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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Shepherd's Safety Net (Part 2)

September 26, 2025 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - The Shepherd's Safety Net (Part 2)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Victory #Pastors #GoodShepherd #Shepherd #Goodness #LoveofGod #WalkwithGod

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Shepherd's Safety Net (Part 2) | September 26, 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" with
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  • 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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  • In every season of life, we face a number of
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  • Important decisions.
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  • Where to go to school, whom to marry, which career to pursue,
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  • And it doesn't stop there.
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  • Some decisions are so risky it feels like we're walking a
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  • Tightrope and one wrong step could send us plummeting to
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  • Our death.
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  • Today i'm going to describe the god-given safety measures that
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  • Protect us when we fall.
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  • My message is titled "the shepherd's safety net" on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ all the colors of the rainbow ♪
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  • ♪ all the voices of the wind ♪
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  • ♪ every dream that reaches out ♪
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  • ♪ reaches out to find where love began ♪
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  • ♪ every word of every story ♪
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  • ♪ every star in every sky ♪
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  • ♪ every corner of creation ♪
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  • ♪ lives to testify ♪
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  • ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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  • ♪ i will testify to love ♪
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  • ♪ i'll be a witness in the silences ♪
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  • ♪ when words are not enough ♪
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  • ♪ with every breath i take ♪
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  • ♪ i will give thanks to god above ♪
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  • ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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  • ♪ i will testify to love ♪
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  • ♪ from the mountains to the valleys ♪
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  • ♪ yes, from the rivers to the sea ♪
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  • ♪ every hand that reaches out ♪
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  • ♪ every hand that reaches out to offer peace ♪
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  • ♪ every simple act of mercy ♪
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  • ♪ and every step to kingdom come ♪
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  • ♪ all the hope in every heart will ♪
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  • ♪ speak what love has done ♪
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  • ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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  • ♪ i will testify to love ♪
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  • ♪ i'll be a witness in the silences ♪
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  • ♪ when words are not enough ♪
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  • ♪ with every breath i take ♪
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  • ♪ i will give thanks to god above ♪
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  • ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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  • ♪ i will testify to love ♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪ i testify, testify ♪
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  • ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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  • ♪ testify, testify ♪
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  • ♪ i just can't help but testify ♪
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  • ♪ words of every story ♪
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  • ♪ stars in the sky ♪
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  • ♪ corner of creation testify ♪
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  • ♪ for as long as i shall testify, testify ♪
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  • ♪ every breath i take ♪
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  • ♪ will give thanks to god and testify ♪
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  • ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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  • ♪ i will testify ♪
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  • ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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  • ♪ i will testify to love ♪
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  • ♪ i'll be a witness in the silences ♪
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  • ♪ when words are not enough ♪
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  • ♪ with every breath i take ♪
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  • ♪ i will give thanks to god above ♪
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  • ♪ for as long as i shall live ♪
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  • ♪ i will testify to love ♪♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: how do you know which path god wants you to take?
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  • In "how to make wise decisions," trusted author and bible teacher
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  • Dr. robert jeffress cuts through the confusion with
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  • Time-tested biblical wisdom.
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  • Whether you're facing career changes, relationship questions,
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  • Or ministry decisions, this practical guide reveals how god
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  • Speaks to his children today.
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  • Don't let uncertainty paralyze you.
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  • Request your copy of "how to make wise decisions" when you
  • 00:05:03.459 --> 00:05:06.529
  • Give a generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway
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  • To victory."
  • 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:10.800
  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: the sovereignty of god means god has a plan for my life
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  • And he has the power to accomplish that plan.
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  • Now, if i were to stop the message right here and issue the
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  • Invitation, you might think, well, maybe those deacons in
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  • That church were right.
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  • Maybe you are off-balance if you believe in the sovereignty of
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  • God like that.
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  • But you see, the message would be incomplete if i stopped right
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  • There because the scripture does affirm the sovereignty of god,
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  • But there's also another truth the bible affirms, and that is
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  • Our responsibility for making wise decisions.
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  • You see, whatever you believe about the sovereignty of god,
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  • And i strongly believe in the sovereignty of god, understand
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  • That first of all, the sovereignty of god does not
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  • Excuse us from making wise decisions in life.
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  • Write it down.
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  • The sovereignty of god does not excuse you from making
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  • Wise decisions.
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  • Proverbs 4:5 says, "acquire understanding!
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  • Acquire wisdom!"
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  • I love the story from the late bible teacher dr. j.
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  • Vernon mcgee.
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  • Do you all remember listening to dr. mcgee on the radio?
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  • You can still listen to him.
