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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Straight Talk About Your Faith (Part 2)

June 3, 2025 | S25:E263

Robert Jeffress - Straight Talk About Your Faith (Part 2)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Faith #BodyofChrist #Gospel #Evil #Religion #Culture #Judgement #Ministry #inActive #Calling #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Praise&Worship #Mercy #SpiritualWarfare #LightoftheWorld #Complacency #HandofGod #Orchestra

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Straight Talk About Your Faith (Part 2) | June 3, 2025
  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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  • Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
  • 00:00:09.265 --> 00:00:10.200
  • 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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  • One of the most common questions that people ask is also one
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  • Of my favorite questions to answer.
  • 00:00:22.378 --> 00:00:24.914
  • Should christians get involved in politics?
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  • Well, you likely know that my answer is yes, as long as you
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  • Properly define politics, but perhaps you don't know my
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  • Reasons why.
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  • As you're about to see, jesus not only encourages us to
  • 00:00:36.493 --> 00:00:40.096
  • Influence this world for the gospel, he commands it.
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  • My message is titled, "straight talk about your faith,"
  • 00:00:43.800 --> 00:00:47.737
  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪ i saw the lord seated high and lifted up. ♪
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  • ♪ projecting his splendour. ♪
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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 the words of his praise. ♪
  • 00:02:03.279 --> 00:02:10.153
  • ♪ his mercies surrounding the depth of his praise. ♪
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  • ♪ holy, holy is the lord. ♪
  • 00:02:14.424 --> 00:02:21.364
  • ♪ worthy, worthy is the lamb. ♪
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  • ♪ he 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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  • ♪ and by majesty ♪
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  • ♪ this land redeemed in--♪
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  • ♪ holy, holy is the lord. ♪
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  • ♪ worthy, worthy is the lamb--♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪ we sing glory, glory to his name. ♪
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  • ♪ to his name. ♪♪
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  • [congregation applauding]
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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 the
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  • World desperately needs through
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  • The "pathway to victory" salt
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  • & 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 & light matching challenge.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: that is our job as salt to push back against evil.
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  • Now i know some of you are thinking, "no, wait a minute,
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  • How does that fit with the truth of god's sovereignty?
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  • Pastor, don't you believe in the sovereignty of god?
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  • Don't you believe the day of the world's destruction is written
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  • In indelible ink on god's calendar, and there's not one
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  • Thing you can do to change it?
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  • Don't you believe that?"
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  • Yes, i believe it until i read my bible.
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  • Now let me be clear, i do believe in the sovereignty
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  • Of god.
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  • It's a mystery what we can't-- that we just can't comprehend,
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  • But that doesn't negate the individual responsibility that
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  • We have.
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  • We can delay god's judgment.
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  • You know how i know that?
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  • By reading the story of jonah.
  • 00:06:04.921 --> 00:06:07.523
  • God said, "i'm gonna destroy the wicked city of nineveh, the
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  • Capital of assyria," but god sent that reluctant prophet
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  • Jonah, who preached to the ninevites.
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  • Many were converted and notice the result.
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  • Jonah 3:10 says: "when god saw their deeds, that they turned
  • 00:06:23.840 --> 00:06:29.412
  • From their wicked way, then god relented concerning the calamity
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  • Which he declared that he would bring upon them.
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  • And he did not do it."
  • 00:06:38.588 --> 00:06:41.591
  • God relented, god repented.
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  • God changed his mind.
  • 00:06:45.194 --> 00:06:48.798
  • How is it that an omniscient, omnipotent, immutable,
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  • Unchangeable god changes his mind about anything?
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  • I don't have a clue.
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  • I don't have a clue, and neither do you.
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  • We can't explain it.
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  • The bible is explaining in human terms what we can't really
  • 00:07:05.815 --> 00:07:10.152
  • Understand in divine terms, but the practical outworking of it
  • 00:07:10.152 --> 00:07:14.190
  • Is god relented of his decision.
  • 00:07:14.190 --> 00:07:16.959
  • Now here's what's interesting.
  • 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:18.327
  • When you look at secular history, god eventually did
  • 00:07:18.327 --> 00:07:22.198
  • Destroy nineveh in 612 bc.
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  • Nineveh was destroyed.
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  • But god delayed the destruction of nineveh because of one
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  • Man's action.
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  • The takeaway for me is we can push back against evil.
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  • We can delay god's judgment on our nation and our world, but
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  • The only reason we do that is so that we have opportunity,
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  • A little more longer to spread the gospel of jesus christ.
