Robert Jeffress - Survival Tip #8: Learn From The Past (Part 2)+

May 26, 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 #8: Learn From The Past (Part 2)+ | May 26, 2026
  • ...
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  • Male announcer: join us on the "pathway to victory" journeys of
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: you know what i love most about
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  • There's something powerful that happens when like-minded
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  • Believers gather together, open god's word, and then explore the
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  • Very world where that word was first proclaimed.
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  • Jeffress: come be a part of our community.
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  • This journey will refresh your soul and renew your sense
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
  • 00:01:08.624 --> 00:01:11.793
  • Dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome again to
  • 00:01:14.229 --> 00:01:16.465
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:01:16.465 --> 00:01:17.866
  • There's an old saying that goes: "those who do not remember the
  • 00:01:17.866 --> 00:01:21.270
  • Past are condemned to repeat it."
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  • But for those who pay attention, the record of the past is
  • 00:01:24.573 --> 00:01:28.177
  • A powerful teacher.
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  • Today, i want to show you how studying the lives of those who
  • 00:01:29.945 --> 00:01:33.315
  • Came before us can spare us from painful mistakes and set us on
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  • A proven path forward.
  • 00:01:38.220 --> 00:01:40.055
  • My message is titled, "survival tip #8: learn from the
  • 00:01:40.055 --> 00:01:44.226
  • Past," on today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ t'was grace that taught my heart to fear, ♪
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  • ♪ and grace my fears relieved. ♪
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  • ♪ how precious did that grace appear, ♪
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  • ♪ the hour i first ♪
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  • ♪ believed. ♪
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  • ♪ through many dangers, ♪
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  • ♪ toils and snares, ♪
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  • ♪ i have already come. ♪
  • 00:02:41.316 --> 00:02:50.726
  • ♪ tis grace that brought me safe thus far, ♪
  • 00:02:50.726 --> 00:03:00.235
  • ♪ and grace will lead me home. ♪
  • 00:03:00.235 --> 00:03:06.675
  • ♪ lead me home. ♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪ when we've been there ten thousand year, ♪
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  • ♪ bright shining as the sun, ♪
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  • ♪ we've no less days to sing god's praise, ♪
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  • ♪ than when ♪
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  • ♪ we first ♪
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  • ♪ begun. ♪
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  • ♪ god's amazing grace. ♪♪
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  • [congregation applauding]
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  • Announcer: each day millions of lost people are searching for
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: we find his story in 2 chronicles chapter 34.
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  • If you have your bibles, turn to 2 chronicles chapter 34, and we
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  • Find this description of the reign of josiah.
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  • Look at verse 1: "josiah was eight years old when he became
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  • King, and he reigned thirty-one years in jerusalem.
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  • And he did right in the sight of the lord, and walked in the ways
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  • Of his father david and he did not turn aside to the right or
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  • To the left."
  • 00:05:34.723 --> 00:05:36.458
  • Now think about it, josiah was eight when he became king.
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  • How did that happen?
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  • Well, it says here, "his father david."
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  • David was not josiah's father.
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  • He was his forefather.
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  • Same word, it was his forefather.
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  • They were separated by hundreds of years.
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  • Josiah's grandfather was a man named manasseh.
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  • And he held the coveted title of israel's most evil king.
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  • In fact, we find this description of manasseh in
  • 00:06:00.949 --> 00:06:03.718
  • 2 chronicles 33:9: "manasseh misled judah and the inhabitants
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  • Of jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the lord
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  • Destroyed before the sons of israel."
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  • Manasseh led the israelites in the worship of baal and the
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  • Asherah, in child sacrifice and consulting with witches
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  • And sorcerers.
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  • He was an evil king.
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  • Now that was josiah's grandfather.
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  • Josiah's father, amon, manasseh's son, he did even more
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  • Evil than manasseh had done.
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  • He was so evil, in fact, that amon only lasted 2 years until
  • 00:06:35.283 --> 00:06:39.221
  • He was assassinated.
