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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Survival Tip #3: Take Inventory (Part 1)

May 14, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Survival Tip #3: Take Inventory (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#ArmorofGod #Struggle #Thoughts-Negative #Truth #Spirit #Righteousness #Self-Righteousness #Church #Lifestyle #Stress #Evil #RobertJeffress

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Survival Tip #3: Take Inventory (Part 1) | May 14, 2026
  • ...
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  • Male announcer: ephesus, thessaloniki, the greek islands,
  • 00:00:00.457 --> 00:00:03.793
  • The apostle paul didn't just write about these places, he
  • 00:00:03.927 --> 00:00:04.928
  • Lived in them, and this may so can you on the "pathway to
  • 00:00:06.863 --> 00:00:10.567
  • Victory" journeys of paul cruise.
  • 00:00:10.567 --> 00:00:12.836
  • Dr. robert jeffress: i've read the book of acts my entire life,
  • 00:00:12.836 --> 00:00:15.405
  • But there's nothing like standing in ephesus, walking
  • 00:00:15.405 --> 00:00:18.908
  • Where paul walked, and feeling the weight of what
  • 00:00:18.908 --> 00:00:21.544
  • Happened there.
  • 00:00:21.544 --> 00:00:22.912
  • Male announcer: nine unforgettable nights aboard
  • 00:00:22.912 --> 00:00:24.347
  • Celebrity infinity, sailing round trip from athens with
  • 00:00:24.347 --> 00:00:27.617
  • Stops in mykonos, rhodes, santorini, and more, and there's
  • 00:00:27.617 --> 00:00:31.688
  • An optional pre-cruise extension in athens.
  • 00:00:31.688 --> 00:00:34.691
  • Jeffress: every port carries the fingerprints of god's
  • 00:00:34.691 --> 00:00:37.293
  • Redemptive plan.
  • 00:00:37.293 --> 00:00:38.628
  • Every ancient stone tells a story.
  • 00:00:38.628 --> 00:00:41.264
  • This is truly the trip of a lifetime, and i promise you you
  • 00:00:41.264 --> 00:00:44.968
  • Will never read the bible the same way again.
  • 00:00:44.968 --> 00:00:48.404
  • Male announcer: reserve your cabin today for the 2027
  • 00:00:48.404 --> 00:00:51.574
  • "pathway to victory" journeys of paul cruise.
  • 00:00:51.574 --> 00:00:54.377
  • Call ...
  • 00:00:54.377 --> 00:00:57.814
  • Or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:00:57.814 --> 00:01:01.050
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:01.117 --> 00:01:07.657
  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
  • 00:01:07.657 --> 00:01:09.959
  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
  • 00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:13.129
  • Dr. robert jeffress.
  • 00:01:13.129 --> 00:01:15.565
  • Jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome again to
  • 00:01:15.632 --> 00:01:18.034
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:01:18.034 --> 00:01:19.536
  • Survivalists know that when you find yourself in a threatening
  • 00:01:19.536 --> 00:01:23.206
  • Situation the first thing you need to do is take inventory of
  • 00:01:23.206 --> 00:01:26.676
  • Your available resources.
  • 00:01:26.676 --> 00:01:28.778
  • Even the most insignificant item could mean the difference
  • 00:01:28.778 --> 00:01:32.215
  • Between life and death, and as christians we face a very real
  • 00:01:32.215 --> 00:01:36.719
  • Threat every day.
  • 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:38.555
  • Today i'm going to show you the divine resources god has
  • 00:01:38.555 --> 00:01:41.925
  • Provided to help you face the supernatural struggles of life.
  • 00:01:41.925 --> 00:01:46.329
  • My message is titled "survival tip #3: take inventory" on
  • 00:01:46.329 --> 00:01:51.868
  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:01:51.868 --> 00:01:56.873
  • Male announcer: each day millions of lost people are
  • 00:02:00.977 --> 00:02:03.313
  • Searching for hope and truth.
  • 00:02:03.313 --> 00:02:05.281
  • Through "pathway to victory," god's word is reaching into
  • 00:02:05.281 --> 00:02:08.218
  • Homes across america and around the world, but there are still
  • 00:02:08.218 --> 00:02:11.821
  • So many who haven't heard the saving message of jesus christ.
  • 00:02:11.821 --> 00:02:15.425
  • You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
  • 00:02:15.425 --> 00:02:18.695
  • You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries who are
  • 00:02:18.695 --> 00:02:21.898
  • Sharing the gospel through television and radio.
  • 00:02:21.898 --> 00:02:24.601
  • Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide with the
  • 00:02:24.601 --> 00:02:28.238
  • Life-changing power of the cross.
  • 00:02:28.238 --> 00:02:34.677
  • Jeffress: by 1970 public interest in crewed space flight
  • 00:02:38.781 --> 00:02:44.721
  • Was declining rapidly.
  • 00:02:44.721 --> 00:02:47.123
  • The exciting days of the space race to determine who would
  • 00:02:47.123 --> 00:02:50.526
  • Dominate the cosmos, the united states or the soviet union,
  • 00:02:50.526 --> 00:02:55.198
  • Were over.
  • 00:02:55.198 --> 00:02:56.532
  • When american astronaut neil armstrong put the first human
  • 00:02:56.532 --> 00:03:00.570
  • Footprint on the moon on july 21, 1969, the united states
  • 00:03:00.570 --> 00:03:07.310
  • Claimed victory over space.
  • 00:03:07.310 --> 00:03:10.446
  • So when nasa launched its third moon mission nine months later,
  • 00:03:10.446 --> 00:03:15.852
  • It was met with a collective yawn by the american public, but
  • 00:03:15.852 --> 00:03:21.124
  • An explosion on apollo 13 two days into their flight changed
  • 00:03:21.124 --> 00:03:26.262
  • All of that.