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  • Have you ever wondered why god allows people like vladimir
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  • Putin and adolf hitler and others to wreck--wreak havoc on
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  • The world and continue in their evil ways?
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  • Why doesn't god put an end to it?
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  • The bible is very clear.
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  • In 2 peter 3, verses 9 and 10, peter says, "for the lord is not
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  • Slow about his promise, as some count slowness, but he is
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  • Patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to
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  • Come repentance."
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  • The only reason god has not drawn the curtain on human
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  • History and sent christ back is to give people longer to share
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  • The gospel.
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  • If we're fulfilling our christ-given purpose to be salt,
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  • It means we are being a preservative.
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  • We are pushing back against evil, not to save america.
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  • There is no command in america for us to save america.
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  • That's not the command of scripture.
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  • We have been called to save americans from the coming
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  • Judgment of god by introducing them to faith in jesus christ.
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  • That's why we push up against evil.
  • 00:08:58.294 --> 00:09:01.664
  • And you know there are a lot of christians today who have come
  • 00:09:01.664 --> 00:09:04.600
  • Up with all kind of excuses of why they shouldn't get involved
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  • In pushing back against evil.
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  • They talk about their own piety.
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  • "well, i'm just too holy, and i can't get involved
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  • In the worldly things.
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  • I just can't do that at all.
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  • I might taint my holiness."
  • 00:09:18.781 --> 00:09:20.783
  • Some use theology as an excuse.
  • 00:09:20.783 --> 00:09:22.852
  • "well, we can't change the sovereign plan of god.
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  • God is gonna do whatever he's going to do."
  • 00:09:25.621 --> 00:09:27.957
  • Some even use a false patriotism of saying, "well, this is
  • 00:09:27.957 --> 00:09:32.161
  • America and i shouldn't impose my christian views on
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  • A free country."
  • 00:09:36.165 --> 00:09:37.533
  • Let me remind you something, every country is built on
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  • Somebody's values.
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  • Every nation is built on some value system.
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  • For the first 160 years of this nation, we were built on the
  • 00:09:46.142 --> 00:09:50.813
  • Values found in god's word.
  • 00:09:50.813 --> 00:09:53.382
  • Now we are following the values of atheism, marxism, humanism,
  • 00:09:53.382 --> 00:09:59.455
  • But every nation is going to be built on some set of values.
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  • Should we get involved in pushing back against evil, or
  • 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:08.197
  • Should we just stay in our holy huddle and talk to one another?
  • 00:10:08.197 --> 00:10:13.102
  • Erwin lutzer, my good friend, recounts what happens when
  • 00:10:13.102 --> 00:10:18.974
  • Christians are indifferent about what is happening in their
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  • Nation and in their world.
  • 00:10:22.244 --> 00:10:24.880
  • If you want to know the end result of christian passivity,
  • 00:10:24.880 --> 00:10:28.250
  • Just remember what happened 83 years ago when adolf hitler
  • 00:10:28.250 --> 00:10:32.021
  • Invaded poland in 1939, and then he started his march across
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  • The world.
  • 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:38.594
  • The fact is, the reason he was allowed to do what he did was
  • 00:10:38.594 --> 00:10:43.532
  • The indifference of the german people, mainly
  • 00:10:43.532 --> 00:10:47.203
  • German christians.
  • 00:10:47.203 --> 00:10:48.938
  • There were a few outliers like dietrich bonhoeffer, but the
  • 00:10:48.938 --> 00:10:53.375
  • Majority of german christians remained silent under this
  • 00:10:53.375 --> 00:10:57.847
  • Ungodly dictator, and they used all the excuses, piety and their
  • 00:10:57.847 --> 00:11:02.685
  • Theology and their false sense of patriotism, to remain silent.
  • 00:11:02.685 --> 00:11:07.857
  • Dr. lutzer recounts the testimony of a christian living
  • 00:11:07.857 --> 00:11:11.460
  • In germany about the end result of indifference: "i lived in
  • 00:11:11.460 --> 00:11:16.866
  • Germany during the nazi holocaust.
  • 00:11:16.866 --> 00:11:19.835
  • I considered myself a christian.
  • 00:11:19.835 --> 00:11:22.638
  • We heard stories of what was happening to the jews, but we
  • 00:11:22.638 --> 00:11:26.375
  • Tried to distance ourselves from it, because what could anyone do
  • 00:11:26.375 --> 00:11:30.246
  • To stop it?
  • 00:11:30.246 --> 00:11:31.914
  • A railroad track ran behind our small church, and each sunday
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  • Morning we could hear the whistle in the distance and then
  • 00:11:36.852 --> 00:11:40.022
  • The wheels coming over the tracks.