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  • Though dead, he still speaks on the radio.
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  • But dr. mcgee one time was teaching on predestination
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  • And election.
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  • And a young man came to him after the message and said, "dr.
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  • Mcgee, i am so convinced of the sovereignty of god.
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  • I believe that if i went outside and stood in the middle of a
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  • Busy highway and my hour had not come, god would save me."
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  • And dr. mcgee looked at him and said, "son, if you go out and
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  • Stand in the middle of a busy highway, your hour will
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  • Have come."
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  • Don't test the sovereignty of god.
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  • The sovereignty of god does not excuse us from making
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  • Wise decisions.
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  • Ephesians 5 says that we ought to live our lives wisely with a
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  • Sense of purpose.
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  • Number two, the sovereignty of god doesn't exempt us from the
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  • Consequences of wrong choices.
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  • It doesn't exempt us from the consequences of wrong choices.
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  • Some people can take this idea to the extreme of the
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  • Sovereignty of god and say, "well, if god is in control, if
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  • Everything is predestined, i can do whatever i want to without
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  • Any consequences."
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  • The scripture does not teach that.
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  • For a good illustration of that, turn over to acts chapter 4.
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  • Acts chapter 4.
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  • The setting is shortly after the day of pentecost, just several
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  • Months after the crucifixion of jesus christ.
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  • I want you to think about how the apostles must have viewed
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  • The crucifixion of christ.
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  • On that friday afternoon as jesus was taken down limp from
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  • The cross, i'm sure the disciples were disappointed.
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  • In an instant, all of their hopes for a new kingdom
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  • Had evaporated.
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  • I'm sure they could have said to themselves, "we know this may
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  • Have been a part of god's permissive will, but certainly
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  • It wasn't god's perfect will.
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  • For his own son to have gone through such torture,
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  • Humiliation, and death."
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  • By the way, if you ever doubt the sovereignty of god and god's
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  • Ability to take control of all circumstances, just look at his
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  • Plan for his own son, the lord jesus christ.
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  • I'm sure the disciples thought at that moment, this certainly
  • 00:08:42.311 --> 00:08:44.947
  • Couldn't be a part of god's perfect plan.
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  • It must be his permissive plan.
  • 00:08:46.749 --> 00:08:49.085
  • That was on friday.
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  • But several days later from the perspective of an empty tomb,
  • 00:08:51.487 --> 00:08:55.491
  • Their thought changed dramatically about god's plan.
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  • I want you to look at what peter said in verses 27 and 28.
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  • He said to the same group that had crucified christ a few weeks
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  • Earlier, he said, "for truly in this city there were gathered
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  • Together against thy holy servant jesus, whom thou didst
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  • Anoint, both herod and pontius pilate, along with the gentiles
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  • And the peoples of israel, to do whatever thy hand and thy
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  • Purpose predestined to occur."
  • 00:09:21.050 --> 00:09:24.987
  • And here's the $64,000 question.
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  • Who was responsible for the death of jesus christ?
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  • Who was responsible?
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  • Well, verse 27 says very clearly, it was the hand of
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  • Pontius pilate.
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  • It was herod, it was the jews, it was the gentiles.
  • 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:40.703
  • They are the ones who physically nailed him to the cross.
  • 00:09:40.703 --> 00:09:44.507
  • They were responsible, verse 28, "but they were simply doing
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  • Whatever god's hand and god's purpose predestined to occur."
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  • God took responsibility.
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  • It was god's plan for his only begotten son to be tortured and
  • 00:09:59.288 --> 00:10:05.861
  • Murdered on a cross.
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  • Folks, if god is willing to take responsibility for the torture
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  • And murder of his own son, he's willing to take responsibility
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  • For the circumstance you're in right now.
  • 00:10:20.476 --> 00:10:24.747
  • It's part of his plan for your life.
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  • I'm sure on that friday afternoon, the disciples would
  • 00:10:27.950 --> 00:10:30.119
  • Have said, "god, we don't wanna worship a god who would do
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  • Something like that to his own son."
  • 00:10:33.255 --> 00:10:36.559
  • You see, the problem was they were speaking on friday
  • 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:39.061
  • Afternoon, not on sunday morning.
  • 00:10:39.061 --> 00:10:41.931
  • Because from the perspective of an empty tomb, their belief and
  • 00:10:41.931 --> 00:10:44.867
  • Trust in god's plan changed dramatically.
  • 00:10:44.867 --> 00:10:48.604
  • There's some of you right now who are saying, "i can't believe
  • 00:10:48.604 --> 00:10:51.474
  • In a god, i can't trust in a god who would allow me to
  • 00:10:51.474 --> 00:10:54.710
  • Go through this experience.
