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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Straight Talk About Your Needs

January 26, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Straight Talk About Your Needs
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#WordofGod #Grace #Sin #Gospel #Nations #Seed #Prayer #Transformation #Children #RobertJeffress

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Straight Talk About Your Needs | January 26, 2026
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • From the pulpit of the first baptist church
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  • Of dallas, texas this is "pathway to victory"
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  • With dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Hi, i'm robert jeffress and welcome again,
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  • To "pathway to victory."
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  • When was the last time you pled with jesus
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  • To meet your needs, i mean got down on your knees
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  • And specifically appealed to jesus to come through for you?
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  • Well, sometimes we forget that jesus loves it
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  • When we come to him.
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  • In fact in his famous sermon on the mount,
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  • Jesus talked about providing for his children.
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  • And today we're going to explore that promise.
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  • My message is titled "straight talk about your needs"
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  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • Each day millions of lost people are searching
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  • For hope and truth.
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  • Through "pathway to victory," god's word is reaching
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  • Into homes across america and around the world,
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  • But there are still so many who haven't heard
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  • The saving message of jesus christ.
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  • You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
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  • You will join a dedicated team of of broadcast missionaries
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  • Who are sharing the gospel through television and radio.
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  • Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide
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  • With the life changing power of the cross.
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • If you have a friend or family member, somebody you
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  • Know who's just exploding all the time in anger you're
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  • Not going to be able to help them with that problem if
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  • You're constantly abusing your mate or children
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  • With outburst of anger.
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  • That's what he's talking about.
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  • Take the log out of your own eye before you try to help
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  • Somebody else.
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  • No, it's a very gracious thing.
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  • It's a helpful thing to turn a sinning christian back
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  • Into a right relationship with god.
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  • James said it this way in james 5:19-20, “my brethren
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  • If any among you strays from the truth and one turns him
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  • Back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the
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  • Error of his way will save a soul from death and will
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  • Cover a multitude of sins.”
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  • We want to condemn sinning christians,
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  • We need to restore sinning christians
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  • And that leads to a second area jesus distinguishes
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  • Between our wants and needs and that is evangelism,
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  • Sharing the gospel.
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  • We want everyone to accept god's message.
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  • We need to understand not everyone
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  • Will accept god's message.
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  • Look at verse six, "do not give what is holy to dogs."
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  • "and do not trow your pearls before swine"
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  • "or they will trample them under their feet"
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  • "and turn and tear you to pieces."
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  • Now what in the world is jesus talking about here?
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  • Remember the context is he's talked about helping to restore
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  • A sinning christian.
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  • And he's warning you don't be surprised if not everybody
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  • Responds positively to your offer of help.
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  • Because what is holy and righting good to you,
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  • May not be to somebody else.
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  • Not everybody you try to restore
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  • Is going to respond correctly.
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  • But i think he's going beyond this to talk about sharing
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  • Any word from god including the gospel of jesus christ,
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  • Not everybody will respond positively.
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  • What does he mean "don't give what is holy to dogs?"
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  • In jesus' day, dogs were not these little cuddly
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  • House pets you keep, no they were disease ridden,
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  • Mongrel dogs that roamed the streets of jerusalem in packs,
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  • They could be very dangerous.
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  • You wouldn't think of giving something holy,
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  • A piece of meat sacrificed at the temple
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  • To one of these scoundrel dogs,
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  • You wouldn't think of doing that,
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  • "don't give what is holy to dogs."
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  • And then he says "don't throw your pearls before swine."
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  • Again, in jesus' day swine were not these cartoon pigs
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  • You see like the "the three little pigs" or porky pig
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  • That we are entertained by, these were scavenger swine.
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  • That again, roamed in packs and if left unfed
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  • Could destroy a human being.
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  • Just imagine inadvertently coming upon
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  • A pack of these hungry swine
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  • And you could see they were looking for dinner
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  • And you were on the menu and so you try to dissuade them
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  • And you have some pearls that you have purchased
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  • At a great price and you throw those pearls
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  • To the swine to distract them.
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  • Now though they were very valuable to you,
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  • If those swine began crunching on those pearls
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  • They wouldn't be happy about it.
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  • They would thought you had tricked them,
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  • Given them something that didn't help them,
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  • It would just irritate them even more.
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  • It's the same way the bible says the gospel,
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  • The message of god is that pearl of great price.
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  • It's valuable to those of us who are saved,
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  • But to certain unbelievers if you presented to them
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  • It only infuriates them more.
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  • This hadn't happened often, but i've had it happen before.
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  • Sharing your faith with an unbeliever
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  • And having that unbeliever start to blaspheme
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  • The name of jesus christ, become angry at your attempt
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  • To share the gospel, that makes no sense whatsoever
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  • In a natural sense.
