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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Stop and Smell the Manager (Part 1)

December 19, 2024 | S24:E5105

Robert Jeffress - Stop and Smell the Manager (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Stop and Smell the Manager (Part 1) | December 19, 2024
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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  • Of 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."
  • 00:00:16.272 --> 00:00:18.374
  • The christmas season provides ample reason to celebrate
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  • Because as the angel said, "today there has been born for
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  • You a savior who is christ the lord."
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  • So in these brief moments before us today, let me encourage you
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  • To set everything aside and fully engage in the miraculous
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  • Birth of jesus.
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  • My message is titled, "stop and smell the manger" on today's
  • 00:00:40.363 --> 00:00:45.235
  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:45.235 --> 00:00:49.973
  • Announcer: the celebration of jesus's birth each christmas
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  • Marks the moment when god's radiant hope entered our world,
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  • And jesus calls us to share this light with others.
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  • You can help pierce the darkness with the light of god's word
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  • Through the pathway to victory light the darkness
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  • Matching challenge.
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  • Since 1996, "pathway to victory"
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  • Has been boldly sharing
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  • The gospel of jesus christ,
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  • And your gift,
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  • Doubled in impact,
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  • Will be used to proclaim
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  • God's truth here in america
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  • And around the world.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: helen hayes, the late and legendary actress was
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  • Certainly a great actress, but by her own admission, she wasn't
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  • A very good cook.
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  • In fact, she avoided preparing thanksgiving dinner for her
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  • Family for years, but finally she decided she ought to
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  • Tackle it.
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  • And so before she did, she sat her husband and young son down
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  • And she said, "now, you know i'm not a very good cook, but i
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  • Think i ought to prepare thanksgiving dinner for us.
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  • So this is what we're going to do.
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  • I'm gonna prepare the dinner.
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  • I'm gonna bring it out.
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  • And after a few bites, if you don't like it, no comments, just
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  • Quietly push your plate back, stand up silently and we'll go
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  • To the nearest restaurant together."
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  • Thanksgiving came.
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  • She worked all day in the kitchen preparing that turkey.
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  • And when she walked out of the kitchen into the dining room,
  • 00:02:28.805 --> 00:02:34.077
  • Her son and husband were already wrapped up in their coats and
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  • Their gloves on ready to go.
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  • That's what you call low expectations.
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  • I think of that story every time i preach the christmas message.
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  • I've done 35 of them.
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  • I was counting it up today, 35 christmas messages.
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  • And i have a sense you already have your coats and your gloves
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  • On, ready to leave.
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  • Maybe not literally, but figuratively you're thinking
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  • About all the things you probably have to do between now
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  • And christmas day to get ready.
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  • Plus, you come with probably some low expectations of
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  • Today's message.
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  • I mean, after all, how many different ways can you tell the
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  • Christmas story?
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  • The plot line doesn't change or it shouldn't change in what
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  • You're telling.
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  • The characters certainly don't change.
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  • So how do you get something fresh out of
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  • The christmas story?
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  • That's a challenge every pastor has.
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  • And so today, i'm gonna do the best i can to encourage you to
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  • Take the coat and gloves off for a moment.
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  • To spend a few unrushed moments as together we stop and smell
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  • The manger of bethlehem.
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  • Today we're going to look at the five major characters in
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  • The nativity scene and we're gonna start with mary.
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  • Now, frankly, you don't hear that many sermons about mary in
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  • A baptist church or any evangelical church.
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  • The reason is easy to understand.
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  • We understand there are some faith traditions that have
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  • Elevated mary almost to a position equal to jesus christ.
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  • Some who say that we should worship mary.
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  • Some say we have to pray to mary to serve as a go between between
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  • Us and god.
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  • And the scripture is very clear about that.
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  • Mary is not jesus.
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  • She's not a go between, a mediator.
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  • The bible says there is one mediator, one go between between
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  • God and man and it's the man christ, jesus.
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  • Now mary is not to be worshiped, but i think too many of our
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  • Churches have gone to the other extremes and we've ignored mary.
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  • No, she's not to be worshiped, but she should be admired
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  • Because she is a central character in this story.
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  • You know, the fact is, were it not for mary, this christmas
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  • Story would have never taken place.
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  • And what we learned from mary is that god chooses those who
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  • Are available.
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  • Whom would god select to be the mother of the savior of
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  • The world?
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  • God had to find somebody who was available.
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  • And we find her story in luke chapter 1 beginning with
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  • Verse 26.
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  • "now in the sixth month the angel gabriel was
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  • Sent from god to a city in galilee called
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  • Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name
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  • Was joseph, of the descendants of david,
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  • And the virgin's name was mary.
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  • And coming in, the angel said to her,
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  • 'greetings favored one! the lord is with you.'
