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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Straight Talk About Your Faith (Part 1)

June 2, 2025 | S25:E261

Robert Jeffress - Straight Talk About Your Faith (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Faith #Purpose #Blessing #RelationshipwithGod #Religion #Attitude #WordofGod #Joy #Righteousness #inActive #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Responsibility #Accountability #Baptism #Matthew5

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Straight Talk About Your Faith (Part 1) | June 2, 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 my years as a pastor, i found that many christians have a
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  • Difficult time defining their job.
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  • Sure they can tell you where they work or what their daily
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  • Responsibilities are but they can't seem to identify their
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  • True purpose.
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  • Well, today we're going to receive our marching orders from
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  • Jesus himself and discover why you and i were put on
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  • This earth.
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  • My message is titled, "straight talk about your faith," on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: jesus declared, "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 schools and
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  • Communities, now is the time to answer that calling.
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  • Become the salt and light
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  • The world desperately needs through
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  • The "pathway to victory" salt
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  • And light matching challenge.
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  • Your gift today, doubled in ministry impact, will empower
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  • "pathway to victory" to proclaim the gospel and stand for
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  • Biblical truth.
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  • Push back and hold strong against moral decline by joining
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  • The salt and light matching challenge.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: when abraham lincoln was forming his cabinet, one of
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  • His advisors suggested a particular man to serve on
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  • 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, he can't be held
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  • Responsible for his face."
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  • Lincoln replied, "every man is responsible for his own face."
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  • I think of that comment 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, you
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  • 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 ought to go
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  • Around singing "zip-a-dee-doo-dah"
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  • All the time.
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  • That's not realistic.
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  • You're not happy all the time.
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  • 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, we have
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  • That calm assurance that god is in control.
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  • That may not cause us to laugh all the time, but there's a
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  • Smile on our face when we realize somebody more powerful
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  • Than we are in control.
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  • The truth is, what is inside of us eventually shows up on the
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  • Outside of us.
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  • How can you maintain that joy in your life in spite of
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  • Your circumstances?
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  • Jesus talked about joy in what we call the beatitudes, blessed,
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  • Happy, really joyful are those who mimic jesus christ in their
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  • 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 is to remember the
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  • Purpose for which god has left you here on earth.
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  • Why is it that god didn't rapture you to heaven the moment
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  • He saved you so that you could have unending joy in a
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  • Relationship with him untainted by sin?
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  • Why did he leave you here?
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  • We're gonna discover the answer to that question in the next
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  • Section of the sermon on the mount.
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  • Turn to matthew chapter 5 as jesus gives us some straight
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  • Talk about our faith.
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  • I'm gonna read the passage before we delve into it.
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  • "you are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become
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  • Tasteless, how can it be made salty again?
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  • It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown
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  • 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, nor does anyone light a
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  • Lamp, and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand; and it
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  • Gives light to all who are in the house.
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  • Let your light shine before men in such a way that they see your
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  • Good works, and glorify 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 me point out three similarities that you find in
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  • These two metaphors.
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  • First of all, both of them are affirmative statements of what
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  • We are.
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  • He doesn't say you aren't an adulterer, a murderer, or
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  • A drunkard.
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  • A lot of times christians today are defined by what they
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  • Don't do.
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  • You know, i could say the same thing about this podium.
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  • This podium has never had a drop of alcohol pass its lips.
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  • It has never had a lustful thought about anybody.
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  • It has never even gotten angry with somebody, much less
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  • Murdered them.
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  • There are a lot of things this podium is not, but does anybody
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  • Want to be this podium?
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  • I don't think so.
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  • Jesus said in the affirmative, "you are salt, you are light."
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  • Secondly, notice both emphasize individual responsibility.
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  • Jesus begins the sentence with an affirmative, personal
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  • Direction, you, you, you.
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  • You remember in basketball arenas a few years ago it was
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  • Popular for when an opposing team drew a foul for the fans to
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  • Stand up and point and say, "you, you, you, you."
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  • Well, that's what jesus is saying, "you," not somebody
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  • Else, "you are salt.
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  • You are light in this world."
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  • And then finally, both are statements of fact, they're
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  • Really not commands.
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  • Jesus didn't say, "you should be the salt of the earth," or "you
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  • Ought to be the light of the world," he said, "you are."
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  • The only question is, what kind of salt are you?
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  • Are you effective or have you become tasteless?
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  • What kind of light are you?
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  • Are you a bright light for the gospel or a dim light for
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  • The gospel?
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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's 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, to serve as a disinfectant, to
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  • Serve as flavoring like it is today, to serve as
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  • A preservative.
