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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Straight Talk About Your Faith | June 1, 2025
- ♪ music ♪
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- [announcer] from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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- Of dallas, texas,
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- This is "pathway to victory with dr. robert jeffress."
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- Hi, i am robert jeffress,
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- And welcome again to pathway to victory.
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- In my years as a pastor,
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- I found that many christians
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- Have a difficult time defining their job.
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- Sure they can tell you where they work
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- Or what their daily responsibilities are,
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- But they can't seem to identify their true purpose.
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- Well, today we're going to receive our marching orders
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- From jesus himself,
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- And discover why you and i were put on this earth.
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- My message is titled "straight talk about your faith,"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ i saw the lord seated high and lifted up ♪
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- ♪ majestic in splendor ♪
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- ♪ i saw the lord seated high and lifted up ♪
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- ♪ filling the temple ♪
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- ♪ his glory declaring ♪
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- ♪ the worth of his praise ♪
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- ♪ his mercy surrounding the depth of his grace ♪
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- ♪ holy, holy is the lord ♪
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- ♪ worthy, worthy is the lamb ♪
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- ♪ he who was and is and evermore shall reign ♪
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- ♪ we sing glory, glory to his name ♪
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- ♪ we sing glory, glory to his name ♪
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- ♪ my eyes have seen the king ♪
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- ♪ the lord of hosts is with us ♪
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- ♪ undone by majesty ♪
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- ♪ we stand redeemed in jesus ♪
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- ♪ holy, holy is the lord ♪
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- ♪ worthy, worthy is the lamb ♪
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- ♪ he who was and is ♪
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- ♪ forever reign ♪
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- ♪ we sing glory ♪
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- ♪ glory to his name ♪
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- ♪ his name ♪
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- (congregation applauding)
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- [announcer] jesus declared,
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- "you are the salt of the earth
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- And the light of the world."
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- With so much darkness creeping into our
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- Schools and communities,
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- Now is the time to answer that calling.
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- Become the salt and light the world desperately needs
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- Through the pathway to victory,
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- Salt and light matching challenge.
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- Your gift today doubled in ministry impact
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- Will empower pathway to victory
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- To proclaim the gospel and stand for biblical truth,
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- Push back and hold strong against moral decline
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- By joining the salt and light matching challenge.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- When abraham lincoln was forming his cabinet,
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- One of his advisors suggested a particular man
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- To serve on the cabinet.
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- Lincoln immediately said, "no way. i don't like his face."
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- And this advisor said, "well, mr. president,
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- He can't be held responsible for his face."
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- Lincoln replied, "every man is responsible
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- For his own face."
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- I think of that comment
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- Whenever i'm talking to some christians.
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- You probably have encountered them before.
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- They look like they've been baptized in lemon juice.
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- You know what i mean.
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- They're always walking around with a sour, dour expression.
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- Now i'm not suggesting that every christian
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- Ought to go around singing "zip-a-dee-doo-dah" all the time.
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- That's not realistic.
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- You're not happy all the time, you're not giddy,
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- But there needs to be an inner joy in our life,
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- That in spite of what is happening around us,
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- We have that calm assurance that god is in control.
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- That may not cause us to laugh all the time,
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- But there's a smile on our face when we realize
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- Somebody more powerful than we are in control.
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- The truth is, what is inside of us
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- Eventually shows up on the outside of us.
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- How can you maintain that joy in your life
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- In spite of your circumstances?
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- Jesus talked about joy in what we call the beatitudes,
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- Blessed, happy.
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- Really joyful are those who mimic jesus christ
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- In their attitudes, actions, and affections.
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- How do we keep that joy?
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- Well, one secret to joy in your circumstances
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- Is to remember the purpose
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- For which god has left you here on earth.
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- Why is it that god didn't rapture you to heaven
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- The moment he saved you so that you could have
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- Unending joy in a relationship with him untainted by sin?
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- Why did he leave you here?
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- We're going to discover the answer to that question
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- In the next section of the sermon on the mount.
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- Turn to matthew chapter five,
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- As jesus gives us some straight talk about our faith.
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- I'm going to read the passage before we delve into it.
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- "you are the salt of the earth.
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- But if the salt has become tasteless,
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- How can it be made salty again?
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- It is no longer good for anything
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- Except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
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- You are the light of the world.