  • 00:03:26.262 --> 00:03:27.997
  • Jack swigert, the command module pilot, flipped a switch
  • 00:03:27.997 --> 00:03:32.235
  • To turn on the fans as a part of a routine cryo stir in the
  • 00:03:32.235 --> 00:03:36.806
  • Hydrogen tanks.
  • 00:03:36.806 --> 00:03:38.675
  • Sixteen seconds later, he was startled by a large boom.
  • 00:03:38.675 --> 00:03:43.012
  • Warning lights flashed.
  • 00:03:43.012 --> 00:03:44.814
  • The alarm sounded in the command module as the ship began
  • 00:03:44.814 --> 00:03:48.484
  • To shudder.
  • 00:03:48.484 --> 00:03:49.852
  • Oxygen pressure and power levels plummeted.
  • 00:03:49.852 --> 00:03:53.523
  • Swigert radioed, "houston, we've had a problem."
  • 00:03:53.523 --> 00:03:58.394
  • Within a matter of minutes the odyssey, the lifeboat for the
  • 00:03:58.394 --> 00:04:02.065
  • Three american astronauts, was dying.
  • 00:04:02.065 --> 00:04:05.501
  • Mission control in houston determined the astronauts had to
  • 00:04:05.501 --> 00:04:08.938
  • Shut down the odyssey and moved into the undamaged lunar lander
  • 00:04:08.938 --> 00:04:14.844
  • The aquarius.
  • 00:04:14.844 --> 00:04:16.546
  • Once there the crew would perform a number of maneuvers to
  • 00:04:16.546 --> 00:04:20.183
  • Slingshot themselves around the moon, using the moon's
  • 00:04:20.183 --> 00:04:23.820
  • Gravitational pull as additional energy and head back to earth.
  • 00:04:23.820 --> 00:04:28.925
  • To save precious power several systems in the aquarius had to
  • 00:04:28.925 --> 00:04:33.262
  • Be shut down.
  • 00:04:33.262 --> 00:04:34.864
  • The lunar lander was designed to carry only two people for no
  • 00:04:34.864 --> 00:04:38.801
  • More than 36 hours.
  • 00:04:38.801 --> 00:04:41.337
  • However, with the command module blacked out all three astronauts
  • 00:04:41.337 --> 00:04:45.775
  • Would have to survive the trip back to earth in the cramped
  • 00:04:45.775 --> 00:04:49.278
  • Confines of the aquarius.
  • 00:04:49.278 --> 00:04:51.514
  • It would take the spacecraft 96 hours to make the return
  • 00:04:51.514 --> 00:04:56.085
  • Trip home.
  • 00:04:56.085 --> 00:04:57.420
  • It didn't take long for the astronauts to notice that the
  • 00:04:57.420 --> 00:05:00.723
  • Lunar lander was filling with dangerously high levels of
  • 00:05:00.723 --> 00:05:05.027
  • Carbon dioxide, since its scrubber was unable to filter
  • 00:05:05.027 --> 00:05:09.399
  • Out the poisonous gas expelled by the three men.
  • 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:13.936
  • On their trip to and around the moon the astronauts had replaced
  • 00:05:13.936 --> 00:05:17.640
  • The filter at least twice.
  • 00:05:17.640 --> 00:05:20.343
  • As they emerged from the dark side of the moon they had one
  • 00:05:20.343 --> 00:05:24.280
  • Filter left, but it came from the command module and it
  • 00:05:24.280 --> 00:05:28.985
  • Wouldn't fit the lunar lander's compartment.
  • 00:05:28.985 --> 00:05:32.288
  • Built by two different contractors, the command module
  • 00:05:32.288 --> 00:05:36.325
  • Co2 filter was square, while the lunar landers filter was round.
  • 00:05:36.325 --> 00:05:42.398
  • To keep the three men from dying of asphyxiation a team in
  • 00:05:42.398 --> 00:05:46.736
  • Houston gathered an inventory of equipment that the astronauts
  • 00:05:46.736 --> 00:05:50.773
  • Had on board and began piercing together a contraption to fit
  • 00:05:50.773 --> 00:05:55.845
  • The proverbial square peg into the round hole.
  • 00:05:55.845 --> 00:05:59.882
  • The inventory consisted of the square lithium hydroxide
  • 00:05:59.882 --> 00:06:04.086
  • Canister, a roll of duct tape, two plastic bags, two hoses from
  • 00:06:04.086 --> 00:06:10.326
  • Moon suits, two socks, the cover of the flight plan, and a bungee
  • 00:06:10.326 --> 00:06:16.199
  • Cord used to secure the modified filtration system to
  • 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:20.369
  • Aquarius's bulkhead.
  • 00:06:20.369 --> 00:06:22.738
  • As the 1995 movie "apollo 13" dramatically depicted, the
  • 00:06:22.738 --> 00:06:28.177
  • Mailbox, as this contraption was called, worked.
  • 00:06:28.177 --> 00:06:33.015
  • The astronauts safely splashed down in the pacific ocean and
  • 00:06:33.015 --> 00:06:37.653
  • Were welcomed home by the american public.
  • 00:06:37.653 --> 00:06:40.656
  • They were heroes of nasa's most successful failure.
  • 00:06:40.656 --> 00:06:46.863
  • The survival of apollo 13 depended upon the ingenuity of
  • 00:06:46.863 --> 00:06:52.969
  • Those engineers at nasa to design a system that would be
  • 00:06:52.969 --> 00:06:58.708
  • Based on the available inventory to the astronauts.
  • 00:06:58.708 --> 00:07:04.280
  • It would have been no good for the engineers to suggest
  • 00:07:04.280 --> 00:07:07.750
  • Building a contraption with a plastic bag rubber banded around
  • 00:07:07.750 --> 00:07:13.122
  • The hose if there had been no bungee cord available with which
  • 00:07:13.122 --> 00:07:16.626
  • To build that contraption.
