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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Secret To Unleashing God's Power

August 22, 2025 | S25 E402 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - The Secret To Unleashing God's Power
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#inActive #Victory #PoweroftheHolySpirit #RelationshipwithGod #WalkwithGod #Truth #Pastors

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Secret To Unleashing God's Power | August 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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  • Have you ever wondered why some of your prayers seem to bounce
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  • Off the ceiling while others are answered suddenly
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  • And dramatically?
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  • Why does god choose to respond to certain requests with
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  • Miraculous power but other sincere prayers appear to
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  • Go unanswered.
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  • Well, today, i wanna show you how to tap into the same kind of
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  • Supernatural power that the old testament prophet elijah
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  • Experienced when he prayed.
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  • My message is titled "the secret to unleashing god's power" on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: where there's genuine faith, there will always be
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  • Visible fruit.
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  • In his brand new book, "how to know if you're really saved,"
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  • Dr. robert jeffress helps you take stock of the evidence of
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  • Your faith, the spiritual fruit in your daily life.
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  • This outstanding verse by verse walk through the book of james
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  • Will help you cultivate the spiritual fruit that reflects
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  • Genuine faith.
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  • Request, "how to know if you're really saved" when you give a
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  • Generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway
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  • To victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: chuck swindoll tells a great story about an
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  • Impoverished missionary woman who was sitting in her second
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  • Floor apartment wondering how she was going to survive her
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  • Poverty when she was handed an unexpected letter from home.
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  • She eagerly opened the letter and out fell a crisp $10 bill.
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  • She was thrilled at the provision, but as she was
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  • Looking at that $10 bill, she couldn't help but notice on the
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  • Street below the activity of a shabbily dressed man.
  • 00:02:08.251 --> 00:02:12.255
  • He was obviously in worse situations than she was in and
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  • So she decided to do something christian and she took that $10
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  • Bill and put it in an envelope and wrote the encouraging words,
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  • "don't despair on the outside," and she threw the envelope out
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  • The window with the hope that god would use it in some
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  • Miraculous way.
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  • The man picked up the envelope, he saw the words.
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  • He took the $10 bill out, put it in his pocket, looked up and
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  • Tipped his hat at the woman and was on his way.
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  • The next morning, the woman was awakened to a knocking at
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  • The door.
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  • She opened the door and was surprised to see that same man
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  • Standing there grinning from ear to ear with a wad of dollar
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  • Bills in his hand.
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  • She said, "what's this for?"
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  • He said, "this is the money you've got coming to you, lady.
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  • Don't despair paid 5-1 in yesterday's race."
  • 00:03:06.042 --> 00:03:10.246
  • You know, rarely do we experience that kind of dramatic
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  • Answers to our prayers, do we?
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  • Have you ever wondered why it is that some of our prayers, many
  • 00:03:20.957 --> 00:03:23.893
  • Of them seem never to make it past the roof and yet sometimes
  • 00:03:23.893 --> 00:03:29.299
  • God chooses to answer our prayer requests suddenly
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  • And dramatically.
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  • Why is that?
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  • Well james answers that question in the passage we're going to
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  • Look at today from james chapter 5.
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  • If you have your bibles, turn to james 5 as we discover
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  • The secret to unleashing god's power in your life.
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  • Look at james 5:16.
  • 00:03:52.288 --> 00:03:54.524
  • "therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one
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  • Another so that you may be healed.
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  • The effective prayer of a righteous man can
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  • Accomplish much."
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  • And to illustrate that, look at verse 17, he travels back to the
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  • Old testament to the story of elijah.
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  • He said, "elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he
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  • Prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on
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  • The earth for three years and six months.
  • 00:04:21.417 --> 00:04:24.487
  • Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth
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  • Produced its fruit."
  • 00:04:28.958 --> 00:04:31.094
  • So since james went back hundreds of years earlier to the
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  • Story of elijah, we're going to do the same thing today to
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  • Discover why james chose elijah as exhibit a of what it means to
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  • Offer an effective prayer, a prayer that god answers suddenly
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  • And dramatically.
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  • Hold your place here and turn back to 1 kings chapter 16.
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  • Now there are two characters in this story.
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  • First of all, elijah.
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  • "now elijah the tishbite, who was of the settlers of gilead."
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  • We only know where he came from, gilead.
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  • We don't know anything about his past.
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  • We do know something about him from his name.
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  • You know what the name elijah means?
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  • Literally it means yahweh is god.
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  • The second character was ahab.
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  • Ahab the king, we find this summary of ahab's reign in
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  • Chapter 16 verse 30 and 32 to 33.
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  • "now ahab, the son of omri did evil in the sight of the lord
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  • More than all those who were before him.
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  • So he actually erected an altar for baal in the house of baal
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  • Which he built in samaria," the capitol at that time.
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  • "ahab also made the asherah.
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  • Thus ahab did more to provoke the lord god of israel than all
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  • The kings of israel who were before him."