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- A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
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- Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket
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- But on the lamp stand, and it gives light
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- To all who are in the house.
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- Let your light shine before men in such a way
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- That they see your good works and glorify
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- Your father who is in heaven."
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- You are the salt of the earth.
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- You are the light of the world.
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- Let's look at both of these statements more in depth,
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- Beginning with verse 13.
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- First of all, jesus talks about the value of salt.
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- "you are the salt of the earth."
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- In jesus' day, salt was a very valuable commodity.
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- In fact, the greeks thought it was of divine origin.
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- The romans had a saying also.
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- They said nothing is more useful than sun and salt.
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- Salt was used for a variety of things,
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- To take care of animals,
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- To serve as a disinfectant,
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- To serve as flavoring like it is today,
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- To serve as a preservative.
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- It was so valuable, especially pure salt,
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- That it was often used as currency.
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- Did you know roman soldiers many times received their wages,
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- Not in currency but in salt?
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- In fact, the latin word for salt, s-a-l, sal,
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- Is the root word for salary that we use today.
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- It's a means of payment.
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- It was so valuable.
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- So what did jesus mean when he said
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- You are like this valuable commodity called salt?
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- I think he had two things in mind, two applications.
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- One purpose of salt was to enhance thirst,
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- To enhance thirst.
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- Today, an athlete who's training in the hot sun,
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- The coach will give him salt tablets.
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- Why? why would you have salt?
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- Well, it would cause a thirst that would motivate you
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- To hydrate yourself properly and stay healthy.
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- It was used in the same way in jesus' day.
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- Salt was given to animals
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- So that they would take in the proper amount of water.
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- You probably have heard the old adage,
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- You can lead a horse to water but, what?
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- You can't make him drink.
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- And that's true.
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- But you can salt the oats.
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- And that's exactly what he's talking about here.
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- Salt was a way of causing the animal to want to drink.
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- In the same way jesus said in matthew 5:6,
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- "blessed are those who hunger and," what?
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- Thirst for righteousness.
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- Unfortunately, we live in a world that
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- There are a lot of people who aren't
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- Thirsting after righteousness.
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- They have no desire for a right relationship with god.
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- Well, jesus said, "one reason i'm leaving you
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- Here on this earth is to help create that thirst."
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- You say, "well, how do you create
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- Spiritual thirst in other people"?
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- It's the holy spirit working through you
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- But in some specific ways.
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- For example, friday night,
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- You may be out with your mate
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- Or be out with your family for dinner at applebee's.
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- It probably wouldn't be a good idea to stand on the tabletop
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- And preach a sermon from john 3:16.
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- It may be okay but you're probably not going to do that
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- And have a receptive audience.
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- But one thing you can do is,
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- Before the meal arrives, bow your heads and pray.
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- Why do we pray in public?
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- It's not to make people think we're so holy
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- But it's a way of reminding people around you
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- That there is a god to whom we're accountable.
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- Now, is anybody going to get saved hearing that?
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- No, but it reminds people that there is a god.
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- You can do that wherever you are.
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- This week, amy was at an appointment
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- And the person who was serving her said,
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- "i don't know how you got this appointment.
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- We're all booked up.
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- I don't know how you got it."
- 00:11:23.773 --> 00:11:25.441
- And amy said, "well, i prayed about it.
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- I prayed that god would open up a time."
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- And that opened up a spiritual discussion.
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- When i was in the ninth grade,
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- Amy and i were in an english class together
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- At richardson west junior high,
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- And she wasn't a christian yet.
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- And we had a teacher, mrs. madison,
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- And she was a christian, and she was a part of this church.
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- And she wanted to use her position as a public teacher
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- To be a witness for christ,
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- But she also didn't want to be fired for doing so.
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- So she was very careful about what she did.
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- She'd choose books that had a great spiritual theme
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- For us to read and to report on.
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- She would ask leading questions of the class,
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- Questions like, "do you think it's possible
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- For somebody to know what happens after death?"
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- And that would be my cue to raise my hand and say,
- 00:12:15.624 --> 00:12:18.127
- "oh yes, ms. madison. you can know for sure."
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- And i could share the four spiritual laws at that time.