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  • I mean why should people become angry at this beautiful name
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  • Of jesus we sing about today?
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  • Somebody who came to offer us eternal life,
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  • But that shows the spiritual warfare that's a reality.
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  • There is a kingdom of darkness that is infuriated
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  • By the gospel of jesus christ.
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  • And what jesus is saying here is don't expect everybody
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  • To be receptive to the gospel.
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  • He warned his disciples in matthew 10:14
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  • If you go into a city or to a town or a nation
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  • Where the gospel is rejected,
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  • Keep on sharing with them?
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  • No, shake the dust off your feet and leave.
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  • Now, there is a balance here.
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  • Yes, in one sense we're to spread the gospel everywhere,
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  • Regardless of the condition of people's hearts.
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  • 2 timothy 4:2,
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  • "preach the word in season and out of season."
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  • And that's what we do here every week
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  • At first baptist dallas, we cast the seed of god's word
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  • Throughout the world.
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  • And we know when we cast the seed some of it
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  • Will fall on hard ground, hard hearts that are unresponsive.
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  • But other seed is going to fall on fertile ground,
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  • Soft ground that receives the implanted word of god.
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  • Our responsibility is to cast the word
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  • And leave the results to god.
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  • So there's a sense in which we share the gospel
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  • With everybody.
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  • But when we are individually dealing with people
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  • It's wise jesus said, to know the condition
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  • Of a person's heart and whether they're open
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  • Or not open to the gospel.
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  • It's helpful to know their condition so that you can know
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  • What to say and perhaps what to save until another time.
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  • Proverbs 25:11 says "like apples of gold"
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  • "and settings of silver is a word spoken"
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  • "in the right circumstances."
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  • We need to be wise in what we share, with whom we share
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  • And when we share that's what jesus is saying here.
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  • The third area in which jesus distinguishes
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  • Between our wants and our needs is prayer.
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  • We want god to answer our every prayer.
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  • We need for god to answer our best prayers.
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  • And this is such an important topic.
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  • The subject of prayer that jesus mentions it twice
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  • In the sermon on the mount.
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  • We saw it in chapter six when he gave us a model
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  • For how to pray, that dealt with the content of our prayer.
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  • Now jesus is giving us some direction
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  • About the practice of our prayers.
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  • There are two words, it's not on your outline
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  • I want you to write down.
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  • The first word is the word persistence.
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  • In this section, jesus is going to talk about the value
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  • Of persistence in praying.
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  • Look at verse seven, "ask and it will be given to you."
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  • "seek and you will find."
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  • "knock and it will be open to you."
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  • Now these verbs ask, seek and knock
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  • Are in the present imperative.
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  • The best translation is keep on asking.
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  • -(fist knocking) -keep on seeking.
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  • -(fist knocking) -keep on knocking,
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  • -(fist knocking) -until god answers
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  • Your prayer.
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  • Keep on, perseverance.
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  • Now i know this sounds like a contradiction
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  • With what jesus said in matthew 6:7.
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  • Remember when he said
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  • "when you pray, don't pray like the gentiles"
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  • "for they thought they would be heard by their many words?"
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  • Don't speak empty words over and over to god.
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  • So is jesus contradicting himself when he says
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  • "keep on asking god?"
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  • No, not at all.
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  • See the gentiles thought that by meaningless words
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  • A mantra that they just kept repeating over and over
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  • And over again they could force god to do something
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  • He didn't want to do.
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  • No, don't engage in meaningless repetition.
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  • But he is talking about the value of persistence.
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  • If god doesn't answer the first time you ask,
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  • Keep on asking until he says yes or no to your request.
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  • God values that.
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  • How do i know god values persistence in praying?
  • 00:10:01.157 --> 00:10:04.026
  • Remember the story he told in luke chapter 18.
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  • Luke 18:1 begins by saying "and jesus showed them a parable"
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  • "about why they should pray at all times"
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  • "and not loose heart."
  • 00:10:14.904 --> 00:10:16.672
  • You remember the story jesus told,
  • 00:10:16.672 --> 00:10:18.474
  • There was a widow who was being taken advantage of,
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  • Probably by the sadducees they were trying to cheat her
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  • Out of her home.
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  • So she goes to the judge, the local judge for protection.
  • 00:10:25.114 --> 00:10:28.284
  • The only problem was the judge was an unbeliever.
  • 00:10:28.284 --> 00:10:31.187
  • And when the widow approached him and asked for help,
  • 00:10:31.187 --> 00:10:34.323
  • The judge said i do not fear god and i don't respect man
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  • I will not do what you ask me to do.
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  • But that widow didn't give up.