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  • It was so valuable, especially pure salt, that it was often
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  • Used as currency.
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  • Did you know roman soldiers many times received their wages, not
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  • In currency, but in salt?
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  • In fact, the latin word for salt, s-a-l, sal is the root
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  • 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 you were like this
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  • 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, to
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  • Enhance thirst.
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  • You know, today an athlete who's training in my hot sun, the
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  • Coach will give him salt tablets, why?
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  • Why would you have salt?
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  • Well, it would cause a thirst that would motivate you to
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  • Hydrate yourself properly and stay healthy.
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  • It was used in the same way in jesus's day.
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  • Salt was given to animals so that they would take in the
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  • Proper amount of water.
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  • You probably have heard the old adage, "you can lead a horse to
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  • Water," but what?
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  • "you can't make him drink."
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  • And that's true, 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 in the
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  • Same way jesus said in matthew 5:6, "blessed are those who
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  • Hunger," and what?
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  • "thirst for righteousness."
  • 00:08:46.382 --> 00:08:49.385
  • Unfortunately, we live in a world that there are a lot of
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  • People who aren't thirsting after righteousness.
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  • They have no desire for a right relationship with god.
  • 00:08:54.957 --> 00:08:57.760
  • Well, jesus said, "one reason i'm leaving you here on this
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  • Earth is to help create that thirst."
  • 00:09:00.563 --> 00:09:04.433
  • He said, "well, how do you create spiritual thirst in
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  • Other people?"
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  • It's the holy spirit working through you, but in some
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  • Specific ways.
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  • For example, you know, friday night you may be out with your
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  • Mate 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 gonna do that and
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  • Have a receptive audience.
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  • But one thing you can do is, before the meal arrives, bow
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  • Your heads and pray.
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  • Why do we pray in public?
  • 00:09:35.831 --> 00:09:37.166
  • It's not to make people think we're so holy, but it's a way of
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  • Reminding people around you that there is a god to whom
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  • We're accountable.
  • 00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:46.409
  • Now, is anybody gonna get saved hearing that?
  • 00:09:46.409 --> 00:09:49.311
  • No, but it reminds people that there is a god.
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  • You can do that wherever you are.
  • 00:09:54.050 --> 00:09:56.585
  • This week amy was at an appointment and the person who
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  • Was serving her said, "you know, i don't know how you got this
  • 00:10:00.556 --> 00:10:03.526
  • Appointment, we're all booked up.
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  • I don't know how you got it."
  • 00:10:05.394 --> 00:10:07.096
  • And amy said, "well, i prayed about it.
  • 00:10:07.096 --> 00:10:08.864
  • I prayed that god would open up a time," and that opened up a
  • 00:10:08.864 --> 00:10:12.334
  • Spiritual discussion.
  • 00:10:12.334 --> 00:10:14.870
  • When i was in the 9th grade, amy and i were in an english class
  • 00:10:14.870 --> 00:10:18.574
  • Together at richardson west junior high and she wasn't a
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  • Christian yet.
  • 00:10:22.545 --> 00:10:23.946
  • And we had a teacher, mrs. madison, and she was a
  • 00:10:23.946 --> 00:10:28.984
  • Christian, and she was a part of this church, and she wanted to
  • 00:10:28.984 --> 00:10:33.089
  • Use her position as a public teacher to be a witness for
  • 00:10:33.089 --> 00:10:36.726
  • Christ but she also didn't want to be fired for doing so.
  • 00:10:36.726 --> 00:10:40.496
  • So, she was very careful about what she did.
  • 00:10:40.496 --> 00:10:42.832
  • She'd choose books that had a great spiritual theme for us to
  • 00:10:42.832 --> 00:10:46.368
  • Read and to report on.
  • 00:10:46.368 --> 00:10:48.537
  • She would ask leading questions of the class.
  • 00:10:48.537 --> 00:10:52.007
  • Questions like, "do you think it's possible for somebody to
  • 00:10:52.007 --> 00:10:55.344
  • Know what happens after death?"
  • 00:10:55.344 --> 00:10:57.446
  • And that would be my cue to raise my hand and say, "oh, yes,
  • 00:10:57.446 --> 00:11:00.483
  • Ms. madison, you can know for sure," and i could share the
  • 00:11:00.483 --> 00:11:03.652
  • Four spiritual laws at that time.
  • 00:11:03.652 --> 00:11:06.655
  • Well, amy will tell you to this date that she couldn't believe
  • 00:11:06.655 --> 00:11:11.861
  • That i would always answer those questions and that anybody could
  • 00:11:11.861 --> 00:11:15.731
  • Know for sure they're going to heaven when they die.