  • 00:11:40.022 --> 00:11:42.958
  • We became disturbed when we heard the cries coming from the
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  • Train as it passed by.
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  • We realized it was carrying jews like cattle in the cars.
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  • Week after week, the whistle would blow.
  • 00:11:55.171 --> 00:11:58.073
  • We dreaded to hear the sound of those wheels because we knew we
  • 00:11:58.073 --> 00:12:02.411
  • Would hear the cries of the jews en route to a death camp.
  • 00:12:02.411 --> 00:12:07.082
  • Their screams tormented us.
  • 00:12:07.082 --> 00:12:09.985
  • We knew the time the train was coming, and when we heard the
  • 00:12:09.985 --> 00:12:13.856
  • Whistle blow, we began singing hymns.
  • 00:12:13.856 --> 00:12:17.493
  • By the time the train came past our church, we were singing at
  • 00:12:17.493 --> 00:12:21.864
  • The top of our lungs.
  • 00:12:21.864 --> 00:12:24.767
  • We heard the screams, we sang more loudly, and we soon heard
  • 00:12:24.767 --> 00:12:30.139
  • Them no more.
  • 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:32.808
  • Years have passed and nobody talks about it anymore.
  • 00:12:32.808 --> 00:12:36.445
  • But i still hear that train whistle in my sleep.
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  • God forgive me.
  • 00:12:41.383 --> 00:12:43.652
  • Forgive all of us who called ourselves christians, yet did
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  • Nothing to intervene."
  • 00:12:47.890 --> 00:12:52.461
  • There are churches across this country that are singing at the
  • 00:12:52.461 --> 00:12:55.764
  • Top of their lungs to try to drown out the evil that is
  • 00:12:55.764 --> 00:13:00.202
  • Pervading our country right now.
  • 00:13:00.202 --> 00:13:02.371
  • We dare not do that.
  • 00:13:02.371 --> 00:13:04.740
  • We must speak out and push back against evil, and we're going to
  • 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:09.378
  • Continue to do it.
  • 00:13:09.378 --> 00:13:12.815
  • You know, when it comes to our role in the culture and pushing
  • 00:13:12.815 --> 00:13:17.987
  • Back against evil, christians go to one of two extremes.
  • 00:13:17.987 --> 00:13:21.991
  • You know, there are some christians who want to
  • 00:13:21.991 --> 00:13:23.959
  • Isolate themselves.
  • 00:13:23.959 --> 00:13:25.694
  • They're salt, but they're gonna stay in that shaker, and they
  • 00:13:25.694 --> 00:13:28.697
  • Come up with all kind of reasons.
  • 00:13:28.697 --> 00:13:30.799
  • They isolate themselves from the culture.
  • 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:33.202
  • There are other christians who go to the opposite extreme.
  • 00:13:33.202 --> 00:13:35.704
  • They identify with the culture.
  • 00:13:35.704 --> 00:13:38.908
  • They become more like the culture, rather than the culture
  • 00:13:38.908 --> 00:13:41.944
  • Becoming like the church.
  • 00:13:41.944 --> 00:13:43.312
  • They adopt their value system, they become just like them.
  • 00:13:43.312 --> 00:13:46.982
  • Jesus talked about them in verse 13.
  • 00:13:46.982 --> 00:13:49.952
  • In jesus's day you couldn't buy pure salt, it was too expensive.
  • 00:13:49.952 --> 00:13:53.722
  • You'd buy a mixture of salt and sand, and eventually the sand
  • 00:13:53.722 --> 00:13:57.359
  • Would break down the effectiveness of the salt, and
  • 00:13:57.359 --> 00:13:59.962
  • That's why jesus said, "if the salt has become tasteless, how
  • 00:13:59.962 --> 00:14:03.365
  • Can it be made salty again?
  • 00:14:03.365 --> 00:14:04.934
  • It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out
  • 00:14:04.934 --> 00:14:09.338
  • And trampled underfoot by men."
  • 00:14:09.338 --> 00:14:11.740
  • Once the salt lost its sting, its tastiness, it's preserving
  • 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:15.878
  • Influence, it was thrown away.
  • 00:14:15.878 --> 00:14:18.347
  • That's happening to christians who become more like the world
  • 00:14:18.347 --> 00:14:22.851
  • Than they should.
  • 00:14:22.851 --> 00:14:24.186
  • No, jesus said, don't isolate yourself, don't identify with
  • 00:14:24.186 --> 00:14:27.323
  • The culture.