  • 00:10:41.664 --> 00:10:43.466
  • -she kept asking -(fist knocking)
  • 00:10:43.466 --> 00:10:44.934
  • -and asking -(fist knocking)
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  • And asking
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  • And in luke 18:5 remember what he said?
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  • He said "even though i don't fear god,"
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  • "i don't respect man and i sure don't respect you."
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  • "i'm going to give you what you want, lest you wear me out."
  • 00:10:56.779 --> 00:11:03.119
  • Now if jesus had stopped there we would have come up
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  • With the wrong moral of the story.
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  • We would say, okay well jesus is saying god
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  • Is like that unrighteous judge
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  • And if i just keep asking long enough
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  • I can force him to do what he doesn't want to do.
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  • No, this is not a parable of comparison,
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  • It's a parable of contrast.
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  • Jesus said if an unrighteous judge will do that,
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  • For a woman he has no relationship or responsibility toward,
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  • How much more will your father who is in heaven
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  • Do for his children that cry to him day and night?
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  • It's a parable of contrast.
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  • God honors persistence.
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  • Sometimes god immediately answers our prayers,
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  • Just like he did with elijah on mount carmel,
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  • I kings 18.
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  • Most people don't read to the end of the chapter though.
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  • Remember after the fire came down
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  • And lapped up the sacrifice everybody said yahweh is lord?
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  • Yahweh is lord.
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  • There was still an unanswered prayer.
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  • The rain hadn't come that had been promised.
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  • They'd been three years in a drought.
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  • So what did elijah do, he climbed to the top
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  • Of mount carmel, spread himself out on the ground
  • 00:12:15.224 --> 00:12:18.027
  • And asked once, twice, three times,
  • 00:12:18.027 --> 00:12:21.964
  • Seven times he prayed for the rain to come
  • 00:12:21.964 --> 00:12:24.900
  • And only after the seventh time did it come.
  • 00:12:24.900 --> 00:12:28.370
  • Sometimes god answers immediately.
  • 00:12:28.370 --> 00:12:32.007
  • Sometimes god delays.
  • 00:12:32.007 --> 00:12:34.476
  • But we shouldn't stop asking until he answers.
  • 00:12:35.411 --> 00:12:38.914
  • When i think about that principal i remember a story
  • 00:12:39.949 --> 00:12:43.018
  • My mentor and friend dr. howard hendricks used to tell
  • 00:12:43.018 --> 00:12:46.989
  • About his own father's conversion.
  • 00:12:46.989 --> 00:12:49.892
  • Dr. hendrick's father was a hardened military man
  • 00:12:49.892 --> 00:12:53.395
  • And dr. hendricks had prayed for years for his conversion.
  • 00:12:53.395 --> 00:12:58.701
  • He had his family praying for his dad's conversion,
  • 00:12:59.768 --> 00:13:02.304
  • His children praying and one time
  • 00:13:02.304 --> 00:13:05.307
  • The grandfather came to visit the hendricks' home
  • 00:13:06.308 --> 00:13:09.411
  • And he was dressed in his military outfit
  • 00:13:09.411 --> 00:13:11.780
  • And as he was descending the plane one of the grandchildren
  • 00:13:11.780 --> 00:13:14.416
  • Ran up to him and said "grandad, do you know jesus yet?"
  • 00:13:14.416 --> 00:13:19.188
  • And the grandfather said "no, son i can't say that i do."
  • 00:13:19.188 --> 00:13:22.758
  • "well, you're going to soon because we're praying for you."
  • 00:13:22.758 --> 00:13:26.562
  • Dr. hendricks said he prayed for his father's conversion
  • 00:13:27.696 --> 00:13:31.533
  • For 42 years.
  • 00:13:31.533 --> 00:13:35.070
  • And one night, while dr. hendricks was at his desk
  • 00:13:35.070 --> 00:13:38.307
  • The telephone rang, it was a chaplain from a care facility
  • 00:13:38.307 --> 00:13:42.611
  • In another state where his father was residing.
  • 00:13:42.611 --> 00:13:45.948
  • The chaplain said i just thought you would like to know
  • 00:13:45.948 --> 00:13:48.951
  • That tonight i prayed with your father
  • 00:13:48.951 --> 00:13:51.453
  • To accept jesus as his savoir.
  • 00:13:51.453 --> 00:13:53.822
  • Four months later his dad was dead and in heaven.
  • 00:13:54.823 --> 00:13:58.327
  • That's the kind of persistence in prayer that god answers.
  • 00:13:58.327 --> 00:14:03.265
  • Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking, why?
  • 00:14:03.265 --> 00:14:08.604
  • Verse eight, "for everyone who ask, receives."