  • 00:10:54.710 --> 00:10:57.012
  • I have difficulty trusting in a god who would prematurely take a
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  • Young mother and a young wife.
  • 00:11:01.951 --> 00:11:03.319
  • I just can't serve a god who would say, 'i'm responsible
  • 00:11:03.319 --> 00:11:06.722
  • For this.'"
  • 00:11:06.722 --> 00:11:08.591
  • The reason we have trouble with that is we make our judgment
  • 00:11:08.591 --> 00:11:11.127
  • About god too soon.
  • 00:11:11.127 --> 00:11:13.129
  • We don't see the whole picture.
  • 00:11:13.129 --> 00:11:15.664
  • And one day we'll be able to see how god causes all things to
  • 00:11:15.664 --> 00:11:18.868
  • Work together for good to those who love him, to those who are
  • 00:11:18.868 --> 00:11:22.571
  • Called according to his purpose.
  • 00:11:22.571 --> 00:11:26.175
  • The point here is, though, even though god had predestined this
  • 00:11:26.175 --> 00:11:30.880
  • Event to occur, pilate and herod, the jews and the
  • 00:11:30.880 --> 00:11:34.183
  • Gentiles, they were immediately responsible, and they have to
  • 00:11:34.183 --> 00:11:37.820
  • Suffer the eternal consequences of their choice.
  • 00:11:37.820 --> 00:11:41.524
  • They rejected messiah and even though it was part of god's
  • 00:11:41.524 --> 00:11:45.027
  • Plan, they are going to pay the price for that wrong choice
  • 00:11:45.027 --> 00:11:48.364
  • They made.
  • 00:11:48.364 --> 00:11:49.732
  • "well, pastor, i don't understand that.
  • 00:11:49.732 --> 00:11:51.801
  • I don't understand how people can be held accountable for
  • 00:11:51.801 --> 00:11:54.937
  • Their own choices if indeed god has a plan that he's
  • 00:11:54.937 --> 00:11:57.940
  • Accomplishing through us.
  • 00:11:57.940 --> 00:12:00.709
  • I can't understand that."
  • 00:12:00.709 --> 00:12:03.279
  • Neither can i or neither can anybody else.
  • 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:05.581
  • And that leads to a third truth about god's sovereignty.
  • 00:12:05.581 --> 00:12:08.417
  • God's sovereignty doesn't explain all of our questions.
  • 00:12:08.417 --> 00:12:12.955
  • It doesn't explain all of our questions.
  • 00:12:12.955 --> 00:12:14.890
  • Folks, be very wary of anyone or any theological system that says
  • 00:12:14.890 --> 00:12:22.531
  • We've got the answers for explaining god's sovereignty and
  • 00:12:22.531 --> 00:12:25.901
  • Human responsibility.
  • 00:12:25.901 --> 00:12:27.503
  • Just read this book or look at this diagram and i'll explain to
  • 00:12:27.503 --> 00:12:31.507
  • You how god's sovereignty and human freedom are reconciled.
  • 00:12:31.507 --> 00:12:36.078
  • These are irreconcilable truths this side of heaven.
  • 00:12:36.078 --> 00:12:40.316
  • Both are true, we can't understand or comprehend how
  • 00:12:40.316 --> 00:12:43.819
  • They work together.
  • 00:12:43.819 --> 00:12:46.021
  • People have asked me through the years, "pastor, are you
  • 00:12:46.021 --> 00:12:48.624
  • A calvinist?
  • 00:12:48.624 --> 00:12:50.459
  • Are you a calvinist?"
  • 00:12:50.459 --> 00:12:52.294
  • I remember what my old theology professor dr. ryrie used to say
  • 00:12:52.294 --> 00:12:55.865
  • At dallas seminary.
  • 00:12:55.865 --> 00:12:57.566
  • He said, "men, don't ever allow yourself to be labeled as an
  • 00:12:57.566 --> 00:13:00.803
  • Armenian or a calvinist.
  • 00:13:00.803 --> 00:13:03.606
  • Be known as a biblicist."
  • 00:13:03.606 --> 00:13:06.809
  • Teach what the bible says.
  • 00:13:06.809 --> 00:13:08.744
  • And when you teach what the bible says, you will affirm the
  • 00:13:08.744 --> 00:13:11.680
  • Sovereignty of god without apology, but you'll also affirm
  • 00:13:11.680 --> 00:13:15.517
  • The responsibility of man.
  • 00:13:15.517 --> 00:13:18.220
  • Romans 11:33 says how unsearchable are god's
  • 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:22.157
  • Judgments, how unfathomable are his ways.