  • 00:14:27.323 --> 00:14:28.691
  • Instead, influence the culture, permeate the culture, get out of
  • 00:14:28.691 --> 00:14:32.795
  • The shaker, get involved in the world of business and politics
  • 00:14:32.795 --> 00:14:37.099
  • And entertainment.
  • 00:14:37.099 --> 00:14:38.434
  • God needs his people in those arenas to be that preserving
  • 00:14:38.434 --> 00:14:42.805
  • Influence that god has called us to be.
  • 00:14:42.805 --> 00:14:45.441
  • But notice, jesus gives another image that describes our
  • 00:14:45.441 --> 00:14:49.111
  • Purpose, and that is light.
  • 00:14:49.111 --> 00:14:51.313
  • He talks about the necessity of life: "you are the light of
  • 00:14:51.313 --> 00:14:55.617
  • The world."
  • 00:14:55.617 --> 00:14:56.986
  • You know, it's interesting in john 9:5, another one of those
  • 00:14:56.986 --> 00:14:59.955
  • "i ams" that we heard about this morning.
  • 00:14:59.955 --> 00:15:04.460
  • One of those "i ams" was "i am the light of the world."
  • 00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:08.197
  • But here jesus says, "you are the light of the world."
  • 00:15:08.197 --> 00:15:12.201
  • Jesus is the light who generates light.
  • 00:15:12.201 --> 00:15:15.637
  • He's like the sun, but you and i don't generate light, we're like
  • 00:15:15.637 --> 00:15:19.808
  • The moon, we reflect the light of the sun.
  • 00:15:19.808 --> 00:15:24.380
  • And our job here is not just to push back against evil, but it's
  • 00:15:24.380 --> 00:15:28.484
  • Also to share the light, the only light of the world,
  • 00:15:28.484 --> 00:15:31.820
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:33.188
  • I mean, quite frankly, what use is it to create spiritual thirst
  • 00:15:33.188 --> 00:15:36.825
  • In people if you never show them how to satisfy that thirst
  • 00:15:36.825 --> 00:15:40.729
  • Through the living word of god, jesus christ, the water of life?
  • 00:15:40.729 --> 00:15:45.801
  • What use is it to delay god's judgment on the world if you
  • 00:15:45.801 --> 00:15:49.938
  • Don't tell people how to escape god's judgment in their life by
  • 00:15:49.938 --> 00:15:54.209
  • Trusting in christ as savior?
  • 00:15:54.209 --> 00:15:56.412
  • And that's why jesus says we must be the light of the world.
  • 00:15:56.412 --> 00:16:01.316
  • You know, i am reminded of the story of the christian who
  • 00:16:01.316 --> 00:16:05.220
  • Worked alongside a non-christian for 20 years.
  • 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:08.657
  • And when he first discovered this man was not a christian,
  • 00:16:08.657 --> 00:16:12.161
  • He said to himself, "you know what, i'm gonna be a silent
  • 00:16:12.161 --> 00:16:15.764
  • Witness for christ."
  • 00:16:15.764 --> 00:16:17.132
  • Have you ever heard that term, "a silent witness"?
  • 00:16:17.132 --> 00:16:19.268
  • It's an oxymoron, but people think, i won't share my faith.
  • 00:16:19.268 --> 00:16:22.771
  • I'll just try to live out my faith, and maybe this person
  • 00:16:22.771 --> 00:16:26.275
  • Will magically come to faith in christ.
  • 00:16:26.275 --> 00:16:28.577
  • So for 20 years, this man never mentioned he was a christian,
  • 00:16:28.577 --> 00:16:32.081
  • Just tried to witness to him through his attitude and the way
  • 00:16:32.081 --> 00:16:35.184
  • He treated him.
  • 00:16:35.184 --> 00:16:36.552
  • After 20 years, that non-christian came into work one
  • 00:16:36.552 --> 00:16:39.354
  • Morning and said to the christian, "the most marvelous
  • 00:16:39.354 --> 00:16:42.091
  • Thing has happened to me.
  • 00:16:42.091 --> 00:16:43.625
  • Last night i trusted in christ to be my savior."
  • 00:16:43.625 --> 00:16:47.596
  • And the christian said, "that is wonderful.
  • 00:16:47.596 --> 00:16:50.899
  • What led you to do that," thinking for sure that he was
  • 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:53.802
  • The catalyst for the man's conversion.
