappointment, those who had worked 12 hours or
  • 00:07:39.248 --> 00:07:43.152
  • 6 hours, they all received the same wage.
  • 00:07:43.152 --> 00:07:47.723
  • And the people who had worked for 12 hours, they were ready to
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  • Riot, i mean, they were upset.
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  • They said, "this isn't fair, that you would give us all the
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  • Same wage."
  • 00:07:56.432 --> 00:07:57.800
  • And remember what the landowner said, jesus said, he said,
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  • "first of all, didn't i give you what i promised?
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  • I gave you exactly what i promised.
  • 00:08:04.874 --> 00:08:07.176
  • And secondly, and more importantly, isn't it my money
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  • To do whatever i want to with?
  • 00:08:10.580 --> 00:08:12.915
  • I'm the one who determines.
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  • If i want to give everybody the same amount, that's
  • 00:08:14.283 --> 00:08:17.053
  • My business."
  • 00:08:17.053 --> 00:08:18.421
  • Now, a lot of people take that story and say, "see, everybody
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  • In heaven gets the same thing."
  • 00:08:21.857 --> 00:08:24.126
  • That's not what this passage is teaching.
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  • You say, "how do you know that, robert?"
  • 00:08:27.029 --> 00:08:28.497
  • Again, from jesus's own words, the context for this parable is
  • 00:08:28.497 --> 00:08:32.535
  • Actually found in matthew 19:27.
  • 00:08:32.535 --> 00:08:35.204
  • Then peter said to the lord, "lord, behold, we have left
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  • Everything and followed you; what's in it for us?"
  • 00:08:39.442 --> 00:08:43.779
  • No, actually he said, "and what will there be for us?"
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  • That's one reason i love peter, he always speaks what everybody
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  • Else is thinking, "lord, what's in it for us?"
  • 00:08:50.853 --> 00:08:54.523
  • Now, jesus could have said, "well, you're gonna get the same
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  • Thing everybody else does, peter," but he doesn't.
  • 00:08:58.160 --> 00:09:00.529
  • He affirms the concept of rewards in verse 28.
  • 00:09:00.529 --> 00:09:03.899
  • "and jesus said to them, 'truly i say to you, those of you who
  • 00:09:03.899 --> 00:09:07.203
  • Have followed me, in the regeneration,'" that is, in the
  • 00:09:07.203 --> 00:09:10.873
  • Millennium, "when the son of man will sit on his glorious throne,
  • 00:09:10.873 --> 00:09:14.110
  • You shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve
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  • Tribes of israel."
  • 00:09:17.980 --> 00:09:19.515
  • "everybody's not gonna have a throne, but there are gonna be
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  • 12 thrones, and peter, you're going to sit on one of
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  • Those thrones."
  • 00:09:24.854 --> 00:09:26.222
  • In fact, he says in verse 29, "and everyone who has left
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  • Houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or
  • 00:09:29.892 --> 00:09:34.163
  • Farms, for my name's sake, will receive," what?
  • 00:09:34.163 --> 00:09:37.867
  • "many times as much as those who don't, and shall inherit
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  • Eternal life."
  • 00:09:43.539 --> 00:09:45.408
  • I have no doubt there are christians around the world who
  • 00:09:45.408 --> 00:09:47.943
  • Are suffering right now who are gonna receive a far greater
  • 00:09:47.943 --> 00:09:50.946
  • Reward than i do, because what we do on earth matters to god.
  • 00:09:50.946 --> 00:09:56.986
  • The fact is, he's not negating the concept of rewards.
  • 00:09:56.986 --> 00:10:00.556
  • Well, what is this parable about?
  • 00:10:00.556 --> 00:10:02.725
  • Remember, the jews were upset that gentiles,
  • 00:10:02.725 --> 00:10:06.262
  • Johnny-come-lately, so to speak, were going to be a part of the
  • 00:10:06.262 --> 00:10:09.298
  • Kingdom of god, they hated the idea that the jewish people who
  • 00:10:09.298 --> 00:10:14.003
  • Had been serving god for hundreds of years, or so they
  • 00:10:14.003 --> 00:10:16.839
  • Thought, would be treated the same way as these gentiles,
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  • These dogs.