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- Well, amy will tell you to this date
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- That she couldn't believe
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- That i would always answer those questions,
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- And that anybody could know for sure
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- They're going to heaven when they die.
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- And she would think, "who is this know-it-all jerk
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- Who thinks he has the answer to everything?"
- 00:12:39.448 --> 00:12:42.518
- Of course, 50 years later, she's still asking that question.
- 00:12:42.518 --> 00:12:45.788
- (congregation laughing)
- 00:12:45.788 --> 00:12:46.822
- That's a different sermon topic.
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- But the point was that's the year
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- She ended up becoming a christian.
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- And she'll say part of the catalyst
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- Was a public school teacher who salted the oats,
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- Who created spiritual thirst using the position she was in.
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- That's what jesus is talking about here.
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- When he talks about being salt,
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- One idea is to enhance thirst.
- 00:13:07.776 --> 00:13:10.346
- But there's another application of being salt,
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- And it really was the main use of salt in jesus' day.
- 00:13:13.115 --> 00:13:16.719
- And that was to preserve food.
- 00:13:16.719 --> 00:13:19.688
- Remember, in the days before refrigeration,
- 00:13:19.688 --> 00:13:22.124
- The only way you could preserve meat
- 00:13:22.124 --> 00:13:25.127
- Was by packing it with salt.
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- Now, salt did not prevent the decay of meat.
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- That was a natural process that could not be reversed.
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- You could never reverse the decay of meat,
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- But you could delay the decay of the meat.
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- By packing it with salt,
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- You gave the meat a longer shelf life
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- Until it had to be thrown out.
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- And jesus said, in the same way, you and i are salt.
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- We are restrainers of evil that is destroying our world.
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- In 2 thessalonians 2:6-7, paul alludes to that.
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- He's talking about the future antichrist
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- That the world will witness
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- During the last seven years of earth's history.
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- And look at verse six of 2 thessalonians 2.
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- "and you know what restrains him that is the antichrist now,
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- So that in his time he will be revealed.
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- For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.
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- Only he who now restrains will do so
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- Until he is taken out of the way."
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- Who is it that is restraining the antichrist right now?
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- Who is it that is restraining evil until he, the restrainer,
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- Is taken out of the way?
- 00:14:48.544 --> 00:14:50.145
- Well, he is the holy spirit of god.
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- He, the holy spirit of god,
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- Is in the world right now restraining evil.
- 00:14:54.650 --> 00:14:57.353
- How is he doing it?
- 00:14:57.353 --> 00:14:59.221
- He is doing it through the individual christians
- 00:14:59.221 --> 00:15:02.491
- He has left in the world.
- 00:15:02.491 --> 00:15:04.693
- Now, let me be clear.
- 00:15:04.693 --> 00:15:06.395
- I do believe in the sovereignty of god.
- 00:15:06.395 --> 00:15:08.397
- It's a mystery that we just can't comprehend,
- 00:15:08.397 --> 00:15:12.835
- But that doesn't negate
- 00:15:12.835 --> 00:15:14.236
- The individual responsibility that we have.
- 00:15:14.236 --> 00:15:16.939
- We can delay god's judgment.
- 00:15:16.939 --> 00:15:19.475
- You know how i know that?
- 00:15:19.475 --> 00:15:20.976
- By reading the story of jonah.
- 00:15:20.976 --> 00:15:23.445
- God said, "i'm going to destroy the wicked city of nineveh,
- 00:15:23.445 --> 00:15:28.684
- The capital of assyria."
- 00:15:29.184 --> 00:15:31.120
- But god sent that reluctant prophet, jonah,
- 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:34.723
- Who preached to the ninevites.
- 00:15:34.723 --> 00:15:36.892
- Many were converted.
- 00:15:36.892 --> 00:15:38.627
- And notice the result, jonah 3:10 says,
- 00:15:38.627 --> 00:15:41.463
- "when god saw their deeds,
- 00:15:41.463 --> 00:15:44.633
- That they turned from their wicked way,
- 00:15:44.633 --> 00:15:47.403
- Then god relented concerning the calamity
- 00:15:47.403 --> 00:15:51.974
- Which he declared that he would bring upon them,
- 00:15:51.974 --> 00:15:54.810
- And he did not do it."
- 00:15:54.810 --> 00:15:57.579
- God relented.