  • 00:16:53.802 --> 00:16:56.205
  • And this new convert said, "you know, i worked for you--beside
  • 00:16:56.205 --> 00:17:00.509
  • You for 20 years, and i saw the great attitude you had and the
  • 00:17:00.509 --> 00:17:05.214
  • Way you treated me and i thought to myself, if anybody could work
  • 00:17:05.214 --> 00:17:09.017
  • His way to heaven, it would be you.
  • 00:17:09.017 --> 00:17:11.220
  • I never knew you were a christian, but last night my
  • 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:14.423
  • Next door neighbor showed me how i could come to know christ
  • 00:17:14.423 --> 00:17:17.726
  • As well."
  • 00:17:17.726 --> 00:17:19.394
  • Look, living out your faith is great.
  • 00:17:19.394 --> 00:17:22.264
  • We ought to be positive examples, but if that's not
  • 00:17:22.264 --> 00:17:24.933
  • Accompanied by an explanation, you can actually confuse people
  • 00:17:24.933 --> 00:17:29.438
  • About the way to eternal life.
  • 00:17:29.438 --> 00:17:31.974
  • That's why peter said in 1 peter 3:15: "sanctify christ as lord
  • 00:17:31.974 --> 00:17:37.980
  • In your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to
  • 00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:43.252
  • Everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in
  • 00:17:43.252 --> 00:17:46.655
  • You, yet with gentleness and reverence."
  • 00:17:46.655 --> 00:17:49.992
  • Peter is picturing somebody who's coming to you, asking,
  • 00:17:49.992 --> 00:17:54.596
  • "what is the secret of your life?
  • 00:17:54.596 --> 00:17:56.365
  • Why are you so filled with hope with all that is happening?"
  • 00:17:56.365 --> 00:18:00.035
  • Make sure you're ready to give a defense, to lead people to the
  • 00:18:00.035 --> 00:18:04.573
  • Truth of jesus christ.
  • 00:18:04.573 --> 00:18:07.109
  • Jesus likens believers to a city set on a hill that cannot be
  • 00:18:07.109 --> 00:18:12.814
  • Hidden, verse 14.
  • 00:18:12.814 --> 00:18:15.050
  • In israel in jesus's day, the country was dotted with small
  • 00:18:15.050 --> 00:18:20.222
  • Rural villages, but there was one hill and there was one city
  • 00:18:20.222 --> 00:18:24.826
  • On that hill.
  • 00:18:24.826 --> 00:18:26.195
  • It was jerusalem, and at night when the temple lights, candles,
  • 00:18:26.195 --> 00:18:30.332
  • Were on and the individual homes were lighted, it could be seen
  • 00:18:30.332 --> 00:18:35.170
  • From miles away.
  • 00:18:35.170 --> 00:18:37.472
  • What is the city set on the hill today?
  • 00:18:37.472 --> 00:18:39.841
  • It's not america.
  • 00:18:39.841 --> 00:18:41.877
  • It's not israel, it's not a nation, it is christians, he
  • 00:18:41.877 --> 00:18:45.647
  • Said, who are showing forth the light of god's word in
  • 00:18:45.647 --> 00:18:50.419
  • A dark world.
  • 00:18:50.419 --> 00:18:51.787
  • He said not only that, you're a lamp that cannot be hidden.
  • 00:18:51.787 --> 00:18:55.958
  • In jesus's day for light in a house, you would take a lamp,
  • 00:18:55.958 --> 00:18:59.795
  • Kind of like aladdin's lamp, and it was made out of clay with
  • 00:18:59.795 --> 00:19:03.599
  • A reservoir of oil in it.
  • 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:05.400
  • It would be lit and then it wouldn't be hidden under
  • 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:08.103
  • A basket.
  • 00:19:08.103 --> 00:19:09.471
  • It would be put on a lampstand so that it could shine for
  • 00:19:09.471 --> 00:19:12.708
  • Everyone to see.
  • 00:19:12.708 --> 00:19:14.876
  • For a light to be effective, it has to be seen.
  • 00:19:14.876 --> 00:19:19.014
  • Just imagine, in the middle of the night during one of these
  • 00:19:19.014 --> 00:19:22.684
  • Cold dallas nights, your electricity goes off.
  • 00:19:22.684 --> 00:19:26.922
  • Your house is completely black, but you remember you have a
  • 00:19:26.922 --> 00:19:30.125
  • Flashlight in the drawer beside your bed so you reach for the
  • 00:19:30.125 --> 00:19:34.162
  • Flashlight and you're about to turn it on and you have another
  • 00:19:34.162 --> 00:19:36.965
  • Thought and you thought, "you know what, i sure don't wanna
  • 00:19:36.965 --> 00:19:40.035
  • Offend the darkness by showing this light.