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  • But she was very perplexed at this statement,
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  • And kept pondering what kind of
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  • Greeting salutation this was.
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  • The angel said to her, 'do not be afraid.'"
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  • Anytime the angel made an appearance he
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  • Had to start with, "don't be afraid"
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  • Because angels usually symbolize bad news.
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  • Judgment coming.
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  • Gabriel said in this case, mary, you don't have to be afraid,
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  • "for you have found favor with god."
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  • I mean, think of it, of all of the billions of women throughout
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  • History that god could have chosen to be the mother of jesus
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  • Christ, why did he choose mary?
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  • I wanna suggest to you, god uses those who are available and mary
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  • Exhibits four qualities of what it means to be available to god.
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  • First of all, mary was pure.
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  • She was a virgin.
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  • Now, remember 700 years before the birth of christ in isaiah
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  • Chapter 7:14, it was prophesied that the messiah would be born
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  • Of a virgin.
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  • Somebody who had not had a sexual relationship with a man.
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  • Fast forward 700 years now it's time for the savior to come and
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  • God has to search for somebody who meets that qualification.
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  • Not just anybody would do.
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  • He had to find somebody and that somebody was mary.
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  • She was a virgin.
  • 00:07:26.269 --> 00:07:27.603
  • Now, let's be honest, mary wasn't a plaster saint, although
  • 00:07:27.603 --> 00:07:33.843
  • She looks a little plaster right here, but she wasn't.
  • 00:07:33.843 --> 00:07:37.680
  • She didn't run around and garb like this probably.
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  • Most scholars believe she was a 15 year old girl, a peasant girl
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  • Living in nazareth.
  • 00:07:46.656 --> 00:07:48.491
  • She had all the normal drives and hormones of a teenage girl
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  • And she was deeply in love with a man named joseph she was going
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  • To marry.
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  • She could have rationalized having a sexual relationship
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  • With joseph.
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  • She loved him.
  • 00:08:04.173 --> 00:08:05.975
  • They were bound together for life.
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  • Why not go ahead and do what was natural?
  • 00:08:08.811 --> 00:08:11.681
  • If she had given in to those desires, she would have been
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  • Disqualified from being the mother of the savior of
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  • The world.
  • 00:08:19.655 --> 00:08:20.990
  • You see, when god is looking for somebody who is available, he
  • 00:08:20.990 --> 00:08:24.594
  • Looks first of all for somebody who is pure.
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  • In fact, that's what paul wrote to timothy in
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  • 2 timothy 2 verses 21,
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  • "now in a large house there are not only gold
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  • And silver vessels, but also vessels of wood
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  • And of earthenware, and some to
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  • Honor and some to dishonor.
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  • Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from
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  • These things, he will be a vessel of honor,
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  • Sanctified, and useful to the master
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  • Prepared for every good work."
  • 00:08:54.056 --> 00:08:56.726
  • Paul is using a very pedestrian illustration.
  • 00:08:56.726 --> 00:08:59.829
  • He says, think about your house, just imagine for a moment.
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  • It's one of those hot 120 degree days in texas in august.
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  • And you've been working out in the yard and you're thirsty and
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  • You need a drink of water.
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  • And so you come into your home, into the kitchen, and all of the
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  • Glasses are in the dishwasher and it's in the mid cycle and
  • 00:09:16.946 --> 00:09:22.752
  • There are only two choices you have to get some desperately
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  • Needed water.
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  • In the sink, there is a crystal goblet that is caked over with
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  • Dirt and grime from a dinner party you had two days before.
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  • The only other available vessel is an empty peanut butter jar
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  • That has been thoroughly cleaned out and cleansed.
  • 00:09:43.606 --> 00:09:47.710
  • Now, if you were gonna drink water, would you choose the
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  • Crystal goblet that was filthy even though it was much greater
  • 00:09:50.479 --> 00:09:55.284
  • Value or would you choose the empty but clean peanut
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  • Butter jar?
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  • I think most of us would go for the peanut butter jar.
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  • We don't care about the worth, we care about the cleanliness
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  • Of the vessel.
  • 00:10:07.063 --> 00:10:08.397
  • And it's the same way paul is saying when god is looking for
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  • Somebody to use, he chooses those who not necessarily are
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  • The most gifted people in the world, the most talented,
  • 00:10:15.271 --> 00:10:18.474
  • The most beautiful, but those who are pure.
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  • That was mary.
  • 00:10:22.178 --> 00:10:23.512
  • She was pure.
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  • Secondly, she was available to god because she believed
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  • God's word.
  • 00:10:28.284 --> 00:10:29.719
  • You know, hebrews 11 says, "without faith, it is impossible
  • 00:10:29.719 --> 00:10:33.856
  • To please god."