  • 00:11:15.731 --> 00:11:17.967
  • And she would think, "who is this know-it-all jerk who thinks
  • 00:11:17.967 --> 00:11:21.504
  • He has the answer to everything?"
  • 00:11:21.504 --> 00:11:24.173
  • Of course, 50 years later, she's still asking that question.
  • 00:11:24.173 --> 00:11:28.244
  • That's a different sermon topic.
  • 00:11:28.244 --> 00:11:30.846
  • Well, the point was, that's the year she ended up becoming a
  • 00:11:30.846 --> 00:11:34.183
  • Christian, and she'll say part of the catalyst was a public
  • 00:11:34.183 --> 00:11:38.287
  • School teacher who salted the oats, who created spiritual
  • 00:11:38.287 --> 00:11:42.525
  • Thirst using the position she was in.
  • 00:11:42.525 --> 00:11:45.628
  • That's what jesus is talking about here.
  • 00:11:45.628 --> 00:11:47.897
  • When he talks about being salt, one idea is to enhance thirst.
  • 00:11:47.897 --> 00:11:52.001
  • But there's another application of being salt, and it really was
  • 00:11:52.001 --> 00:11:55.671
  • The main use of salt in jesus's day.
  • 00:11:55.671 --> 00:11:58.374
  • And that was to preserve food.
  • 00:11:58.374 --> 00:12:01.510
  • Remember, in the days before refrigeration, the only way you
  • 00:12:01.510 --> 00:12:05.347
  • Could preserve meat was by packing it with salt.
  • 00:12:05.347 --> 00:12:10.386
  • Now, salt did not prevent the decay of meat, that was a
  • 00:12:10.386 --> 00:12:15.191
  • Natural process that could not be reversed.
  • 00:12:15.191 --> 00:12:18.694
  • You could never reverse the decay of meat, but you could
  • 00:12:18.694 --> 00:12:24.033
  • Delay the decay of the meat.
  • 00:12:24.033 --> 00:12:27.236
  • By packing it with salt, you gave the meat a longer shelf
  • 00:12:27.236 --> 00:12:31.407
  • Life until it had to be thrown out.
  • 00:12:31.407 --> 00:12:34.376
  • And jesus said in the same way, "you and i are salt.
  • 00:12:34.376 --> 00:12:38.814
  • We are restrainers of evil that is destroying our world."
  • 00:12:38.814 --> 00:12:44.086
  • In 2 thessalonians chapter 2, verses 6 and 7, paul alludes
  • 00:12:44.086 --> 00:12:48.891
  • To that.
  • 00:12:48.891 --> 00:12:50.226
  • He's talking about the future antichrist that the world will
  • 00:12:50.226 --> 00:12:53.729
  • Witness during the last seven years of earth's history.
  • 00:12:53.729 --> 00:12:56.932
  • And look at verse 6 of 2
  • 00:12:56.932 --> 00:12:58.300
  • Thessalonians 2, "and you know
  • 00:12:58.300 --> 00:13:01.036
  • What restrains him," that is the antichrist, "now,
  • 00:13:01.036 --> 00:13:04.573
  • So that in his time he will be revealed.
  • 00:13:04.573 --> 00:13:07.576
  • For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who
  • 00:13:07.576 --> 00:13:13.849
  • Now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way."
  • 00:13:13.849 --> 00:13:20.789
  • Who is it that is restraining the antichrist right now?
  • 00:13:20.789 --> 00:13:25.261
  • Who is it that is restraining evil until he, the restrainer,
  • 00:13:25.261 --> 00:13:30.165
  • Is taken out of the way?
  • 00:13:30.165 --> 00:13:31.867
  • Well, he is the holy spirit of god.
  • 00:13:31.867 --> 00:13:34.703
  • He, the holy spirit of god is in the world right now
  • 00:13:34.703 --> 00:13:37.806
  • Restraining evil.
  • 00:13:37.806 --> 00:13:39.174
  • How is he doing it?
  • 00:13:39.174 --> 00:13:40.943
  • He is doing it through the individual christians he has
  • 00:13:40.943 --> 00:13:44.680
  • Left in the world.
  • 00:13:44.680 --> 00:13:46.448
  • "how do you get that, pastor?"
  • 00:13:46.448 --> 00:13:47.983
  • Because notice, "he," the holy spirit, "will restrain until
  • 00:13:47.983 --> 00:13:52.121
  • He," the holy spirit, "is taken out of the way."
  • 00:13:52.121 --> 00:13:55.024
  • When is the holy spirit gonna be taken out of the world?
