Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Survival Tip #4: Develop A Victor, Not A Victim, Mindset

May 24, 2026 | 27:29

Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Survival Tip #4: Develop A Victor, Not A Victim, Mindset | May 24, 2026

Ephesus, thessaloniki, the greek islands,
00:00:00.156 --> 00:00:02.559
The apostle paul didn't just write about these places,
00:00:02.559 --> 00:00:05.128
He lived in them.
00:00:05.128 --> 00:00:06.729
And this may, so can you
00:00:06.729 --> 00:00:08.465
On the pathway to victory journeys of paul cruise.
00:00:08.465 --> 00:00:11.901
I've read the book of acts my entire life,
00:00:11.901 --> 00:00:14.437
But there's nothing like standing in ephesus,
00:00:14.437 --> 00:00:16.606
Walking where paul walked,
00:00:16.606 --> 00:00:19.109
And feeling the weight of what happened there.
00:00:19.109 --> 00:00:21.611
Nine unforgettable nights aboard celebrity infinity
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Sailing round trip from athens
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With stops in mykonos, rhodes, santorini and more!
00:00:26.382 --> 00:00:30.286
And there's an optional pre-cruise extension in athens.
00:00:30.286 --> 00:00:33.523
Every port carries the fingerprints
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Of god's redemptive plan.
00:00:35.658 --> 00:00:37.794
Every ancient stone tells a story.
00:00:37.794 --> 00:00:40.463
This is truly the trip of a lifetime.
00:00:40.463 --> 00:00:42.899
And i promise you,
00:00:42.899 --> 00:00:44.300
You will never read the bible the same way again.
00:00:44.300 --> 00:00:47.604
Reserve your cabin today
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For the 2027 pathway to victory journeys of paul cruise.
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Call 888-280-6747
00:00:53.543 --> 00:00:57.046
Or visit ptv.org.
00:00:57.046 --> 00:01:00.316
♪ music ♪
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From the pulpit
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Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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This is "pathway to victory"
00:01:10.660 --> 00:01:12.295
With dr. robert jeffress.
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Hi, i am robert jeffress
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And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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Life has a way of knocking us down
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Through unfair circumstances, false accusations,
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And people who disappoint us.
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When that happens,
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It can be tempting to see yourself as a victim,
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But god's word says you don't have to live that way.
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Today, i'm going to show you three qualities
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That will help you stop just surviving
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And start overcoming.
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My message is titled, survival tip number four:
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Develop a victor, not a victim mindset
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On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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♪ music ♪
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♪ hear the heart of heaven beating ♪
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♪ jesus saves, jesus saves ♪
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♪ and the hush of mercy breathing ♪
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♪ jesus saves, jesus saves ♪
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♪ hear the host of angels sing ♪
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♪ glory to the newborn king ♪
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♪ and the sounding joy repeating ♪
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♪ jesus saves ♪
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♪ he will live, our sorrow sharing ♪
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♪ jesus saves, jesus saves ♪
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♪ he will die our burden bearing ♪
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♪ jesus saves, jesus saves ♪
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♪ "it is done!" will shout the cross ♪
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♪ christ has paid redemption's cost ♪
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♪ while the empty tomb's declaring ♪
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♪ jesus saves ♪
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♪ freedom's calling, chains are falling ♪
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♪ hope is dawning, bright and true ♪
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♪ day is breaking, night is quaking ♪
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♪ god is making all things new ♪
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♪ jesus saves ♪
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♪ jesus saves ♪
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♪ oh, to grace, how great a debtor ♪
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♪ jesus saves, jesus saves ♪
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♪ are the saints who shout together ♪
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♪ jesus saves, jesus saves ♪
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♪ rising up so vast and strong ♪
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♪ lifting up salvation's song ♪
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♪ the redeemed will sing forever ♪
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♪ jesus saves ♪
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♪ jesus saves ♪
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♪ jesus saves ♪
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♪ jesus saves ♪
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(congregation applauding)
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Each day, millions of lost people
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Are searching for hope and truth.
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Through "pathway to victory,"
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God's word is reaching into homes across america
00:05:17.707 --> 00:05:20.576
And around the world,
00:05:20.576 --> 00:05:21.878
But there are still so many
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Who haven't heard the saving message of jesus christ.
00:05:23.346 --> 00:05:26.349
You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
00:05:26.349 --> 00:05:29.719
You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries
00:05:29.719 --> 00:05:32.655
Who are sharing the gospel through television and radio.