  • 00:13:22.157 --> 00:13:26.662
  • But folks, the sovereignty of
  • 00:13:26.662 --> 00:13:27.997
  • God is not some theological topic to debate.
  • 00:13:27.997 --> 00:13:32.234
  • It is a truth to be embraced.
  • 00:13:32.234 --> 00:13:34.803
  • Now i want to mention to you the three benefits of trusting in
  • 00:13:34.803 --> 00:13:38.474
  • The sovereignty of god, especially when it comes to our
  • 00:13:38.474 --> 00:13:41.911
  • Decision making.
  • 00:13:41.911 --> 00:13:43.479
  • First of all, a belief in the sovereignty of god frees me and
  • 00:13:43.479 --> 00:13:49.585
  • Gives me peace from my past.
  • 00:13:49.585 --> 00:13:52.621
  • The sovereignty of god gives me peace from my past.
  • 00:13:52.621 --> 00:13:57.526
  • I was talking to a husband not long ago.
  • 00:13:57.526 --> 00:14:02.031
  • He had been guilty of infidelity in his marriage, and even though
  • 00:14:02.031 --> 00:14:05.768
  • He was repentant, he still lost his wife and he lost
  • 00:14:05.768 --> 00:14:08.904
  • His children.
  • 00:14:08.904 --> 00:14:10.673
  • And he said to me in honest repentance, he said, "pastor, if
  • 00:14:10.673 --> 00:14:14.410
  • Only, if only i had been a faithful husband, i wouldn't
  • 00:14:14.410 --> 00:14:17.646
  • Have lost my family."
  • 00:14:17.646 --> 00:14:20.349
  • And i shared with him the truth of romans 8:28.
  • 00:14:20.349 --> 00:14:24.286
  • Paul said, "and god causes all things to work together for good
  • 00:14:24.286 --> 00:14:30.025
  • To those who love him and are called according to
  • 00:14:30.025 --> 00:14:32.761
  • His purpose."
  • 00:14:32.761 --> 00:14:34.496
  • That phrase, "all things" doesn't just mean the good
  • 00:14:34.496 --> 00:14:37.733
  • Things in our life god is able to use.
  • 00:14:37.733 --> 00:14:40.803
  • That phrase, "all things" includes the good, the bad, and
  • 00:14:40.803 --> 00:14:45.240
  • The ugly.
  • 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:46.842
  • God is so powerful that he uses all things to work together
  • 00:14:46.842 --> 00:14:51.480
  • For good.
  • 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:52.915
  • One day i'm gonna do a series here on how god has used
  • 00:14:52.915 --> 00:14:56.852
  • People's failures in biblical times to accomplish his purpose.
  • 00:14:56.852 --> 00:15:00.990
  • It's not in our strengths, it's in our failures that many times
  • 00:15:00.990 --> 00:15:04.093
  • God is most glorified.
  • 00:15:04.093 --> 00:15:06.395
  • The belief in the sovereignty of god frees us and it gives us
  • 00:15:06.395 --> 00:15:09.999
  • Peace over our past mistakes.
  • 00:15:09.999 --> 00:15:13.102
  • One popular writer in talking about david and his sin with
  • 00:15:13.102 --> 00:15:17.439
  • Bathsheba says, "when a man or woman of god fails, nothing of
  • 00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:23.078
  • God fails.
  • 00:15:23.078 --> 00:15:24.713
  • When a man or woman of god changes, nothing of god changes.
  • 00:15:24.713 --> 00:15:28.917
  • When someone dies, nothing of god dies.
  • 00:15:28.917 --> 00:15:32.688
  • When our lives are altered by the unexpected, nothing of god
  • 00:15:32.688 --> 00:15:37.059
  • Is altered or unexpected."
  • 00:15:37.059 --> 00:15:40.829
  • God's sovereignty gives me peace from my past mistakes.
  • 00:15:40.829 --> 00:15:46.035
  • God's sovereignty also offers me comfort for the present storms
  • 00:15:46.035 --> 00:15:50.572
  • That i'm experiencing.
  • 00:15:50.572 --> 00:15:52.207
  • It gives me comfort for the present.
  • 00:15:52.207 --> 00:15:56.245
  • Remember the story?
  • 00:15:56.245 --> 00:15:57.613
  • Turn over to matthew chapter 14.
  • 00:15:57.613 --> 00:15:59.481
  • It's that familiar story of a sailing trip that the disciples
  • 00:15:59.481 --> 00:16:03.352
  • Went on at the command of jesus.