  • 00:13:55.024 --> 00:13:58.560
  • At the rapture of the church.
  • 00:13:58.560 --> 00:14:00.996
  • When all christians indwelt by the holy spirit will be removed
  • 00:14:00.996 --> 00:14:05.067
  • And the earth will see what it's like to have no godly influence
  • 00:14:05.067 --> 00:14:10.039
  • Save those 144,000 witnesses.
  • 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:12.775
  • But the church will be gone and it will take only seven years
  • 00:14:12.775 --> 00:14:16.312
  • For the church--for the world to completely unravel.
  • 00:14:16.312 --> 00:14:20.482
  • So, what is restraining evil right now?
  • 00:14:20.482 --> 00:14:24.586
  • It is the holy spirit in the lives of christians.
  • 00:14:24.586 --> 00:14:28.791
  • We can't prevent the destruction of the world ultimately, but we
  • 00:14:28.791 --> 00:14:32.761
  • Can delay it.
  • 00:14:32.761 --> 00:14:34.897
  • We can push back against it.
  • 00:14:34.897 --> 00:14:36.665
  • Imagine a giant dam that is over a small village.
  • 00:14:36.665 --> 00:14:43.072
  • And that dam is holding back massive millions of gallons of
  • 00:14:43.072 --> 00:14:47.609
  • Water, but leaks starts springing up in that dam.
  • 00:14:47.609 --> 00:14:51.547
  • It starts bringing leaks everywhere.
  • 00:14:51.547 --> 00:14:53.549
  • The bricks are beginning to crumble.
  • 00:14:53.549 --> 00:14:55.684
  • And a hundred of the men of the town go up to that dam and they
  • 00:14:55.684 --> 00:15:00.956
  • Push back against it.
  • 00:15:00.956 --> 00:15:03.559
  • They know that eventually the dam is going to crumble, their
  • 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:07.029
  • Efforts will be futile, but all they're trying to do is buy a
  • 00:15:07.029 --> 00:15:10.733
  • Little more time so that the people in the village below have
  • 00:15:10.733 --> 00:15:14.803
  • Time to flee for safety.
  • 00:15:14.803 --> 00:15:17.506
  • That's the picture of what we are doing right now.
  • 00:15:17.506 --> 00:15:20.142
  • We're the ones, the restrainers of evil pushing up against that
  • 00:15:20.142 --> 00:15:25.080
  • Flood of iniquity that is about to descend upon our country and
  • 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:29.551
  • Upon our world.
  • 00:15:29.551 --> 00:15:31.053
  • That is our job as salt to push back against evil.
  • 00:15:31.053 --> 00:15:36.225
  • Now i know some of you are thinking, "now, wait a minute,
  • 00:15:36.225 --> 00:15:39.128
  • How does that fit with the truth of god's sovereignty?
  • 00:15:39.128 --> 00:15:43.832
  • Pastor, don't you believe in the sovereignty of god?
  • 00:15:43.832 --> 00:15:47.336
  • Don't you believe the day of the world's destruction is written
  • 00:15:47.336 --> 00:15:50.406
  • In indelible ink on god's calendar and there's not one
  • 00:15:50.406 --> 00:15:53.809
  • Thing you can do to change it?
  • 00:15:53.809 --> 00:15:55.277
  • Don't you believe that?"
  • 00:15:55.277 --> 00:15:58.147
  • Yes, i believe it until i read my bible.
  • 00:15:58.147 --> 00:16:02.684
  • Now let me be clear, i do believe in the sovereignty
  • 00:16:02.684 --> 00:16:05.821
  • Of god.
  • 00:16:05.821 --> 00:16:07.189
  • It's a mystery what we can't--that we just can't
  • 00:16:07.189 --> 00:16:09.425
  • Comprehend, but that doesn't negate the individual
  • 00:16:09.425 --> 00:16:12.895
  • Responsibility that we have.
  • 00:16:12.895 --> 00:16:14.963
  • We can delay god's judgment.
  • 00:16:14.963 --> 00:16:17.433
  • You know how i know that?
  • 00:16:17.433 --> 00:16:18.934
  • By reading the story of jonah.
  • 00:16:18.934 --> 00:16:21.537
  • God said, "i'm gonna destroy the wicked city of nineveh, the
  • 00:16:21.537 --> 00:16:26.575
  • Capital of assyria."
  • 00:16:26.575 --> 00:16:29.078
  • But god sent that reluctant prophet, jonah, who preached to
  • 00:16:29.078 --> 00:16:33.782
  • The ninevites.