00:05:32.655 --> 00:05:35.591
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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The ship was doomed.
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Everybody knew it,
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But there was nothing they could do about it.
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For the past year,
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The endurance had been home to the captain
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And the 27 crew members
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On a voyage from england to antarctica.
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The vessel had sailed 12,000 miles
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And then pushed through packed ice
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For more than a thousand more miles.
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But now, it was intuned in antarctic ice
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Less than 100 miles from its intended destination.
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The currents under the frozen sea
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Pushed and pulled against the wooden hull,
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Slowly crushing it.
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Everyone on board took what supplies they could
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And abandoned ship,
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Casting their lot to the same ice
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That held the endurance in its frozen grip.
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As they watched the sides of their ship
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Cave in from the pressure
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And heard the large timber snap,
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The men had become resigned
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To what they believed was their inevitable fate:
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Death either by exposure, starvation, or drowning.
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But their leader had a different mindset.
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Optimism, he would often say, is true moral courage.
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And if there was one thing that was true
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About ernest shackleton,
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It was that he was an optimist.
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Shackleton had set out to be the first man
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To reach the south pole,
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But that honor went up going to a norwegian explorer
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Named roald amundsen in 1911.
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Undeterred, shackleton set his sights
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On being the first man to cross antarctica on foot,
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But finding supporters to fund his journey proved difficult.
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It took two years of asking, pleading and lobbying
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Before shackleton finally raised enough money
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To supply his expedition
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And purchased the arctic vessel polaris,
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Which he re-christened endurance after his family's motto:
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"by endurance, we conquer."
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Finding crew members to accompany him was easy.
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Legend has it that shackleton
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Placed the following advertisement
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In "the london times":
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"men wanted for hazardous journey to south pole.
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Small wages, bitter cold,
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Long months of complete darkness, constant danger.
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Safe return doubtful.
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Honor and recognition in case of success."
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Shackleton was inundated
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With more than 5,000 applicants.
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Fully equipped and with a crew of 27 adventurers,
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The endurance sailed from plymouth, england in august 1914.
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By january of the following year,
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The ship was icebound.
00:08:43.479 --> 00:08:45.548
The crew members built a galley and storehouse
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Out of the ship's timbers
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And braved six months on the ice,
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Surviving on salvaged rations
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Until the ice thinned enough
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For them to reach elephant island in lifeboats
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That they had scavenged from the endurance.
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But when the frost bitten men
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Finally reached elephant island,
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It turned out to be a frozen wasteland
00:09:07.737 --> 00:09:10.339
Without any sustainable food sources.
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To rescue his men from exposure and starvation
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And certain death,
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Shackleton, with a small crew, boarded a lifeboat
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And sailed 870 miles to south georgia island
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Where there was a whaling station with supplies.
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The journey took 17 days
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And they landed under hurricane conditions.
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However, the whaling station
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Was on the other side of the island,
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So shackleton and his crew had to traverse 32 miles
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Over glacier-covered peaks.
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It took another four months
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Before shackleton finally reached
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His stranded men on elephant island
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With the supplies they needed to carry them back to england.
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Although shackleton did not succeed in his mission
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To cross antarctica on foot,
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He did save the lives of all 27 crew members.
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Years later, one of the men called him the greatest leader
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That has ever come on god's earth, bar none.
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He wrote, "when you are in a hopeless situation
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When there seems no way out,
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Get on your knees and pray for a shackleton."
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Ernest shackleton realized an important truth.
00:10:30.953 --> 00:10:35.091
Our attitude is key to our survival
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When faced with a threatening situation,
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And that's what we're going to talk about this morning.
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You know, ernest shackleton had a vocabulary
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That didn't have room for words like quit,
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Give up, fail, or surrender.
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No, he had developed the attitude of a victor
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Rather than a victim.
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Like the apostle paul who said in romans 8:31,
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"if god is for us,
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Who can be against us?"
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That's the attitude of a victor.
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The mark of an overcomer
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Is obedience to our heavenly father.
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Look at 1 john 5.
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This is the apostle john,
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But he writes these words as he senses
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That things are about to get more difficult for christians.
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Look at what he says in verse 3.
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"for this is the love of god:
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That we keep his commandments.
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And his commandments are not burdensome.
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For whatever is born of god overcomes the world.
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And this is the victory
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That has overcome the world, our faith.
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And who is the one who overcomes the world?