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  • So you've got elijah and ahab and so in verse 1, elijah comes
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  • To ahab and says, "as the lord, the god of israel lives," now,
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  • He's spoken to ahab right there.
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  • He's saying, "ahab, your god is dead.
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  • It's a piece of tin.
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  • The god i serve is alive and he's the one who's commanded you
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  • And to say by his authority that surely there should be neither
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  • Dew nor rain these years, except by my word."
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  • In other words, i'm cutting off the rain supply, ahab, and ahab
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  • Knew what that meant.
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  • No rain, no crops.
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  • No crops, no cash.
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  • No cash, no food.
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  • No food, no nation.
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  • And so elijah made that pronouncement and then
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  • He disappears.
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  • God takes him away and hides him to protect him for the next
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  • Three and a half years.
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  • And then elijah called for all of the prophets of baal and
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  • Asherah, 450 of baal, 400 of asherah, along with the people
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  • To gather together on mount carmel.
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  • Many of us have been there to mount carmel before where this
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  • Battle took place.
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  • And he came, called the people
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  • Together, verse 21, and he said,
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  • "how long are you going to hesitate between two opinions?"
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  • That word hesitate in hebrew refers to a bird that is out on
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  • A tree branch walking along and comes to a fork in the
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  • Tree branch.
  • 00:07:31.574 --> 00:07:33.142
  • Remember yogi bear's comment, "when you come to a fork in the
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  • Road, take it."
  • 00:07:36.078 --> 00:07:39.215
  • Well, a bird is climbing out on a branch and it sees two ways it
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  • Can go.
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  • And this word hesitate refers to a bird that hops between one
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  • Part of the fork and the other back and forth, unable to make
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  • Up its mind.
  • 00:07:54.597 --> 00:07:56.198
  • Elijah said, "how long are you going to bounce back and forth
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  • Between two opinions?
  • 00:08:00.503 --> 00:08:02.004
  • It's time to settle this in your heart.
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  • If the lord is god, if he is yahweh, serve him with all of
  • 00:08:04.774 --> 00:08:08.911
  • Your heart.
  • 00:08:08.911 --> 00:08:10.279
  • But if baal is god, follow him.
  • 00:08:10.279 --> 00:08:13.716
  • Choose you this day."
  • 00:08:13.716 --> 00:08:15.051
  • But the people were undecided, so elijah proposed a contest.
  • 00:08:15.051 --> 00:08:18.721
  • He said, let's let the prophets of baal erect their own altar
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  • And place a sacrifice on it and then i'll erect an altar and
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  • Place a sacrifice on my altar.
  • 00:08:29.298 --> 00:08:32.702
  • In verse 24, "then you call on the name of your god baal, and i
  • 00:08:32.702 --> 00:08:38.074
  • Will call on the name of the lord, and the god who answers by
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  • Fire, he is god.
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  • And all the people said, that's a good idea.
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  • That's a good idea."
  • 00:08:48.284 --> 00:08:50.252
  • So you have the contest starting in verse 25.
  • 00:08:50.252 --> 00:08:54.557
  • Elijah allowed the prophets of baal to go first out of courtesy
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  • To them.
  • 00:08:57.994 --> 00:08:59.362
  • Really this should be a simple thing for them to do because
  • 00:08:59.362 --> 00:09:01.564
  • Their god baal, was the god of the sun as well as of rain
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  • And fertility.
  • 00:09:06.002 --> 00:09:07.370
  • This ought to be real simple.
  • 00:09:07.370 --> 00:09:08.704
  • All they need to do is ask the god of the sun to take a little
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  • Sunlight and focus it and concentrate it on the altar and
  • 00:09:11.574 --> 00:09:15.044
  • They could have a fire.
  • 00:09:15.044 --> 00:09:16.679
  • So they pled with baal.
  • 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:18.114
  • Verse 26 says, "but there was no voice and nobody answered them.
  • 00:09:18.114 --> 00:09:22.685
  • And they limped about the altar which they made."
  • 00:09:22.685 --> 00:09:25.588
  • This went on for about three hours from nine till noon.
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  • Verse 27, "and it came about at noon, that elijah mocked them."
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  • Mock them?
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  • I thought you're supposed to have respect for other
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  • People's religions.
  • 00:09:40.403 --> 00:09:42.471
  • No, no, you never have respect for false gods.
  • 00:09:42.471 --> 00:09:47.977
  • We respect people's right to worship the wrong god, that's
  • 00:09:47.977 --> 00:09:53.282
  • What tolerance is.
  • 00:09:53.282 --> 00:09:54.617
  • It's respecting people's right to be wrong, but it doesn't mean
  • 00:09:54.617 --> 00:09:57.953
  • You respect their religion.
  • 00:09:57.953 --> 00:09:59.955
  • Elijah didn't respect the worshipers of baal or
  • 00:09:59.955 --> 00:10:02.892
  • Their religion.