  • 00:16:33.782 --> 00:16:35.150
  • Many were converted.
  • 00:16:35.150 --> 00:16:36.585
  • And notice the result, jonah 3:10 says, "when god saw their
  • 00:16:36.585 --> 00:16:41.190
  • Deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then god
  • 00:16:41.190 --> 00:16:46.595
  • Relented concerning the calamity which he declared that he would
  • 00:16:46.595 --> 00:16:51.600
  • Bring upon them.
  • 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.935
  • And he did not do it."
  • 00:16:52.935 --> 00:16:55.671
  • God relented, god repented, god changed his mind.
  • 00:16:55.671 --> 00:17:02.845
  • How is it that an omniscient, omnipotent, immutable,
  • 00:17:02.845 --> 00:17:07.049
  • Unchangeable god changes his mind about anything?
  • 00:17:07.049 --> 00:17:12.821
  • I don't have a clue.
  • 00:17:12.821 --> 00:17:15.290
  • I don't have a clue, and neither do you.
  • 00:17:15.290 --> 00:17:17.659
  • We can't explain it.
  • 00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:19.862
  • The bible is explaining in human terms what we can't really
  • 00:17:19.862 --> 00:17:24.166
  • Understand in divine terms.
  • 00:17:24.166 --> 00:17:26.502
  • But the practical outworking of it is, god relented of
  • 00:17:26.502 --> 00:17:30.305
  • His decision.
  • 00:17:30.305 --> 00:17:31.673
  • Now here's what's interesting, when you look at secular
  • 00:17:31.673 --> 00:17:33.375
  • History, god eventually did destroy nineveh in 612 bc.
  • 00:17:33.375 --> 00:17:38.881
  • Nineveh was destroyed.
  • 00:17:38.881 --> 00:17:41.283
  • But god delayed the destruction of nineveh because of one
  • 00:17:41.283 --> 00:17:45.120
  • Man's action.
  • 00:17:45.120 --> 00:17:46.455
  • The takeaway for me is we can push back against evil.
  • 00:17:46.455 --> 00:17:50.692
  • We can delay god's judgment on our nation and our world, but
  • 00:17:50.692 --> 00:17:56.098
  • The only reason we do that is so that we have opportunity a
  • 00:17:56.098 --> 00:18:00.836
  • Little more longer to spread the gospel of jesus christ.
  • 00:18:00.836 --> 00:18:04.506
  • Have you ever wondered why god allows people like vladimir
  • 00:18:04.506 --> 00:18:08.877
  • Putin, and adolf hitler and others to wreck--wreak havoc on
  • 00:18:08.877 --> 00:18:13.415
  • The world and continue in their evil ways?
  • 00:18:13.415 --> 00:18:16.151
  • Why doesn't god put an end to it?
  • 00:18:16.151 --> 00:18:18.854
  • The bible is very clear.
  • 00:18:18.854 --> 00:18:20.289
  • In 2 peter 3, verses 9 and 10, peter says, "for the lord is not
  • 00:18:20.289 --> 00:18:24.693
  • Slow about his promise, as some count slowness, but he is
  • 00:18:24.693 --> 00:18:28.363
  • Patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to
  • 00:18:28.363 --> 00:18:33.168
  • Come repentance."
  • 00:18:33.168 --> 00:18:34.736
  • The only reason god has not drawn the curtain on human
  • 00:18:34.736 --> 00:18:38.774
  • History and sent christ back is to give people longer to share
  • 00:18:38.774 --> 00:18:43.979
  • The gospel.
  • 00:18:43.979 --> 00:18:45.514
  • If we're fulfilling our christ-given purpose to be
  • 00:18:45.514 --> 00:18:49.151
  • Salt, it means we are being a preservative, we are pushing
  • 00:18:49.151 --> 00:18:53.555
  • Back against evil, not to save america.
  • 00:18:53.555 --> 00:18:57.226
  • There is no command in america for us to save america.
  • 00:18:57.226 --> 00:19:01.530
  • That's not the command of scripture.
  • 00:19:01.530 --> 00:19:03.799
  • We have been called to save americans from the coming
  • 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:07.502
  • Judgment of god by introducing them to faith in jesus christ.
  • 00:19:07.502 --> 00:19:12.307
  • That's why we push up against evil.
  • 00:19:12.307 --> 00:19:15.644
  • And you know there are a lot of christians today who have come
  • 00:19:15.644 --> 00:19:18.580
  • Up with all kinds of excuses of why they shouldn't get involved
  • 00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:22.317
  • In pushing back against evil.
  • 00:19:22.317 --> 00:19:24.753
  • They talk about their own piety.