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But he believes that jesus is the son of god."
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I was reading this week the story of dominique,
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An 8-year-old boy who went skiing with his dad.
00:11:59.175 --> 00:12:02.011
They were riding a new ski lift.
00:12:02.011 --> 00:12:04.747
Dominique got off that ski lift
00:12:04.747 --> 00:12:07.116
And started going down the mountain
00:12:07.116 --> 00:12:09.285
And he found himself on a ski slope
00:12:09.285 --> 00:12:12.288
That wasn't marked very well,
00:12:12.288 --> 00:12:14.390
And he ended up getting lost from his father.
00:12:14.390 --> 00:12:17.493
His father was panicked as he searched for him.
00:12:17.493 --> 00:12:19.795
They enlisted a search team of more than 90 people
00:12:19.795 --> 00:12:23.132
Who were looking for dominique.
00:12:23.132 --> 00:12:25.134
Night came and they couldn't search any longer
00:12:25.134 --> 00:12:27.369
And they gave up the search.
00:12:27.369 --> 00:12:29.104
The next morning at daybreak,
00:12:29.104 --> 00:12:30.639
A helicopter was employed.
00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:32.474
And as it scoured the mountain,
00:12:32.474 --> 00:12:34.577
They looked down and they found footprints in the snow.
00:12:34.577 --> 00:12:39.048
They followed those footprints
00:12:39.048 --> 00:12:40.883
And found dominique huddled next to a large tree
00:12:40.883 --> 00:12:44.587
With branches covering him.
00:12:44.587 --> 00:12:47.089
In an interview later on,
00:12:47.089 --> 00:12:48.457
The search and rescue coordinator explained
00:12:48.457 --> 00:12:50.693
Why the boy had survived and not succumbed to hypothermia.
00:12:50.693 --> 00:12:55.331
His father had had enough foresight to tell him,
00:12:55.331 --> 00:12:58.601
"if you get lost, find a large tree,
00:12:58.601 --> 00:13:01.804
Stay close to it,
00:13:01.804 --> 00:13:03.205
And cover yourself with the branches of that tree."
00:13:03.205 --> 00:13:06.008
And because dominique followed his father's instructions,
00:13:06.008 --> 00:13:10.179
He was saved.
00:13:10.179 --> 00:13:11.881
You know, that's true with god's commands.
00:13:11.881 --> 00:13:13.649
God's commands were not meant
00:13:13.649 --> 00:13:15.184
To restrict us from happiness or to hurt us,
00:13:15.184 --> 00:13:18.187
But to keep us safe
00:13:18.187 --> 00:13:19.622
And allow us to become overcomers.
00:13:19.622 --> 00:13:22.825
God wants you and me to develop that overcomer,
00:13:22.825 --> 00:13:26.729
That victor mindset.
00:13:26.729 --> 00:13:29.899
And one of the best models of how to do that
00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:32.835
Is found in the old testament story
00:13:32.835 --> 00:13:35.704
Of a man named joseph.
00:13:35.704 --> 00:13:38.507
I would say outside of jesus christ,
00:13:38.507 --> 00:13:40.776
There is no man who is overcome more adverse circumstances
00:13:40.776 --> 00:13:45.447
In his life than joseph.
00:13:45.447 --> 00:13:47.850
Joseph could have maintained a victim mindset.
00:13:47.850 --> 00:13:53.188
He could have said, "woe is me!"
00:13:53.822 --> 00:13:55.724
But instead, he always kept the attitude of a victor.
00:13:55.724 --> 00:13:59.728
We find his story beginning in genesis chapter 37.
00:13:59.728 --> 00:14:03.899
Joseph was faced with overcoming the unloving actions
00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:08.370
From family members,
00:14:08.370 --> 00:14:10.072
The unloving actions from family members.
00:14:10.072 --> 00:14:13.108
We find his story beginning in genesis 37.
00:14:13.108 --> 00:14:15.811
Look at verses 3 and 4.
00:14:15.811 --> 00:14:17.947
"now, israel," that is joseph's father jacob,
00:14:17.947 --> 00:14:22.017
"loved joseph more than all his sons
00:14:22.017 --> 00:14:25.688
Because he was the son of his old age;
00:14:25.688 --> 00:14:28.023
And so he made him a very colored tunic.
00:14:28.023 --> 00:14:31.393
And his brothers saw that their father loved him
00:14:31.393 --> 00:14:34.096
More than all his brothers,
00:14:34.096 --> 00:14:36.198
And so they hated him
00:14:36.198 --> 00:14:38.334
And could not speak to him on friendly terms."