  • 00:10:02.892 --> 00:10:04.226
  • He mocked them and he said, "call out with a loud voice, for
  • 00:10:04.226 --> 00:10:07.630
  • He is a god: maybe he's occupied.
  • 00:10:07.630 --> 00:10:11.801
  • Maybe he's gone aside."
  • 00:10:11.801 --> 00:10:14.270
  • That hebrew word for gone aside literally means gone to
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  • The bathroom.
  • 00:10:17.773 --> 00:10:20.376
  • Maybe the reason baal can't answer you today is
  • 00:10:20.376 --> 00:10:23.145
  • He's occupado.
  • 00:10:23.145 --> 00:10:24.513
  • He's occupied, he's in the bathroom.
  • 00:10:24.513 --> 00:10:27.249
  • "or maybe he's away on a journey, or perhaps, perhaps
  • 00:10:27.249 --> 00:10:31.620
  • He's asleep and he needs to be awaken.
  • 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:34.457
  • Why don't you yell a little louder?"
  • 00:10:34.457 --> 00:10:36.592
  • Verse 28 says, "so they cried with a loud voice and they cut
  • 00:10:36.592 --> 00:10:40.796
  • Themselves according to their custom with swords and lances
  • 00:10:40.796 --> 00:10:44.333
  • Until the blood gushed out of them."
  • 00:10:44.333 --> 00:10:47.503
  • They provide--they started crying even louder.
  • 00:10:47.503 --> 00:10:50.406
  • And verse 29 says, "when noon was past, they raved until the
  • 00:10:50.406 --> 00:10:55.244
  • Time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was
  • 00:10:55.244 --> 00:10:59.048
  • No voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention."
  • 00:10:59.048 --> 00:11:05.721
  • Then it was elijah's turn.
  • 00:11:05.721 --> 00:11:07.990
  • And so he prepares the sacrifice on top of the altar.
  • 00:11:07.990 --> 00:11:13.829
  • And before he calls on his god to light it with fire, he does
  • 00:11:13.829 --> 00:11:20.803
  • Something unusual.
  • 00:11:20.803 --> 00:11:22.371
  • He calls for his servants to pour water on the altar.
  • 00:11:22.371 --> 00:11:27.243
  • Why?
  • 00:11:27.243 --> 00:11:28.577
  • He wants it to make it extremely difficult for there to be any
  • 00:11:28.577 --> 00:11:32.047
  • Such thing as spontaneous combustion that anybody could
  • 00:11:32.047 --> 00:11:37.052
  • Say, well, it was just accidental the fire came.
  • 00:11:37.052 --> 00:11:39.388
  • So, he pours the water on it.
  • 00:11:39.388 --> 00:11:41.323
  • And then he says, "let's do it a second time."
  • 00:11:41.323 --> 00:11:43.692
  • So they go down and get more water come up and flood the
  • 00:11:43.692 --> 00:11:47.196
  • Altar with water.
  • 00:11:47.196 --> 00:11:48.664
  • And then for a dramatic touch he says, "let's do it a
  • 00:11:48.664 --> 00:11:51.834
  • Third time."
  • 00:11:51.834 --> 00:11:53.202
  • And so they drowned the altar in water until it was falling in
  • 00:11:53.202 --> 00:11:56.906
  • The trenches below.
  • 00:11:56.906 --> 00:11:58.908
  • And then verse 36 says, "at the time of the offering of the
  • 00:11:58.908 --> 00:12:02.511
  • Evening sacrifice, elijah came to the altar and this is what
  • 00:12:02.511 --> 00:12:06.482
  • He prayed.
  • 00:12:06.482 --> 00:12:07.917
  • 'o lord, the god of abraham, isaac, and jacob, today let it
  • 00:12:07.917 --> 00:12:13.322
  • Be known that you are god in israel and that i am your
  • 00:12:13.322 --> 00:12:17.626
  • Servant and that i have done all these things according to
  • 00:12:17.626 --> 00:12:21.030
  • Your word.
  • 00:12:21.030 --> 00:12:22.398
  • Answer me, lord, o answer me, that this people may know that
  • 00:12:22.398 --> 00:12:26.702
  • You, o lord, are god, and you have turned their heart
  • 00:12:26.702 --> 00:12:30.639
  • Back again."
  • 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:32.641
  • And what was the result of that simple prayer?
  • 00:12:32.641 --> 00:12:34.877
  • Look at verse 38.
  • 00:12:34.877 --> 00:12:36.579
  • "then the fire of the lord fell and consumed the burnt offering
  • 00:12:36.579 --> 00:12:41.317
  • And the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the
  • 00:12:41.317 --> 00:12:44.486
  • Water that was in the trench.
  • 00:12:44.486 --> 00:12:46.555
  • And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and
  • 00:12:46.555 --> 00:12:49.525
  • They said, 'the lord, he is god.
  • 00:12:49.525 --> 00:12:52.461
  • The lord, he is god.'