  • 00:10:20.342 --> 00:10:21.677
  • And jesus was saying, "no, grace means everyone who trusts in me
  • 00:10:21.677 --> 00:10:26.248
  • Can be forgiven."
  • 00:10:26.248 --> 00:10:28.384
  • No, there are going to be rewards in heaven, make no
  • 00:10:28.384 --> 00:10:31.420
  • Mistake about it.
  • 00:10:31.420 --> 00:10:32.988
  • "well, pastor, you're piling up a lot of guilt on me, because i
  • 00:10:32.988 --> 00:10:35.958
  • Haven't been faithful, i came to christ just recently, and i
  • 00:10:35.958 --> 00:10:41.063
  • Wasted so many years."
  • 00:10:41.063 --> 00:10:43.032
  • Or, "i became a christian when i was little, but i spent years in
  • 00:10:43.032 --> 00:10:46.569
  • Disobedience to god.
  • 00:10:46.569 --> 00:10:49.638
  • What words of encouragement do you have for me if i have that
  • 00:10:49.638 --> 00:10:53.109
  • Regret in my life?"
  • 00:10:53.109 --> 00:10:54.844
  • Two words i want you to write down, first of all, the
  • 00:10:54.844 --> 00:10:58.180
  • Word "justification."
  • 00:10:58.180 --> 00:11:01.350
  • The word "justification," remember, is a legal term that
  • 00:11:01.350 --> 00:11:04.420
  • Means "not guilty."
  • 00:11:04.420 --> 00:11:06.388
  • And the bible says the moment you trust in christ as your
  • 00:11:06.388 --> 00:11:09.358
  • Savior, god declares you "not guilty," he forgives you of not
  • 00:11:09.358 --> 00:11:14.764
  • Just some of your sins, but all of your sins, you are perfect in
  • 00:11:14.764 --> 00:11:19.835
  • God's eyes, you are forgiven.
  • 00:11:19.835 --> 00:11:22.671
  • You never have to worry about hell because of some unforgiven
  • 00:11:22.671 --> 00:11:27.042
  • Sin, god has declared you "not guilty."
  • 00:11:27.042 --> 00:11:30.146
  • How did he do that?
  • 00:11:30.146 --> 00:11:31.781
  • Well, 2 corinthians 5:21 tells us.
  • 00:11:31.781 --> 00:11:34.984
  • The bible says, "god made him," jesus, "who knew no sin to
  • 00:11:34.984 --> 00:11:40.689
  • Become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of god
  • 00:11:40.689 --> 00:11:45.594
  • In him."
  • 00:11:45.594 --> 00:11:46.996
  • Imagine i have two books here, one book is titled "the life and
  • 00:11:46.996 --> 00:11:52.601
  • Times of jesus christ," it's a book that records the perfect
  • 00:11:52.601 --> 00:11:57.373
  • Life of jesus, his teachings, his good deeds, his miracles,
  • 00:11:57.373 --> 00:12:01.744
  • His death on the cross, his resurrection from the dead, this
  • 00:12:01.744 --> 00:12:04.880
  • Is the story of jesus.
  • 00:12:04.880 --> 00:12:07.116
  • But there's another book entitled "the life and times of
  • 00:12:07.116 --> 00:12:11.921
  • Robert jeffress," and this book is a real page-turner because it
  • 00:12:11.921 --> 00:12:18.460
  • Not only includes some of the good things i've done, but all
  • 00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:21.664
  • Of the bad things i've done, every wrong thought, every wrong
  • 00:12:21.664 --> 00:12:26.235
  • Action, every wrong attitude is written in this book.
  • 00:12:26.235 --> 00:12:30.005
  • Some of you would run to a bookstore right now and get it
  • 00:12:30.005 --> 00:12:32.641
  • If you knew such a book existed, you'd love to know.
  • 00:12:32.641 --> 00:12:36.312
  • Thank goodness you'll never know what's in this book.
  • 00:12:36.312 --> 00:12:40.482
  • Two books, "the life and times of jesus" and "the life and
  • 00:12:40.482 --> 00:12:44.053
  • Times of robert jeffress."