  • 00:19:40.035 --> 00:19:43.372
  • That will chase the darkness away.
  • 00:19:43.372 --> 00:19:45.340
  • I don't want to offend the light."
  • 00:19:45.340 --> 00:19:46.942
  • Would you do that?
  • 00:19:46.942 --> 00:19:48.277
  • No.
  • 00:19:48.277 --> 00:19:49.645
  • Light is meant to confront the darkness.
  • 00:19:49.645 --> 00:19:52.581
  • In fact, light is of little value in the light.
  • 00:19:52.581 --> 00:19:55.751
  • A flashlight makes no difference in the sunlight; it's in the
  • 00:19:55.751 --> 00:19:59.087
  • Darkness that it does its work and the fact is, if a light is
  • 00:19:59.087 --> 00:20:03.659
  • Going to be effective, if we're gonna be effective, we're
  • 00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:06.862
  • Effective for christ, not when we're around other light
  • 00:20:06.862 --> 00:20:10.098
  • Sources, other christians, it is when we are in the darkness.
  • 00:20:10.098 --> 00:20:14.569
  • Light has to confront the darkness and it chases the
  • 00:20:14.569 --> 00:20:18.206
  • Darkness away.
  • 00:20:18.206 --> 00:20:20.008
  • Perhaps you're wondering right now, "why is it god put me in
  • 00:20:20.008 --> 00:20:24.212
  • This company where there are no christians anywhere to be found?
  • 00:20:24.212 --> 00:20:28.850
  • Why did god put me in this ungodly school?
  • 00:20:28.850 --> 00:20:31.787
  • Why did god put me in this neighborhood where i'm the
  • 00:20:31.787 --> 00:20:34.389
  • Only believer?"
  • 00:20:34.389 --> 00:20:35.757
  • You've just answered your own question.
  • 00:20:35.757 --> 00:20:38.160
  • Paul said in philippians 2:15-16: "for in the midst of
  • 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:41.563
  • This crooked and perverse generation, you are children of
  • 00:20:41.563 --> 00:20:45.600
  • Light, holding forth the word of life."
  • 00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:49.438
  • As the old saying goes, instead of cursing the darkness, light
  • 00:20:49.438 --> 00:20:54.142
  • A light, and we are the light of the world.
  • 00:20:54.142 --> 00:20:58.680
  • What's the application for us of this message?
  • 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:01.683
  • There are two applications.
  • 00:21:01.683 --> 00:21:03.885
  • One for christians individually.
  • 00:21:03.885 --> 00:21:05.987
  • Remember, he starts with you individually.
  • 00:21:05.987 --> 00:21:08.657
  • You are salt.
  • 00:21:08.657 --> 00:21:10.025
  • Are you looking for opportunities to create
  • 00:21:10.025 --> 00:21:12.494
  • Spiritual thirst with the people around you by what you say?
  • 00:21:12.494 --> 00:21:17.599
  • As far as pushing back against evil, what can you do to push
  • 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:21.870
  • Back against evil?
  • 00:21:21.870 --> 00:21:23.605
  • It may be going to a school board meeting and voting against
  • 00:21:23.605 --> 00:21:27.743
  • A policy that is trying to cram ungodly thoughts into the lives
  • 00:21:27.743 --> 00:21:33.548
  • Of our children.
  • 00:21:33.548 --> 00:21:35.317
  • It may be voting not because a candidate is perfect and godly,
  • 00:21:35.317 --> 00:21:40.255
  • But because at least they embrace godly values.
  • 00:21:40.255 --> 00:21:44.626
  • There are a lot of things that you can do individually to push
  • 00:21:44.626 --> 00:21:48.163
  • Back as far as being light.
  • 00:21:48.163 --> 00:21:51.533
  • Are you praying for non-christians around you,
  • 00:21:51.533 --> 00:21:53.969
  • Praying for an opportunity to share with them the way
  • 00:21:53.969 --> 00:21:57.639
  • To heaven?
  • 00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:59.074
  • But there's also secondly an application for
  • 00:21:59.074 --> 00:22:01.743
  • Christians collectively.
  • 00:22:01.743 --> 00:22:04.613
  • We're not just individual grains of salt or
  • 00:22:04.613 --> 00:22:08.383
  • An individual flashlight.
  • 00:22:08.383 --> 00:22:10.452
  • We're in a church.
  • 00:22:10.452 --> 00:22:12.087
  • You know, the only thing more effective than one grain of salt
  • 00:22:12.087 --> 00:22:14.856
  • Is a shaker of salt.