  • 00:16:03.352 --> 00:16:06.422
  • He told them to get on the boat and to go to the other side and
  • 00:16:06.422 --> 00:16:09.892
  • It was a beautiful day when they got into that boat and they were
  • 00:16:09.892 --> 00:16:13.862
  • Sailing along, when suddenly out of nowhere, like often happens
  • 00:16:13.862 --> 00:16:17.299
  • On the sea of galilee, the storms begin to gather and the
  • 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:21.203
  • Thunder began to clap and the lash of lightning began to
  • 00:16:21.203 --> 00:16:24.106
  • Flash, and suddenly the disciples found themselves in
  • 00:16:24.106 --> 00:16:27.076
  • The middle of this fierce storm.
  • 00:16:27.076 --> 00:16:29.411
  • And about that time, jesus star--appeared outside of the
  • 00:16:29.411 --> 00:16:32.581
  • Boat, walking on the water.
  • 00:16:32.581 --> 00:16:34.550
  • And remember, peter cried out, "lord, if that is you, command
  • 00:16:34.550 --> 00:16:37.953
  • Me to come out of the boat and walk on the water."
  • 00:16:37.953 --> 00:16:40.923
  • And so the lord commanded peter to step out of the boat and walk
  • 00:16:40.923 --> 00:16:43.992
  • Toward him on the water.
  • 00:16:43.992 --> 00:16:45.360
  • So peter climbs out of the boat.
  • 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.762
  • He takes that first step and that second step.
  • 00:16:46.762 --> 00:16:49.598
  • He's doing pretty good, bobbing up and down on the surface of
  • 00:16:49.598 --> 00:16:52.301
  • The water as long as he looks at the lord.
  • 00:16:52.301 --> 00:16:55.170
  • But suddenly he starts noticing the boiling sea around him and
  • 00:16:55.170 --> 00:16:58.941
  • He begins to sink.
  • 00:16:58.941 --> 00:17:00.876
  • And then perhaps the shortest prayer in the bible, but the
  • 00:17:00.876 --> 00:17:04.746
  • Most affected, he cries out, "lord, save me."
  • 00:17:04.746 --> 00:17:08.984
  • Now, look how jesus answers that request, verse 31.
  • 00:17:08.984 --> 00:17:13.021
  • "and immediately jesus stretched out his hand and he took hold of
  • 00:17:13.021 --> 00:17:17.359
  • Peter and said to him, 'o you of little faith, why did
  • 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:22.231
  • You doubt?'
  • 00:17:22.231 --> 00:17:23.565
  • And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped."
  • 00:17:23.565 --> 00:17:29.404
  • Now, i want you to notice the order here.
  • 00:17:29.404 --> 00:17:31.140
  • It's crucial.
  • 00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:32.975
  • Jesus didn't grab hold of peter, still the storm, and once it was
  • 00:17:32.975 --> 00:17:37.146
  • Calm, said, "follow me, and i'll deliver you safely into
  • 00:17:37.146 --> 00:17:40.616
  • The boat."
  • 00:17:40.616 --> 00:17:41.950
  • No, they walked through the storm together and only after
  • 00:17:41.950 --> 00:17:46.288
  • Peter was in the boat that the storm subside.
  • 00:17:46.288 --> 00:17:52.394
  • Many times you and i are sailing through life, things could never
  • 00:17:52.394 --> 00:17:56.198
  • Be brighter when suddenly out of nowhere the storm clouds gather,
  • 00:17:56.198 --> 00:18:02.004
  • The thunder begins to peal, the lightning begins to flash, and
  • 00:18:02.004 --> 00:18:05.574
  • We find ourselves in a fierce storm of circumstances we
  • 00:18:05.574 --> 00:18:09.511
  • Never expected.
  • 00:18:09.511 --> 00:18:11.280
  • It's only natural that we cry out, "lord, save me.
  • 00:18:11.280 --> 00:18:15.551
  • Still the storm."
  • 00:18:15.551 --> 00:18:18.587
  • It's been my experience, rarely does god answer that
  • 00:18:18.587 --> 00:18:22.491
  • Prayer request.
  • 00:18:22.491 --> 00:18:24.326
  • Rarely is it god's will to deliver us out of the storm.
  • 00:18:24.326 --> 00:18:28.997
  • What he promises to do is to walk with us through the storm
  • 00:18:28.997 --> 00:18:33.368
  • Until we reach the other side.
  • 00:18:33.368 --> 00:18:35.871
  • You see, the reason is, god is much more interested in what is
  • 00:18:35.871 --> 00:18:39.141
  • Happening in you than in what is happening to you.
  • 00:18:39.141 --> 00:18:45.447
  • Think about it.