  • 00:12:44.053 --> 00:12:45.421
  • Now, when jesus died on the cross, it's as if god took the
  • 00:12:45.421 --> 00:12:50.960
  • Cover of this book about jesus and wrapped it around my story,
  • 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:55.998
  • "the life and times of jesus" is really "the life and times of
  • 00:12:55.998 --> 00:13:00.369
  • Robert jeffress."
  • 00:13:00.369 --> 00:13:01.770
  • When god looked on jesus on the cross, he didn't see his perfect
  • 00:13:01.770 --> 00:13:06.008
  • Son, he saw all of my sins, all of my transgressions, and jesus
  • 00:13:06.008 --> 00:13:11.780
  • Experienced hell for me.
  • 00:13:11.780 --> 00:13:14.750
  • But interestingly, god took the cover of my life story, "the
  • 00:13:14.750 --> 00:13:18.854
  • Life and times of robert jeffress," and wrapped it around
  • 00:13:18.854 --> 00:13:21.457
  • "the life of jesus christ," so that when god looks at me as a
  • 00:13:21.457 --> 00:13:25.527
  • Christian, he no longer sees my sin, my shortcomings, he sees
  • 00:13:25.527 --> 00:13:31.500
  • The perfection of his own son, jesus christ.
  • 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:35.571
  • "he who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the
  • 00:13:35.571 --> 00:13:40.809
  • Righteousness of god in him."
  • 00:13:40.809 --> 00:13:43.379
  • Doesn't that throw your heart to know that we are perfect in
  • 00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:47.616
  • God's eyes and we never have to worry about our sin being
  • 00:13:47.616 --> 00:13:51.453
  • Dredged up again?
  • 00:13:51.453 --> 00:13:53.489
  • But the second word to remember is the word "sovereignty."
  • 00:13:53.489 --> 00:13:57.660
  • You know, the word "sovereignty" refers to god's rule over
  • 00:13:57.660 --> 00:14:01.897
  • The earth.
  • 00:14:01.897 --> 00:14:03.265
  • God is sovereign, he is in control, there is nothing that
  • 00:14:03.265 --> 00:14:07.169
  • Happens in the universe apart from his permission.
  • 00:14:07.169 --> 00:14:10.940
  • And he is sovereign over your life as well, he is in control
  • 00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:15.144
  • Of your steps, your missteps, and your stumbles, there's
  • 00:14:15.144 --> 00:14:19.048
  • Nothing you do that surprises god.
  • 00:14:19.048 --> 00:14:22.718
  • You know, one of the great verses about that is psalm 139,
  • 00:14:22.718 --> 00:14:25.888
  • Verse 16.
  • 00:14:25.888 --> 00:14:27.756
  • David said, "and in your book, o god, were written all the days
  • 00:14:27.756 --> 00:14:32.394
  • Of my life, before there was one of them."
  • 00:14:32.394 --> 00:14:35.898
  • Do you realize, before the foundation of the world, god
  • 00:14:35.898 --> 00:14:39.034
  • Planned your life, not just how many days they were or what
  • 00:14:39.034 --> 00:14:42.938
  • Those days would be, but the activities and the actions that
  • 00:14:42.938 --> 00:14:46.809
  • Would fill every page?
  • 00:14:46.809 --> 00:14:49.545
  • "now, pastor, are you saying god wills our disobedience to him,
  • 00:14:49.545 --> 00:14:54.283
  • God wills our rebellion?"
  • 00:14:54.283 --> 00:14:56.785
  • No, i'm not saying that, but what i'm saying is god is so
  • 00:14:56.785 --> 00:15:00.089
  • Powerful that he can take every part of our life, even our
  • 00:15:00.089 --> 00:15:03.726
  • Mistakes, and use them for our good and his eternal glory.
  • 00:15:03.726 --> 00:15:09.531
  • You say, "where do you find that in scripture?"
  • 00:15:09.531 --> 00:15:12.534
  • All i have to do is look at the example of the apostle paul.
  • 00:15:12.534 --> 00:15:15.904
  • Remember in 1 timothy 1, the passage i had you read a few
  • 00:15:15.904 --> 00:15:18.907
  • Minutes ago, he gives us his spiritual autobiography.