- 00:15:57.579 --> 00:15:59.348
- God repented.
- 00:15:59.348 --> 00:16:01.116
- God changed his mind.
- 00:16:01.116 --> 00:16:04.086
- How is it that a omniscient, omnipotent,
- 00:16:04.920 --> 00:16:08.290
- Immutable, unchangeable god
- 00:16:08.290 --> 00:16:10.726
- Changes his mind about anything?
- 00:16:10.726 --> 00:16:14.496
- I don't have a clue.
- 00:16:14.963 --> 00:16:16.598
- I don't have a clue and neither do you.
- 00:16:17.466 --> 00:16:19.668
- We can't explain it.
- 00:16:19.668 --> 00:16:21.970
- The bible is explaining in human terms
- 00:16:21.970 --> 00:16:24.406
- What we can't really understand in divine terms.
- 00:16:24.406 --> 00:16:28.544
- But the practical outworking of it is,
- 00:16:28.544 --> 00:16:30.946
- God relented of his decision.
- 00:16:30.946 --> 00:16:33.048
- Now here's what's interesting.
- 00:16:33.048 --> 00:16:34.116
- When you look at secular history,
- 00:16:34.116 --> 00:16:36.351
- God eventually did destroy nineveh in 612 bc.
- 00:16:36.351 --> 00:16:40.989
- Nineveh was destroyed.
- 00:16:40.989 --> 00:16:43.425
- But god delayed the destruction of nineveh
- 00:16:43.425 --> 00:16:46.195
- Because of one man's action.
- 00:16:46.195 --> 00:16:48.530
- The takeaway for me is, we can push back against evil.
- 00:16:48.530 --> 00:16:52.734
- We can delay god's judgment on our nation and our world.
- 00:16:52.734 --> 00:16:58.006
- But the only reason we do that
- 00:16:58.640 --> 00:17:00.509
- Is so that we have opportunity a little more longer
- 00:17:00.509 --> 00:17:03.812
- To spread the gospel of jesus christ.
- 00:17:03.812 --> 00:17:06.448
- But notice jesus gives another image
- 00:17:06.448 --> 00:17:08.784
- That describes our purpose,
- 00:17:08.784 --> 00:17:10.953
- And that is light.
- 00:17:10.953 --> 00:17:12.187
- He talks about the necessity of life.
- 00:17:12.187 --> 00:17:14.890
- You are the light of the world.
- 00:17:14.890 --> 00:17:17.626
- I mean, quite frankly, what use is it
- 00:17:17.626 --> 00:17:20.162
- To create spiritual thirst in people
- 00:17:20.162 --> 00:17:22.631
- If you never show them how to satisfy that thirst
- 00:17:22.631 --> 00:17:25.701
- Through the living word of god,
- 00:17:25.701 --> 00:17:28.203
- Jesus christ, the water of life.
- 00:17:28.203 --> 00:17:30.706
- What use is it to delay god's judgment on the world
- 00:17:30.706 --> 00:17:34.543
- If you don't tell people
- 00:17:34.543 --> 00:17:35.844
- How to escape god's judgment in their life
- 00:17:35.844 --> 00:17:38.847
- By trusting in christ as savior?
- 00:17:38.847 --> 00:17:41.350
- And that's why jesus says we must be the light of the world.
- 00:17:41.350 --> 00:17:46.688
- I am reminded of the story of the christian
- 00:17:47.589 --> 00:17:49.958
- Who worked alongside a non-christian for 20 years.
- 00:17:49.958 --> 00:17:53.629
- And when he first discovered this man was not a christian,
- 00:17:53.629 --> 00:17:56.965
- He said to himself, "you know what,
- 00:17:56.965 --> 00:17:58.734
- I'm going to be a silent witness for christ."
- 00:17:58.734 --> 00:18:02.037
- Have you ever heard that term a silent witness?
- 00:18:02.037 --> 00:18:04.273
- It's a oxymoron, but people think, "i won't share my faith.
- 00:18:04.273 --> 00:18:07.676
- I'll just try to live out my faith
- 00:18:07.676 --> 00:18:10.078
- And maybe this person
- 00:18:10.078 --> 00:18:11.346
- Will magically come to faith in christ."