  • 00:12:52.461 --> 00:12:55.297
  • Now elijah said to ahab, 'go up, eat and drink; for there is the
  • 00:12:55.297 --> 00:13:00.569
  • Sound of the roar of a heavy shower.'"
  • 00:13:00.569 --> 00:13:05.174
  • Why are we looking at this prayer today?
  • 00:13:05.174 --> 00:13:08.344
  • Because james said it is the model of an effective prayer
  • 00:13:08.344 --> 00:13:12.648
  • That accomplishes much.
  • 00:13:12.648 --> 00:13:14.984
  • What made it effective?
  • 00:13:14.984 --> 00:13:16.485
  • It certainly wasn't the length of the prayer.
  • 00:13:16.485 --> 00:13:19.655
  • Unlike the prophets of baal who prayed for hours, this was a
  • 00:13:19.655 --> 00:13:23.459
  • Simple 63 word prayer.
  • 00:13:23.459 --> 00:13:27.162
  • It wasn't the frequency that made it effective.
  • 00:13:27.162 --> 00:13:30.366
  • The frequency with which he prayed it, he didn't pray over
  • 00:13:30.366 --> 00:13:33.135
  • And over and over and over again engaging what jesus called
  • 00:13:33.135 --> 00:13:36.705
  • Meaningless repetition like the worshipers of baal did.
  • 00:13:36.705 --> 00:13:40.209
  • He prayed it one time.
  • 00:13:40.209 --> 00:13:42.578
  • And yet it only took one time for god to answer immediately
  • 00:13:42.578 --> 00:13:47.182
  • And decisively.
  • 00:13:47.182 --> 00:13:48.550
  • What made this an effective prayer?
  • 00:13:48.550 --> 00:13:50.552
  • Let me suggest three characteristics of this prayer
  • 00:13:50.552 --> 00:13:54.156
  • That made it effective.
  • 00:13:54.156 --> 00:13:55.557
  • First of all, it was a prayer that was based on the
  • 00:13:55.557 --> 00:13:58.694
  • Faithfulness of god.
  • 00:13:58.694 --> 00:14:01.530
  • He began saying, "o, lord, the god of abraham, isaac,
  • 00:14:01.530 --> 00:14:07.403
  • And jacob."
  • 00:14:07.403 --> 00:14:09.071
  • Why did he review the history of israel?
  • 00:14:09.071 --> 00:14:11.240
  • Was he trying to remind the israelites of some of their
  • 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:14.376
  • Heroes of the faith?
  • 00:14:14.376 --> 00:14:15.744
  • No, what he was saying was when he named them, he was saying,
  • 00:14:15.744 --> 00:14:19.348
  • "god, in the same way that you were faithful to abraham, isaac,
  • 00:14:19.348 --> 00:14:23.419
  • And jacob, be faithful to me."
  • 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:26.789
  • You know, we all need experiences like that, don't we?
  • 00:14:26.789 --> 00:14:30.859
  • Where we can point to a time in our life when we can say with
  • 00:14:30.859 --> 00:14:35.464
  • Absolute certainty there is no explanation for what happened to
  • 00:14:35.464 --> 00:14:40.069
  • Me other than the divine intervention of god.
  • 00:14:40.069 --> 00:14:43.839
  • I hope you have a record.
  • 00:14:43.839 --> 00:14:45.274
  • I hope you're keeping some kind of journal that you can look to
  • 00:14:45.274 --> 00:14:49.878
  • And remember the past faithfulness of god.
  • 00:14:49.878 --> 00:14:53.315
  • That's what elijah did.
  • 00:14:53.315 --> 00:14:55.317
  • He based his prayer on the faithfulness of god.
  • 00:14:55.317 --> 00:14:58.554
  • Secondly, his prayer was based on the glory of god.
  • 00:14:58.554 --> 00:15:03.592
  • Remember his name elijah meant yahweh is god.
  • 00:15:03.592 --> 00:15:07.262
  • That's what he wanted to do and that was to prove to the whole
  • 00:15:07.262 --> 00:15:10.632
  • World that yahweh was the only true god.
  • 00:15:10.632 --> 00:15:13.302
  • You see that in the prayer.
  • 00:15:13.302 --> 00:15:14.636
  • Look at verse 36.
  • 00:15:14.636 --> 00:15:16.171
  • "today let it be known that you are god."
  • 00:15:16.171 --> 00:15:19.074
  • Verse 37, "answer me, god, answer me that these people may
  • 00:15:19.074 --> 00:15:23.379
  • Know that you o lord are god, that you have turned their heart
  • 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:27.716
  • Back again."
  • 00:15:27.716 --> 00:15:29.084
  • Elijah's whole prayer was based on magnifying the glory, the
  • 00:15:29.084 --> 00:15:34.556
  • Holiness, if you will, of god.