  • 00:14:09.571 --> 00:14:12.341
  • "and he who seeks finds and to him who knocks"
  • 00:14:12.341 --> 00:14:15.945
  • "it will be open."
  • 00:14:15.945 --> 00:14:18.447
  • Does that mean there's a guarantee
  • 00:14:18.447 --> 00:14:20.182
  • That god's going to answer every prayer? no.
  • 00:14:20.182 --> 00:14:23.085
  • As one writer said, heaven is not a divine candy machine
  • 00:14:23.085 --> 00:14:27.489
  • That dispenses goodies if we insert
  • 00:14:27.489 --> 00:14:29.625
  • The right verbal coinage, it doesn't work that way.
  • 00:14:29.625 --> 00:14:33.128
  • There's no guarantee that god will answer our every prayer.
  • 00:14:33.128 --> 00:14:37.232
  • God never made that promise, in fact any promises
  • 00:14:38.233 --> 00:14:40.836
  • In the bible that seemed to indicate that
  • 00:14:40.836 --> 00:14:43.739
  • Need to be understood in the context of i john 5:14.
  • 00:14:43.739 --> 00:14:48.744
  • John said "this is the confidence which we have before him"
  • 00:14:48.744 --> 00:14:51.647
  • "that if we ask anything according to his will,"
  • 00:14:51.647 --> 00:14:56.418
  • "he hears us."
  • 00:14:56.418 --> 00:14:58.153
  • God's will is the border around our lives.
  • 00:14:58.153 --> 00:15:02.458
  • And around our prayer life.
  • 00:15:02.458 --> 00:15:04.360
  • It's not a cop out by god.
  • 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:07.096
  • No, god's will is a boundary, it's a border
  • 00:15:07.096 --> 00:15:11.734
  • That keeps not good things from entering our life,
  • 00:15:11.734 --> 00:15:14.970
  • But bad things from entering our life.
  • 00:15:14.970 --> 00:15:17.873
  • There are a lot of reasons for unanswered prayer.
  • 00:15:18.874 --> 00:15:21.443
  • We could have a whole sermon on the reason
  • 00:15:21.443 --> 00:15:23.379
  • Sometimes god says no to prayer.
  • 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:25.814
  • We're not praying from a pure heart, psalms 6:18.
  • 00:15:25.814 --> 00:15:29.651
  • We're not praying in faith, james 1:5.
  • 00:15:29.651 --> 00:15:32.054
  • We're not praying while living obediently, i john 3:22.
  • 00:15:32.054 --> 00:15:36.358
  • But one reason god doesn't answer our prayer is
  • 00:15:36.358 --> 00:15:39.294
  • We may not be praying according to god's will, i john 5:14.
  • 00:15:39.294 --> 00:15:44.133
  • And that's why the second word is important
  • 00:15:44.133 --> 00:15:46.835
  • Besides persistence the word trust.
  • 00:15:46.835 --> 00:15:50.439
  • We keep on asking until god's says yes or no.
  • 00:15:50.439 --> 00:15:54.977
  • But when he says no we can trust his goodness.
  • 00:15:54.977 --> 00:15:58.847
  • We can trust that he knows what is best for us
  • 00:15:58.847 --> 00:16:01.750
  • And that's what jesus alludes to in verses nine and ten.
  • 00:16:01.750 --> 00:16:05.120
  • "oh, what man is there among you who when his son
  • 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:08.190
  • Asked for a loaf, will give him a stone?"
  • 00:16:08.190 --> 00:16:11.894
  • "or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake"
  • 00:16:11.894 --> 00:16:15.364
  • "will he?"
  • 00:16:15.364 --> 00:16:16.799
  • Let me paraphrase that to today.
  • 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:18.400
  • If you're child is hungry and asks for a pb and j sandwich,
  • 00:16:18.400 --> 00:16:22.538
  • You don't give him a peanut butter
  • 00:16:22.538 --> 00:16:24.006
  • And jellyfish sandwich do you?
  • 00:16:24.006 --> 00:16:27.142
  • No, you give him exactly what he needs.
  • 00:16:27.142 --> 00:16:30.479
  • Now if we being imperfect parents, do that for our children
  • 00:16:30.479 --> 00:16:33.649
  • Look at verse 11, "if you then being evil"
  • 00:16:33.649 --> 00:16:36.385
  • "know how to give good gifts to your children,"
  • 00:16:36.385 --> 00:16:39.021
  • "how much more?"
  • 00:16:39.021 --> 00:16:40.556
  • There's that contrast.
  • 00:16:40.556 --> 00:16:42.491
  • God's not an evil parent, he's a good parent.