- 00:18:11.346 --> 00:18:13.448
- So for 20 years, this man never
- 00:18:13.448 --> 00:18:15.551
- Mentioned he was a christian,
- 00:18:15.551 --> 00:18:17.019
- Just tried to witness to him through his attitude
- 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:19.721
- And the way he treated him.
- 00:18:19.721 --> 00:18:21.390
- After 20 years, that non-christian
- 00:18:21.390 --> 00:18:23.458
- Came into work one morning and said to the christian,
- 00:18:23.458 --> 00:18:26.061
- "the most marvelous thing has happened to me.
- 00:18:26.061 --> 00:18:28.463
- Last night, i trusted in christ to be my savior."
- 00:18:28.463 --> 00:18:32.534
- And the christian said, "that is wonderful.
- 00:18:32.534 --> 00:18:35.804
- What led you to do that?"
- 00:18:35.804 --> 00:18:37.573
- Thinking for sure he was the catalyst
- 00:18:37.573 --> 00:18:39.508
- For the man's conversion.
- 00:18:39.508 --> 00:18:41.143
- And this new convert said,
- 00:18:41.143 --> 00:18:42.644
- "you know, i worked beside you for 20 years
- 00:18:42.644 --> 00:18:47.282
- And i saw the great attitude you had
- 00:18:47.282 --> 00:18:50.018
- And the way you treated me.
- 00:18:50.018 --> 00:18:51.186
- And i thought to myself,
- 00:18:51.186 --> 00:18:52.754
- If anybody could work his way to heaven, it would be you.
- 00:18:52.754 --> 00:18:56.158
- I never knew you were a christian.
- 00:18:56.158 --> 00:18:58.427
- But last night, my next door neighbors showed me
- 00:18:58.427 --> 00:19:00.796
- How i could come to know christ as well."
- 00:19:00.796 --> 00:19:04.299
- Look, living out your faith is great.
- 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:07.202
- We ought to be positive examples,
- 00:19:07.202 --> 00:19:09.037
- But if that's not accompanied by an explanation,
- 00:19:09.037 --> 00:19:12.140
- You can actually confuse people
- 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:14.276
- About the way to eternal life.
- 00:19:14.276 --> 00:19:16.812
- That's why peter said in 1 peter 3:15,
- 00:19:16.812 --> 00:19:20.315
- "sanctify christ as lord in your hearts
- 00:19:20.315 --> 00:19:24.119
- Always being ready to make a defense
- 00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:27.322
- To everyone who asked you
- 00:19:27.322 --> 00:19:29.458
- To give an account for the hope that is in you,
- 00:19:29.458 --> 00:19:32.094
- Yet with gentleness and reverence."
- 00:19:32.094 --> 00:19:34.896
- Peter is picturing somebody who's coming to you asking,
- 00:19:34.896 --> 00:19:39.434
- What is the secret of your life?
- 00:19:39.434 --> 00:19:41.270
- Why are you so filled with hope,
- 00:19:41.270 --> 00:19:43.171
- With all that is happening?
- 00:19:43.171 --> 00:19:44.840
- Make sure you're ready to give a defense
- 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:48.010
- To lead people to the truth of jesus christ.
- 00:19:48.010 --> 00:19:51.947
- Jesus likens believers to a city set on a hill
- 00:19:51.947 --> 00:19:57.185
- That cannot be hidden, verse 14.
- 00:19:57.819 --> 00:20:00.088
- For a light to be effective, it has to be seen.
- 00:20:00.088 --> 00:20:03.825
- Just imagine the middle of the night
- 00:20:03.825 --> 00:20:06.728
- During one of these cold dallas nights,
- 00:20:06.728 --> 00:20:09.598
- Your electricity goes off,
- 00:20:09.598 --> 00:20:11.833
- Your house is completely black,
- 00:20:11.833 --> 00:20:13.769
- But you remember you have a flashlight
- 00:20:13.769 --> 00:20:16.204
- In the drawer beside your bed,
- 00:20:16.204 --> 00:20:18.073
- So you reach for the flashlight,
- 00:20:18.073 --> 00:20:19.675
- And you're about to turn it on,
- 00:20:19.675 --> 00:20:20.942
- And you have another thought and you thought,
- 00:20:20.942 --> 00:20:23.645
- "you know what, i sure don't want to offend the darkness
- 00:20:23.645 --> 00:20:26.381
- By showing this light.