  • 00:15:18.907 --> 00:15:22.878
  • He said, beginning in verse 12, "i thank christ jesus our lord,
  • 00:15:22.878 --> 00:15:26.949
  • Who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful,
  • 00:15:26.949 --> 00:15:30.619
  • Putting me into service, even though i was formerly a
  • 00:15:30.619 --> 00:15:34.957
  • Blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.
  • 00:15:34.957 --> 00:15:38.327
  • Yet i was shown mercy because i acted ignorantly in unbelief.
  • 00:15:38.327 --> 00:15:42.598
  • And yet for this reason," now get this, "for this reason i
  • 00:15:42.598 --> 00:15:46.301
  • Found mercy, so that in me as the foremost of sinners jesus
  • 00:15:46.301 --> 00:15:51.673
  • Christ might demonstrate his perfect patience as an example
  • 00:15:51.673 --> 00:15:56.612
  • For those who would believe in him for eternal life."
  • 00:15:56.612 --> 00:16:00.883
  • Paul said, "i'm exhibit a of god's ability to
  • 00:16:00.883 --> 00:16:04.353
  • Forgive anyone."
  • 00:16:04.353 --> 00:16:05.687
  • You can't do anything to make him love you any more,
  • 00:16:05.687 --> 00:16:08.357
  • Justification and sovereignty, he can work all things in your
  • 00:16:08.357 --> 00:16:12.728
  • Past together for good.
  • 00:16:12.728 --> 00:16:15.831
  • A second regret many people have is, "i wish i had spent more
  • 00:16:15.831 --> 00:16:20.602
  • Time praying and reading the bible."
  • 00:16:20.602 --> 00:16:24.039
  • Sometimes, christians look back with all the wasted time in
  • 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:27.309
  • Their life, the hundreds of hours they've spent over the
  • 00:16:27.309 --> 00:16:32.448
  • Years watching inane television programs they can't even
  • 00:16:32.448 --> 00:16:36.118
  • Remember, or hours scrolling through social media, their
  • 00:16:36.118 --> 00:16:40.422
  • Twitter account or facebook or instagram.
  • 00:16:40.422 --> 00:16:44.426
  • And they think, "if only i had spent those hours praying and
  • 00:16:44.426 --> 00:16:50.699
  • Reading my bible, i'd be a spiritual giant by now,"
  • 00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:55.504
  • "if only."
  • 00:16:55.504 --> 00:16:56.839
  • Well, the fact is, you didn't spend those hours doing those
  • 00:16:56.839 --> 00:17:00.142
  • Things, and the even more depressing news is you probably
  • 00:17:00.142 --> 00:17:03.645
  • Won't spend hours doing them in the future.
  • 00:17:03.645 --> 00:17:07.149
  • I know that seems kind of pessimistic, but it's just
  • 00:17:07.149 --> 00:17:09.685
  • The truth.
  • 00:17:09.685 --> 00:17:11.053
  • Let me illustrate what i mean by that.
  • 00:17:11.053 --> 00:17:12.688
  • Just imagine you awaken, you're 45-years-old, man or woman, and
  • 00:17:12.688 --> 00:17:17.359
  • You awaken one day and you say, "i've never exercised a day in
  • 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:20.629
  • My life, i am tired of living like this.
  • 00:17:20.629 --> 00:17:23.932
  • Tomorrow morning, i'm gonna begin exercising, i'm gonna run
  • 00:17:23.932 --> 00:17:27.836
  • Six miles every day, i don't care if it's 107 outside, i'm
  • 00:17:27.836 --> 00:17:32.174
  • Gonna run six miles every day, starting tomorrow morning, for
  • 00:17:32.174 --> 00:17:35.144
  • The rest of my life."
  • 00:17:35.144 --> 00:17:37.012
  • Now, such a resolution would be unwise and certainly
  • 00:17:37.012 --> 00:17:40.782
  • Short-lived, you can't go from 0 to 6 miles a day, you do
  • 00:17:40.782 --> 00:17:46.388
  • It incrementally.