  • 00:10:33.856 --> 00:10:35.191
  • Look at luke 1:45, elizabeth, her cousin said about mary,
  • 00:10:35.191 --> 00:10:39.729
  • "and blessed is she who believed that there
  • 00:10:39.729 --> 00:10:41.931
  • Would be a fulfillment of what
  • 00:10:41.931 --> 00:10:44.266
  • Had been spoken to her by the lord."
  • 00:10:44.266 --> 00:10:46.836
  • She doesn't understand how she was gonna give
  • 00:10:46.836 --> 00:10:49.105
  • Birth when she had not yet had sex,
  • 00:10:49.105 --> 00:10:51.073
  • But she believed what god said and she acted accordingly.
  • 00:10:51.073 --> 00:10:56.812
  • Thirdly, mary was available because she placed the glory of
  • 00:10:56.812 --> 00:11:00.282
  • God above her own reputation.
  • 00:11:00.282 --> 00:11:04.520
  • Mary probably knew enough to know that if she was willing to
  • 00:11:04.520 --> 00:11:09.191
  • Be used like this by god, she would suffer a blow to
  • 00:11:09.191 --> 00:11:13.095
  • Her reputation.
  • 00:11:13.095 --> 00:11:15.097
  • After all, who was gonna believe her story?
  • 00:11:15.097 --> 00:11:19.001
  • Did you know, in fact, a lot of people didn't believe her story
  • 00:11:19.001 --> 00:11:21.771
  • That the father of her child was god?
  • 00:11:21.771 --> 00:11:24.740
  • There was a rumor that circulated around nazareth that
  • 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:27.943
  • Went on for 30 years that mary's pregnancy had been the result of
  • 00:11:27.943 --> 00:11:32.882
  • A one night stand she had with a roman soldier who was stationed
  • 00:11:32.882 --> 00:11:36.552
  • In nazareth.
  • 00:11:36.552 --> 00:11:37.920
  • That was the rumor about mary.
  • 00:11:37.920 --> 00:11:39.255
  • In fact, during jesus's ministry, that's what the jewish
  • 00:11:39.255 --> 00:11:42.992
  • Leaders accused him of.
  • 00:11:42.992 --> 00:11:44.560
  • They said you're illegitimate.
  • 00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:47.763
  • You're not a legitimate child, you're illegitimate.
  • 00:11:47.763 --> 00:11:50.299
  • They knew that rumor as well.
  • 00:11:50.299 --> 00:11:53.102
  • But mary didn't care about those rumors.
  • 00:11:53.102 --> 00:11:56.038
  • By the way, do you know many teenage girls who don't care
  • 00:11:56.038 --> 00:12:00.442
  • About what other people say about them?
  • 00:12:00.442 --> 00:12:03.312
  • I don't.
  • 00:12:03.312 --> 00:12:04.647
  • In fact, i don't know many adults who don't care what
  • 00:12:04.647 --> 00:12:07.349
  • People say about them.
  • 00:12:07.349 --> 00:12:08.717
  • We're all so concerned about what people are saying behind
  • 00:12:08.717 --> 00:12:11.787
  • Our backs.
  • 00:12:11.787 --> 00:12:13.122
  • Not mary.
  • 00:12:13.122 --> 00:12:14.490
  • When god said this is what i'm going to do, look at what
  • 00:12:14.490 --> 00:12:16.325
  • She said in luke 1:38, "she said to the angel,
  • 00:12:16.325 --> 00:12:19.161
  • 'behold, the bond slave of the lord: may it be
  • 00:12:19.161 --> 00:12:22.731
  • Done to me according to your word.'"
  • 00:12:22.731 --> 00:12:27.203
  • She was willing to place the glory of god
  • 00:12:27.203 --> 00:12:29.972
  • Above her own reputation.
  • 00:12:29.972 --> 00:12:31.907
  • And finally, she was available to be used by god because mary
  • 00:12:31.907 --> 00:12:37.012
  • Was willing to sacrifice that which was most important to her.
  • 00:12:37.012 --> 00:12:43.652
  • She knew the consequences of what it meant to allow herself
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  • To be impregnated by the holy spirit of god.
  • 00:12:48.891 --> 00:12:52.161
  • You see the old testament law said that if a woman in
  • 00:12:52.161 --> 00:12:55.431
  • The engagement, the betrothal period, was unfaithful to her to
  • 00:12:55.431 --> 00:13:00.469
  • Be husband, the law was very serious.
  • 00:13:00.469 --> 00:13:04.506
  • She was to be stoned to death for that violation.
  • 00:13:04.506 --> 00:13:09.845
  • She knew joseph well enough to know that he probably wouldn't
  • 00:13:09.845 --> 00:13:13.148
  • Do that to her, but he knew it would mean the dissolution of
  • 00:13:13.148 --> 00:13:17.219
  • Their engagement and the loss of the person who meant everything
  • 00:13:17.219 --> 00:13:21.924
  • To her.