00:14:38.334 --> 00:14:41.370
There's something about unloving actions from family members
00:14:41.370 --> 00:14:45.307
That cut us and cut us deeply,
00:14:45.307 --> 00:14:48.143
But it doesn't undo joseph.
00:14:48.143 --> 00:14:50.145
Next, we see him overcoming
00:14:50.145 --> 00:14:51.981
Undeserved accusations from others,
00:14:51.981 --> 00:14:55.150
Overcoming undeserved accusations from others.
00:14:55.150 --> 00:14:58.253
The bible says that mrs. potiphar came to joseph
00:14:58.253 --> 00:15:01.623
Day after day after day.
00:15:01.623 --> 00:15:05.294
That's how temptation comes.
00:15:05.294 --> 00:15:07.329
And finally, on one day,
00:15:07.329 --> 00:15:08.764
When all the other servants were out of the house,
00:15:08.764 --> 00:15:11.133
She was alone with joseph
00:15:11.133 --> 00:15:13.068
And she grabbed him by the shoulder and she said,
00:15:13.068 --> 00:15:15.637
"lie with me!"
00:15:15.637 --> 00:15:17.439
How did joseph respond?
00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:20.209
He said, "ms. potiphar,
00:15:20.209 --> 00:15:21.610
I sense you have some great unmet need in your life
00:15:21.610 --> 00:15:23.679
And i'd like to pray for you right now.
00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:25.180
Can we just pray together here?"
00:15:25.180 --> 00:15:26.882
(congregation laughing)
00:15:26.882 --> 00:15:27.750
No, no.
00:15:27.750 --> 00:15:29.585
He knew that situation was too hot
00:15:29.585 --> 00:15:31.787
For his hebrew hormones to handle.
00:15:31.787 --> 00:15:34.323
And so he did the most spiritual thing he could do,
00:15:34.323 --> 00:15:36.825
He ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction.
00:15:36.825 --> 00:15:41.397
In fact, left so quickly,
00:15:41.397 --> 00:15:43.799
She was left with just a piece of his garment in her hand.
00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:48.137
And he had to overcome that unfair accusation
00:15:48.137 --> 00:15:51.040
That changed his life completely coming from potiphar.
00:15:51.040 --> 00:15:55.511
And that led to a third source of difficulty in his life,
00:15:55.511 --> 00:15:58.814
Overcoming unfair neglect by his own friends.
00:15:58.814 --> 00:16:03.318
Joseph goes to prison.
00:16:03.318 --> 00:16:05.754
He didn't know at the time
00:16:05.754 --> 00:16:06.955
He would spend two full years there.
00:16:06.955 --> 00:16:09.758
But he thought probably, at least at first,
00:16:09.758 --> 00:16:12.161
"god's going to get me out of here.
00:16:12.161 --> 00:16:14.063
This is an unjust sentence.
00:16:14.063 --> 00:16:15.531
God is a god of justice.
00:16:15.531 --> 00:16:17.066
Surely, he's not going to allow me to languish in this prison."
00:16:17.066 --> 00:16:20.002
And sure enough, not long after he was thrown into prison,
00:16:20.002 --> 00:16:23.238
Two new people came to prison as well,
00:16:23.238 --> 00:16:26.075
And they both came from pharaoh's household.
00:16:26.075 --> 00:16:29.278
One was the cupbearer and one was the baker
00:16:29.278 --> 00:16:32.514
And they make friends with joseph.
00:16:32.514 --> 00:16:34.249
And joseph said to the cupbearer,
00:16:34.249 --> 00:16:35.784
"i only ask that you do one thing.
00:16:35.784 --> 00:16:38.020
When you get out and you're in front of pharaoh,
00:16:38.020 --> 00:16:41.790
Don't forget me.
00:16:41.790 --> 00:16:43.459
Remind pharaoh about me
00:16:43.459 --> 00:16:44.760
And how i've been unfairly accused."
00:16:44.760 --> 00:16:46.995
The cupbearer says,
00:16:46.995 --> 00:16:48.197
"you don't have to worry about that.
00:16:48.197 --> 00:16:49.798
After all you've done for me,
00:16:49.798 --> 00:16:51.100
How could i ever forget you?"
00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:53.869
The next day comes and goes, no word.