- 00:20:26.381 --> 00:20:28.283
- That will chase the darkness away.
- 00:20:28.283 --> 00:20:30.252
- I don't want to offend the light."
- 00:20:30.252 --> 00:20:31.853
- Would you do that? no.
- 00:20:31.853 --> 00:20:34.122
- Light is meant to confront the darkness.
- 00:20:34.122 --> 00:20:37.492
- In fact, light is of little value in the light.
- 00:20:37.492 --> 00:20:40.796
- A flashlight makes no difference in the sunlight.
- 00:20:40.796 --> 00:20:43.565
- It's in the darkness that it does its work.
- 00:20:43.565 --> 00:20:46.435
- And the fact is, if a light is going to be effective,
- 00:20:46.435 --> 00:20:49.871
- If we're going to be effective, we're effective for christ
- 00:20:49.871 --> 00:20:52.874
- Not when we're around other light sources, other christians.
- 00:20:52.874 --> 00:20:56.812
- It is when we are in the darkness.
- 00:20:56.812 --> 00:20:59.448
- Light has to confront the darkness,
- 00:20:59.448 --> 00:21:02.150
- And it chases the darkness away.
- 00:21:02.150 --> 00:21:04.886
- Perhaps you're wondering right now,
- 00:21:04.886 --> 00:21:07.456
- "why is that god put me in this company
- 00:21:07.456 --> 00:21:10.592
- Where there are no christians anywhere to be found?
- 00:21:10.592 --> 00:21:13.762
- Why did god put me in this ungodly school?
- 00:21:13.762 --> 00:21:16.698
- Why did god put me in this neighborhood
- 00:21:16.698 --> 00:21:18.734
- Where i'm the only believer?"
- 00:21:18.734 --> 00:21:20.302
- You've just answered your own question.
- 00:21:20.302 --> 00:21:23.071
- Paul said in philippians 2:15-16,
- 00:21:23.071 --> 00:21:25.674
- "for in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation,
- 00:21:25.674 --> 00:21:29.010
- You are children of light holding forth the word of life."
- 00:21:29.010 --> 00:21:34.249
- As the old saying goes,
- 00:21:34.750 --> 00:21:36.051
- Instead of cursing the darkness, light a light,
- 00:21:36.051 --> 00:21:40.055
- And we are the light of the world.
- 00:21:40.055 --> 00:21:43.725
- What's the application for us of this message?
- 00:21:43.725 --> 00:21:46.661
- There are two applications.
- 00:21:46.661 --> 00:21:48.830
- One for christians individually.
- 00:21:48.830 --> 00:21:50.899
- Remember, he starts with you individually.
- 00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:53.602
- But there's also, secondly,
- 00:21:53.602 --> 00:21:54.903
- An application for christians collectively.
- 00:21:54.903 --> 00:21:58.974
- We're not just individual grains of salt
- 00:21:58.974 --> 00:22:02.110
- Or an individual flashlight.
- 00:22:02.110 --> 00:22:04.679
- We're in a church.
- 00:22:04.679 --> 00:22:06.548
- The only thing more effective than one grain of salt
- 00:22:06.548 --> 00:22:09.184
- Is a shaker of salt.
- 00:22:09.184 --> 00:22:11.119
- The only thing more effective
- 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:12.788
- Than a penlight or a flashlight is a floodlight.
- 00:22:12.788 --> 00:22:17.292
- Today there are people who wonder
- 00:22:17.292 --> 00:22:18.660
- Why do we get involved in the pro-life movement
- 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:23.064
- And speaking out against abortion?
- 00:22:23.064 --> 00:22:25.700
- That's politics.
- 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:26.935
- No, that is a moral, a spiritual issue.
- 00:22:26.935 --> 00:22:30.739
- Fact is, that word politics,
- 00:22:30.739 --> 00:22:32.541
- The latin word for it means influence.
- 00:22:32.541 --> 00:22:36.244
- Influence.
- 00:22:36.244 --> 00:22:37.879
- When you say christians shouldn't get involved in politics
- 00:22:37.879 --> 00:22:40.982
- Or pastors shouldn't get involved in politics,
- 00:22:40.982 --> 00:22:44.152
- What you're saying is christians should not try to
- 00:22:44.152 --> 00:22:46.688
- Influence the world in which they live.