  • 00:13:21.924 --> 00:13:23.893
  • See, to be available to god means to be willing to sacrifice
  • 00:13:23.893 --> 00:13:27.663
  • What's most important to you.
  • 00:13:27.663 --> 00:13:31.400
  • Are you willing to do that?
  • 00:13:31.400 --> 00:13:34.136
  • Every time you look at this reproduction of mary in
  • 00:13:34.136 --> 00:13:40.009
  • A nativity scene, ask yourself this question, "am i available
  • 00:13:40.009 --> 00:13:44.747
  • To god like mary was?"
  • 00:13:44.747 --> 00:13:48.417
  • Am i really available?
  • 00:13:48.417 --> 00:13:50.619
  • Am i doing everything i can to keep myself pure free from sin?
  • 00:13:50.619 --> 00:13:55.925
  • Do i believe the promises of god?
  • 00:13:55.925 --> 00:13:59.395
  • Am i willing to place god's glory above my own reputation?
  • 00:13:59.395 --> 00:14:06.535
  • Am i willing to sacrifice that which is most important to me?
  • 00:14:06.535 --> 00:14:12.007
  • God uses those who are available.
  • 00:14:12.007 --> 00:14:17.346
  • And the second character we're going to look at in this
  • 00:14:17.346 --> 00:14:20.416
  • Nativity scene is joseph.
  • 00:14:20.416 --> 00:14:25.154
  • I've always felt kind of sorry for joseph.
  • 00:14:25.154 --> 00:14:28.023
  • Have you ever known when a baby is born, everybody who gnaws
  • 00:14:28.023 --> 00:14:30.993
  • Over the baby.
  • 00:14:30.993 --> 00:14:32.328
  • Everybody rushes around to take care of the mother and
  • 00:14:32.328 --> 00:14:34.763
  • That's understandable.
  • 00:14:34.763 --> 00:14:36.098
  • She's gone through 9 months of her pregnancy and painful
  • 00:14:36.098 --> 00:14:39.368
  • Childbirth and everybody's around them, but we fathers when
  • 00:14:39.368 --> 00:14:43.605
  • A baby is born, nobody gives us any attention.
  • 00:14:43.605 --> 00:14:46.275
  • Right, tyler?
  • 00:14:46.275 --> 00:14:48.444
  • I mean, we just stand around with that stupid grin on our
  • 00:14:48.444 --> 00:14:50.779
  • Face, you know, and we don't know what to do, but i want to
  • 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:54.616
  • Suggest to you today, joseph is integral to this story as well.
  • 00:14:54.616 --> 00:14:58.120
  • Without him, there would have been no savior.
  • 00:14:58.120 --> 00:15:02.858
  • Why do i say that?
  • 00:15:02.858 --> 00:15:04.493
  • Again, the scripture was very precise about the requirements
  • 00:15:04.493 --> 00:15:09.732
  • For the messiah.
  • 00:15:09.732 --> 00:15:11.200
  • The messiah to be the king of israel had to be in the lineage
  • 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:15.504
  • Of king david.
  • 00:15:15.504 --> 00:15:17.272
  • He had to be a legal heir of king david to be qualified to be
  • 00:15:17.272 --> 00:15:22.044
  • The messiah.
  • 00:15:22.044 --> 00:15:23.579
  • And the right to rule, the right to be the messiah, the right to
  • 00:15:23.579 --> 00:15:27.683
  • Be a king always came through the father.
  • 00:15:27.683 --> 00:15:30.886
  • And joseph, although he was not the biological father, he was
  • 00:15:30.886 --> 00:15:34.923
  • The legal guardian, the legal father of jesus.
  • 00:15:34.923 --> 00:15:39.895
  • And because of that, jesus inherited the right to rule from
  • 00:15:39.895 --> 00:15:44.166
  • His father.
  • 00:15:44.166 --> 00:15:45.501
  • What i'm saying to you is if joseph had bailed on mary when
  • 00:15:45.501 --> 00:15:49.004
  • He got the news about her pregnancy, jesus would have been
  • 00:15:49.004 --> 00:15:53.942
  • Disqualified from being the savior of the world.
  • 00:15:53.942 --> 00:15:58.814
  • I want you to think about this story from joseph's point
  • 00:15:58.814 --> 00:16:01.950
  • Of view.
  • 00:16:01.950 --> 00:16:04.286
  • What was joseph's profession?
  • 00:16:04.286 --> 00:16:06.655
  • This isn't a hard question.
  • 00:16:06.655 --> 00:16:08.424
  • What was he?