  • 00:16:43.459 --> 00:16:46.361
  • Therefore, how much more will your father who is in heaven
  • 00:16:46.361 --> 00:16:50.666
  • Give what is good to those who ask him?
  • 00:16:50.666 --> 00:16:54.436
  • We want god to say yes to our every request,
  • 00:16:55.370 --> 00:16:58.207
  • But what we really need is for god to say yes
  • 00:16:58.207 --> 00:17:01.543
  • To our best request, those that are according to his will.
  • 00:17:01.543 --> 00:17:06.849
  • Finally, look at the difference between our wants and needs
  • 00:17:08.016 --> 00:17:11.587
  • In our dealings with other people.
  • 00:17:11.587 --> 00:17:14.056
  • We want people to treat us better than we treat them,
  • 00:17:14.056 --> 00:17:19.394
  • But we need to treat others as we want them to treat us.
  • 00:17:20.529 --> 00:17:24.399
  • We've reached the climax of this section
  • 00:17:25.267 --> 00:17:27.002
  • And i bet your recognize this verse, verse 12.
  • 00:17:27.002 --> 00:17:30.005
  • "in everything therefore, treat people the same way"
  • 00:17:30.005 --> 00:17:34.143
  • "you want them to treat you, for this is the law"
  • 00:17:34.143 --> 00:17:38.213
  • "and the prophets."
  • 00:17:38.213 --> 00:17:40.549
  • What did he mean by that?
  • 00:17:40.549 --> 00:17:41.850
  • Remember in matthew 22 jesus would be asked
  • 00:17:41.850 --> 00:17:44.820
  • What the greatest commandment is and he said,
  • 00:17:44.820 --> 00:17:47.022
  • "the greatest commandment is love the lord your god"
  • 00:17:47.022 --> 00:17:49.258
  • "with all of your heart, soul and all your mind."
  • 00:17:49.258 --> 00:17:52.161
  • That's the first and greatest commandment,
  • 00:17:52.161 --> 00:17:54.596
  • But the second is just like it.
  • 00:17:54.596 --> 00:17:56.565
  • "you are to love your neighbor as yourself."
  • 00:17:56.565 --> 00:17:59.501
  • Now this verse, matthew 7:12 is an elaboration
  • 00:17:59.501 --> 00:18:02.604
  • Of that second command "to love others as yourself."
  • 00:18:02.604 --> 00:18:05.641
  • It's a command that we call the golden rule.
  • 00:18:05.641 --> 00:18:09.578
  • Now some critics of the bible say,
  • 00:18:09.578 --> 00:18:12.014
  • Here's another instance in which you can't trust the bible.
  • 00:18:13.148 --> 00:18:16.952
  • Jesus didn't come up with this on his own
  • 00:18:16.952 --> 00:18:18.921
  • He was plagiarizing this.
  • 00:18:18.921 --> 00:18:21.223
  • He got it from confucius, or greek philosophers
  • 00:18:21.223 --> 00:18:24.626
  • Or even jewish teachers they had said this long before
  • 00:18:24.626 --> 00:18:28.297
  • Jesus ever said this.
  • 00:18:28.297 --> 00:18:30.866
  • Are they right?
  • 00:18:30.866 --> 00:18:32.534
  • No, no this is original with jesus
  • 00:18:32.534 --> 00:18:35.837
  • Because if you look at what other philosophers said
  • 00:18:35.837 --> 00:18:38.941
  • They quoted this in a negative sense.
  • 00:18:38.941 --> 00:18:42.544
  • They all said don't do to others
  • 00:18:42.544 --> 00:18:45.714
  • What you don't want them to do to you.
  • 00:18:45.714 --> 00:18:48.483
  • It was a passive kind of command.
  • 00:18:48.483 --> 00:18:51.320
  • Don't do to anybody what you don't them to do to you.
  • 00:18:51.320 --> 00:18:55.224
  • But jesus turned it on its head, he said
  • 00:18:55.224 --> 00:18:58.026
  • Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
  • 00:18:58.026 --> 00:19:03.298
  • There's a big difference between the two.
  • 00:19:04.099 --> 00:19:06.802
  • You take the first step,
  • 00:19:06.802 --> 00:19:08.570
  • You do something kind for another person
  • 00:19:08.570 --> 00:19:11.273
  • If you want them to do something kind for you.
  • 00:19:11.273 --> 00:19:14.610
  • You know folks, that goes against the grain of every culture
  • 00:19:14.610 --> 00:19:18.080
  • And every generation, to be proactive
  • 00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:21.049
  • In doing good to others who haven't yet
  • 00:19:21.049 --> 00:19:23.785
  • Done something good for you.