  • 00:17:46.388 --> 00:17:48.223
  • And so, instead of saying, "gee, i'm gonna spend hours a day
  • 00:17:48.223 --> 00:17:51.293
  • Reading my bible and praying," you're not gonna do it, so quit
  • 00:17:51.293 --> 00:17:55.030
  • Thinking that way.
  • 00:17:55.030 --> 00:17:56.532
  • Instead, start small.
  • 00:17:56.532 --> 00:17:59.301
  • Again, it's not the length of your devotional time that
  • 00:17:59.301 --> 00:18:01.937
  • Matters, but the consistency of it, and this is a great way to
  • 00:18:01.937 --> 00:18:06.675
  • Erase the regret of not spending time with god.
  • 00:18:06.675 --> 00:18:10.045
  • A third regret many christians have is this, "i wish i had done
  • 00:18:10.045 --> 00:18:14.550
  • More to serve god in my life, i wish i had done more to serve
  • 00:18:14.550 --> 00:18:19.521
  • God in my life."
  • 00:18:19.521 --> 00:18:21.390
  • Honestly, this was one of the regrets that my dad had, i told
  • 00:18:21.390 --> 00:18:25.761
  • You about my dad in the first message, he was an inspiration
  • 00:18:25.761 --> 00:18:29.131
  • To do this series, "say goodbye to regrets."
  • 00:18:29.131 --> 00:18:32.134
  • He became a christian as a young man, he led my mom to christ, he
  • 00:18:32.134 --> 00:18:38.874
  • Led his children to christ, he tithed, he went to church, but
  • 00:18:38.874 --> 00:18:43.245
  • One of the things i heard him say before he died was he wished
  • 00:18:43.245 --> 00:18:46.548
  • He had found a ministry to serve in.
  • 00:18:46.548 --> 00:18:50.619
  • He never did.
  • 00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:51.987
  • I think, personally, he felt inadequate to do that, even
  • 00:18:51.987 --> 00:18:54.890
  • Though he was a very intelligent man, he just didn't feel like he
  • 00:18:54.890 --> 00:18:59.127
  • Was adequate to serve the lord.
  • 00:18:59.127 --> 00:19:01.730
  • The fact is, we all need a place in the body of christ to serve.
  • 00:19:01.730 --> 00:19:07.336
  • Most of you don't work for a church, you have real jobs, i
  • 00:19:07.336 --> 00:19:12.541
  • Know some people think that, but i realize you don't have 10
  • 00:19:12.541 --> 00:19:17.379
  • Hours a week or 20 hours a week between your family and work
  • 00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:21.250
  • Responsibilities, but everybody has an hour a week they
  • 00:19:21.250 --> 00:19:24.786
  • Could devote.
  • 00:19:24.786 --> 00:19:26.154
  • You know, we have a saying here at first baptist, "no one can do
  • 00:19:26.154 --> 00:19:28.757
  • Everything, but everybody can do something."
  • 00:19:28.757 --> 00:19:31.460
  • And i would just encourage you, when we leave here, on our
  • 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:34.696
  • Concourse, we've got our volunteer booth set up, all
  • 00:19:34.696 --> 00:19:37.933
  • Kinds of ministries that you can connect with and be a part of,
  • 00:19:37.933 --> 00:19:42.271
  • Find that one thing that utilizes your gifts and do it,
  • 00:19:42.271 --> 00:19:47.743
  • We all need a place in service in the body of christ.
  • 00:19:47.743 --> 00:19:52.948
  • And then, the final spiritual regret i hear from so many
  • 00:19:52.948 --> 00:19:56.184
  • Christians, "i regret not doing more to encourage my children's
  • 00:19:56.184 --> 00:20:02.624
  • Spiritual growth," "i regret not doing more to encourage my
  • 00:20:02.624 --> 00:20:08.997
  • Children's spiritual growth."
  • 00:20:08.997 --> 00:20:11.533
  • One of the saddest funerals i ever conducted was years ago, it
  • 00:20:11.533 --> 00:20:16.905
  • Was for a six-year-old boy who had run out into the street to
  • 00:20:16.905 --> 00:20:21.176
  • Retrieve a soccer ball and was struck by a car,
  • 00:20:21.176 --> 00:20:23.979
  • Killed immediately.