  • 00:16:08.424 --> 00:16:09.792
  • He was a carpenter.
  • 00:16:09.792 --> 00:16:11.126
  • Do you know carpenters?
  • 00:16:11.126 --> 00:16:12.494
  • I mean, if you know anything about carpenters, they're
  • 00:16:12.494 --> 00:16:14.797
  • Very precise.
  • 00:16:14.797 --> 00:16:17.433
  • They're very neat.
  • 00:16:17.433 --> 00:16:19.168
  • I mean, they want everything measured and cut and planned for
  • 00:16:19.168 --> 00:16:23.105
  • In just the right way.
  • 00:16:23.105 --> 00:16:25.574
  • I imagine that was joseph's temperament as well.
  • 00:16:25.574 --> 00:16:28.877
  • He and mary had been childhood sweethearts.
  • 00:16:28.877 --> 00:16:32.114
  • They knew they were going to get married.
  • 00:16:32.114 --> 00:16:34.883
  • I'm sure joseph had a blueprint for what their lives were going
  • 00:16:34.883 --> 00:16:38.420
  • To be like.
  • 00:16:38.420 --> 00:16:39.788
  • They'd get married, they'd save some money, then they'd build
  • 00:16:39.788 --> 00:16:43.258
  • Their dream house in nazareth.
  • 00:16:43.258 --> 00:16:46.128
  • Three bedrooms, two baths.
  • 00:16:46.128 --> 00:16:48.730
  • They would have two sons and two daughters.
  • 00:16:48.730 --> 00:16:51.900
  • I mean, he had the blueprint all set and ready to go when one day
  • 00:16:51.900 --> 00:16:58.373
  • His fiancé comes in and says, "joseph, i'm pregnant.
  • 00:16:58.373 --> 00:17:05.681
  • Oh, and by the way, the father is god."
  • 00:17:05.681 --> 00:17:12.187
  • Now, how would you have responded to that?
  • 00:17:12.187 --> 00:17:14.556
  • Honestly, come on.
  • 00:17:14.556 --> 00:17:17.059
  • How would you have responded to that news from your fiancé?
  • 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:22.464
  • We know how joseph responded.
  • 00:17:22.464 --> 00:17:25.100
  • The scripture is very clear.
  • 00:17:25.100 --> 00:17:28.003
  • He didn't believe her.
  • 00:17:28.003 --> 00:17:29.505
  • Not at first.
  • 00:17:29.505 --> 00:17:31.273
  • The bible says that he knew he wasn't going to stone her,
  • 00:17:31.273 --> 00:17:36.879
  • But he decided to dissolve the marriage, dissolve
  • 00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:41.083
  • The engagement.
  • 00:17:41.083 --> 00:17:42.618
  • So it was not to cause any shame to mary.
  • 00:17:42.618 --> 00:17:45.154
  • Can you imagine what that news must have been like to joseph to
  • 00:17:45.154 --> 00:17:50.259
  • Realize the person he loved most in the world had betrayed him?
  • 00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:54.763
  • At least that's what he thought.
  • 00:17:54.763 --> 00:17:57.132
  • He was getting ready to end the relationship when something
  • 00:17:57.132 --> 00:18:00.068
  • Dramatic happened.
  • 00:18:00.068 --> 00:18:01.403
  • Listen to matthew chapter 1 verse 20.
  • 00:18:01.403 --> 00:18:03.405
  • "but when joseph had considered this,"
  • 00:18:03.405 --> 00:18:05.707
  • Considered what?
  • 00:18:05.707 --> 00:18:07.042
  • Ending the relationship.
  • 00:18:07.042 --> 00:18:08.677
  • "when he had considered all of this, behold,
  • 00:18:08.677 --> 00:18:10.946
  • An the angel of the lord appeared to
  • 00:18:10.946 --> 00:18:13.015
  • Him in a dream, saying, 'joseph son of david,
  • 00:18:13.015 --> 00:18:16.652
  • Do not be afraid to take mary as your wife,
  • 00:18:16.652 --> 00:18:20.856
  • For the child who has been conceived
  • 00:18:20.856 --> 00:18:23.058
  • In her is of the holy spirit.'
  • 00:18:23.058 --> 00:18:26.562
  • And joseph awoke from his sleep and he did as
  • 00:18:26.562 --> 00:18:30.999
  • The angel of the lord commanded him,
  • 00:18:30.999 --> 00:18:33.068
  • And he took mary as his wife and he kept
  • 00:18:33.068 --> 00:18:36.338
  • Her a virgin until she gave birth
  • 00:18:36.338 --> 00:18:40.576
  • To a son, and called his name jesus."
  • 00:18:40.576 --> 00:18:45.180
  • You know what joseph reminds us is, joseph
  • 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:48.584
  • Reminds us that god uses and honors those who are obedient.