  • 00:22:14.856 --> 00:22:16.858
  • The only thing more effective than a pin light or a flashlight
  • 00:22:16.858 --> 00:22:21.163
  • Is a floodlight.
  • 00:22:21.163 --> 00:22:23.064
  • Today there are people who wonder, "why do we get involved
  • 00:22:23.064 --> 00:22:26.568
  • In the pro-life movement and speaking out against abortion?
  • 00:22:26.568 --> 00:22:31.406
  • That's politics."
  • 00:22:31.406 --> 00:22:32.774
  • No, that is a moral, a spiritual issue.
  • 00:22:32.774 --> 00:22:36.311
  • Fact is that word "politics," the latin word for it
  • 00:22:36.311 --> 00:22:39.448
  • Means influence.
  • 00:22:39.448 --> 00:22:42.017
  • Influence.
  • 00:22:42.017 --> 00:22:43.518
  • When you say christians shouldn't get involved in
  • 00:22:43.518 --> 00:22:46.321
  • Politics, or pastors shouldn't get involved in politics, what
  • 00:22:46.321 --> 00:22:50.025
  • You're saying is christians should not try to influence the
  • 00:22:50.025 --> 00:22:53.195
  • World in which they live.
  • 00:22:53.195 --> 00:22:55.030
  • Can anybody say that with a straight face, and man, jesus
  • 00:22:55.030 --> 00:22:58.467
  • Said, "you are salt, you are a preservative."
  • 00:22:58.467 --> 00:23:02.971
  • We need to push back against evil.
  • 00:23:02.971 --> 00:23:05.340
  • I mean, think about it, why did god leave you and me on
  • 00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:08.143
  • This earth?
  • 00:23:08.143 --> 00:23:09.478
  • Why didn't he take us to heaven?
  • 00:23:09.478 --> 00:23:11.213
  • He didn't leave us here to build a big financial portfolio of
  • 00:23:11.213 --> 00:23:16.418
  • Stocks and bonds and possessions.
  • 00:23:16.418 --> 00:23:19.187
  • He didn't lead us here to have a successful career.
  • 00:23:19.187 --> 00:23:23.291
  • He didn't even leave us here to have a happy family life.
  • 00:23:23.291 --> 00:23:27.028
  • He left us here to be that salt, to be that light.
  • 00:23:27.028 --> 00:23:32.567
  • Jeffress: that's what we do at first baptist church in dallas,
  • 00:23:36.771 --> 00:23:39.808
  • And that's what we do through the ministry of "pathway to
  • 00:23:39.808 --> 00:23:42.210
  • Victory": pierce the darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:42.210 --> 00:23:46.748
  • And right now, you have an incredible opportunity to shine
  • 00:23:46.748 --> 00:23:50.018
  • The floodlight of the gospel even more brightly.
  • 00:23:50.018 --> 00:23:53.588
  • Earlier this week we activated the salt & light
  • 00:23:53.588 --> 00:23:56.725
  • Matching challenge.
  • 00:23:56.725 --> 00:23:58.159
  • From now until july 6th, your gift will be matched and
  • 00:23:58.159 --> 00:24:02.430
  • Therefore doubled in impact until we reach the goal of
  • 00:24:02.430 --> 00:24:05.934
  • $1 million.
  • 00:24:05.934 --> 00:24:07.836
  • Together as partners in ministry we can push back against the
  • 00:24:07.836 --> 00:24:11.473
  • Moral decline in our nation by boldly proclaiming the gospel
  • 00:24:11.473 --> 00:24:16.077
  • And standing for biblical truth.
  • 00:24:16.077 --> 00:24:18.647
  • We can fulfill christ's calling to be the salt of the earth and
  • 00:24:18.647 --> 00:24:22.384
  • The light of the world.
  • 00:24:22.384 --> 00:24:24.085
  • We can be a preserving influence and an illuminating presence in
  • 00:24:24.085 --> 00:24:28.690
  • A culture that desperately needs jesus christ, who is the only
  • 00:24:28.690 --> 00:24:33.228
  • Hope for our nation and for our world.
  • 00:24:33.228 --> 00:24:36.431
  • Thank you in advance for your generosity.
  • 00:24:36.431 --> 00:24:39.167
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:24:39.167 --> 00:24:40.802
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:40.802 --> 00:24:43.572
  • Announcer: the moral decline in today's world can feel
  • 00:24:44.806 --> 00:24:47.208
  • Overwhelming, but god calls us to shine his light and make a
  • 00:24:47.208 --> 00:24:51.212
  • Difference for him in a world that has lost its way.