  • 00:20:23.979 --> 00:20:26.248
  • And the family was overcome with grief, obviously, but the father
  • 00:20:26.248 --> 00:20:29.818
  • Especially so because of his lack of spiritual leadership in
  • 00:20:29.818 --> 00:20:34.723
  • The home.
  • 00:20:34.723 --> 00:20:36.058
  • He was a successful salesman for an up-and-coming company, his
  • 00:20:36.058 --> 00:20:40.696
  • Schedule required him to leave home early monday morning and
  • 00:20:40.696 --> 00:20:44.433
  • Fly out, and be gone all week and not come home until
  • 00:20:44.433 --> 00:20:47.903
  • Friday evenings.
  • 00:20:47.903 --> 00:20:49.805
  • And because of that schedule, the family decided to buy a lake
  • 00:20:49.805 --> 00:20:54.042
  • Home nearby their primary residence.
  • 00:20:54.042 --> 00:20:58.146
  • And so, every friday night when he would get home, they would
  • 00:20:58.146 --> 00:21:01.450
  • All pile in the car and go to the lake house for the weekend,
  • 00:21:01.450 --> 00:21:05.354
  • And they would enjoy camping and fishing and boating together,
  • 00:21:05.354 --> 00:21:09.658
  • Then come back late sunday night.
  • 00:21:09.658 --> 00:21:13.061
  • This little six-year-old boy had an insatiable spiritual
  • 00:21:13.061 --> 00:21:17.966
  • Appetite, he loved to hear bible stories, he loved to read the
  • 00:21:17.966 --> 00:21:22.604
  • Bible, he loved singing christian songs, he had a prayer
  • 00:21:22.604 --> 00:21:25.674
  • List a mile long.
  • 00:21:25.674 --> 00:21:27.876
  • And every weekend he would say to his dad, "dad, can't we just
  • 00:21:27.876 --> 00:21:30.946
  • Stay home and go to church?
  • 00:21:30.946 --> 00:21:33.315
  • Can we go to church, can we go to church?"
  • 00:21:33.315 --> 00:21:37.252
  • And the father would say no.
  • 00:21:37.252 --> 00:21:38.854
  • It's not because the father didn't like the church, he loved
  • 00:21:38.854 --> 00:21:41.456
  • The church, but in his mind, he needed to be with his family,
  • 00:21:41.456 --> 00:21:46.661
  • And he thought, "we'll do this for a few years, then i'll have
  • 00:21:46.661 --> 00:21:50.565
  • Enough money and i can retire, and we can live a normal life
  • 00:21:50.565 --> 00:21:54.336
  • And go to church."
  • 00:21:54.336 --> 00:21:56.304
  • He didn't realize how little time he really had, and he had
  • 00:21:56.304 --> 00:22:01.543
  • And has that continuing regret of listening to his child plead
  • 00:22:01.543 --> 00:22:06.515
  • To come to church, a request he said no to.
  • 00:22:06.515 --> 00:22:10.919
  • Now, most of us, fortunately, will never have to watch our
  • 00:22:10.919 --> 00:22:15.023
  • Children die, but what we will see, it's inevitable, is our
  • 00:22:15.023 --> 00:22:20.195
  • Children go through a difficult time in their life.
  • 00:22:20.195 --> 00:22:23.865
  • It may be a wrong relationship they get involved in, it might
  • 00:22:23.865 --> 00:22:27.836
  • Be a questioning or even departure from their christian
  • 00:22:27.836 --> 00:22:30.972
  • Faith, it might be a destructive habit they become entangled in,
  • 00:22:30.972 --> 00:22:37.979
  • But if that time occurs with your children, will you be able
  • 00:22:37.979 --> 00:22:41.817
  • To say with confidence, "i did everything i could to encourage
  • 00:22:41.817 --> 00:22:48.857
  • My child's relationship with god."
  • 00:22:48.857 --> 00:22:53.128
  • Ladies and gentlemen, what we do now matters for eternity.