00:16:53.869 --> 00:16:57.106
A week passes, nothing.
00:16:57.106 --> 00:16:59.575
A month, not a word,
00:16:59.575 --> 00:17:01.310
Not even a postcard from the cupbearer.
00:17:01.310 --> 00:17:04.346
A year passes, joseph realizes
00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:08.951
He's been forgotten, forsaken forever.
00:17:08.951 --> 00:17:14.356
He was forgotten.
00:17:14.790 --> 00:17:16.458
He was neglected unfairly by a friend.
00:17:16.458 --> 00:17:20.095
But interestingly, two full years passed
00:17:20.963 --> 00:17:24.800
Went on a day that began like any other day.
00:17:24.800 --> 00:17:28.570
The soldiers came.
00:17:28.570 --> 00:17:30.639
They put their key in the lock,
00:17:30.639 --> 00:17:32.608
Unlock the prison door and said,
00:17:32.608 --> 00:17:35.144
"pharaoh wants to see you today."
00:17:35.144 --> 00:17:39.648
How did that happen?
00:17:40.115 --> 00:17:42.017
Joseph thought he had been forgotten by god,
00:17:42.017 --> 00:17:44.920
Forgotten by the cupbearer,
00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:47.055
But what joseph didn't realize
00:17:47.055 --> 00:17:48.590
Was god was doing something over here
00:17:48.590 --> 00:17:50.926
That joseph couldn't even see.
00:17:50.926 --> 00:17:52.694
He was doing something in pharaoh's heart.
00:17:52.694 --> 00:17:55.230
Joseph was an overcomer
00:17:55.230 --> 00:17:57.900
Who was able to overcome adverse circumstances
00:17:57.900 --> 00:18:01.503
Instead of becoming a victim.
00:18:01.503 --> 00:18:04.072
You know, winston churchill
00:18:04.072 --> 00:18:05.707
Was known as the british bulldog.
00:18:05.707 --> 00:18:09.011
You remember that one time,
00:18:09.011 --> 00:18:10.779
Churchill was talking to a group of reporters
00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:13.348
And he asked them,
00:18:13.348 --> 00:18:14.650
"do you know why it is the english bulldog
00:18:14.650 --> 00:18:17.286
Has a jutting chin and a sloping face?"
00:18:17.286 --> 00:18:22.090
They said, "no, why is that?"
00:18:22.090 --> 00:18:24.293
Churchill said, "so that it can breathe
00:18:24.293 --> 00:18:27.196
While it's still holding on."
00:18:27.196 --> 00:18:30.232
That's what tenacious people do.
00:18:30.232 --> 00:18:32.634
They keep breathing but they don't let go.
00:18:32.634 --> 00:18:36.638
How do you develop that kind of attitude of persistence?
00:18:36.638 --> 00:18:40.409
I want you to notice again from 1 john chapter 5,
00:18:40.409 --> 00:18:44.413
Three ways that we become victors instead of victims.
00:18:44.413 --> 00:18:49.718
Number one, victors keep god's commandments.
00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:54.723
They keep god's commandments.
00:18:55.357 --> 00:18:56.925
Remember john said, "who is it that is an overcomer?
00:18:56.925 --> 00:19:00.062
It is he who believes.
00:19:00.062 --> 00:19:01.463
And who is it that believes?
00:19:01.463 --> 00:19:02.931
The one who keeps god's commandments."
00:19:02.931 --> 00:19:06.134
It didn't matter what situation joseph was in,
00:19:06.134 --> 00:19:09.571
He was dedicated to keeping god's commandments.
00:19:09.571 --> 00:19:12.674
Remember his words to mrs. potiphar in genesis 39:9?
00:19:12.674 --> 00:19:15.978
"how then could i do this great evil
00:19:15.978 --> 00:19:18.847
And sin against god?"
00:19:18.847 --> 00:19:22.451
I thought of this last night
00:19:22.451 --> 00:19:23.785
As i was reading that story about dominique
00:19:23.785 --> 00:19:26.922
Who kept his father's commandments
00:19:26.922 --> 00:19:29.024
And ended up surviving over hypothermia.
00:19:29.024 --> 00:19:32.995
I thought of a little phrase that i wrote down:
00:19:32.995 --> 00:19:35.998
When you don't know what to do,
00:19:35.998 --> 00:19:38.667
Obey what you know to be true.