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  • And after his murder, it was his son josiah, who became king at
  • 00:06:40.922 --> 00:06:46.862
  • The age of 8 years.
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  • Now you know josiah, you could say he was born to fail in
  • 00:06:49.531 --> 00:06:53.134
  • A way.
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  • How could he overcome such a generational curse?
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  • Have you heard that term "generational curse" before?
  • 00:06:57.939 --> 00:07:01.276
  • Don't ever buy into that.
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  • Don't ever buy into that, that somebody is doomed to a certain
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  • Way of behavior because of the environment in which they
  • 00:07:06.615 --> 00:07:09.618
  • Were raised.
  • 00:07:09.618 --> 00:07:10.952
  • Through the power of christ, you can become a brand-new person.
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  • You don't have to make the mistakes of the past.
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  • And that is true of josiah.
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  • He said, i am not going to follow in the way of my father
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  • And my grandfather.
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  • Instead, he was like his great-great-great-great-
  • 00:07:23.431 --> 00:07:25.667
  • Great-great-grandfather, david,
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  • And he did not turn aside from the right to the left.
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  • How did he make that decision to follow god?
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  • I want you to notice three things about josiah's decision
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  • To follow god.
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  • First of all, that decision was influenced by his mother.
  • 00:07:39.080 --> 00:07:43.418
  • Influenced by his mother.
  • 00:07:43.418 --> 00:07:45.520
  • In the companion book to chronicles, kings, 2 kings 22:1,
  • 00:07:45.520 --> 00:07:50.625
  • We find this interesting tidbit about josiah's mother: "josiah
  • 00:07:50.625 --> 00:07:54.963
  • Was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for
  • 00:07:54.963 --> 00:07:58.733
  • Thirty-one years in jerusalem; and his mother's name
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  • Was jedidah."
  • 00:08:02.571 --> 00:08:04.739
  • Now, that's the only mention of his mother in the scripture.
  • 00:08:04.739 --> 00:08:08.910
  • But many people believe rightly, i think, that even though he had
  • 00:08:08.910 --> 00:08:13.481
  • An evil father, it was his mother, jedidah, who taught
  • 00:08:13.481 --> 00:08:18.987
  • Josiah the word of god.
  • 00:08:18.987 --> 00:08:22.924
  • Let me say a word to those of you who may be single moms
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  • Trying to rear a child on your own.
  • 00:08:26.494 --> 00:08:29.230
  • Or perhaps you're a mom who's married to an ungodly husband.
  • 00:08:29.230 --> 00:08:34.903
  • Don't ever underestimate the influence you can have on
  • 00:08:34.903 --> 00:08:39.107
  • Your child.
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  • Here was a woman married to the most evil king in israel's
  • 00:08:40.475 --> 00:08:43.511
  • History, but she chose to rear her child to know and love god.
  • 00:08:43.511 --> 00:08:49.651
  • And let me say, whether you're a mother or a father, the most
  • 00:08:49.651 --> 00:08:53.888
  • Important thing you can do for your child is not to be sure
  • 00:08:53.888 --> 00:08:56.725
  • They have great sat scores, or get into a good college, or
  • 00:08:56.725 --> 00:09:02.230
  • Become a star athlete, the most important thing you can do is to
  • 00:09:02.230 --> 00:09:07.002
  • Rear your children to know, love, and obey jesus christ with
  • 00:09:07.002 --> 00:09:11.439
  • All of their hearts.
  • 00:09:11.439 --> 00:09:12.774
  • That is our most important task as a parent.
  • 00:09:12.774 --> 00:09:15.944
  • Jedidah understood that, and so she influenced her son.
  • 00:09:15.944 --> 00:09:20.548
  • He was influenced by his mother.
  • 00:09:20.548 --> 00:09:22.384
  • Secondly, his decision to follow god was confirmed by his
  • 00:09:22.384 --> 00:09:26.821
  • Own choice.