  • 00:07:16.626 --> 00:07:18.928
  • They were limited to using the available inventory for their
  • 00:07:18.928 --> 00:07:22.565
  • Survival, and the same is true for anybody who finds himself in
  • 00:07:22.565 --> 00:07:27.803
  • A survival situation, and that's what we're actually talking
  • 00:07:27.803 --> 00:07:31.841
  • About in this series, "courageous."
  • 00:07:31.841 --> 00:07:34.443
  • The bible says whether you know it or not you're in
  • 00:07:34.443 --> 00:07:37.346
  • A survival situation.
  • 00:07:37.346 --> 00:07:39.549
  • You're living in an environment that is hostile to your
  • 00:07:39.549 --> 00:07:42.785
  • Christian faith, you face a culture that is opposed to
  • 00:07:42.785 --> 00:07:47.123
  • Everything that god values, you're surrounded by an enemy,
  • 00:07:47.123 --> 00:07:51.527
  • Satan, who wants to destroy everything important to you, and
  • 00:07:51.527 --> 00:07:55.231
  • If that were not enough, you and i, even as christians, carry
  • 00:07:55.231 --> 00:07:58.200
  • Around at least the remnant of a nature that has fallen and
  • 00:07:58.200 --> 00:08:01.804
  • Opposed to god.
  • 00:08:01.804 --> 00:08:03.573
  • How can we ever survive, much less thrive in that kind
  • 00:08:03.573 --> 00:08:07.577
  • Of environment?
  • 00:08:07.577 --> 00:08:09.045
  • Well, just as every survivalist knows there are ten survival
  • 00:08:09.045 --> 00:08:12.481
  • Tips for dangerous situations, we're looking at those survival
  • 00:08:12.481 --> 00:08:16.852
  • Tips and looking at them with a biblical application.
  • 00:08:16.852 --> 00:08:20.890
  • Remember the first survival tip, don't panic.
  • 00:08:20.890 --> 00:08:25.361
  • Everybody knows if you're in an avalanche or a plane crash,
  • 00:08:25.361 --> 00:08:28.898
  • Whatever it is, don't panic.
  • 00:08:28.898 --> 00:08:30.700
  • Keep your emotions under control.
  • 00:08:30.700 --> 00:08:32.535
  • We looked at that two weeks ago.
  • 00:08:32.535 --> 00:08:34.837
  • Last time we looked at survival tip number two, gain
  • 00:08:34.837 --> 00:08:38.140
  • Situational awareness.
  • 00:08:38.140 --> 00:08:39.475
  • Be aware of what's actually happening around you, not what
  • 00:08:39.475 --> 00:08:43.379
  • You wish were happening, and today we're going to look at
  • 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:46.515
  • Survival tip number three, one that those astronauts
  • 00:08:46.515 --> 00:08:49.885
  • Demonstrated, and that is take inventory of your available
  • 00:08:49.885 --> 00:08:55.358
  • Resources, taking inventory of your available resources.
  • 00:08:55.358 --> 00:09:00.096
  • Now, when it comes to taking inventory of our present
  • 00:09:00.096 --> 00:09:03.633
  • Situation i've got some good news and bad news for you today.
  • 00:09:03.633 --> 00:09:07.103
  • Which would you like to hear first?
  • 00:09:07.103 --> 00:09:09.105
  • Male: the bad news.
  • 00:09:09.105 --> 00:09:11.774
  • Jeffress: okay, gentlemen here says the bad news.
  • 00:09:11.774 --> 00:09:14.944
  • Good choice.
  • 00:09:14.944 --> 00:09:16.312
  • I'll give you the bad news.
  • 00:09:16.312 --> 00:09:17.813
  • The bad news is you have a supernatural enemy who will not
  • 00:09:17.813 --> 00:09:24.787
  • Rest until he has completely destroyed you and everything
  • 00:09:24.787 --> 00:09:29.025
  • Important to you.
  • 00:09:29.025 --> 00:09:31.727
  • That's the bad news.
  • 00:09:31.727 --> 00:09:33.596
  • The good news is god has given you the supernatural inventory
  • 00:09:33.596 --> 00:09:39.035
  • Resources you need to defeat that opponent, and that's what
  • 00:09:39.035 --> 00:09:43.706
  • We're going to look at today.
  • 00:09:43.706 --> 00:09:45.708
  • In ephesians 6, verse 13, paul said it this way, "therefore,
  • 00:09:45.708 --> 00:09:49.812
  • Take up the full armor of god, that you may be able to resist
  • 00:09:49.812 --> 00:09:53.949
  • In the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."
  • 00:09:53.949 --> 00:09:59.288
  • Take inventory and then take up the armor, the protection that
  • 00:09:59.288 --> 00:10:03.659
  • God has given you.
  • 00:10:03.659 --> 00:10:04.994
  • Why is that so important?
  • 00:10:04.994 --> 00:10:06.362
  • Well, he says in the verse ahead, verse 12, "for our
  • 00:10:06.362 --> 00:10:09.265
  • Struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
  • 00:10:09.265 --> 00:10:14.303
  • Rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this
  • 00:10:14.303 --> 00:10:17.573
  • Darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the
  • 00:10:17.573 --> 00:10:21.143
  • Heavenly places."
  • 00:10:21.143 --> 00:10:22.511
  • Paul says you and i are in a struggle.
  • 00:10:22.511 --> 00:10:26.082
  • That word struggle, palé in greek, refers to a wrestling
  • 00:10:26.082 --> 00:10:30.886
  • Match, and the kind of wrestling in paul's day was not this fake
  • 00:10:30.886 --> 00:10:35.658
  • Kind of wrestling you see on tv sometime, where they pretend to
  • 00:10:35.658 --> 00:10:40.062
  • Fight and then go out and have a drink afterwards.