  • 00:15:34.556 --> 00:15:38.293
  • When the seraphim flew around the altar of god, isaiah saw a
  • 00:15:38.293 --> 00:15:43.665
  • Vision of it and the seraphim were yelling to one another,
  • 00:15:43.665 --> 00:15:47.669
  • "holy, holy, holy is the lord of hosts."
  • 00:15:47.669 --> 00:15:52.841
  • Why did the angels repeat that holy, holy holy.
  • 00:15:52.841 --> 00:15:55.878
  • In the hebrew language, if you wanted to emphasize something
  • 00:15:55.878 --> 00:15:59.782
  • Unlike english, you didn't underline it, you didn't write
  • 00:15:59.782 --> 00:16:02.484
  • It in bold, you didn't write it in all capitals, you repeated
  • 00:16:02.484 --> 00:16:06.155
  • Something for emphasis.
  • 00:16:06.155 --> 00:16:08.157
  • It's interesting nowhere in the bible is god ever described as
  • 00:16:08.157 --> 00:16:12.728
  • Love, love, love.
  • 00:16:12.728 --> 00:16:16.365
  • Or nowhere is he described as just, just, just.
  • 00:16:16.365 --> 00:16:21.136
  • Nowhere is god described as merciful, merciful, merciful.
  • 00:16:21.136 --> 00:16:25.274
  • Now he's all those things.
  • 00:16:25.274 --> 00:16:26.809
  • He's love, he's just, and he's merciful, but he is holy, and
  • 00:16:26.809 --> 00:16:31.713
  • That is the most basic attribute of god.
  • 00:16:31.713 --> 00:16:34.049
  • The word holy "kadesh" is the hebrew word that means to cut
  • 00:16:34.049 --> 00:16:38.854
  • To separate.
  • 00:16:38.854 --> 00:16:40.322
  • When you say god is holy, you're saying god is separate.
  • 00:16:40.322 --> 00:16:44.693
  • He is a cut above anything or anyone else in all of
  • 00:16:44.693 --> 00:16:48.864
  • His creation.
  • 00:16:48.864 --> 00:16:50.265
  • And that was elijah's purpose.
  • 00:16:50.265 --> 00:16:52.401
  • His one purpose in life was to demonstrate that god is god.
  • 00:16:52.401 --> 00:16:58.507
  • I remember years ago a friend of mine called me to tell me about
  • 00:16:58.507 --> 00:17:01.677
  • A very severe business reversal he had had.
  • 00:17:01.677 --> 00:17:05.881
  • He said, "you know, robert, i was trying to figure out why god
  • 00:17:05.881 --> 00:17:08.884
  • Might be doing this.
  • 00:17:08.884 --> 00:17:11.153
  • And i have so many friends caught up in the acquisition
  • 00:17:11.153 --> 00:17:13.822
  • Of money.
  • 00:17:13.822 --> 00:17:15.190
  • Maybe god is allowing me to go through this to demonstrate to
  • 00:17:15.190 --> 00:17:18.293
  • My friends the emptiness, the temporary nature of
  • 00:17:18.293 --> 00:17:22.664
  • Financial gain.
  • 00:17:22.664 --> 00:17:24.166
  • And maybe by the way i respond to this, i can prove to my
  • 00:17:24.166 --> 00:17:27.736
  • Friends that only god can satisfy our deepest needs."
  • 00:17:27.736 --> 00:17:32.574
  • He understood his purpose in life.
  • 00:17:32.574 --> 00:17:37.212
  • A.w. tozer has written,
  • 00:17:37.212 --> 00:17:39.214
  • "the moment we make up our minds that we are
  • 00:17:39.214 --> 00:17:42.251
  • Going on with this determination to exalt god over all, we step
  • 00:17:42.251 --> 00:17:48.357
  • Out of the world's parade.
  • 00:17:48.357 --> 00:17:51.193
  • We shall find ourselves out of adjustment to the ways of the
  • 00:17:51.193 --> 00:17:54.563
  • World, but increasingly so as we make progress in the holy way."
  • 00:17:54.563 --> 00:18:01.103
  • Ladies and gentlemen, god is looking for people who will
  • 00:18:01.103 --> 00:18:03.939
  • Dedicate their lives to exalting his name, to pointing people to
  • 00:18:03.939 --> 00:18:09.144
  • His holiness.
  • 00:18:09.144 --> 00:18:10.546
  • Elijah's prayer was based on the holiness of god, on the
  • 00:18:10.546 --> 00:18:14.449
  • Faithfulness of god.
  • 00:18:14.449 --> 00:18:15.984
  • Thirdly, it was a prayer that was based on the will of god.
  • 00:18:15.984 --> 00:18:20.589
  • That's why it was so powerful.
  • 00:18:20.589 --> 00:18:22.424
  • That's why it was answered because it was based on
  • 00:18:22.424 --> 00:18:24.927
  • God's will.
  • 00:18:24.927 --> 00:18:26.295
  • Have you ever asked yourself when you've read this story,
  • 00:18:26.295 --> 00:18:28.830
  • Where did elijah get the idea for this contest?