  • 00:19:24.753 --> 00:19:26.488
  • "well, i'm just too holy, and i can't get involved in the
  • 00:19:26.488 --> 00:19:29.925
  • Worldly things.
  • 00:19:29.925 --> 00:19:31.293
  • I just can't do that at all.
  • 00:19:31.293 --> 00:19:32.728
  • I might taint my holiness."
  • 00:19:32.728 --> 00:19:34.763
  • Some use theology as an excuse.
  • 00:19:34.763 --> 00:19:36.798
  • "well, we can't change the sovereign plan of god.
  • 00:19:36.798 --> 00:19:39.601
  • God is gonna do whatever he's going to do."
  • 00:19:39.601 --> 00:19:42.004
  • Some even use a false patriotism of saying, "well, this is
  • 00:19:42.004 --> 00:19:46.208
  • America and i shouldn't impose my christian views on a
  • 00:19:46.208 --> 00:19:50.178
  • Free country."
  • 00:19:50.178 --> 00:19:51.513
  • Let me remind you something, every country is built on
  • 00:19:51.513 --> 00:19:55.050
  • Somebody's values.
  • 00:19:55.050 --> 00:19:56.785
  • Every nation is built on some value system.
  • 00:19:56.785 --> 00:20:00.122
  • For the first 160 years of this nation, we
  • 00:20:00.122 --> 00:20:03.125
  • Were built on the values found in god's word.
  • 00:20:03.125 --> 00:20:07.329
  • Now we are following the values of atheism, marxism, humanism.
  • 00:20:07.329 --> 00:20:13.468
  • But every nation is going to be built on some set of values.
  • 00:20:13.468 --> 00:20:18.874
  • Should we get involved in pushing back against evil or
  • 00:20:18.874 --> 00:20:22.210
  • Should we just stay in our holy huddle and talk to one another?
  • 00:20:22.210 --> 00:20:27.082
  • Erwin lutzer, my good friend, recounts what happens when
  • 00:20:27.082 --> 00:20:32.954
  • Christians are indifferent about what is happening in their
  • 00:20:32.954 --> 00:20:36.224
  • Nation and in their world.
  • 00:20:36.224 --> 00:20:38.860
  • If you want to know the end result of christian passivity,
  • 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:42.331
  • Just remember what happened 83 years ago when adolf hitler
  • 00:20:42.331 --> 00:20:46.101
  • Invaded poland in 1939.
  • 00:20:46.101 --> 00:20:49.104
  • And then he started his march across the world.
  • 00:20:49.104 --> 00:20:52.641
  • The fact is, the reason he was allowed to do what he did was
  • 00:20:52.641 --> 00:20:57.546
  • The indifference of the german people, mainly
  • 00:20:57.546 --> 00:21:01.216
  • German christians.
  • 00:21:01.216 --> 00:21:02.951
  • There are a few outliers like dietrich bonhoeffer, but the
  • 00:21:02.951 --> 00:21:07.389
  • Majority of german christians remained silent under this
  • 00:21:07.389 --> 00:21:11.860
  • Ungodly dictator.
  • 00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:13.695
  • And they used all the excuses: piety and their theology and
  • 00:21:13.695 --> 00:21:17.699
  • Their false sense of patriotism to remain silent.
  • 00:21:17.699 --> 00:21:21.870
  • Dr. lutzer recounts the testimony of a christian living
  • 00:21:21.870 --> 00:21:25.474
  • In germany about the end result of indifference.
  • 00:21:25.474 --> 00:21:30.178
  • "i lived in germany during the nazi holocaust.
  • 00:21:30.178 --> 00:21:33.815
  • I considered myself a christian.
  • 00:21:33.815 --> 00:21:36.618
  • We heard stories of what was happening to the jews, but we
  • 00:21:36.618 --> 00:21:40.422
  • Tried to distance ourselves from it, because what could anyone do
  • 00:21:40.422 --> 00:21:44.326
  • To stop it?
  • 00:21:44.326 --> 00:21:45.961
  • A railroad track ran behind our small church, and each sunday
  • 00:21:45.961 --> 00:21:50.899
  • Morning we could hear the whistle in the distance, and
  • 00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:54.002
  • Then the wheels coming over the tracks.
  • 00:21:54.002 --> 00:21:57.005
  • We became disturbed when we heard the cries coming from the
  • 00:21:57.005 --> 00:22:00.675
  • Train as it passed by.
  • 00:22:00.675 --> 00:22:03.378
  • We realized it was carrying jews like cattle in the cars.
  • 00:22:03.378 --> 00:22:09.184
  • Week after week, the whistle would blow.