  • 00:19:23.785 --> 00:19:26.021
  • Amy and i are watching a show on television right now,
  • 00:19:27.122 --> 00:19:30.125
  • It's about life in new york in the 1880s.
  • 00:19:30.125 --> 00:19:34.096
  • And in the show the central character's a family
  • 00:19:34.096 --> 00:19:37.566
  • That has come into new wealth and they've moved to new york
  • 00:19:37.566 --> 00:19:40.636
  • And they want to break into the high society group
  • 00:19:40.636 --> 00:19:44.806
  • In new york, but they're barred from doing so,
  • 00:19:44.806 --> 00:19:47.442
  • The old money elites don't want to let them
  • 00:19:47.442 --> 00:19:49.678
  • In the society circles.
  • 00:19:49.678 --> 00:19:52.180
  • One couple in particular does everything they can
  • 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:54.750
  • To keep them out, but this couple suffers
  • 00:19:54.750 --> 00:19:58.320
  • A financial reversal and the wife comes to the matriarch
  • 00:19:58.320 --> 00:20:03.158
  • Of this newly moneyed family and says we need your help,
  • 00:20:03.158 --> 00:20:07.296
  • Would you be compassionate with us,
  • 00:20:07.296 --> 00:20:09.998
  • We are on the verge of losing everything we have,
  • 00:20:09.998 --> 00:20:13.969
  • Would you help us?
  • 00:20:13.969 --> 00:20:15.837
  • And the matriarch says to her so you're asking me
  • 00:20:15.837 --> 00:20:18.340
  • For a favor, yes.
  • 00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:21.543
  • You're asking for a transaction of sorts, yes.
  • 00:20:21.543 --> 00:20:25.914
  • Had you made some deposit on my behalf
  • 00:20:26.748 --> 00:20:30.185
  • That i'm unaware of?
  • 00:20:30.185 --> 00:20:31.586
  • Because it sure doesn't feel like it.
  • 00:20:31.586 --> 00:20:33.889
  • Have you done something kind for me that i'm unaware of?
  • 00:20:33.889 --> 00:20:37.793
  • No, the woman says.
  • 00:20:37.793 --> 00:20:39.995
  • Well, then of course i must turn you down.
  • 00:20:39.995 --> 00:20:44.099
  • That's the thinking of our age.
  • 00:20:44.733 --> 00:20:46.802
  • We can only do something nice for others,
  • 00:20:46.802 --> 00:20:49.471
  • If they've done something for us.
  • 00:20:49.471 --> 00:20:51.907
  • Dr. willard harley talks about the love bank.
  • 00:20:51.907 --> 00:20:55.544
  • We're all like little banks walking around
  • 00:20:55.544 --> 00:20:58.246
  • And we have accounts for every person we deal with,
  • 00:20:58.246 --> 00:21:01.917
  • Every person in our life, we have an account.
  • 00:21:01.917 --> 00:21:05.120
  • And when we encounter this person
  • 00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:07.255
  • We check their account status with us.
  • 00:21:07.255 --> 00:21:10.492
  • Do they have a credit or a deficit?
  • 00:21:10.492 --> 00:21:13.628
  • It they've done more good for us then we've done for them,
  • 00:21:13.628 --> 00:21:16.898
  • They have a credit with us, well then we feel like
  • 00:21:16.898 --> 00:21:18.834
  • We can afford to do something nice for that person.
  • 00:21:18.834 --> 00:21:22.604
  • But if we encounter somebody who has a deficit with us,
  • 00:21:22.604 --> 00:21:26.775
  • They've taken more than they've given,
  • 00:21:26.775 --> 00:21:29.711
  • Why they're overdrawn.
  • 00:21:29.711 --> 00:21:31.680
  • And we couldn't possibly do something nice for them,
  • 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:35.150
  • That's how we think, jesus says don't be that way.
  • 00:21:35.150 --> 00:21:38.720
  • Why?
  • 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.688
  • Because if we're a child of god,
  • 00:21:39.688 --> 00:21:41.656
  • God has deposited into our life,
  • 00:21:41.656 --> 00:21:44.559
  • Our account, unending riches beginning with our salvation.
  • 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:49.898
  • And that's why we can afford to be generous
  • 00:21:50.832 --> 00:21:53.335
  • With other people, regardless of how they treat us
  • 00:21:53.335 --> 00:21:57.038
  • Because of the riches we have received from god.
  • 00:21:57.038 --> 00:22:00.842
  • That's what jesus has in mind here,
  • 00:22:00.842 --> 00:22:03.445
  • In everything treat people the same way
  • 00:22:03.445 --> 00:22:06.815
  • You want them to treat you,
  • 00:22:06.815 --> 00:22:09.317
  • For this is the law and the prophets.