  • 00:09:26.821 --> 00:09:28.189
  • Look at 2 chronicles 34, verse 3: "for in the eighth year of
  • 00:09:28.189 --> 00:09:32.594
  • His reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the god
  • 00:09:32.594 --> 00:09:38.266
  • Of his father david."
  • 00:09:38.266 --> 00:09:41.369
  • Now, the 8th year of his reign, do the math here.
  • 00:09:41.369 --> 00:09:44.039
  • How old was he when he became king?
  • 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:46.775
  • Eight.
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  • When did he personally make the decision to follow god?
  • 00:09:48.109 --> 00:09:50.912
  • Eight years into his reign, that would have made him how old?
  • 00:09:50.912 --> 00:09:54.215
  • Sixteen.
  • 00:09:54.215 --> 00:09:56.017
  • You see, josiah had to make that individual choice to follow
  • 00:09:56.017 --> 00:10:00.955
  • After god, and that's true for all of our children as well.
  • 00:10:00.955 --> 00:10:06.061
  • The great evangelist luis palau has a great saying.
  • 00:10:06.061 --> 00:10:09.030
  • He says: "god doesn't have any grandchildren."
  • 00:10:09.030 --> 00:10:14.602
  • You're not related to god through your parent.
  • 00:10:14.602 --> 00:10:17.272
  • You have to be related to god yourself.
  • 00:10:17.272 --> 00:10:20.542
  • You have to be a child of god yourself.
  • 00:10:20.542 --> 00:10:22.377
  • You have to be a son or a daughter of god, and that only
  • 00:10:22.377 --> 00:10:25.980
  • Comes through your individual decision to follow christ.
  • 00:10:25.980 --> 00:10:30.518
  • And that's why here in our church, we place such a premium.
  • 00:10:30.518 --> 00:10:34.122
  • He was 16 when he made that decision.
  • 00:10:34.122 --> 00:10:36.825
  • Remember that statistic?
  • 00:10:36.825 --> 00:10:38.159
  • Eighty percent of people who become christians do so before
  • 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:42.163
  • The age of 16.
  • 00:10:42.163 --> 00:10:43.865
  • We need to lead our children to know christ and follow him.
  • 00:10:43.865 --> 00:10:48.503
  • Now, sometimes that decision is an easy decision for a child to
  • 00:10:48.503 --> 00:10:52.640
  • Make or for a teenager to make.
  • 00:10:52.640 --> 00:10:55.977
  • Sometimes a child or teenager struggles with that decision.
  • 00:10:55.977 --> 00:11:00.915
  • They begin to ask questions.
  • 00:11:00.915 --> 00:11:03.151
  • They begin to doubt.
  • 00:11:03.151 --> 00:11:04.986
  • And you know, whenever we have children that begin to doubt or
  • 00:11:04.986 --> 00:11:07.589
  • Ask hard questions, sometimes we go into a full-blown panic.
  • 00:11:07.589 --> 00:11:10.759
  • Oh, what's wrong?
  • 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:12.093
  • I'm raising a heathen, you know, what's going on?
  • 00:11:12.093 --> 00:11:14.796
  • Don't panic when your child has doubts.
  • 00:11:14.796 --> 00:11:17.398
  • That's part of the process of him or her making your faith,
  • 00:11:17.398 --> 00:11:22.604
  • Their faith.
  • 00:11:22.604 --> 00:11:24.205
  • Just be there to answer questions.
  • 00:11:24.205 --> 00:11:26.441
  • Don't panic.
  • 00:11:26.441 --> 00:11:27.776
  • Don't punish the child for asking questions.
  • 00:11:27.776 --> 00:11:30.078
  • They need to personally embrace faith themselves.
  • 00:11:30.078 --> 00:11:32.914
  • That's exactly what josiah did.
  • 00:11:32.914 --> 00:11:35.817
  • His decision to follow god was influenced by his mother.
  • 00:11:35.817 --> 00:11:39.154
  • It was confirmed by his own decision, choice, and thirdly,
  • 00:11:39.154 --> 00:11:42.624
  • It was illustrated by his actions.