  • 00:18:48.584 --> 00:18:54.756
  • Here, the angel comes and says, god is the one responsible, you
  • 00:18:54.756 --> 00:18:59.628
  • Take her as your wife.
  • 00:18:59.628 --> 00:19:02.297
  • There was no arguing with joseph.
  • 00:19:02.297 --> 00:19:04.866
  • He didn't understand how it happened.
  • 00:19:04.866 --> 00:19:07.269
  • He didn't understand how it would turn out, but in
  • 00:19:07.269 --> 00:19:10.973
  • The darkness, he obeyed god.
  • 00:19:10.973 --> 00:19:14.943
  • That's what it means to be obedient.
  • 00:19:14.943 --> 00:19:18.380
  • When you see joseph in these nativity scenes, ask yourself
  • 00:19:18.380 --> 00:19:22.017
  • The question, am i being obedient to what i know god has
  • 00:19:22.017 --> 00:19:27.389
  • Told me to do even though i can't see the outcome of
  • 00:19:27.389 --> 00:19:31.994
  • My obedience to him.
  • 00:19:31.994 --> 00:19:34.296
  • God uses those who are obedient.
  • 00:19:34.296 --> 00:19:40.002
  • The next characters in the christmas story, the shepherds.
  • 00:19:40.002 --> 00:19:46.375
  • Now we couldn't afford but one shepherd.
  • 00:19:46.375 --> 00:19:48.677
  • Just pretend the others are out tending their flocks by night,
  • 00:19:48.677 --> 00:19:52.914
  • Mending their socks by night as the child say at
  • 00:19:52.914 --> 00:19:55.651
  • The christmas play.
  • 00:19:55.651 --> 00:19:56.985
  • But we've got one shepherd here.
  • 00:19:56.985 --> 00:19:58.754
  • The reason i love these shepherds is, you know, the fact
  • 00:19:58.754 --> 00:20:02.257
  • Is god could have chosen anyone to announce the coming of the
  • 00:20:02.257 --> 00:20:06.194
  • Savior of the world, the birth of jesus, but of all the people
  • 00:20:06.194 --> 00:20:09.965
  • He chose he didn't choose kings or princes or rulers or the
  • 00:20:09.965 --> 00:20:14.403
  • Rich, he chose the lowest rung of jewish society,
  • 00:20:14.403 --> 00:20:18.974
  • The shepherds.
  • 00:20:18.974 --> 00:20:20.409
  • I mean, shepherds were absolutely despised
  • 00:20:20.409 --> 00:20:23.245
  • In jesus's day.
  • 00:20:23.245 --> 00:20:25.013
  • And the reason is obvious.
  • 00:20:25.013 --> 00:20:27.416
  • The reason they didn't get invited to the a-list parties
  • 00:20:27.416 --> 00:20:31.386
  • In jerusalem was because of their work.
  • 00:20:31.386 --> 00:20:35.524
  • They worked with sheep.
  • 00:20:35.524 --> 00:20:37.626
  • That means they smelled like sheep as well.
  • 00:20:37.626 --> 00:20:41.363
  • Nobody wanted to be around the shepherds and yet it was this
  • 00:20:41.363 --> 00:20:45.200
  • Group of all of the people, god could have chosen that god chose
  • 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:49.371
  • To announce the coming of the savior of the world.
  • 00:20:49.371 --> 00:20:52.174
  • Listen to the words of luke 2:8 through 14.
  • 00:20:52.174 --> 00:20:55.744
  • I bet you can recite them by heart almost.
  • 00:20:55.744 --> 00:20:59.014
  • "in the same region there were some shepherds
  • 00:20:59.014 --> 00:21:02.250
  • Staying out in the fields and keeping watch
  • 00:21:02.250 --> 00:21:03.885
  • Over their flock by night.
  • 00:21:03.885 --> 00:21:06.088
  • And an angel of the lord suddenly stood
  • 00:21:06.088 --> 00:21:08.457
  • Before them, and the glory of the lord shone
  • 00:21:08.457 --> 00:21:11.059
  • Around them, and they were terribly
  • 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:13.562
  • Frightened," understandably so.
  • 00:21:13.562 --> 00:21:16.698
  • "but the angel said to them," here it is again,
  • 00:21:16.698 --> 00:21:19.201
  • "do not be afraid, for behold, i bring you
  • 00:21:19.201 --> 00:21:22.371
  • Good news of great joy, which shall be
  • 00:21:22.371 --> 00:21:25.907
  • For all people; for today in the city of david
  • 00:21:25.907 --> 00:21:30.112
  • There has been born for you a savior,
  • 00:21:30.112 --> 00:21:34.416
  • Who is christ the lord.