  • 00:10:40.062 --> 00:10:43.165
  • No, these were real struggles, and in these wrestling matches
  • 00:10:43.165 --> 00:10:46.836
  • They would fight to the death, literally.
  • 00:10:46.836 --> 00:10:49.705
  • The loser of the wrestling match would have his eyes gouged out,
  • 00:10:49.705 --> 00:10:54.376
  • And once that happened he was put to death.
  • 00:10:54.376 --> 00:10:57.613
  • So the stakes were very high.
  • 00:10:57.613 --> 00:10:59.315
  • Paul says that is the kind of death struggle you and i are
  • 00:10:59.315 --> 00:11:02.918
  • Involved in in this life, and what is it that our struggle
  • 00:11:02.918 --> 00:11:07.323
  • Is against?
  • 00:11:07.323 --> 00:11:08.691
  • He says it's not against flesh and blood.
  • 00:11:08.691 --> 00:11:10.793
  • It's not against other people.
  • 00:11:10.793 --> 00:11:13.095
  • You and i tend to think that our biggest problems in life are
  • 00:11:13.095 --> 00:11:16.165
  • Other people, don't look at the person next to you, but most
  • 00:11:16.165 --> 00:11:18.868
  • People think that.
  • 00:11:18.868 --> 00:11:20.536
  • They think our biggest struggle is against that mate who doesn't
  • 00:11:20.536 --> 00:11:24.673
  • Appreciate us, or that boss who mistreats us, or that friend who
  • 00:11:24.673 --> 00:11:29.779
  • Betrays us.
  • 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:31.113
  • No, our struggle is not against other people, as much as we
  • 00:11:31.113 --> 00:11:34.850
  • Think that.
  • 00:11:34.850 --> 00:11:36.218
  • Listen to this.
  • 00:11:36.218 --> 00:11:37.553
  • The very real world problems you're facing right now have
  • 00:11:37.553 --> 00:11:41.490
  • Other world sources behind them.
  • 00:11:41.490 --> 00:11:45.561
  • Our fight is not against the visible, but against the
  • 00:11:45.561 --> 00:11:48.531
  • Invisible forces of darkness, of, "the spiritual forces of
  • 00:11:48.531 --> 00:11:52.701
  • Wickedness in heavenly places."
  • 00:11:52.701 --> 00:11:54.904
  • Our adversary is satan himself.
  • 00:11:54.904 --> 00:11:58.541
  • The apostle peter said it this way in 1 peter 5:8, "be of sober
  • 00:11:58.541 --> 00:12:02.778
  • Spirit, be on the alert.
  • 00:12:02.778 --> 00:12:05.281
  • For your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring
  • 00:12:05.281 --> 00:12:10.052
  • Lion, seeking someone to devour."
  • 00:12:10.052 --> 00:12:14.190
  • Satan is on the loose.
  • 00:12:14.190 --> 00:12:15.658
  • He's looking for anyone that he can take out.
  • 00:12:15.658 --> 00:12:19.461
  • Paul uses that same imagery of a predatory animal in ephesians
  • 00:12:19.461 --> 00:12:23.399
  • 6:11 when he says, "put on the full armor of god, that you
  • 00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:28.537
  • Might be able to stand firm against the schemes of
  • 00:12:28.537 --> 00:12:32.675
  • The devil."
  • 00:12:32.675 --> 00:12:34.009
  • That word schemes in greek is methodeia.
  • 00:12:34.009 --> 00:12:36.979
  • It could be translated blueprint.
  • 00:12:36.979 --> 00:12:39.982
  • It--literally, it referred to a predatory animal who was
  • 00:12:39.982 --> 00:12:43.652
  • Stalking its prey.
  • 00:12:43.652 --> 00:12:45.888
  • It didn't pounce on the prey immediately.
  • 00:12:45.888 --> 00:12:48.123
  • It waited for the opportune time, the opportune situation to
  • 00:12:48.123 --> 00:12:52.027
  • Attack its prey and destroy it, and you didn't go after the same
  • 00:12:52.027 --> 00:12:55.998
  • Prey in the same way.
  • 00:12:55.998 --> 00:12:58.033
  • Satan knows that.
  • 00:12:58.033 --> 00:12:59.735
  • He is looking for a way to take you out, and he doesn't do it
  • 00:12:59.735 --> 00:13:02.504
  • Immediately all the time.
  • 00:13:02.504 --> 00:13:04.540
  • Can he read your mind?
  • 00:13:04.540 --> 00:13:05.908
  • No, but he doesn't have to.
  • 00:13:05.908 --> 00:13:07.576
  • He's watched you long enough.
  • 00:13:07.576 --> 00:13:09.311
  • He knows your weak points, he knows which times you're most
  • 00:13:09.311 --> 00:13:14.450
  • Vulnerable to attack, and he waits to pounce until that time
  • 00:13:14.450 --> 00:13:18.687
  • That he can take you out.
  • 00:13:18.687 --> 00:13:20.823
  • Satan has a blueprint for your destruction.
  • 00:13:20.823 --> 00:13:23.225
  • He has a methodical plan custom made just for you, a plan to
  • 00:13:23.225 --> 00:13:27.963
  • Destroy your marriage, a plan to cause your children to rebel
  • 00:13:27.963 --> 00:13:32.534
  • Against god, a plan to cause you to lose your witness for
  • 00:13:32.534 --> 00:13:36.338
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:13:36.338 --> 00:13:37.673
  • He wants to destroy anything and everything important to you.
  • 00:13:37.673 --> 00:13:42.244
  • If you think that is hyperbole, overstatement, listen to the
  • 00:13:42.244 --> 00:13:46.415
  • Words of the late pastor martyn lloyd-jones.