  • 00:11:42.624 --> 00:11:45.593
  • Notice again, verse 3 says: "and in the twelfth year, he was--
  • 00:11:45.593 --> 00:11:50.165
  • Choosing to follow god in the eighth year, but in the twelfth
  • 00:11:50.165 --> 00:11:52.667
  • Year, he began to purge judah and jerusalem of the
  • 00:11:52.667 --> 00:11:56.070
  • High places."
  • 00:11:56.070 --> 00:11:57.438
  • That's where the idols were.
  • 00:11:57.438 --> 00:11:58.773
  • "the asherim," that was the female consort of baal, "the
  • 00:11:58.773 --> 00:12:02.477
  • Carved images and the molten images."
  • 00:12:02.477 --> 00:12:05.747
  • Josiah grew in his faith.
  • 00:12:05.747 --> 00:12:07.215
  • He was now 20 years of age, and he looked around and he said,
  • 00:12:07.215 --> 00:12:11.653
  • "you know, what is happening in our nation is not consistent
  • 00:12:11.653 --> 00:12:15.723
  • With what i know of the one true god, the god who said,
  • 00:12:15.723 --> 00:12:18.593
  • 'you shall have no other gods before me.'"
  • 00:12:18.593 --> 00:12:20.562
  • And so he started a crusade to remove all of the false gods
  • 00:12:20.562 --> 00:12:25.200
  • From the land of judah.
  • 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:27.769
  • You know, there's a good word for our country right now when
  • 00:12:27.769 --> 00:12:31.873
  • We see the action of josiah, and there is no doubt that our
  • 00:12:31.873 --> 00:12:36.544
  • Country, america, was founded on a principle of religious
  • 00:12:36.544 --> 00:12:42.250
  • Freedom, that everybody is free to worship any god or no god.
  • 00:12:42.250 --> 00:12:47.021
  • We celebrate that as a great freedom, and because of that,
  • 00:12:47.021 --> 00:12:50.425
  • There is a diversity of belief in our country right now.
  • 00:12:50.425 --> 00:12:54.996
  • There are people who believe in this god or that god.
  • 00:12:54.996 --> 00:12:57.565
  • They believe in this faith or that faith.
  • 00:12:57.565 --> 00:13:00.168
  • We give people the freedom to believe however they want to be.
  • 00:13:00.168 --> 00:13:04.038
  • That's called diversity.
  • 00:13:04.038 --> 00:13:06.841
  • But don't confuse diversity with pluralism.
  • 00:13:06.841 --> 00:13:12.113
  • Diversity says there are many faiths, that's irrefutable.
  • 00:13:12.113 --> 00:13:16.484
  • Diversity says there are a multitude of faiths.
  • 00:13:16.484 --> 00:13:18.920
  • Pluralism says all faiths are equally valid, and that is a lie
  • 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:24.192
  • From the pit of hell.
  • 00:13:24.192 --> 00:13:26.160
  • All faiths are not equally valid.
  • 00:13:26.160 --> 00:13:29.063
  • All gods are not true gods.
  • 00:13:29.063 --> 00:13:31.866
  • There is one god.
  • 00:13:31.866 --> 00:13:33.268
  • His name is jehovah, and there is one way to that god, and it
  • 00:13:33.268 --> 00:13:36.571
  • Is through his son jesus christ.
  • 00:13:36.571 --> 00:13:39.440
  • We need to remember that principle here.
  • 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:44.812
  • What we call diversity in our country, god called idolatry in
  • 00:13:44.812 --> 00:13:50.151
  • The old testament.
  • 00:13:50.151 --> 00:13:51.486
  • Don't confuse the two here.
  • 00:13:51.486 --> 00:13:53.855
  • He said, "we've got to tear down these gods," and so he removed
  • 00:13:53.855 --> 00:13:57.392
  • All of these gods.
