Dr. Robert Jeffress delivers a powerful sermon on the importance of Christians understanding their purpose in the world as salt and light. Through biblical references and personal anecdotes, he emphasizes the role of believers in influencing others towards righteousness and spreading the Gospel. He challenges individuals to actively participate in pushing back against moral decline and illuminating the way to salvation.
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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Straight Talk About Your Faith (Part 1) | 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."
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- 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
- 00:12:36.445 --> 00:12:39.448
- 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.
- 00:13:25.127 --> 00:13:28.664
- 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?
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- Well, he is the holy spirit of god.
- 00:14:50.145 --> 00:14:52.881
- He, the holy spirit of god,
- 00:14:52.881 --> 00:14:54.650
- 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