  • 00:22:09.184 --> 00:22:12.087
  • We dreaded to hear the sound of those wheels because we knew we
  • 00:22:12.087 --> 00:22:16.425
  • Would hear the cries of the jews en route to a death camp.
  • 00:22:16.425 --> 00:22:21.096
  • Their screams tormented us.
  • 00:22:21.096 --> 00:22:23.965
  • We knew the time the train was coming, and when we heard the
  • 00:22:23.965 --> 00:22:27.803
  • Whistle blow, we began singing hymns.
  • 00:22:27.803 --> 00:22:31.506
  • By the time the train came past our church, we were singing at
  • 00:22:31.506 --> 00:22:35.811
  • The top of our lungs.
  • 00:22:35.811 --> 00:22:38.713
  • We heard the screams, we sang more loudly, and we soon heard
  • 00:22:38.713 --> 00:22:44.219
  • Them no more.
  • 00:22:44.219 --> 00:22:46.855
  • Years have passed and nobody talks about it anymore.
  • 00:22:46.855 --> 00:22:50.525
  • But i still hear that train whistle in my sleep.
  • 00:22:50.525 --> 00:22:55.430
  • God forgive me.
  • 00:22:55.430 --> 00:22:57.699
  • Forgive all of us who called ourselves christians yet did
  • 00:22:57.699 --> 00:23:01.937
  • Nothing to intervene."
  • 00:23:01.937 --> 00:23:06.475
  • There are churches across this country that are singing at the
  • 00:23:06.475 --> 00:23:09.811
  • Top of their lungs to try to drown out the evil that is
  • 00:23:09.811 --> 00:23:14.249
  • Pervading our country right now.
  • 00:23:14.249 --> 00:23:16.384
  • We dare not do that.
  • 00:23:16.384 --> 00:23:18.753
  • We must speak out and push back against evil, and we're going to
  • 00:23:18.753 --> 00:23:23.391
  • Continue to do it.
  • 00:23:23.391 --> 00:23:27.462
  • Jeffress: sometimes following jesus makes us feel isolated.
  • 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:35.237
  • As christians we feel like aliens in a foreign land because
  • 00:23:35.237 --> 00:23:39.040
  • The voices of those who oppose god's truth are growing louder
  • 00:23:39.040 --> 00:23:42.544
  • And louder.
  • 00:23:42.544 --> 00:23:44.045
  • Well, for that reason and more, i'm pleased to inform you about
  • 00:23:44.045 --> 00:23:47.048
  • An opportunity to double your impact for the gospel through
  • 00:23:47.048 --> 00:23:51.086
  • The salt and light matching challenge.
  • 00:23:51.086 --> 00:23:53.922
  • Your generous gift from now until july 6 will be matched and
  • 00:23:53.922 --> 00:23:58.727
  • Therefore doubled in impact until we reach the goal of
  • 00:23:58.727 --> 00:24:02.130
  • $1 million.
  • 00:24:02.130 --> 00:24:04.165
  • As christians in america, we're called to be the salt of the
  • 00:24:04.165 --> 00:24:07.569
  • Earth and the light of the world in a time when moral darkness
  • 00:24:07.569 --> 00:24:11.773
  • Seems to grow every day.
  • 00:24:11.773 --> 00:24:14.442
  • Your gift toward the matching challenge will help communicate
  • 00:24:14.442 --> 00:24:17.479
  • God's word through our television, radio, digital, and
  • 00:24:17.479 --> 00:24:21.016
  • Print ministries while equipping christians to stand firm in
  • 00:24:21.016 --> 00:24:25.587
  • Their faith.
  • 00:24:25.587 --> 00:24:26.922
  • Thank you in advance for your generous support to our
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  • Matching challenge.
  • 00:24:30.258 --> 00:24:31.927
  • Now stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
  • 00:24:31.927 --> 00:24:34.496
  • Victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:34.496 --> 00:24:37.098
  • Announcer: the moral decline in today's world can
  • 00:24:37.098 --> 00:24:39.467
  • Feel overwhelming, but god calls us to shine his light and make a
  • 00:24:39.467 --> 00:24:43.672
  • Difference for him in a world that has lost its way.
  • 00:24:43.672 --> 00:24:46.808
  • In his brand new book, "shine the light," dr. robert jeffress
  • 00:24:46.808 --> 00:24:50.245
  • Shows you how small faithful acts like teaching, serving, and
  • 00:24:50.245 --> 00:24:53.748
  • Encouraging can restore and renew christian values in your
  • 00:24:53.748 --> 00:24:57.252
  • Family, your church, and community.