00:19:38.667 --> 00:19:41.536
When you find in a storm of adversity,
00:19:42.371 --> 00:19:46.174
When you're not sure what the next step is,
00:19:46.174 --> 00:19:49.544
One move is always a safe move
00:19:49.544 --> 00:19:51.546
And that is to obey god's commandments.
00:19:51.546 --> 00:19:55.484
When you don't know what to do,
00:19:55.484 --> 00:19:57.352
Obey what you know to be true.
00:19:57.352 --> 00:20:00.322
That's how you become a victor rather than a victim.
00:20:00.322 --> 00:20:05.661
Secondly, victors glorify god in their lives.
00:20:06.628 --> 00:20:10.299
They glorify god in their lives.
00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:13.135
That word glorify means to shine the spotlight on god.
00:20:13.135 --> 00:20:18.006
Victors are people who realize
00:20:18.006 --> 00:20:19.875
That we are here for one purpose
00:20:19.875 --> 00:20:21.910
Not to bring glory to ourself,
00:20:21.910 --> 00:20:23.612
Not to direct people's attention toward us,
00:20:23.612 --> 00:20:26.081
But to direct people's attention toward god.
00:20:26.081 --> 00:20:29.885
And it didn't matter where joseph was,
00:20:29.885 --> 00:20:32.154
Whether he was in the pit,
00:20:32.154 --> 00:20:34.022
Whether he was working as a slave for potiphar,
00:20:34.022 --> 00:20:37.826
Whether he was in prison for two years,
00:20:37.826 --> 00:20:40.195
Or whether he was prime minister of egypt.
00:20:40.195 --> 00:20:42.497
In every situation,
00:20:42.497 --> 00:20:44.466
Joseph tried to bring glory to god.
00:20:44.466 --> 00:20:47.402
God recognized that in joseph
00:20:47.402 --> 00:20:49.771
And that's why he honored joseph's life.
00:20:49.771 --> 00:20:52.641
The apostle paul reminds us in 1 corinthians 10:31,
00:20:52.641 --> 00:20:56.244
"whether then you eat or you drink
00:20:56.244 --> 00:20:59.414
Or whatever you do,
00:20:59.414 --> 00:21:01.183
Do all to the glory of god."
00:21:01.183 --> 00:21:05.087
Victors obey god's commandments.
00:21:05.721 --> 00:21:08.457
They glorify god with their lives.
00:21:08.457 --> 00:21:10.325
And finally, victors trust in god's purposes.
00:21:10.325 --> 00:21:15.630
Victors believe that god is always working on their behalf,
00:21:16.798 --> 00:21:19.701
Even though in the darkness
00:21:19.701 --> 00:21:20.969
They can't always see what god is up to.
00:21:20.969 --> 00:21:24.673
And that's true about your life right now.
00:21:24.673 --> 00:21:27.075
You may feel like you've been forgotten
00:21:27.075 --> 00:21:29.745
By others, by god himself,
00:21:29.745 --> 00:21:32.013
Forsaken, that god doesn't know where you are.
00:21:32.013 --> 00:21:35.517
He knows exactly where you are.
00:21:35.517 --> 00:21:37.619
He knows exactly what's going on in your life.
00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:40.889
Romans 8:28 says,
00:21:40.889 --> 00:21:42.324
"and we know that god causes all things
00:21:42.324 --> 00:21:45.160
To work together for good,
00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:47.295
To those who love god
00:21:47.295 --> 00:21:48.964
And those who are called according to his purpose."
00:21:48.964 --> 00:21:52.134
But don't miss the next verse.
00:21:52.134 --> 00:21:53.435
Romans 8:29, "for whom god forknew
00:21:53.435 --> 00:21:56.705
He predestined to be conformed to the image of his son."
00:21:56.705 --> 00:22:02.043
You know everything that's going on in your life
00:22:03.044 --> 00:22:04.513
Right now with your family, with your health,
00:22:04.513 --> 00:22:07.149
With your job, with your finances?
00:22:07.149 --> 00:22:09.384
God is using all of it
00:22:09.384 --> 00:22:11.553
For his purpose in your life,
00:22:11.553 --> 00:22:13.989
And that is to make you like jesus christ.
00:22:13.989 --> 00:22:17.492
Somebody once asked a gifted sculptor
00:22:18.326 --> 00:22:20.729
How it was he was able to chisel a lifelike image of a lion
00:22:20.729 --> 00:22:25.267
Out of a slab of marble.
00:22:25.267 --> 00:22:26.568
He said, "that's very easy.