  • 00:22:53.128 --> 00:22:58.300
  • We can't erase the mistakes we've made in the past, but we
  • 00:22:58.300 --> 00:23:02.437
  • Can make decisions today that will change our tomorrow and
  • 00:23:02.437 --> 00:23:06.641
  • Our eternity.
  • 00:23:06.641 --> 00:23:09.010
  • Do you need to trust in jesus as your savior and have your
  • 00:23:09.010 --> 00:23:12.747
  • Sins forgiven?
  • 00:23:12.747 --> 00:23:15.083
  • Do it today.
  • 00:23:15.083 --> 00:23:17.152
  • Do you need to reconnect with god through prayer and reading
  • 00:23:17.152 --> 00:23:20.355
  • His word?
  • 00:23:20.355 --> 00:23:21.723
  • Do it today.
  • 00:23:21.723 --> 00:23:23.492
  • Do you need to find a place of ministry in god's
  • 00:23:23.492 --> 00:23:26.161
  • Kingdom's work?
  • 00:23:26.161 --> 00:23:27.529
  • Do it today.
  • 00:23:27.529 --> 00:23:30.098
  • Is there more you can do to encourage your children's
  • 00:23:30.098 --> 00:23:32.501
  • Relationship with god?
  • 00:23:32.501 --> 00:23:34.669
  • Do it today.
  • 00:23:34.669 --> 00:23:36.037
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:36.037 --> 00:23:42.077
  • Jeffress: if you've been living with spiritual regrets, the time
  • 00:23:42.143 --> 00:23:45.847
  • To change is now.
  • 00:23:45.847 --> 00:23:47.716
  • Rekindle your passion for the things of god, so that one day
  • 00:23:47.716 --> 00:23:51.686
  • You may hear god say to you, "well done, good and
  • 00:23:51.686 --> 00:23:55.957
  • Faithful servant."
  • 00:23:55.957 --> 00:23:57.726
  • Now, as we close today's broadcast, i'm happy to report
  • 00:23:57.726 --> 00:24:01.396
  • That "pathway to victory" is making a difference in the lives
  • 00:24:01.396 --> 00:24:04.466
  • Of those who watch and listen to this program.
  • 00:24:04.466 --> 00:24:07.502
  • For example, i received a note from mitch, in north carolina,
  • 00:24:07.502 --> 00:24:11.106
  • Who wrote, "dr.
  • 00:24:11.106 --> 00:24:12.541
  • Jeffress, your teaching means more than you will ever know.
  • 00:24:12.541 --> 00:24:15.844
  • I attend church to worship every sunday, but i'm able to worship
  • 00:24:15.844 --> 00:24:19.881
  • Every day with you through 'pathway to victory.'"
  • 00:24:19.881 --> 00:24:23.518
  • Friends, that's what our ministry together is all about.
  • 00:24:23.518 --> 00:24:26.888
  • Thank you for helping us reach people like mitch and countless
  • 00:24:26.888 --> 00:24:30.425
  • Others around the globe with the gospel of jesus christ.
  • 00:24:30.425 --> 00:24:34.362
  • Now, stay right there, and i'll be back with more "pathway to
  • 00:24:34.362 --> 00:24:37.432
  • Victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:37.432 --> 00:24:39.200
  • Announcer: what if your doctor were to say you had only six
  • 00:24:40.502 --> 00:24:43.238
  • Months left to live?
  • 00:24:43.238 --> 00:24:44.673
  • Would you have any regrets in your life?
  • 00:24:44.673 --> 00:24:46.741
  • In his best selling book, "say goodbye to regret," dr. robert
  • 00:24:46.741 --> 00:24:50.412
  • Jeffress shares biblical principles for dealing with
  • 00:24:50.412 --> 00:24:52.814
  • Regrets from your past and preventing regrets in
  • 00:24:52.814 --> 00:24:55.517
  • The future.
  • 00:24:55.517 --> 00:24:56.851
  • Jeffress: regret is one of life's most painful and
  • 00:24:56.851 --> 00:24:59.754
  • Unnecessary emotions, and in my best selling book, "say goodbye
  • 00:24:59.754 --> 00:25:03.825
  • To regret," i'll help you turn those if-onlys into successful
  • 00:25:03.825 --> 00:25:08.330
  • Lessons in living.