  • 00:24:57.252 --> 00:24:59.588
  • Jeffress: the bible teaches that our primary purpose in life is
  • 00:24:59.588 --> 00:25:03.058
  • To influence the world with the gospel.
  • 00:25:03.058 --> 00:25:06.061
  • And in my new book, i'll show you how to live purposefully and
  • 00:25:06.061 --> 00:25:09.764
  • Leave behind a legacy of faith, wisdom, and compassion.
  • 00:25:09.764 --> 00:25:14.235
  • Announcer: the world may seem lost, but god's light has
  • 00:25:14.235 --> 00:25:16.905
  • Not dimmed, and neither has yours.
  • 00:25:16.905 --> 00:25:19.374
  • Request your copy of, "shine the light" when you give a generous
  • 00:25:19.374 --> 00:25:22.477
  • Gift to the "pathway to victory" salt and
  • 00:25:22.477 --> 00:25:24.679
  • Light matching challenge.
  • 00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:26.381
  • And when your ministry gift is $100 or more, we'll also send
  • 00:25:26.381 --> 00:25:30.251
  • You the complete, "shine the light" teaching series on dvd
  • 00:25:30.251 --> 00:25:33.655
  • And audio disc.
  • 00:25:33.655 --> 00:25:34.990
  • Jeffress: light is of little value in the light.
  • 00:25:34.990 --> 00:25:37.892
  • If we're gonna be effective, we're effective for christ not
  • 00:25:37.892 --> 00:25:41.129
  • When we're around other light sources, other christians, it is
  • 00:25:41.129 --> 00:25:45.166
  • When we're in the darkness.
  • 00:25:45.166 --> 00:25:47.602
  • Jeffress: light has to confront the darkness.
  • 00:25:47.602 --> 00:25:50.305
  • Announcer: remember your
  • 00:25:50.305 --> 00:25:51.640
  • Gift today will have twice the
  • 00:25:51.640 --> 00:25:53.008
  • Impact thanks to the "pathway
  • 00:25:53.008 --> 00:25:54.342
  • To victory" salt and light
  • 00:25:54.342 --> 00:25:55.677
  • Matching challenge.
  • 00:25:55.677 --> 00:25:57.278
  • Thank you for partnering with "pathway to victory" as we
  • 00:25:57.278 --> 00:26:00.215
  • Boldly proclaim the gospel and equip believers to shine god's
  • 00:26:00.215 --> 00:26:04.119
  • Light in a world that has lost its way.
  • 00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:07.088
  • Jeffress: can you see why jesus chose salt as a metaphor
  • 00:26:08.890 --> 00:26:12.160
  • For christians?
  • 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:13.528
  • Salt is good for more than just seasoning food.
  • 00:26:13.528 --> 00:26:16.765
  • It enhances thirst and it preserves that which would
  • 00:26:16.765 --> 00:26:20.268
  • Otherwise decay.
  • 00:26:20.268 --> 00:26:21.970
  • But it's not the only thing that jesus used to describe a
  • 00:26:21.970 --> 00:26:25.106
  • Christian's purpose in this world.
  • 00:26:25.106 --> 00:26:27.375
  • Next time i'll share what jesus meant when he said, "you are the
  • 00:26:27.375 --> 00:26:31.613
  • Light of the world."
  • 00:26:31.613 --> 00:26:33.214
  • And becoming a beacon of light for christ is one of the
  • 00:26:33.214 --> 00:26:36.384
  • Greatest privileges of life.
  • 00:26:36.384 --> 00:26:38.887
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:38.887 --> 00:26:41.656
  • Series, "shine the light."
  • 00:26:41.656 --> 00:26:44.859
  • Jeffress: fact is that word politics, the latin word for it
  • 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:47.896
  • Means influence, influence.
  • 00:26:47.896 --> 00:26:51.933
  • When you say, "christians shouldn't get involved in
  • 00:26:51.933 --> 00:26:54.703
  • Politics or pastors shouldn't get involved in politics," what
  • 00:26:54.703 --> 00:26:58.440
  • You're saying is christians should not try to influence the
  • 00:26:58.440 --> 00:27:01.643
  • World in which they live.
  • 00:27:01.643 --> 00:27:03.378
  • Can anybody say that with a straight face?
  • 00:27:03.378 --> 00:27:05.914
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two of the
  • 00:27:05.914 --> 00:27:08.883
  • Message, "straight talk about your faith," here on "pathway
  • 00:27:08.883 --> 00:27:12.754
  • To victory."
  • 00:27:12.754 --> 00:27:12.754