  • 00:13:46.415 --> 00:13:48.984
  • He wrote, "anyone who is not aware of a fight and a conflict
  • 00:13:48.984 --> 00:13:56.158
  • In a spiritual sense is in a drugged and
  • 00:13:56.158 --> 00:13:59.595
  • Hazardous condition."
  • 00:13:59.595 --> 00:14:02.164
  • If you're not aware of your enemy and the plan he has for
  • 00:14:02.164 --> 00:14:05.134
  • You, you're walking around in a trance.
  • 00:14:05.134 --> 00:14:11.040
  • You're sleepwalking through life.
  • 00:14:11.040 --> 00:14:13.642
  • If you're not aware of a spiritual conflict you're in,
  • 00:14:13.642 --> 00:14:16.512
  • You're gonna become spiritual roadkill very, very quickly.
  • 00:14:16.512 --> 00:14:20.382
  • We need to be aware not only of our enemy, but the resources
  • 00:14:20.382 --> 00:14:24.219
  • That god has given us to defeat him, and that's why, again, in
  • 00:14:24.219 --> 00:14:27.056
  • Ephesians 6, 10 and 11, he says, "finally, be strong in the lord
  • 00:14:27.056 --> 00:14:30.793
  • And in the strength of his might.
  • 00:14:30.793 --> 00:14:33.195
  • Put on the full armor of god, so that you may be able to stand
  • 00:14:33.195 --> 00:14:37.399
  • Firm against the schemes of the devil."
  • 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:40.102
  • If you haven't already, turn to ephesians chapter 6 as we take
  • 00:14:40.102 --> 00:14:45.474
  • A spiritual inventory of the resources god has provided to us
  • 00:14:45.474 --> 00:14:49.945
  • To fight this very real enemy.
  • 00:14:49.945 --> 00:14:53.015
  • Remember, as paul wrote to the christians at ephesus, most
  • 00:14:53.015 --> 00:14:56.452
  • Likely paul was under house arrest.
  • 00:14:56.452 --> 00:14:59.188
  • He wasn't in a prison cell somewhere.
  • 00:14:59.188 --> 00:15:01.523
  • He was under house arrest and he was chained to a roman guard.
  • 00:15:01.523 --> 00:15:07.196
  • They would change out guards every six hours and so.
  • 00:15:07.196 --> 00:15:10.933
  • All day every day for two years paul was chained to a different
  • 00:15:10.933 --> 00:15:14.670
  • Roman guard, and as paul looked at that roman guard, he thought,
  • 00:15:14.670 --> 00:15:18.941
  • You know, the same armor that this roman soldier has to
  • 00:15:18.941 --> 00:15:22.978
  • Protect him is similar to the armor that god has provided
  • 00:15:22.978 --> 00:15:26.949
  • Every christian, and so he takes inventory of that armor
  • 00:15:26.949 --> 00:15:31.220
  • Beginning in verse 14.
  • 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:33.222
  • I want you to notice of the six pieces of armor for a roman
  • 00:15:33.222 --> 00:15:36.759
  • Soldier, five of them are defensive pieces of armor, one
  • 00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:40.896
  • Is offensive.
  • 00:15:40.896 --> 00:15:42.865
  • First of all, he says gird up your loins with the belt
  • 00:15:42.865 --> 00:15:47.870
  • Of truth.
  • 00:15:47.870 --> 00:15:49.571
  • Look at verse 14.
  • 00:15:49.571 --> 00:15:50.906
  • "stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth."
  • 00:15:50.906 --> 00:15:54.877
  • What does that mean?
  • 00:15:54.877 --> 00:15:56.245
  • Well, the roman soldier would wear a free flowing tunic.
  • 00:15:56.245 --> 00:16:00.282
  • It was very comfortable, but it was also very dangerous in times
  • 00:16:00.282 --> 00:16:04.686
  • Of battle because in times of battle the soldier could trip
  • 00:16:04.686 --> 00:16:09.625
  • Over his tunic or an enemy could grab hold of one of the loose
  • 00:16:09.625 --> 00:16:13.562
  • Pieces and use it to gain an advantage, and that's why every
  • 00:16:13.562 --> 00:16:16.799
  • Soldier before he would go into battle would tuck in his tunic
  • 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:20.769
  • Into the belt, the large roman soldier's belt, so that it would
  • 00:16:20.769 --> 00:16:25.407
  • Prevent the enemy from gaining an advantage.
  • 00:16:25.407 --> 00:16:28.410
  • Paul says in the same way we need to gird our loins.
  • 00:16:28.410 --> 00:16:33.048
  • Literally gird our minds with truth.
  • 00:16:33.048 --> 00:16:36.585
  • That is, we cannot afford the luxury, folks, of having loose
  • 00:16:36.585 --> 00:16:40.089
  • Thoughts that just pop into our mind and dwelling on
  • 00:16:40.089 --> 00:16:44.326
  • Those thoughts.
  • 00:16:44.326 --> 00:16:45.928
  • Those thoughts can be very dangerous if the enemy uses them
  • 00:16:45.928 --> 00:16:49.998
  • Against us.
  • 00:16:49.998 --> 00:16:51.600
  • Have you ever discovered this before?
  • 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:53.535
  • You can't control what comes into your mind.
  • 00:16:53.535 --> 00:16:56.371
  • We're gonna talk about this more in a couple of weeks.
  • 00:16:56.371 --> 00:16:58.240
  • We can't always control the thoughts that come into
  • 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.742
  • Our mind.
  • 00:17:00.742 --> 00:17:02.111
  • Now, we can somehow regulate them.