- 00:22:46.688 --> 00:22:49.257
- Can anybody say that with a straight face?
- 00:22:49.257 --> 00:22:51.593
- And man, jesus said, you are salt.
- 00:22:51.593 --> 00:22:55.063
- You are a preservative.
- 00:22:55.063 --> 00:22:57.265
- We need to push back against evil.
- 00:22:57.265 --> 00:22:59.734
- I mean, think about it.
- 00:22:59.734 --> 00:23:01.002
- Why did god leave you and me on this earth?
- 00:23:01.002 --> 00:23:03.171
- Why didn't he take us to heaven?
- 00:23:03.171 --> 00:23:05.574
- He didn't leave us here to build a big financial portfolio
- 00:23:05.574 --> 00:23:10.378
- Of stocks, and bonds, and possessions.
- 00:23:10.378 --> 00:23:13.381
- He didn't lead us here to have a successful career.
- 00:23:13.381 --> 00:23:17.519
- He didn't even leave us here to have a happy family life.
- 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:20.889
- He left us here to be that salt, to be that light.
- 00:23:21.890 --> 00:23:25.760
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:25.760 --> 00:23:31.366
- That's what we do at first baptist dallas,
- 00:23:31.366 --> 00:23:33.568
- And that's what we do through the ministry
- 00:23:33.568 --> 00:23:35.303
- Of pathway to victory,
- 00:23:35.303 --> 00:23:37.105
- Piercing the darkness with the light of god's word.
- 00:23:37.105 --> 00:23:40.709
- And right now we have an incredible opportunity
- 00:23:40.709 --> 00:23:43.211
- To shine the floodlight of the gospel even brighter.
- 00:23:43.211 --> 00:23:46.648
- Earlier this week,
- 00:23:46.648 --> 00:23:48.116
- We activated the salt and light matching challenge.
- 00:23:48.116 --> 00:23:51.152
- From now through july 6th,
- 00:23:51.152 --> 00:23:52.754
- Your gift will be matched and therefore doubled in impact
- 00:23:52.754 --> 00:23:56.625
- Until we reach the goal of $1 million.
- 00:23:56.625 --> 00:23:59.194
- Together, as partners in ministry,
- 00:23:59.961 --> 00:24:01.763
- We can push back against the moral decline in our nation
- 00:24:01.763 --> 00:24:05.567
- By boldly proclaiming the gospel
- 00:24:05.567 --> 00:24:07.969
- And standing for biblical truth.
- 00:24:07.969 --> 00:24:10.639
- We can fulfill christ's calling to be the salt of the earth
- 00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:14.342
- And the light of the world.
- 00:24:14.342 --> 00:24:15.777
- We can be a preserving influence
- 00:24:15.777 --> 00:24:18.380
- And illuminating presence
- 00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:20.549
- In a culture that desperately needs jesus christ,
- 00:24:20.549 --> 00:24:24.185
- The only hope for our nation and for our world.
- 00:24:24.185 --> 00:24:27.389
- Thank you in advance for your generosity.
- 00:24:27.389 --> 00:24:30.492
- Now, stay right there.
- 00:24:30.492 --> 00:24:32.060
- I'll be back with more pathway to victory in just a moment.
- 00:24:32.060 --> 00:24:36.231
- [announcer] the moral decline in today's world
- 00:24:37.165 --> 00:24:39.034
- Can feel overwhelming,
- 00:24:39.034 --> 00:24:40.535
- But god calls us to shine his light
- 00:24:40.535 --> 00:24:42.904
- And make a difference for him
- 00:24:42.904 --> 00:24:44.372
- In a world that has lost its way.
- 00:24:44.372 --> 00:24:46.641
- In his brand new book, "shine the light."
- 00:24:46.641 --> 00:24:48.843
- Dr. robert jeffress shows you how small faithful acts
- 00:24:48.843 --> 00:24:52.180
- Like teaching, serving, and encouraging
- 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:54.516
- Can restore and renew christian values
- 00:24:54.516 --> 00:24:56.785
- In your family, your church, and community.
- 00:24:56.785 --> 00:24:59.421
- The bible teaches that our primary purpose in life
- 00:24:59.421 --> 00:25:02.557
- Is to influence the world with the gospel.