  • 00:24:51.212 --> 00:24:54.382
  • In his brand new book, "shine the light," dr. robert jeffress
  • 00:24:54.382 --> 00:24:57.819
  • Shows you how small faithful acts like teaching, serving, and
  • 00:24:57.819 --> 00:25:01.356
  • Encouraging can restore and renew christian values in your
  • 00:25:01.356 --> 00:25:04.859
  • Family, your church, and community.
  • 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:07.228
  • Jeffress: the bible teaches that our primary purpose in life is
  • 00:25:07.228 --> 00:25:10.632
  • To influence the world with the gospel, and in my new book, i'll
  • 00:25:10.632 --> 00:25:15.036
  • Show you how to live purposefully and leave behind
  • 00:25:15.036 --> 00:25:18.239
  • A legacy of faith, wisdom, and compassion.
  • 00:25:18.239 --> 00:25:21.776
  • Announcer: the world may seem lost, but god's light has not
  • 00:25:21.843 --> 00:25:24.746
  • Dimmed, and neither has yours.
  • 00:25:24.746 --> 00:25:26.915
  • Request your copy of "shine the light" when you give a generous
  • 00:25:26.915 --> 00:25:30.018
  • Gift to the "pathway to victory"
  • 00:25:30.018 --> 00:25:31.553
  • Salt & light matching challenge.
  • 00:25:31.553 --> 00:25:33.922
  • And when your ministry gift is $100 or more, we'll also send
  • 00:25:33.922 --> 00:25:37.792
  • You the complete "shine the light" teaching series on dvd
  • 00:25:37.792 --> 00:25:41.162
  • And audio disc.
  • 00:25:41.162 --> 00:25:42.530
  • Jeffress: light is of little value in the light.
  • 00:25:42.530 --> 00:25:45.433
  • If we're gonna be effective, we're effective for christ, not
  • 00:25:45.433 --> 00:25:48.637
  • When we're around other light sources, other christians; it is
  • 00:25:48.637 --> 00:25:52.741
  • When we're in the darkness.
  • 00:25:52.741 --> 00:25:55.176
  • Light has to confront the darkness.
  • 00:25:55.176 --> 00:25:58.046
  • Announcer: remember, your gift
  • 00:25:58.046 --> 00:25:59.381
  • Today will have twice the impact
  • 00:25:59.381 --> 00:26:00.715
  • Thanks to the "pathway to
  • 00:26:00.715 --> 00:26:02.117
  • Victory" salt & light
  • 00:26:02.117 --> 00:26:03.451
  • Matching challenge.
  • 00:26:03.451 --> 00:26:04.853
  • Thank you for partnering with "pathway to victory" as we
  • 00:26:04.853 --> 00:26:07.756
  • Boldly proclaim the gospel and equip believers to shine god's
  • 00:26:07.756 --> 00:26:11.760
  • Light in a world that has lost its way.
  • 00:26:11.760 --> 00:26:15.063
  • Jeffress: each individual christian is like a grain of
  • 00:26:16.364 --> 00:26:18.733
  • Salt and a ray of light.
  • 00:26:18.733 --> 00:26:20.935
  • Yes, we can make a difference for god's kingdom on our own,
  • 00:26:20.935 --> 00:26:24.839
  • But when we join together as the body of christ, we become an
  • 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:28.476
  • Unstoppable force for the gospel.
  • 00:26:28.476 --> 00:26:31.680
  • Well, to many christians, persecution is something that
  • 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:34.683
  • Happens in far off places, but in reality, persecution is
  • 00:26:34.683 --> 00:26:39.187
  • Running rampant in america.
  • 00:26:39.187 --> 00:26:41.589
  • Next time i'm going to offer three essential words to help
  • 00:26:41.589 --> 00:26:45.360
  • You prepare for the coming persecution.
  • 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:48.596
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:48.596 --> 00:26:51.366
  • Series, "shine the light."
  • 00:26:51.366 --> 00:26:55.336
  • Jeffress: any christian who seriously takes god's command to
  • 00:26:55.336 --> 00:26:59.908
  • Be light and salt in this dark and decaying world needs to
  • 00:26:59.908 --> 00:27:05.380
  • Understand you may not and will not always receive justice, but
  • 00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:09.851
  • You always can be guaranteed to receive persecution.
  • 00:27:09.851 --> 00:27:15.457
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:27:15.457 --> 00:27:18.626
  • "when persecution comes," here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:18.626 --> 00:27:27.368