  • 00:17:02.111 --> 00:17:03.712
  • We can probably diminish the number of wrong thoughts that
  • 00:17:03.712 --> 00:17:06.915
  • Come into our mind by what we watch and what we listen to, but
  • 00:17:06.915 --> 00:17:10.352
  • The fact is we can't always control what thoughts come into
  • 00:17:10.352 --> 00:17:13.522
  • Our mind, but we can control what we do with those thoughts,
  • 00:17:13.522 --> 00:17:17.926
  • And paul says we need to confront those thoughts with the
  • 00:17:17.926 --> 00:17:21.597
  • Belt of truth, with the truth of god's word.
  • 00:17:21.597 --> 00:17:24.766
  • For example, i think that's what paul had in mind in
  • 00:17:24.766 --> 00:17:27.169
  • 2 corinthians 10, 4 and 5, when he said, "for the weapons of our
  • 00:17:27.169 --> 00:17:31.373
  • Warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the
  • 00:17:31.373 --> 00:17:35.811
  • Destruction of fortresses.
  • 00:17:35.811 --> 00:17:38.147
  • We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up
  • 00:17:38.147 --> 00:17:43.252
  • Against the knowledge of god, and we are taking every thought
  • 00:17:43.252 --> 00:17:47.723
  • Captive to the obedience of christ."
  • 00:17:47.723 --> 00:17:50.859
  • Whenever those wrong thoughts come into mind, paul says we
  • 00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:54.329
  • Need to tuck them in, confront them with the truth of
  • 00:17:54.329 --> 00:17:57.799
  • God's word.
  • 00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:59.334
  • Secondly, he talks about the breastplate of righteousness.
  • 00:17:59.334 --> 00:18:03.405
  • One of the resources god asks us to utilize in times of spiritual
  • 00:18:03.405 --> 00:18:07.843
  • Warfare is the breastplate of righteousness.
  • 00:18:07.843 --> 00:18:10.879
  • Now, a soldier's breastplate was really a form fitting metal
  • 00:18:10.879 --> 00:18:16.151
  • Shell that covered the soldier's torso and protected his vital
  • 00:18:16.151 --> 00:18:21.523
  • Organs, his heart, his lungs.
  • 00:18:21.523 --> 00:18:24.426
  • You can understand why that was a central piece of armor,
  • 00:18:24.426 --> 00:18:27.496
  • The breastplate.
  • 00:18:27.496 --> 00:18:29.031
  • Well, what is the breastplate for the christian?
  • 00:18:29.031 --> 00:18:32.100
  • Paul says it is righteousness.
  • 00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:35.003
  • Verse 14 again, "put on the breastplate of righteousness."
  • 00:18:35.003 --> 00:18:38.473
  • Now, what does he mean by righteousness?
  • 00:18:38.473 --> 00:18:40.676
  • This is so important to understand.
  • 00:18:40.676 --> 00:18:42.511
  • In the bible the term righteousness is used in three
  • 00:18:42.511 --> 00:18:46.748
  • Different ways.
  • 00:18:46.748 --> 00:18:48.817
  • Sometimes the bible uses the word righteousness to refer
  • 00:18:48.817 --> 00:18:52.354
  • To self-righteousness.
  • 00:18:52.354 --> 00:18:56.325
  • Have you ever heard somebody described as
  • 00:18:56.325 --> 00:18:58.026
  • Being self-righteous?
  • 00:18:58.026 --> 00:18:59.494
  • It means he's righteous in his own eyes.
  • 00:18:59.494 --> 00:19:02.564
  • Self-righteousness is not a good thing.
  • 00:19:02.564 --> 00:19:05.200
  • In the bible self-righteousness is what we try to do before
  • 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:08.437
  • We're a christian to earn god's forgiveness.
  • 00:19:08.437 --> 00:19:12.040
  • Many people--most people think the only way to go to heaven is
  • 00:19:12.040 --> 00:19:14.876
  • By being a good person, and they think, "well, i'm a good person.
  • 00:19:14.876 --> 00:19:18.480
  • I'm not perfect, but i'm not the worst person in the world.
  • 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:21.283
  • I'm good enough."
  • 00:19:21.283 --> 00:19:22.718
  • Well, good enough is not good enough.
  • 00:19:22.718 --> 00:19:25.320
  • The bible says god doesn't require almost perfection.
  • 00:19:25.320 --> 00:19:30.392
  • He requires absolute perfection, and that's why we all fall short
  • 00:19:30.392 --> 00:19:34.196
  • Of god's glory.
  • 00:19:34.196 --> 00:19:35.964
  • If you want a good picture of how much your goodness means to
  • 00:19:35.964 --> 00:19:39.701
  • God, how valuable it is to god before you become a christian,
  • 00:19:39.701 --> 00:19:43.505
  • Listen to the words of isaiah 64, verse 6.
  • 00:19:43.505 --> 00:19:47.776
  • God says, "for all of us have become like one who is unclean.
  • 00:19:47.776 --> 00:19:52.848
  • And all of our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment."
  • 00:19:52.848 --> 00:19:58.920
  • Before you trust in christ as your savior, the very best you
  • 00:19:58.920 --> 00:20:02.924
  • Can do before god is like a filthy garment.
  • 00:20:02.924 --> 00:20:08.463
  • When he talks about a filthy garment he's not talking about
  • 00:20:08.463 --> 00:20:11.466
  • A coat or a dress that has a few specks of dirt on it.
  • 00:20:11.466 --> 00:20:15.637
  • The word translated filthy garment, i'm hesitant to use
  • 00:20:15.637 --> 00:20:18.907
  • This in a mixed crowd, but you need to know what god is
  • 00:20:18.907 --> 00:20:21.977
  • Saying here.
  • 00:20:21.977 --> 00:20:23.345
  • That word translated filthy garment is the hebrew word that
  • 00:20:23.345 --> 00:20:27.616
  • Refers to a menstrual cloth.
  • 00:20:27.616 --> 00:20:31.720
  • Get the picture?