  • 00:18:45.447 --> 00:18:46.815
  • God could change any circumstance in your life
  • 00:18:46.815 --> 00:18:48.951
  • He wanted to just like this.
  • 00:18:48.951 --> 00:18:51.453
  • God could provide that job this afternoon.
  • 00:18:51.453 --> 00:18:54.656
  • He could heal your body right now, instantly.
  • 00:18:54.656 --> 00:18:57.859
  • He could raise that loved one from the dead that you're
  • 00:18:57.859 --> 00:19:00.028
  • Grieving over.
  • 00:19:00.028 --> 00:19:01.363
  • There's no circumstance god couldn't change if he wanted to,
  • 00:19:01.363 --> 00:19:05.267
  • But god's much more interested in what is happening in you than
  • 00:19:05.267 --> 00:19:08.103
  • What is happening to you.
  • 00:19:08.103 --> 00:19:10.239
  • He's allowing you to go through that storm to produce that
  • 00:19:10.239 --> 00:19:14.309
  • Invaluable quality called faith, the assurance that god is in
  • 00:19:14.309 --> 00:19:19.915
  • Control even when we can't see him.
  • 00:19:19.915 --> 00:19:23.619
  • And what you'll find is once god has accomplished his purpose in
  • 00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:26.989
  • Your life, once you make it to the other side, walking through
  • 00:19:26.989 --> 00:19:30.058
  • That storm with him, you'll find that that storm subsides as
  • 00:19:30.058 --> 00:19:33.762
  • Quickly as it arose.
  • 00:19:33.762 --> 00:19:36.265
  • The fact that god is in control gives us great comfort for
  • 00:19:36.265 --> 00:19:39.868
  • The present.
  • 00:19:39.868 --> 00:19:41.236
  • To know he's in control, he has a purpose, he's working out in
  • 00:19:41.236 --> 00:19:44.172
  • Our life.
  • 00:19:44.172 --> 00:19:45.807
  • And thirdly, god's sovereignty gives me confidence for
  • 00:19:45.807 --> 00:19:48.644
  • The future.
  • 00:19:48.644 --> 00:19:50.012
  • It provides confidence for the future.
  • 00:19:50.012 --> 00:19:52.514
  • In daniel 11:32, daniel said, "the people who know their god
  • 00:19:52.514 --> 00:19:57.719
  • Shall stand firm and take action."
  • 00:19:57.719 --> 00:20:01.657
  • Once you have sought god's will, once you feel like god is
  • 00:20:01.657 --> 00:20:05.260
  • Leading you in a particular area, you don't have to be
  • 00:20:05.260 --> 00:20:08.730
  • Bashful and hesitant and say, "oh no,
  • 00:20:08.730 --> 00:20:10.766
  • What if i make a mistake?
  • 00:20:10.766 --> 00:20:12.100
  • What if this isn't god's will?"
  • 00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:14.536
  • The word of god says if you know god, you can stand firm and
  • 00:20:14.536 --> 00:20:18.507
  • Take action, knowing that your every choice, even your
  • 00:20:18.507 --> 00:20:22.644
  • Mistakes, are protected by the sovereignty of god.
  • 00:20:22.644 --> 00:20:26.481
  • That's what the sovereignty of god means.
  • 00:20:26.481 --> 00:20:28.317
  • It means god is in control of every part of my life, and what
  • 00:20:28.317 --> 00:20:33.522
  • A great comfort that is to us.
  • 00:20:33.522 --> 00:20:36.058
  • A. w. tozer, as you know, was a devotional writer of yesteryear,
  • 00:20:36.058 --> 00:20:41.129
  • And i found these words about predestination
  • 00:20:41.129 --> 00:20:44.032
  • That tozer had written.
  • 00:20:44.032 --> 00:20:46.234
  • He said, "the person of true faith may live in the absolute
  • 00:20:46.234 --> 00:20:50.172
  • Assurance that his steps are ordered by the lord.
  • 00:20:50.172 --> 00:20:54.509
  • For him, misfortune is outside the bounds of possibility.
  • 00:20:54.509 --> 00:20:58.847
  • He cannot be torn from this
  • 00:20:58.847 --> 00:21:00.215
  • Earth one hour ahead of time
  • 00:21:00.215 --> 00:21:02.351
  • That god is appointed, and he cannot be detained here on earth
  • 00:21:02.351 --> 00:21:06.455
  • One moment after god is done with him."