  • 00:18:28.830 --> 00:18:32.167
  • Very creative idea.
  • 00:18:32.167 --> 00:18:33.702
  • Where did he come up with the idea?
  • 00:18:33.702 --> 00:18:36.505
  • It wasn't because he had a couple of extra shots of
  • 00:18:36.505 --> 00:18:38.874
  • Espresso in his coffee latte that morning.
  • 00:18:38.874 --> 00:18:42.711
  • What he was feeling, especially macho, we find the answer in
  • 00:18:42.711 --> 00:18:46.748
  • Verse 36.
  • 00:18:46.748 --> 00:18:48.383
  • He said, "let it be known that you are god in israel and that i
  • 00:18:48.383 --> 00:18:51.954
  • Am your servant, and i have done all things according to
  • 00:18:51.954 --> 00:18:57.226
  • Your word."
  • 00:18:57.226 --> 00:18:59.194
  • God's the one who gave elijah this command to have a contest.
  • 00:18:59.194 --> 00:19:04.833
  • You say, "where is that in scripture?"
  • 00:19:04.833 --> 00:19:06.602
  • It's not.
  • 00:19:06.602 --> 00:19:08.070
  • Remember this about the bible.
  • 00:19:08.070 --> 00:19:09.671
  • Everything the bible says is true, but the bible doesn't tell
  • 00:19:09.671 --> 00:19:13.609
  • Us everything.
  • 00:19:13.609 --> 00:19:15.911
  • Doesn't contain all of the works of jesus.
  • 00:19:15.911 --> 00:19:18.380
  • John said there are many more he could have described.
  • 00:19:18.380 --> 00:19:21.083
  • It was limited.
  • 00:19:21.083 --> 00:19:22.417
  • He didn't tell us every conversation he had with elijah,
  • 00:19:22.417 --> 00:19:24.720
  • And apparently god had told elijah to do this, so he was
  • 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:29.024
  • Simply obeying the will of god.
  • 00:19:29.024 --> 00:19:31.059
  • And there's nothing more powerful than we pray for the
  • 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:33.929
  • Will of god.
  • 00:19:33.929 --> 00:19:35.831
  • And the question is how do we know the will of god?
  • 00:19:35.831 --> 00:19:38.934
  • Sometimes we pray for things that may or may not be
  • 00:19:38.934 --> 00:19:42.170
  • God's will.
  • 00:19:42.170 --> 00:19:43.839
  • It may or may not be god's will that we be physically healed.
  • 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:47.542
  • It may or may not be god's will that we become
  • 00:19:47.542 --> 00:19:50.279
  • Materially prosperous.
  • 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:52.414
  • There are a lot of things we pray that we just need to be
  • 00:19:52.414 --> 00:19:55.350
  • Bold and asking, boldly asking god for what's in our heart,
  • 00:19:55.350 --> 00:20:00.289
  • Then quietly resting in his answer.
  • 00:20:00.289 --> 00:20:03.859
  • Some things we don't know, but there's some things we know
  • 00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:06.828
  • Absolutely are god's will.
  • 00:20:06.828 --> 00:20:09.598
  • When we pray that god would help us remove impurity from our
  • 00:20:09.598 --> 00:20:12.934
  • Life, we know 1 thessalonians 4 that we're praying according to
  • 00:20:12.934 --> 00:20:16.705
  • The will of god.
  • 00:20:16.705 --> 00:20:18.473
  • When we pray for power and sharing the gospel of jesus
  • 00:20:18.473 --> 00:20:21.877
  • Christ with an unsaved person, we can know we're praying
  • 00:20:21.877 --> 00:20:25.113
  • According to the will of god.
  • 00:20:25.113 --> 00:20:26.982
  • When we pray for the healing of a relationship that's been
  • 00:20:26.982 --> 00:20:30.152
  • Broken with another christian, we can know we're praying
  • 00:20:30.152 --> 00:20:33.622
  • According to the will of god.
  • 00:20:33.622 --> 00:20:36.224
  • There's nothing more powerful than praying in the will of god.
  • 00:20:36.224 --> 00:20:40.662
  • James says this was an effective prayer because it was based on
  • 00:20:40.662 --> 00:20:45.267
  • God's past faithfulness, it was based on god's glory, and it was
  • 00:20:45.267 --> 00:20:50.639
  • Based on god's will.
  • 00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:52.541
  • "the effective prayer of a righteous person
  • 00:20:52.541 --> 00:20:55.711
  • Accomplishes much."
  • 00:20:55.711 --> 00:20:57.446
  • Can i share a personal word with you for just a minute?
  • 00:21:00.916 --> 00:21:05.153
  • I love this passage. i love this passage.
  • 00:21:05.153 --> 00:21:11.193
  • It's my favorite story in the old testament.
  • 00:21:11.193 --> 00:21:14.796
  • One reason i love this passage is i preached this sermon in
  • 00:21:14.796 --> 00:21:20.402
  • This church 40 years ago, almost exactly to the date.