  • 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:34.323
  • God says the best you can do for him, all of your good works, all
  • 00:20:34.323 --> 00:20:39.761
  • Of your charity work, baptism, church membership, whatever
  • 00:20:39.761 --> 00:20:44.900
  • You're doing to try to make yourself righteous before god,
  • 00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:48.737
  • Is no more worthwhile to god than that filthy
  • 00:20:48.737 --> 00:20:52.774
  • Menstrual cloth.
  • 00:20:52.774 --> 00:20:54.142
  • That's how god looks at your good, your righteousness.
  • 00:20:54.142 --> 00:20:59.381
  • So when paul talks about, "put on the breastplate of
  • 00:20:59.381 --> 00:21:02.417
  • Righteousness," is that the kind of righteousness he's
  • 00:21:02.417 --> 00:21:04.686
  • Talking about?
  • 00:21:04.686 --> 00:21:06.054
  • I don't think so.
  • 00:21:06.054 --> 00:21:07.589
  • There's a second term for righteousness in the bible,
  • 00:21:07.589 --> 00:21:10.192
  • Imputed righteousness.
  • 00:21:10.192 --> 00:21:12.661
  • Imputed righteousness, this is the righteousness that god puts
  • 00:21:12.661 --> 00:21:16.865
  • On us.
  • 00:21:16.865 --> 00:21:18.200
  • He imputes, he credits to our account, literally, when we
  • 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:21.470
  • Trust in christ as savior.
  • 00:21:21.470 --> 00:21:23.472
  • The moment you tell god you're not righteous, you admit to him
  • 00:21:23.472 --> 00:21:27.242
  • What you already know and he knows, that you're a sinner who
  • 00:21:27.242 --> 00:21:30.479
  • Needs his forgiveness, the moment you admit your sinfulness
  • 00:21:30.479 --> 00:21:35.083
  • And put your trust in jesus christ to save you from
  • 00:21:35.083 --> 00:21:39.388
  • Your sins, a wonderful transaction takes place.
  • 00:21:39.388 --> 00:21:42.824
  • God takes his righteousness and he puts it on you, so that when
  • 00:21:42.824 --> 00:21:46.862
  • God looks at you he no longer sees your sin.
  • 00:21:46.862 --> 00:21:49.431
  • He sees the goodness of his son jesus christ.
  • 00:21:49.431 --> 00:21:52.401
  • Paul described that in 2 corinthians 5:21, for god "made
  • 00:21:52.401 --> 00:21:56.071
  • Him," jesus, "who knew no sin to become sin on our behalf, so
  • 00:21:56.071 --> 00:22:00.342
  • That we might become the righteousness of god in him."
  • 00:22:00.342 --> 00:22:04.513
  • That kind of righteousness is our right standing before god,
  • 00:22:04.513 --> 00:22:08.784
  • And it comes to our faith in christ.
  • 00:22:08.784 --> 00:22:11.186
  • Well, when paul says we need to put on the breastplate of
  • 00:22:11.186 --> 00:22:13.889
  • Righteousness, is that the kind of righteousness he's talking
  • 00:22:13.889 --> 00:22:16.925
  • About, our right standing before god?
  • 00:22:16.925 --> 00:22:19.227
  • I don't think so, and here's why.
  • 00:22:19.227 --> 00:22:21.129
  • How many of you know a christian, a true christian,
  • 00:22:21.129 --> 00:22:23.765
  • Who's ever fallen under satan's attack before?
  • 00:22:23.765 --> 00:22:27.469
  • Anybody know one?
  • 00:22:27.469 --> 00:22:29.538
  • I'm one. how about you?
  • 00:22:29.538 --> 00:22:32.240
  • Being saved, being a christian, having the assurance of heaven,
  • 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:37.446
  • Does not exempt you from satan's attack in your life.
  • 00:22:37.446 --> 00:22:41.283
  • So if paul's not talking about self-righteousness, he's not
  • 00:22:41.283 --> 00:22:44.286
  • Talking about imputed righteousness when we become
  • 00:22:44.286 --> 00:22:46.688
  • A christian, what righteousness is he talking about?
  • 00:22:46.688 --> 00:22:49.424
  • Well, the third kind of righteousness is
  • 00:22:49.424 --> 00:22:51.593
  • Practiced righteousness.
  • 00:22:51.593 --> 00:22:54.362
  • Another word for that would be obedience.
  • 00:22:54.362 --> 00:22:58.099
  • Good works are worthless to save you before you're a christian,
  • 00:22:58.099 --> 00:23:01.236
  • But after you're a christian your good works, your obedience,
  • 00:23:01.236 --> 00:23:04.573
  • Means a great deal, and paul talks about
  • 00:23:04.573 --> 00:23:07.909
  • Practiced righteousness.
  • 00:23:07.909 --> 00:23:09.444
  • It's what he talked about in 1 timothy 6:11 when he said to
  • 00:23:09.444 --> 00:23:14.082
  • Timothy, "but flee from these things, you man of god, and
  • 00:23:14.082 --> 00:23:18.687
  • Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance
  • 00:23:18.687 --> 00:23:24.359
  • And gentleness."
  • 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:26.094
  • Why did timothy need to pursue righteousness if he was already
  • 00:23:26.094 --> 00:23:29.364
  • Righteous before god as a christian?
  • 00:23:29.364 --> 00:23:32.367
  • Paul wasn't talking about pursue imputed righteousness.
  • 00:23:32.367 --> 00:23:35.804
  • He wasn't talking about timothy's right standing
  • 00:23:35.804 --> 00:23:38.807
  • Before god.