  • 00:13:57.392 --> 00:13:58.726
  • That was his first action.
  • 00:13:58.726 --> 00:14:00.328
  • And then notice what else he did.
  • 00:14:00.328 --> 00:14:02.096
  • He started to repair the temple of god that had fallen
  • 00:14:02.096 --> 00:14:05.867
  • Into disrepair.
  • 00:14:05.867 --> 00:14:08.169
  • He began to repair the temple of god.
  • 00:14:08.169 --> 00:14:10.772
  • It's just so interesting in the bible, in the old testament,
  • 00:14:10.772 --> 00:14:14.742
  • Especially, whenever there was a revival, it seems it was almost
  • 00:14:14.742 --> 00:14:17.979
  • Always followed by a building program.
  • 00:14:17.979 --> 00:14:20.648
  • When the people got right with god, guess what?
  • 00:14:20.648 --> 00:14:23.384
  • They were concerned with the house of god.
  • 00:14:23.384 --> 00:14:26.287
  • So they started a building program and they collected the
  • 00:14:26.287 --> 00:14:29.090
  • Money from the people, and as they were repairing the temple,
  • 00:14:29.090 --> 00:14:32.593
  • They made a discovery.
  • 00:14:32.593 --> 00:14:34.429
  • They found the scrolls, the old testament scrolls of god's word.
  • 00:14:34.429 --> 00:14:39.901
  • 2 chronicles 34:14-15 says: "when they were bringing out the
  • 00:14:39.901 --> 00:14:43.471
  • Money which had been brought into the house of god, hilkiah
  • 00:14:43.471 --> 00:14:46.774
  • The priest found the book of the lord, the law of the lord given
  • 00:14:46.774 --> 00:14:50.578
  • By moses."
  • 00:14:50.578 --> 00:14:53.081
  • Josiah demanded that the book be read.
  • 00:14:53.081 --> 00:14:55.249
  • Imagine the word of god had not been read in the country for
  • 00:14:55.249 --> 00:14:58.319
  • 50 years.
  • 00:14:58.319 --> 00:15:01.556
  • And when the scrolls were opened and read to josiah, look at
  • 00:15:01.556 --> 00:15:05.226
  • Verse 19 of 2 chronicles 34: "and it came about when the king
  • 00:15:05.226 --> 00:15:09.831
  • Heard the words of the law, that he tore his clothes."
  • 00:15:09.831 --> 00:15:14.936
  • That was a sign of repentance, grief.
  • 00:15:14.936 --> 00:15:19.741
  • When he listened to the word of god, it did something to him.
  • 00:15:19.741 --> 00:15:24.112
  • It caused him to repent, to turn from his ways that had been
  • 00:15:24.112 --> 00:15:28.149
  • Displeasing to the lord, and to recommit to serving god even
  • 00:15:28.149 --> 00:15:32.620
  • More faithfully.
  • 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:34.322
  • That's what the word of god does to people.
  • 00:15:34.322 --> 00:15:37.091
  • Let me ask you this morning, is there a bible somewhere in your
  • 00:15:37.091 --> 00:15:40.395
  • House on a shelf that's been gathering dust?
  • 00:15:40.395 --> 00:15:44.399
  • Or maybe even has some cobwebs on it?
  • 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:48.669
  • Take it down, dust it off, open it up and let god's word do his
  • 00:15:48.669 --> 00:15:55.009
  • Work in your life.
  • 00:15:55.009 --> 00:15:58.112
  • Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12 says: "for the word of god is
  • 00:15:58.112 --> 00:16:01.482
  • Living, it's active, it is sharper than any two-edged
  • 00:16:01.482 --> 00:16:04.452
  • Sword, and piercing as far as the division of the soul and the
  • 00:16:04.452 --> 00:16:08.089
  • Spirit, of both the joints and the marrow, able to judge the
  • 00:16:08.089 --> 00:16:11.726
  • Thoughts and intentions of the heart."