  • 00:21:06.455 --> 00:21:09.958
  • Few months after tozer had written those words, he received
  • 00:21:09.958 --> 00:21:12.694
  • A letter from a methodist preacher who was complaining
  • 00:21:12.694 --> 00:21:16.331
  • About tozer's belief and predestination and election, and
  • 00:21:16.331 --> 00:21:20.769
  • Saying that that's just some peculiar doctrine of the
  • 00:21:20.769 --> 00:21:23.472
  • Presbyterian church.
  • 00:21:23.472 --> 00:21:25.574
  • And this is what tozer responded by letter to this
  • 00:21:25.574 --> 00:21:28.877
  • Methodist preacher.
  • 00:21:28.877 --> 00:21:30.212
  • He said, "dear brother, when i said we traveled an appointed
  • 00:21:30.212 --> 00:21:33.682
  • Way, i was not thinking about predestination, eternal
  • 00:21:33.682 --> 00:21:37.386
  • Security, or eternal decrees.
  • 00:21:37.386 --> 00:21:40.122
  • I was just thinking about how
  • 00:21:40.122 --> 00:21:41.590
  • Nice it is for the steps of a
  • 00:21:41.590 --> 00:21:43.725
  • Good man to be ordered by the lord and that if a consecrated
  • 00:21:43.725 --> 00:21:47.996
  • Christian will put himself in the hands of god, even the
  • 00:21:47.996 --> 00:21:51.767
  • Accidents will be turned into blessings.
  • 00:21:51.767 --> 00:21:55.036
  • I am sure my methodist brother can go to sleep tonight knowing
  • 00:21:55.036 --> 00:21:58.907
  • That he does not have to turn presbyterian to be sure god is
  • 00:21:58.907 --> 00:22:02.711
  • Looking after him."
  • 00:22:02.711 --> 00:22:07.482
  • And isn't that the bottom line for all of us?
  • 00:22:07.482 --> 00:22:10.819
  • We have a great shepherd who cares for us, who watches over
  • 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:15.490
  • Us, who orders our every step.
  • 00:22:15.490 --> 00:22:19.261
  • And even when we wander away from him, our movement away from
  • 00:22:19.261 --> 00:22:23.498
  • Him is within the boundaries of his love and his perfect will.
  • 00:22:23.498 --> 00:22:30.105
  • Jesus said, "my sheep hear my voice.
  • 00:22:30.105 --> 00:22:33.542
  • I know them, i watch after them.
  • 00:22:33.542 --> 00:22:36.878
  • I give them eternal life and no man shall snatch out of my hands
  • 00:22:36.878 --> 00:22:41.817
  • Those whom the father has given me."
  • 00:22:41.817 --> 00:22:45.620
  • What words of comfort for those who truly seek to know and
  • 00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:49.491
  • Follow the master's voice.
  • 00:22:49.491 --> 00:22:53.361
  • Jeffress: complementing our freedom to make choices, god's
  • 00:22:57.566 --> 00:23:00.936
  • Sovereignty is stretched out underneath every decision we
  • 00:23:00.936 --> 00:23:04.272
  • Make, even our mistakes.
  • 00:23:04.272 --> 00:23:06.842
  • That's the eternal unchanging safety net god provides for
  • 00:23:06.842 --> 00:23:11.213
  • Every believer.
  • 00:23:11.213 --> 00:23:12.948
  • In closing, i want to share this powerful note from susan, who
  • 00:23:12.948 --> 00:23:16.485
  • Wrote, "i've been concerned for quite some time about america
  • 00:23:16.485 --> 00:23:20.856
  • And the situation in which christians find themselves.
  • 00:23:20.856 --> 00:23:24.359
  • Most of us have been either too fearful or lackadaisical to do
  • 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:28.930
  • Anything about it.
  • 00:23:28.930 --> 00:23:30.265
  • But, because of pathway to victory, i felt compelled to
  • 00:23:30.265 --> 00:23:33.335
  • Do something.
  • 00:23:33.335 --> 00:23:34.669
  • So now i host a prayer group in my home."
  • 00:23:34.669 --> 00:23:37.873
  • Well, thank you susan.
  • 00:23:37.873 --> 00:23:39.274
  • You are a true christian patriot.
  • 00:23:39.274 --> 00:23:42.010
  • And thanks to those of you who boldly stand
  • 00:23:42.010 --> 00:23:44.012
  • With "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:44.012 --> 00:23:45.747
  • We are uniquely postured to leverage our impact for the
  • 00:23:45.747 --> 00:23:49.150
  • Gospel all across america and around the world, and it's
  • 00:23:49.150 --> 00:23:53.255
  • Because men and women just like you are stepping forward.
  • 00:23:53.255 --> 00:23:57.425
  • We couldn't be seen on television or heard on radio
  • 00:23:57.425 --> 00:24:00.495
  • Without friends like you.