  • 00:23:38.807 --> 00:23:40.175
  • He was talking about timothy's right acting before god, and one
  • 00:23:40.175 --> 00:23:44.646
  • Way you and i deflect satan's attacks in our life is by
  • 00:23:44.646 --> 00:23:49.084
  • Obeying god, not having any chinks in our armor, no
  • 00:23:49.084 --> 00:23:53.755
  • Vulnerable places where we are disobeying god and giving the
  • 00:23:53.755 --> 00:23:57.893
  • Enemy a way to take us down.
  • 00:23:57.893 --> 00:24:01.730
  • Jeffress: like a roman soldier, god has equipped every christian
  • 00:24:05.967 --> 00:24:08.937
  • With the spiritual armor necessary to ward off satan's
  • 00:24:08.937 --> 00:24:13.108
  • Attacks, and when we learn how to use it we no longer need to
  • 00:24:13.108 --> 00:24:17.212
  • Fear the devil and his schemes.
  • 00:24:17.212 --> 00:24:19.514
  • At "pathway to victory" we're dedicated to spreading this
  • 00:24:19.514 --> 00:24:22.417
  • Message of hope all across america and around the world.
  • 00:24:22.417 --> 00:24:26.655
  • Without a doubt, god's word is the anchor for a culture that is
  • 00:24:26.655 --> 00:24:31.059
  • Adrift, and with the help of our pathway partners and other
  • 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:34.596
  • Generous friends we're leading people to jesus, shining his
  • 00:24:34.596 --> 00:24:39.000
  • Light into the darkness, and equipping believers to become
  • 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:42.537
  • Obedient, productive, and victorious disciples of christ.
  • 00:24:42.537 --> 00:24:47.542
  • Now, please stay right there.
  • 00:24:47.542 --> 00:24:48.910
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:48.910 --> 00:24:52.914
  • Jeffress: christians today are living in hostile territory.
  • 00:24:52.914 --> 00:24:56.451
  • The attacks are real, the opposition is fierce, and the
  • 00:24:56.451 --> 00:24:59.921
  • Stakes couldn't be higher.
  • 00:24:59.921 --> 00:25:02.090
  • That's why i wrote "courageous," to give you the biblical tools
  • 00:25:02.090 --> 00:25:05.760
  • You need not just to survive, but to stand strong and thrive.
  • 00:25:05.760 --> 00:25:10.432
  • Male announcer: in "courageous" you'll find ten biblical
  • 00:25:10.432 --> 00:25:12.934
  • Survival strategies drawn straight from scripture that
  • 00:25:12.934 --> 00:25:15.971
  • Will give you fresh fire and real hope, no matter what
  • 00:25:15.971 --> 00:25:19.107
  • You're facing.
  • 00:25:19.107 --> 00:25:20.475
  • Jeffress: survivors have two things in common: a different
  • 00:25:20.475 --> 00:25:23.345
  • Response to trouble and a different perspective on life.
  • 00:25:23.345 --> 00:25:27.349
  • In "courageous" i'll give you ten biblical strategies to
  • 00:25:27.349 --> 00:25:30.919
  • Develop both and come out stronger on the other side.
  • 00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:34.856
  • Male announcer: request your copy of "courageous" when you
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  • Give a generous ministry gift to "pathway to victory" or when you
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  • Become a pathway partner, and when your ministry gift is $75
  • 00:25:40.695 --> 00:25:44.933
  • Or more, we'll send you the courageous leadership kit
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  • Containing the "courageous" book, the personal and group
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  • Study guide book, ten courageous encouragement cards, plus the
  • 00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:55.377
  • Complete teaching series on cd and dvd.
  • 00:25:55.377 --> 00:25:58.279
  • Jeffress: as christians we are living in a
  • 00:25:58.279 --> 00:26:00.482
  • Threatening environment.
  • 00:26:00.482 --> 00:26:02.384
  • We have an adversary, the devil, who is intent on destroying
  • 00:26:02.384 --> 00:26:06.721
  • Everything important to us.
  • 00:26:06.721 --> 00:26:08.223
  • Male announcer: thank you for partnering with "pathway
  • 00:26:08.223 --> 00:26:10.058
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:10.058 --> 00:26:11.426
  • Your generosity funds the proclamation of god's word
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  • Across television, radio, and online, bringing bold, biblical
  • 00:26:14.129 --> 00:26:18.099
  • Hope right here at home and around the world.
  • 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:21.636
  • Jeffress: make no mistake, you have a supernatural enemy who
  • 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:28.777
  • Will not rest until he's destroyed everything important
  • 00:26:28.777 --> 00:26:32.914
  • To you, but god has provided everything you need to
  • 00:26:32.914 --> 00:26:36.251
  • Defeat him.
  • 00:26:36.251 --> 00:26:37.619
  • Next time we'll finish working through the armor paul describes
  • 00:26:37.619 --> 00:26:41.022
  • In ephesians 6 and i'll explain why the people of god are just
  • 00:26:41.022 --> 00:26:45.560
  • As essential to our survival as the armor of god.
  • 00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:49.764
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:49.764 --> 00:26:52.300
  • Series "courageous."
  • 00:26:52.300 --> 00:26:55.170
  • Jeffress: when we're together as christians we're not easily
  • 00:26:55.170 --> 00:26:57.639
  • Broken, but we have an enemy who is intent on dividing us,
  • 00:26:57.639 --> 00:27:03.778
  • Isolating us, attacking us, and destroying us, and that's why we
  • 00:27:03.778 --> 00:27:09.984
  • Need other christians.
  • 00:27:09.984 --> 00:27:11.853
  • We need the church if we're going to survive and thrive in
  • 00:27:11.853 --> 00:27:16.391
  • This hostile environment.
  • 00:27:16.391 --> 00:27:18.993
  • Male announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two
  • 00:27:18.993 --> 00:27:21.763
  • Of "survival tip #3: take inventory" here on "pathway
  • 00:27:21.763 --> 00:27:26.000
  • To victory."
  • 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:27.736