  • 00:21:34.416 --> 00:21:36.551
  • And this will be a sign for you; you will find
  • 00:21:36.551 --> 00:21:38.487
  • A baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger.
  • 00:21:38.487 --> 00:21:41.490
  • And suddenly there appeared with the angel
  • 00:21:41.490 --> 00:21:44.426
  • A multitude of the heavenly host praising god and
  • 00:21:44.426 --> 00:21:47.662
  • Saying, 'glory to god in the highest.
  • 00:21:47.662 --> 00:21:50.999
  • And on earth peace among men with whom
  • 00:21:50.999 --> 00:21:54.436
  • He is pleased.'"
  • 00:21:54.436 --> 00:21:56.705
  • Why did god choose to announce
  • 00:21:56.705 --> 00:21:59.474
  • This news to the shepherds?
  • 00:21:59.474 --> 00:22:03.545
  • Because the shepherds were humble.
  • 00:22:03.545 --> 00:22:07.349
  • God chooses to bless and to save those who don't have any sense
  • 00:22:07.349 --> 00:22:13.321
  • Of pretense about them, those who are humble.
  • 00:22:13.321 --> 00:22:16.358
  • And you see that in their response in verse 15
  • 00:22:16.358 --> 00:22:18.860
  • To the news--look at this.
  • 00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:20.362
  • "when the angels had gone away from them into
  • 00:22:20.362 --> 00:22:23.665
  • Heaven, the shepherds began saying to one
  • 00:22:23.665 --> 00:22:26.201
  • Another, 'let us go straight to bethlehem, then,
  • 00:22:26.201 --> 00:22:29.471
  • And see this thing which has happened, which
  • 00:22:29.471 --> 00:22:32.374
  • The lord has made known to us.'
  • 00:22:32.374 --> 00:22:34.743
  • And so they came in a hurry and found their way
  • 00:22:34.743 --> 00:22:38.413
  • To mary and joseph,
  • 00:22:38.413 --> 00:22:40.849
  • And the baby as he lay in the manger."
  • 00:22:40.849 --> 00:22:44.386
  • What was their response when they heard this news?
  • 00:22:44.386 --> 00:22:47.456
  • Immediately, they dropped everything they were doing and
  • 00:22:47.456 --> 00:22:51.626
  • They walked, they ran to bethlehem to see this child.
  • 00:22:51.626 --> 00:22:56.898
  • What is it that made them so anxious to see this child after
  • 00:22:56.898 --> 00:23:01.536
  • Hearing the news?
  • 00:23:01.536 --> 00:23:02.904
  • I think it's one word the angel used, for unto you is born this
  • 00:23:02.904 --> 00:23:08.710
  • Day in the city of david a savior, a savior.
  • 00:23:08.710 --> 00:23:16.551
  • Jeffress: there's much more i wanna share with you about
  • 00:23:20.722 --> 00:23:22.824
  • This magnificent scene when jesus the king of the universe
  • 00:23:22.824 --> 00:23:27.696
  • Stepped into human history.
  • 00:23:27.696 --> 00:23:29.831
  • It all started in a humble setting and of all places
  • 00:23:29.831 --> 00:23:33.869
  • In a manger.
  • 00:23:33.869 --> 00:23:35.337
  • But right now, i wanna remind you that "pathway to victory"
  • 00:23:35.337 --> 00:23:39.140
  • Is the grateful recipient of the historic light the darkness
  • 00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:42.811
  • Matching challenge.
  • 00:23:42.811 --> 00:23:44.246
  • Several big hearted families have banded together and set
  • 00:23:44.246 --> 00:23:48.116
  • Aside $1.5 million for the sole purpose of inspiring you to join
  • 00:23:48.116 --> 00:23:54.155
  • Them in advancing this ministry.
  • 00:23:54.155 --> 00:23:56.691
  • During this season and before the deadline on december 31,
  • 00:23:56.691 --> 00:24:00.829
  • Every dollar you give to support "pathway to victory" will have
  • 00:24:00.829 --> 00:24:05.233
  • Twice the impact until we reach the goal.
  • 00:24:05.233 --> 00:24:08.803
  • That means your generous gift of $100 becomes $200.
  • 00:24:08.803 --> 00:24:13.441
  • A $500 gift becomes $1000.
  • 00:24:13.441 --> 00:24:17.512
  • A $5000 gift would be matched until it becomes $10,000.
  • 00:24:17.512 --> 00:24:23.318
  • There's no limit to how much you can give that will be matched
  • 00:24:23.318 --> 00:24:26.755
  • Before december 31.