00:22:26.568 --> 00:22:28.236
I take the slab of marble,
00:22:28.236 --> 00:22:30.071
I take the hammer and chisel,
00:22:30.071 --> 00:22:31.440
And i chisel away everything
00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:33.508
That doesn't look like a lion in that marble slab."
00:22:33.508 --> 00:22:38.213
You know, that's what god is doing in your life right now.
00:22:38.213 --> 00:22:41.082
That was true of joseph.
00:22:41.082 --> 00:22:42.150
He trusted in god's purpose.
00:22:42.150 --> 00:22:44.219
Perhaps the greatest illustration of that
00:22:44.219 --> 00:22:46.621
Was in the climactic verse of joseph's story.
00:22:46.621 --> 00:22:49.858
Remember in genesis chapter 50?
00:22:49.858 --> 00:22:52.461
Joseph is reunited with his brothers.
00:22:52.461 --> 00:22:55.430
His brothers who, years earlier, had sold him into slavery
00:22:55.430 --> 00:22:59.201
And left him for dead.
00:22:59.201 --> 00:23:01.203
And when they realized joseph was alive,
00:23:01.203 --> 00:23:03.405
They trembled in fear
00:23:03.405 --> 00:23:04.806
Knowing that the prime minister of egypt, their brother,
00:23:04.806 --> 00:23:08.543
Had the authority to put them to death.
00:23:08.543 --> 00:23:11.346
But remember his words of kindness to them,
00:23:11.346 --> 00:23:14.149
Genesis 50:20, he said to his brothers,
00:23:14.149 --> 00:23:17.252
"and as for you,
00:23:17.252 --> 00:23:19.554
You meant it for evil,
00:23:19.554 --> 00:23:22.257
But god used it for good."
00:23:22.824 --> 00:23:26.027
To bring about this present circumstance,
00:23:26.027 --> 00:23:28.630
To preserve many people alive.
00:23:28.630 --> 00:23:32.334
A victor doesn't feel like that he's the victim
00:23:32.334 --> 00:23:34.603
Of adverse circumstances and adverse people.
00:23:34.603 --> 00:23:37.239
He believes in a god who's working out
00:23:37.239 --> 00:23:40.175
His purpose in our life.
00:23:40.175 --> 00:23:42.878
Victors obey god's commandments.
00:23:42.878 --> 00:23:46.448
Victors glorify god in their lives.
00:23:46.448 --> 00:23:49.784
Victors trust in the purpose of god.
00:23:49.784 --> 00:23:53.889
♪ music ♪
00:23:53.889 --> 00:23:58.193
Aside from jesus christ,
00:23:58.693 --> 00:24:00.428
No man has overcome more challenges in his life than joseph.
00:24:00.428 --> 00:24:04.933
Yet, joseph emerged from his trials as a victor.
00:24:04.933 --> 00:24:08.737
In closing today,
00:24:08.737 --> 00:24:10.138
I want to share an encouraging comment from you,
00:24:10.138 --> 00:24:12.274
From someone who recently wrote to us saying,
00:24:12.274 --> 00:24:15.076
In this confusing time,
00:24:15.076 --> 00:24:16.711
You are helping me decipher truth from untruth
00:24:16.711 --> 00:24:20.115
And teach others to know the truth as well.
00:24:20.115 --> 00:24:23.051
I'm sharing with my husband
00:24:23.051 --> 00:24:24.986
And teenage sons, thank you for standing firm in god's word.
00:24:24.986 --> 00:24:30.325
Comments like this one show us that lives are being changed
00:24:31.493 --> 00:24:33.962
Through "pathway to victory."
00:24:33.962 --> 00:24:35.597
Thank you for partnering with us to pierce the darkness
00:24:35.597 --> 00:24:38.900
With the light of god's word.
00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:40.702
Now, please stay right there.
00:24:40.702 --> 00:24:41.970
I'll be back with more in just a moment.
00:24:41.970 --> 00:24:44.673
Christians today are living in hostile territory.
00:24:45.707 --> 00:24:49.277
The attacks are real, the opposition is fierce,
00:24:49.277 --> 00:24:52.547
And the stake couldn't be higher.
00:24:52.547 --> 00:24:54.883
That's why i wrote "courageous"
00:24:54.883 --> 00:24:56.985
To give you the biblical tools you need,
00:24:56.985 --> 00:24:58.987
Not just to survive, but to stand strong and thrive.