  • 00:16:11.726 --> 00:16:15.029
  • Somebody said, "god's word is always doing something to people
  • 00:16:15.029 --> 00:16:18.666
  • Who read it or hear it."
  • 00:16:18.666 --> 00:16:20.735
  • Somebody else said, "god's word is alive, it speaks to me.
  • 00:16:20.735 --> 00:16:25.540
  • It has feet, it runs after me.
  • 00:16:25.540 --> 00:16:28.076
  • It has hands, it lays hold of me."
  • 00:16:28.076 --> 00:16:32.346
  • Let god do his work in your life.
  • 00:16:32.346 --> 00:16:35.850
  • What do we make of the story of josiah?
  • 00:16:35.850 --> 00:16:38.953
  • Let me close with just three suggestions, practical
  • 00:16:38.953 --> 00:16:43.191
  • Applications from this chapter in 2 chronicles.
  • 00:16:43.191 --> 00:16:47.361
  • You know, in the last 3000 years, even the last 100 years,
  • 00:16:47.361 --> 00:16:53.000
  • Technology has improved dramatically.
  • 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:55.837
  • But one thing that has not improved or changed is
  • 00:16:55.837 --> 00:16:58.573
  • Human nature.
  • 00:16:58.573 --> 00:17:00.108
  • We are the same people that josiah and his people were 3000
  • 00:17:00.108 --> 00:17:04.212
  • Years ago.
  • 00:17:04.212 --> 00:17:05.580
  • We all sin.
  • 00:17:05.580 --> 00:17:07.115
  • We all try to rationalize our sin or hide our sin.
  • 00:17:07.115 --> 00:17:11.052
  • We all try to be our own god.
  • 00:17:11.052 --> 00:17:14.055
  • We all need god's forgiveness.
  • 00:17:14.055 --> 00:17:17.058
  • And if we don't wanna make the same mistakes of those who went
  • 00:17:17.058 --> 00:17:20.461
  • Before us and suffered god's judgment, we need to learn the
  • 00:17:20.461 --> 00:17:24.031
  • Lessons of history.
  • 00:17:24.031 --> 00:17:25.800
  • How do we do that?
  • 00:17:25.800 --> 00:17:27.135
  • Three suggestions.
  • 00:17:27.135 --> 00:17:28.503
  • First of all, take history seriously.
  • 00:17:28.503 --> 00:17:31.305
  • Take history seriously.
  • 00:17:31.305 --> 00:17:33.174
  • Put a premium on history.
  • 00:17:33.174 --> 00:17:35.109
  • It's not bunk, like henry ford said.
  • 00:17:35.109 --> 00:17:38.479
  • Our general history is important.
  • 00:17:38.479 --> 00:17:40.348
  • We can learn from secular general history.
  • 00:17:40.348 --> 00:17:43.251
  • We certainly learn from god's word.
  • 00:17:43.251 --> 00:17:45.620
  • You know, have you had this experience?
  • 00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:47.021
  • You read the bible, especially the old testament, you come
  • 00:17:47.021 --> 00:17:49.690
  • Across these names you can't pronounce, and these customs
  • 00:17:49.690 --> 00:17:53.060
  • That seem so, let's just say it, weird?
  • 00:17:53.060 --> 00:17:56.497
  • Weird customs, and we think, "how am i supposed to relate to
  • 00:17:56.497 --> 00:17:59.567
  • All of this stuff?"
  • 00:17:59.567 --> 00:18:01.502
  • Well, the thing that relates us to them is not their names or
  • 00:18:01.502 --> 00:18:06.040
  • Even their customs; it is god.
  • 00:18:06.040 --> 00:18:09.577
  • Their god is our god.
  • 00:18:09.577 --> 00:18:12.013
  • And just as god dealt with them, he is going to deal with us, and
  • 00:18:12.013 --> 00:18:15.650
  • We can learn from their successes and failures that are
  • 00:18:15.650 --> 00:18:19.086
  • Recorded in scripture.
  • 00:18:19.086 --> 00:18:21.022
  • We can learn from general history.