  • 00:24:00.495 --> 00:24:02.464
  • Now please stay right there.
  • 00:24:02.464 --> 00:24:04.032
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:04.032 --> 00:24:08.403
  • Announcer: life's most important crossroads often arrive
  • 00:24:10.238 --> 00:24:13.008
  • Without warning.
  • 00:24:13.008 --> 00:24:14.409
  • When the stakes are high and the path forward isn't clear, how
  • 00:24:14.409 --> 00:24:17.913
  • Can you be confident you're following god's will?
  • 00:24:17.913 --> 00:24:20.615
  • In "how to make wise decisions," trusted author and bible teacher
  • 00:24:20.615 --> 00:24:24.853
  • Dr. robert jeffress offers you practical advice on how you can
  • 00:24:24.853 --> 00:24:28.690
  • Know with certainty the will of god in any situation.
  • 00:24:28.690 --> 00:24:32.327
  • Jeffress: one of the most frequently asked questions i
  • 00:24:32.327 --> 00:24:34.829
  • Receive as a pastor is, "how can i know god's will for my life?"
  • 00:24:34.829 --> 00:24:39.968
  • Too many believers are paralyzed by fear of making the wrong
  • 00:24:39.968 --> 00:24:43.538
  • Choice, but god hasn't left us guessing.
  • 00:24:43.538 --> 00:24:46.641
  • In my book, i reveal the biblical principles for
  • 00:24:46.641 --> 00:24:49.778
  • Recognizing god's voice and discerning god's will.
  • 00:24:49.778 --> 00:24:53.748
  • Announcer: request your copy of "how to make wise decisions"
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  • When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory"
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  • Or when you become a pathway partner.
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  • And with your ministry gift of $75 or more, we'll also include
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  • The complete "how to make wise decisions" teaching series on
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  • Both cd and dvd.
  • 00:25:09.564 --> 00:25:11.499
  • Jeffress: when god speaks to us, he does so more than just to
  • 00:25:11.499 --> 00:25:14.135
  • Give us courage and comfort to face our present situation.
  • 00:25:14.135 --> 00:25:18.106
  • He actually promises guidance, direction to
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  • Those who trust in him.
  • 00:25:21.276 --> 00:25:23.378
  • Announcer: thank you for partnering with us to share
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  • God's life-transforming word with a world in need.
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  • Your generosity will empower "pathway to victory" to speak
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  • Bold biblical truth into your life and the lives of millions
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  • Across the country and around the world.
  • 00:25:36.358 --> 00:25:38.693
  • Jeffress: god's sovereignty and human responsibility are
  • 00:25:41.262 --> 00:25:44.265
  • Mysteries that we will never solve this side of heaven.
  • 00:25:44.265 --> 00:25:48.069
  • But we can take comfort in knowing that our great shepherd
  • 00:25:48.069 --> 00:25:51.973
  • Cares for us and watches over us.
  • 00:25:51.973 --> 00:25:55.443
  • Well, the most important question a person can ask in
  • 00:25:55.443 --> 00:25:58.146
  • Life is this one: how can i have a right relationship with god?
  • 00:25:58.146 --> 00:26:03.018
  • And the verse that gives that answer in my opinion is the most
  • 00:26:03.018 --> 00:26:06.655
  • Important verse in all of the bible.
  • 00:26:06.655 --> 00:26:09.257
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next on
  • 00:26:09.257 --> 00:26:12.060
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:12.060 --> 00:26:13.762
  • Jeffress: admittedly a pastor's setting himself up for trouble
  • 00:26:15.096 --> 00:26:19.134
  • When he announces he's gonna talk about the most important
  • 00:26:19.134 --> 00:26:21.870
  • Verse in the bible because everybody has a different idea
  • 00:26:21.870 --> 00:26:25.373
  • Of what that verse should be.
  • 00:26:25.373 --> 00:26:27.642
  • But i think you would agree with me that if you had to select the
  • 00:26:27.642 --> 00:26:30.812
  • Single most important verse in the bible, it ought to be one
  • 00:26:30.812 --> 00:26:36.051
  • That answers the most important question in life.
  • 00:26:36.051 --> 00:26:40.822
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:26:40.822 --> 00:26:43.758
  • "the most important verse in the bible" here on "pathway
  • 00:26:43.758 --> 00:26:47.295
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:47.295 --> 00:26:48.663
  • Announcer: take a journey through alaska's awe-inspiring
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  • Wilderness on the 2026 "pathway to victory" cruise to alaska.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Make plans to set sail for an unforgettable week of adventure,
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