  • 00:24:26.755 --> 00:24:28.990
  • So thank you so much for investing in this worthy mission
  • 00:24:28.990 --> 00:24:33.261
  • To point people all around the world to the light of the world,
  • 00:24:33.261 --> 00:24:37.666
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:24:37.666 --> 00:24:39.434
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:24:39.434 --> 00:24:40.802
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:40.802 --> 00:24:44.706
  • Announcer: the one thing god wants more than
  • 00:24:46.308 --> 00:24:48.276
  • Anything else in this world is time with you.
  • 00:24:48.276 --> 00:24:51.346
  • Make god your priority by spending quality time
  • 00:24:51.346 --> 00:24:54.583
  • In his word with the brand-new 2025
  • 00:24:54.583 --> 00:24:57.018
  • "'pathway to victory' daily devotional."
  • 00:24:57.018 --> 00:24:59.321
  • This year's devotional has a beautiful navy blue leather
  • 00:24:59.321 --> 00:25:01.990
  • Cover with inlaid brown and gold foil accents.
  • 00:25:01.990 --> 00:25:04.526
  • And now with larger print, the 260 practical insights
  • 00:25:04.526 --> 00:25:08.263
  • From dr. robert jeffress are easier to read.
  • 00:25:08.263 --> 00:25:10.532
  • This stunning 532 page devotional makes an ideal
  • 00:25:10.532 --> 00:25:14.102
  • Christmas gift for loved ones
  • 00:25:14.102 --> 00:25:15.570
  • Who want to grow in their faith too.
  • 00:25:15.570 --> 00:25:17.706
  • Jeffress: of all the ways god could have revealed himself
  • 00:25:17.772 --> 00:25:20.308
  • To us, he chose to do it through the written word.
  • 00:25:20.308 --> 00:25:23.912
  • And that's why it's so important for you and for me to set aside
  • 00:25:23.912 --> 00:25:27.248
  • Regular time to read the word of god.
  • 00:25:27.248 --> 00:25:30.852
  • Announcer: every season carries an uplifting theme.
  • 00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:33.555
  • Begin the new year by exploring god's will for your life.
  • 00:25:33.555 --> 00:25:38.126
  • In spring and summer, grow stronger in christ
  • 00:25:38.126 --> 00:25:40.762
  • With insights from colossians.
  • 00:25:40.762 --> 00:25:42.631
  • And in the fall and winter, embrace the father who loves you
  • 00:25:42.631 --> 00:25:45.767
  • With inspirational readings based on the parable
  • 00:25:45.767 --> 00:25:48.403
  • Of the prodigal son.
  • 00:25:48.403 --> 00:25:50.472
  • When the day-to-day problems of life feel overwhelming, take
  • 00:25:50.472 --> 00:25:53.642
  • A moment to anchor yourself in the calming truth of god's word
  • 00:25:53.642 --> 00:25:56.845
  • With the brand new 2025 "pathway to victory" daily devotional.
  • 00:25:56.845 --> 00:26:01.182
  • Your gift of support not only provides you with this life
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  • Giving resource, it empowers us to spread the hope filled
  • 00:26:04.786 --> 00:26:07.756
  • Message of jesus christ as well.
  • 00:26:07.756 --> 00:26:09.958
  • Thank you for supporting the ministry
  • 00:26:09.958 --> 00:26:11.793
  • Of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:11.793 --> 00:26:14.462
  • Jeffress: it may sound trite, but it's true nonetheless.
  • 00:26:16.498 --> 00:26:19.968
  • Sometimes our busy schedules distract us from fully engaging
  • 00:26:19.968 --> 00:26:24.406
  • In christmas.
  • 00:26:24.406 --> 00:26:25.740
  • That's tragic.
  • 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:27.242
  • And i hope today's message has inspired you to make the most of
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  • This sacred season.
  • 00:26:31.179 --> 00:26:32.814
  • Take time to reflect on what the manger in bethlehem means to
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  • You today.
  • 00:26:37.085 --> 00:26:38.553
  • Next time, i'm going to show you several more key characters who
  • 00:26:38.553 --> 00:26:42.757
  • Influenced the christmas story.
  • 00:26:42.757 --> 00:26:44.893
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:44.893 --> 00:26:47.662
  • Series, "reigniting your passion for christ."
  • 00:26:47.662 --> 00:26:52.333
  • Jeffress: the reason the god of the universe was willing to
  • 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:55.937
  • Humiliate himself, take the form of a bond servant and become
  • 00:26:55.937 --> 00:26:59.941
  • Obedient to the point of death even death on a cross was jesus
  • 00:26:59.941 --> 00:27:04.946
  • Was the only way for the forgiveness of sins.
  • 00:27:04.946 --> 00:27:09.017
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time
  • 00:27:10.185 --> 00:27:12.153
  • For part two of the message, "stop and smell the manger"
  • 00:27:12.153 --> 00:27:15.623
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:15.623 --> 00:27:27.235