- 00:25:02.557 --> 00:25:05.860
- And in my new book, i'll show you how to live purposefully
- 00:25:05.860 --> 00:25:09.364
- And leave behind a legacy of faith, wisdom, and compassion.
- 00:25:09.364 --> 00:25:14.035
- [announcer] the world may seem lost,
- 00:25:14.035 --> 00:25:15.570
- But god's light has not dim and neither has yours.
- 00:25:15.570 --> 00:25:19.074
- Request your copy of shine the light
- 00:25:19.074 --> 00:25:21.276
- When you give a generous gift to the pathway to victory
- 00:25:21.276 --> 00:25:24.112
- Salt and light matching challenge.
- 00:25:24.112 --> 00:25:26.147
- And when your ministry gift is $100 or more,
- 00:25:26.147 --> 00:25:29.150
- We'll also send you the complete
- 00:25:29.150 --> 00:25:30.852
- "shine the light" teaching series on dvd and audio disc.
- 00:25:30.852 --> 00:25:34.689
- Light is of little value in the light.
- 00:25:34.689 --> 00:25:37.659
- If we're going to be effective, we're effective for christ
- 00:25:37.659 --> 00:25:40.662
- Not when we're around other light sources, other christians.
- 00:25:40.662 --> 00:25:44.599
- It is when we are in the darkness.
- 00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:47.202
- Light has to confront the darkness.
- 00:25:47.202 --> 00:25:50.271
- [announcer] remember, your gift today
- 00:25:50.271 --> 00:25:51.773
- Will have twice the impact,
- 00:25:51.773 --> 00:25:53.308
- Thanks to the pathway to victory
- 00:25:53.308 --> 00:25:54.909
- Salt and light matching challenge.
- 00:25:54.909 --> 00:25:57.045
- Thank you for partnering with pathway to victory
- 00:25:57.045 --> 00:25:59.714
- As we boldly proclaim the gospel
- 00:25:59.714 --> 00:26:01.816
- And equip believers to shine god's light
- 00:26:01.816 --> 00:26:04.219
- In a world that has lost its way.
- 00:26:04.219 --> 00:26:08.156
- Each individual christian is like a grain of salt
- 00:26:09.157 --> 00:26:12.160
- And a ray of light.
- 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:13.762
- Yes, we can make a difference for god's kingdom on our own,
- 00:26:13.762 --> 00:26:18.033
- But when we join together as the body of christ,
- 00:26:18.033 --> 00:26:21.536
- We can become an unstoppable force for the gospel.
- 00:26:21.536 --> 00:26:25.440
- Well, even though the prophet elijah was a man of god,
- 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:29.277
- He cared deeply about what was happening in his world.
- 00:26:29.277 --> 00:26:33.081
- And we ought to have that same passion that elijah had
- 00:26:33.081 --> 00:26:36.584
- For influencing the people and nations around us.
- 00:26:36.584 --> 00:26:40.622
- Stay tuned for a preview
- 00:26:40.622 --> 00:26:42.190
- Of what's coming up next in our series, "shine the light."
- 00:26:42.190 --> 00:26:46.728
- Some people actually believe that
- 00:26:47.462 --> 00:26:49.731
- God has no interest in what is happening in the world.
- 00:26:49.731 --> 00:26:53.201
- And yet from the very beginning,
- 00:26:53.201 --> 00:26:55.270
- God gave man the mandate to take care of the world
- 00:26:55.270 --> 00:26:58.773
- In which he placed him.
- 00:26:58.773 --> 00:27:00.208
- God's interest, listen to this,
- 00:27:00.208 --> 00:27:02.110
- God's interest extend beyond the four walls of the church.
- 00:27:02.110 --> 00:27:05.947
- God is not only interested in religious institutions,
- 00:27:05.947 --> 00:27:09.384
- He's interested in the whole world.
- 00:27:09.384 --> 00:27:11.853
- [announcer] set your dvr
- 00:27:11.853 --> 00:27:13.021
- And join us next time for the message,
- 00:27:13.021 --> 00:27:15.190
- "determine to influence your culture,"
- 00:27:15.190 --> 00:27:17.826
- Here on pathway to victory.
- 00:27:17.826 --> 00:27:17.826