  • 00:22:09.317 --> 00:22:13.188
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:22:13.188 --> 00:22:17.526
  • I hope today's messages encouraged you
  • 00:22:18.293 --> 00:22:20.562
  • To embrace the biblical principal of treating others
  • 00:22:20.562 --> 00:22:24.499
  • The way you want to be treated.
  • 00:22:24.499 --> 00:22:26.735
  • The golden rule isn't just a nice suggestion,
  • 00:22:26.735 --> 00:22:30.071
  • It's a way of life that reflects the heart of our savior.
  • 00:22:30.071 --> 00:22:34.409
  • At "pathway to victory" we're committed to sharing
  • 00:22:34.409 --> 00:22:36.678
  • These timeless truths from god's word
  • 00:22:36.678 --> 00:22:39.347
  • With clarity and conviction.
  • 00:22:39.347 --> 00:22:41.983
  • I'm deeply grateful for how this ministry continues
  • 00:22:41.983 --> 00:22:44.853
  • To expand its reach through television, radio
  • 00:22:44.853 --> 00:22:47.789
  • And digital streaming touching lives across america
  • 00:22:47.789 --> 00:22:51.526
  • And around the world.
  • 00:22:51.526 --> 00:22:53.161
  • This growth is only possible
  • 00:22:53.161 --> 00:22:54.896
  • Because of the faithful generosity of friends like you.
  • 00:22:54.896 --> 00:22:58.967
  • Whether you're a pathway partner
  • 00:22:58.967 --> 00:23:00.569
  • Or someone who gives an occasional gift,
  • 00:23:00.569 --> 00:23:02.938
  • Your support enables us to proclaim the uncompromising truth
  • 00:23:02.938 --> 00:23:08.210
  • Of scripture.
  • 00:23:08.577 --> 00:23:10.145
  • Thank you for partnering with us as we pierce the darkness
  • 00:23:10.145 --> 00:23:13.448
  • With the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:13.448 --> 00:23:15.283
  • Now please stay right there, i'll be back with more
  • 00:23:15.283 --> 00:23:18.386
  • In just a moment.
  • 00:23:18.386 --> 00:23:19.754
  • When jesus spoke he wasted no time in getting straight
  • 00:23:20.856 --> 00:23:24.292
  • To the heart of what matters most.
  • 00:23:24.292 --> 00:23:26.495
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:23:26.495 --> 00:23:34.102
  • Did you realize that his famous sermon on the mount
  • 00:23:35.103 --> 00:23:37.572
  • Can be read in only 18 minutes?
  • 00:23:37.572 --> 00:23:40.242
  • And now in my book called "18 minutes with jesus"
  • 00:23:40.242 --> 00:23:44.212
  • I'll unpack the radical teaching
  • 00:23:44.212 --> 00:23:46.281
  • That jesus shared with his followers
  • 00:23:46.281 --> 00:23:48.750
  • In the famous sermon on the mount.
  • 00:23:48.750 --> 00:23:51.319
  • In his sermon on the mount, jesus delivers straight talk
  • 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:54.422
  • About the issues that matter to you most,
  • 00:23:54.422 --> 00:23:57.192
  • Things like your happiness, faith, relationships, prayer,
  • 00:23:57.192 --> 00:24:01.062
  • Money, eternity and more.
  • 00:24:01.062 --> 00:24:03.598
  • Request the brand new book "18 minutes with jesus"
  • 00:24:03.598 --> 00:24:06.835
  • When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory"
  • 00:24:06.835 --> 00:24:09.738
  • And when your gift is $75 or more,
  • 00:24:09.738 --> 00:24:12.607
  • We'll also send you the corresponding study guide
  • 00:24:12.607 --> 00:24:15.577
  • With thought provoking questions and activities for you
  • 00:24:15.577 --> 00:24:18.480
  • Or your small group or sunday school class.
  • 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:21.016
  • Plus, you'll also receive the complete
  • 00:24:21.016 --> 00:24:23.084
  • "18 minutes with jesus" teaching series on cd and dvd.
  • 00:24:23.084 --> 00:24:27.889
  • This sermon is more of a constitution for life
  • 00:24:27.889 --> 00:24:31.426
  • In the kingdom of god, not something that happens
  • 00:24:31.426 --> 00:24:34.229
  • After you die, it's how to live now.
  • 00:24:34.229 --> 00:24:36.565
  • Your generous gift to "pathway to victory"
  • 00:24:36.565 --> 00:24:39.234
  • Empowers us to equip christians
  • 00:24:39.234 --> 00:24:41.169
  • In a dark and decaying world.
  • 00:24:41.169 --> 00:24:43.405
  • So please, keep standing with us,
  • 00:24:43.405 --> 00:24:45.574
  • That we might reach as many people as possible
  • 00:24:45.574 --> 00:24:48.276
  • With the truth of god's word.