  • 00:21:20.402 --> 00:21:26.541
  • It was the first weekend of july of 1985.
  • 00:21:26.541 --> 00:21:30.278
  • It was my last sunday here as youth minister.
  • 00:21:30.278 --> 00:21:33.982
  • I'd been called to first baptist church of eastland to begin my
  • 00:21:33.982 --> 00:21:37.486
  • Pastoral ministry.
  • 00:21:37.486 --> 00:21:39.988
  • I hadn't even turned 30 yet, but i was getting ready to leave and
  • 00:21:39.988 --> 00:21:44.659
  • Dr. chris wol invited me to preach the evening sermon.
  • 00:21:44.659 --> 00:21:47.963
  • He said, "you can speak on anything you wanna speak and
  • 00:21:47.963 --> 00:21:50.399
  • Then we'll have a reception for you and amy afterwards."
  • 00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:54.236
  • And so i preached the story of elijah that night and, you know,
  • 00:21:54.236 --> 00:21:58.540
  • I believed in the power of prayer.
  • 00:21:58.540 --> 00:22:00.275
  • I'd seen a few examples in my life, my young life of god's
  • 00:22:00.275 --> 00:22:05.614
  • Dramatic power in answering prayer, but that was 40
  • 00:22:05.614 --> 00:22:09.551
  • Years ago.
  • 00:22:09.551 --> 00:22:11.586
  • Today, as i look back on what happened over those next 40
  • 00:22:11.586 --> 00:22:15.791
  • Years and what continues to happen, i can say based on much
  • 00:22:15.791 --> 00:22:20.562
  • More evidence, personal experiences, that god really
  • 00:22:20.562 --> 00:22:25.867
  • Does answer prayer.
  • 00:22:25.867 --> 00:22:28.370
  • He is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond anything we
  • 00:22:28.370 --> 00:22:35.177
  • Could possibly dream of.
  • 00:22:35.177 --> 00:22:37.979
  • And in those times, god says, no, i can look back and say, the
  • 00:22:37.979 --> 00:22:44.219
  • Times god said no, it was for my good and for his ultimate glory.
  • 00:22:44.219 --> 00:22:53.028
  • The effective prayer of a righteous person
  • 00:22:53.028 --> 00:22:57.732
  • Accomplishes much.
  • 00:22:57.732 --> 00:23:01.303
  • Jeffress: the same god who answered elijah's prayer is
  • 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:08.610
  • Ready to answer yours today.
  • 00:23:08.610 --> 00:23:11.079
  • God is still in the business of answering prayer.
  • 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:14.649
  • Now in closing, i wanna share a note i received from oscar in
  • 00:23:14.649 --> 00:23:18.019
  • Texas who wrote, "you help me every day through your daily
  • 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:21.923
  • Devotional and messages.
  • 00:23:21.923 --> 00:23:24.025
  • Your teachings and the holy spirit have helped me in so
  • 00:23:24.025 --> 00:23:27.095
  • Many ways.
  • 00:23:27.095 --> 00:23:28.463
  • Thank you, and may god continue to bless your ministry."
  • 00:23:28.463 --> 00:23:32.367
  • Well, thank you, oscar, for those encouraging words.
  • 00:23:32.367 --> 00:23:35.604
  • And to everyone who supports "pathway to victory," comments
  • 00:23:35.604 --> 00:23:38.640
  • Like oscar's remind us of why this ministry exists.
  • 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:43.044
  • Every day we hear from viewers and listeners who tell us how
  • 00:23:43.044 --> 00:23:46.481
  • God is using this program to strengthen their faith.
  • 00:23:46.481 --> 00:23:50.185
  • Through your faithful partnership, we're able to reach
  • 00:23:50.185 --> 00:23:52.854
  • People across america and around the world with the hope and
  • 00:23:52.854 --> 00:23:56.458
  • Truth of god's word.
  • 00:23:56.458 --> 00:23:58.426
  • Now please stay right there.
  • 00:23:58.426 --> 00:23:59.928
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:23:59.928 --> 00:24:03.565
  • Announcer: every believer wants to see clear evidence of their
  • 00:24:06.134 --> 00:24:09.037
  • Spiritual growth and discover the fruit that god is producing
  • 00:24:09.037 --> 00:24:12.607
  • In their lives.
  • 00:24:12.607 --> 00:24:13.942
  • Dr. robert jeffress shows you exactly how to recognize that
  • 00:24:13.942 --> 00:24:17.479
  • Fruit in his brand new book, "how to know if you're
  • 00:24:17.479 --> 00:24:20.415
  • Really saved."
  • 00:24:20.415 --> 00:24:21.750
  • Jeffress: the book of james teaches us that the christian
  • 00:24:21.750 --> 00:24:24.019
  • Life is about more than just knowing god's word.
  • 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:27.622
  • It's about living it out.