00:24:58.987 --> 00:25:03.291
In "courageous," you'll find
00:25:03.291 --> 00:25:04.893
10 biblical survival strategies
00:25:04.893 --> 00:25:06.962
Drawn straight from scripture that will give you fresh fire
00:25:06.962 --> 00:25:10.131
And real hope no matter what you're facing.
00:25:10.131 --> 00:25:12.968
Survivors have two things in common, a different response
00:25:12.968 --> 00:25:16.471
To trouble, and a different perspective on life.
00:25:16.471 --> 00:25:20.141
In "courageous," i'll give you 10 biblical strategies
00:25:20.141 --> 00:25:23.511
To develop both and come out stronger on the other side.
00:25:23.511 --> 00:25:27.682
Request your copy of "courageous"
00:25:27.682 --> 00:25:29.451
When you give a generous ministry gift
00:25:29.451 --> 00:25:31.219
To "pathway to victory,"
00:25:31.219 --> 00:25:32.787
Or when you become a pathway partner,
00:25:32.787 --> 00:25:35.190
And when your ministry gift is $75 or more.
00:25:35.190 --> 00:25:38.560
We'll send you the courageous leadership kit
00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:41.096
Containing the "courageous" book,
00:25:41.096 --> 00:25:42.897
The personal and group study guide book
00:25:42.897 --> 00:25:45.233
10 courageous encouragement cards,
00:25:45.233 --> 00:25:47.335
Plus the complete teaching series on cd and dvd.
00:25:47.335 --> 00:25:51.106
As christians, we are living in a threatening environment.
00:25:51.106 --> 00:25:55.210
We have an adversary, the devil,
00:25:55.210 --> 00:25:56.945
Whose intent on destroying everything important to us.
00:25:56.945 --> 00:26:00.949
Thank you for partnering with "pathway to victory."
00:26:00.949 --> 00:26:03.718
Your generosity funds the proclamation
00:26:03.718 --> 00:26:06.054
Of god's word across television, radio,
00:26:06.054 --> 00:26:08.456
And online, bringing bold, biblical hope right here at home
00:26:08.456 --> 00:26:12.827
And around the world.
00:26:12.827 --> 00:26:17.165
Joseph faced betrayal, false accusation,
00:26:18.033 --> 00:26:20.769
And years of neglect,
00:26:20.769 --> 00:26:22.404
And through all of it, he kept the attitude of a victor.
00:26:22.404 --> 00:26:26.207
That same overcomer mindset is available to every believer.
00:26:26.207 --> 00:26:30.945
Next time, we're going to begin a new series called
00:26:30.945 --> 00:26:33.882
America and the bible.
00:26:33.882 --> 00:26:35.984
As our nation celebrates 250 years,
00:26:35.984 --> 00:26:38.386
We'll explore america's christian roots
00:26:38.386 --> 00:26:41.356
And what they mean for us today.
00:26:41.356 --> 00:26:43.858
Stay tuned for a preview
00:26:43.858 --> 00:26:45.126
Of what's coming up next in our series,
00:26:45.126 --> 00:26:47.595
America and the bible.
00:26:47.595 --> 00:26:49.931
When you suffer in your workplace,
00:26:50.665 --> 00:26:52.534
When you suffer in a relationship,
00:26:52.534 --> 00:26:54.169
When you suffer at school for following christ,
00:26:54.169 --> 00:26:57.272
Remember you're deeply loved by god.
00:26:57.272 --> 00:26:59.474
Your suffering doesn't mean god has forgotten about you
00:26:59.474 --> 00:27:02.310
Or that he doesn't care about you.
00:27:02.310 --> 00:27:04.412
This is just part of the price for following christ.
00:27:04.412 --> 00:27:07.749
And frankly, it's the price we don't hear that often about today.
00:27:07.749 --> 00:27:12.087
You know one reason i think we get so surprised when we suffer
00:27:12.087 --> 00:27:15.223
For being a christian is, we think now wait a minute
00:27:15.223 --> 00:27:17.792
This isn't what i signed up for.
00:27:17.792 --> 00:27:19.894
Set your dvr and join us next time
00:27:19.894 --> 00:27:21.996
For the message christians in the crosshairs
00:27:21.996 --> 00:27:24.799
Here on pathway to victory.
00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:24.799

Robert Jeffress - Survival Tip #4: Develop A Victor, Not A Victim, Mindset

May 24, 2026 | 27:29

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