  • 00:24:48.276 --> 00:24:50.745
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:24:50.745 --> 00:24:52.180
  • Responding generously to needy people is rarely easy,
  • 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:56.117
  • Especially when their account has run up a massive deficit.
  • 00:24:56.117 --> 00:25:00.188
  • But god has given every believer an unending source
  • 00:25:00.188 --> 00:25:03.992
  • Of goodwill and compassion.
  • 00:25:03.992 --> 00:25:06.461
  • Because of our salvation through jesus christ
  • 00:25:06.461 --> 00:25:09.497
  • There's never a reason to be stingy.
  • 00:25:09.497 --> 00:25:12.834
  • Well, everyday we face countless choices about how to spend
  • 00:25:12.834 --> 00:25:16.171
  • Our time, our money and how to treat the people around us.
  • 00:25:16.171 --> 00:25:20.041
  • But there's no greater choice than deciding
  • 00:25:20.041 --> 00:25:22.944
  • Where you will spend eternity.
  • 00:25:22.944 --> 00:25:25.480
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
  • 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:27.916
  • In our series, "18 minutes with jesus."
  • 00:25:27.916 --> 00:25:31.820
  • Everyday we make decisions don't we?
  • 00:25:32.621 --> 00:25:34.856
  • Most are inconsequential, what we're going to have for lunch,
  • 00:25:34.856 --> 00:25:38.493
  • What we're going to wear.
  • 00:25:38.493 --> 00:25:40.328
  • And some are life altering decisions,
  • 00:25:40.328 --> 00:25:43.832
  • Whether to get married, whom to marry, but no choice we make
  • 00:25:43.832 --> 00:25:47.669
  • Is any more consequential than the one
  • 00:25:47.669 --> 00:25:49.638
  • We're going to look at today,
  • 00:25:49.638 --> 00:25:51.606
  • The choice of where you're going to spend eternity.
  • 00:25:51.606 --> 00:25:55.944
  • And it's that final choice that jesus addresses
  • 00:25:55.944 --> 00:26:00.215
  • In the sermon on the mount
  • 00:26:00.215 --> 00:26:01.449
  • That we're going to look at today.
  • 00:26:01.449 --> 00:26:03.585
  • Set your dvr and join us next time for the message
  • 00:26:03.585 --> 00:26:06.621
  • "straight talk about your eternal destiny"
  • 00:26:06.621 --> 00:26:09.758
  • -here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:09.758 --> 00:26:15.697
  • [narrator] experience a journey
  • 00:26:16.331 --> 00:26:17.766
  • That will refresh your spirit and renew your faith,
  • 00:26:17.766 --> 00:26:20.735
  • On the pathway to victory cruise to alaska,
  • 00:26:20.735 --> 00:26:23.338
  • June 13 through 20, 2026.
  • 00:26:23.338 --> 00:26:26.074
  • Sail aboard holland america's luxurious koningsdam
  • 00:26:26.074 --> 00:26:29.444
  • Through british columbia's beautiful inside passage,
  • 00:26:29.444 --> 00:26:33.114
  • From the pristine waters of glacier bay
  • 00:26:33.114 --> 00:26:35.817
  • To the charming frontier towns of juno,
  • 00:26:35.817 --> 00:26:38.453
  • Ketchikan, and skagway.
  • 00:26:38.453 --> 00:26:40.588
  • You'll witness god's handiwork on full display.
  • 00:26:40.588 --> 00:26:44.192
  • [narrator] imagine standing on deck,
  • 00:26:44.192 --> 00:26:45.694
  • Surrounded by towering glaciers and snow-capped mountains,
  • 00:26:45.694 --> 00:26:48.897
  • While enjoying powerful bible teaching from dr. jeffress,
  • 00:26:48.897 --> 00:26:52.400
  • Then enjoy spirit-lifting worship led by michael o'brien,
  • 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:56.271
  • And share plenty of laughter with dennis swanberg,
  • 00:26:56.271 --> 00:26:58.907
  • America's minister of encouragement.
  • 00:26:58.907 --> 00:27:01.142
  • [dr. jeffress] this is more than just a vacation,
  • 00:27:01.142 --> 00:27:03.278
  • It's a sacred pause to reconnect with the lord.
  • 00:27:03.278 --> 00:27:06.748
  • [narrator] to reserve your cabin
  • 00:27:06.748 --> 00:27:08.183
  • On the 2026 pathway to victory cruise to alaska,
  • 00:27:08.183 --> 00:27:10.985
  • Call 888-280-6747 or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:10.985 --> 00:27:10.985