  • 00:24:27.622 --> 00:24:29.224
  • In my new book, "how to know if you're really saved," i'll walk
  • 00:24:29.224 --> 00:24:32.494
  • You through what it truly means to be a doer of the word,
  • 00:24:32.494 --> 00:24:36.298
  • Showing you how to respond to trials, control your speech,
  • 00:24:36.298 --> 00:24:40.068
  • Endure hardships, resist temptation, and so much more.
  • 00:24:40.068 --> 00:24:45.106
  • Announcer: this outstanding 232-page book will help you
  • 00:24:45.106 --> 00:24:48.076
  • Examine the evidence of your faith and see the spiritual
  • 00:24:48.076 --> 00:24:51.413
  • Fruit that should be growing in your daily life.
  • 00:24:51.413 --> 00:24:54.482
  • Request your copy of "how to know if you're really saved"
  • 00:24:54.482 --> 00:24:57.586
  • When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway
  • 00:24:57.586 --> 00:25:00.755
  • To victory" or when you become a pathway partner.
  • 00:25:00.755 --> 00:25:03.925
  • With your ministry gift of $75 or more, we'll send you not just
  • 00:25:03.925 --> 00:25:08.063
  • The book, but also the personal and group study guide and the
  • 00:25:08.063 --> 00:25:11.766
  • Complete message series on both cd and dvd.
  • 00:25:11.766 --> 00:25:15.103
  • Jeffress: if you are truly saved, there's gonna be evidence
  • 00:25:15.170 --> 00:25:18.573
  • Of it.
  • 00:25:18.573 --> 00:25:19.941
  • There's some tests that you need to apply to your life.
  • 00:25:19.941 --> 00:25:23.144
  • Announcer: thank you for your generous support of "pathway
  • 00:25:23.144 --> 00:25:25.447
  • To victory."
  • 00:25:25.447 --> 00:25:26.781
  • Your partnership helps us bring bold biblical and practical
  • 00:25:26.781 --> 00:25:30.051
  • Teaching into homes across the nation and around the world.
  • 00:25:30.051 --> 00:25:33.455
  • Jeffress: when we pray according to god's will based on god's
  • 00:25:36.725 --> 00:25:40.061
  • Faithfulness and for god's glory, we can unleash the same
  • 00:25:40.061 --> 00:25:44.666
  • Supernatural power that elijah experienced.
  • 00:25:44.666 --> 00:25:48.036
  • What better way to conclude our series in the book of james?
  • 00:25:48.036 --> 00:25:51.740
  • Well, all of us have moments in the past that we wish we
  • 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:54.943
  • Could change.
  • 00:25:54.943 --> 00:25:56.277
  • Maybe it's a harsh word we spoke, a foolish decision we
  • 00:25:56.277 --> 00:25:59.848
  • Made, or an opportunity we missed.
  • 00:25:59.848 --> 00:26:02.784
  • So what do we do with a lifetime of regrets?
  • 00:26:02.784 --> 00:26:06.421
  • Next time we're going to discover how to find freedom
  • 00:26:06.421 --> 00:26:09.324
  • From the guilt and shame of yesterday.
  • 00:26:09.324 --> 00:26:11.926
  • Stay tuned for a preview of our next series on "pathway to
  • 00:26:11.926 --> 00:26:14.729
  • Victory," "say goodbye to regret."
  • 00:26:14.729 --> 00:26:19.000
  • Jeffress: if we're going to eliminate regrets, we need to
  • 00:26:19.067 --> 00:26:21.970
  • Spend more time with our children.
  • 00:26:21.970 --> 00:26:24.439
  • I hear that from parents.
  • 00:26:24.439 --> 00:26:25.974
  • If they have any lament at all, it's looking back and saying i
  • 00:26:25.974 --> 00:26:30.011
  • Wish i had spent more time with my kids.
  • 00:26:30.011 --> 00:26:33.048
  • How do you do that?
  • 00:26:33.048 --> 00:26:34.382
  • How do you direct more time with your children?
  • 00:26:34.382 --> 00:26:36.384
  • Let me give you a few ideas.
  • 00:26:36.384 --> 00:26:37.986
  • First of all, learn the go home principle.
  • 00:26:37.986 --> 00:26:41.756
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:26:41.823 --> 00:26:45.060
  • "say goodbye to parenting regrets"
  • 00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:47.529
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:48.329 --> 00:26:50.899
  • Announcer: take a journey through alaska's awe inspiring
  • 00:26:52.267 --> 00:26:55.136
  • Wilderness on the 2026 "pathway to victory" cruise to alaska.
  • 00:26:55.136 --> 00:26:59.140
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:09.184
  • Announcer: make plans to set sail for an
  • 00:27:10.785 --> 00:27:12.387
  • Unforgettable week of adventure, june 13 through 20, 2026.
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  • Call...
  • 00:27:16.958 --> 00:27:19.894
  • Or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:19.894 --> 00:27:19.894