  • 00:25:08.330 --> 00:25:10.065
  • Announcer: it's time to move forward, satisfied with the life
  • 00:25:10.065 --> 00:25:13.234
  • You're living.
  • 00:25:13.234 --> 00:25:14.636
  • Request your copy of "say goodbye to regret" when you give
  • 00:25:14.636 --> 00:25:17.472
  • A generous gift to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:25:17.472 --> 00:25:20.141
  • In the pages of this highly practical book, you'll discover
  • 00:25:20.141 --> 00:25:23.378
  • The biblical keys to leaving behind regrets about
  • 00:25:23.378 --> 00:25:26.147
  • Relationships, your marriage, finances, and more.
  • 00:25:26.147 --> 00:25:29.684
  • And when you give $75 or more, we'll also send you the complete
  • 00:25:29.684 --> 00:25:34.422
  • "say goodbye to regret" teaching series on
  • 00:25:34.422 --> 00:25:36.791
  • Dvd video and mp3 format audio disc.
  • 00:25:36.791 --> 00:25:40.695
  • Jeffress: one of the heaviest weights, other than sin,
  • 00:25:40.695 --> 00:25:44.032
  • Is regret.
  • 00:25:44.032 --> 00:25:45.367
  • Regrets are not the problem in and of themselves, they are an
  • 00:25:45.367 --> 00:25:48.670
  • Indicator of a problem that needs to be dealt with.
  • 00:25:48.670 --> 00:25:53.041
  • Announcer: thank you for helping "pathway to victory"
  • 00:25:53.108 --> 00:25:55.443
  • Proclaim the redemptive power of jesus christ to a world in need.
  • 00:25:55.443 --> 00:25:59.581
  • Together, we are broadcasting the message of god's love
  • 00:25:59.581 --> 00:26:02.784
  • And forgiveness, biblical hope, and life transforming power
  • 00:26:02.784 --> 00:26:06.287
  • Across the country and around the world.
  • 00:26:06.287 --> 00:26:10.025
  • Jeffress: i'm sensing that god's spirit is moving in the hearts
  • 00:26:12.127 --> 00:26:15.363
  • Of viewers all around the world right now and nudging some to
  • 00:26:15.363 --> 00:26:19.601
  • Reassess their priorities.
  • 00:26:19.601 --> 00:26:21.836
  • While you can't relive the days of the past, you can live every
  • 00:26:21.836 --> 00:26:26.174
  • Day going forward with god at the forefront of your heart
  • 00:26:26.174 --> 00:26:29.811
  • And mind.
  • 00:26:29.811 --> 00:26:31.179
  • Well, few things weigh more heavily on the hearts of
  • 00:26:31.179 --> 00:26:33.648
  • Americans more than money problems, and next time, i'm
  • 00:26:33.648 --> 00:26:37.819
  • Going to offer you some very practical advice for managing
  • 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:41.656
  • Your money in a biblical manner.
  • 00:26:41.656 --> 00:26:43.925
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:43.925 --> 00:26:46.728
  • Series, "say goodbye to regret."
  • 00:26:46.728 --> 00:26:51.099
  • Jeffress: you know, the fact is, all of us are gonna face some
  • 00:26:51.166 --> 00:26:53.935
  • Big-ticket expenditures in life we've got to be prepared for.
  • 00:26:53.935 --> 00:26:58.473
  • Take college for example, the education of your children.
  • 00:26:58.473 --> 00:27:01.543
  • The average four-year college today costs $160,000 to attend
  • 00:27:01.543 --> 00:27:06.748
  • Over four years.
  • 00:27:06.748 --> 00:27:08.516
  • Now, that's 179% increase in just the last 20 years.
  • 00:27:08.516 --> 00:27:14.389
  • Have you got a plan for that?
  • 00:27:14.389 --> 00:27:16.758
  • Male announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the
  • 00:27:16.758 --> 00:27:19.627
  • Message, "say goodbye to financial regrets," here on
  • 00:27:19.627 --> 00:27:23.298
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:23.298 --> 00:27:23.298