  • 00:18:21.022 --> 00:18:23.558
  • We can also learn from our own family history.
  • 00:18:23.558 --> 00:18:27.395
  • We can learn from our family history.
  • 00:18:27.395 --> 00:18:28.763
  • When i say take history seriously, know the history of
  • 00:18:28.763 --> 00:18:32.233
  • Your own family.
  • 00:18:32.233 --> 00:18:33.601
  • Now, i don't believe in a generational curse.
  • 00:18:33.601 --> 00:18:38.272
  • But i do believe those in our family who have gone before us
  • 00:18:38.272 --> 00:18:42.910
  • Influence us greatly.
  • 00:18:42.910 --> 00:18:45.079
  • Sometimes negatively, sometimes positively.
  • 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:47.915
  • I certainly think about my parents, but i especially think
  • 00:18:47.915 --> 00:18:51.619
  • About my grandfather.
  • 00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:54.589
  • My grandfather and grandmother, they had an african-american man
  • 00:18:54.589 --> 00:18:59.894
  • Who worked for them for decades.
  • 00:18:59.894 --> 00:19:02.863
  • And one night he got drunk, and he got in a knife fight and he
  • 00:19:02.863 --> 00:19:08.369
  • Was murdered.
  • 00:19:08.369 --> 00:19:10.571
  • And so they were gonna have the funeral for this man, and my
  • 00:19:10.571 --> 00:19:13.874
  • Grandfather and grandmother took me to the funeral service.
  • 00:19:13.874 --> 00:19:17.044
  • I was just a little boy.
  • 00:19:17.044 --> 00:19:18.779
  • It was a graveside service.
  • 00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:21.048
  • It was in the part of the cemetery in those days that
  • 00:19:21.048 --> 00:19:23.584
  • Reserved for minorities.
  • 00:19:23.584 --> 00:19:27.288
  • And so, you know, we were at that funeral service, all
  • 00:19:27.288 --> 00:19:30.825
  • African americans, we were the only white faces in that crowd.
  • 00:19:30.825 --> 00:19:35.363
  • And the preacher stood up, and he started to lambast this man
  • 00:19:35.363 --> 00:19:39.700
  • Who had been murdered, talking about the evils of alcohol, and
  • 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:44.305
  • How this man had gotten what he deserved, and why we ought to
  • 00:19:44.305 --> 00:19:47.675
  • Learn a lesson from him, and what god does to people who do
  • 00:19:47.675 --> 00:19:50.544
  • This and this and this and this.
  • 00:19:50.544 --> 00:19:53.180
  • And he was about to close in prayer.
  • 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:56.150
  • I'll never forget, my grandfather was a big man.
  • 00:19:56.150 --> 00:19:58.619
  • He was seated next to me and he stood up in the middle of that
  • 00:19:58.619 --> 00:20:01.889
  • Service, and he said, "pastor, can i say a word?"
  • 00:20:01.889 --> 00:20:07.695
  • The pastor didn't have much of a choice.
  • 00:20:07.695 --> 00:20:09.463
  • He said, "okay."
  • 00:20:09.463 --> 00:20:11.499
  • And my grandfather said, "everything you said about this
  • 00:20:11.499 --> 00:20:14.502
  • Man may have been true.
  • 00:20:14.502 --> 00:20:16.937
  • But he was also a good man.
  • 00:20:16.937 --> 00:20:19.106
  • He loved his family," and my grandfather went on and on and
  • 00:20:19.106 --> 00:20:22.610
  • On, talking about the good things in this man's life.
  • 00:20:22.610 --> 00:20:26.781
  • And after it was over, i'll never forget all of those
  • 00:20:26.781 --> 00:20:29.850
  • People, his family and friends, surrounding my grandfather,
  • 00:20:29.850 --> 00:20:33.087
  • Thanking him for the courage to stand up and say what needed to
  • 00:20:33.087 --> 00:20:38.225
  • Be said at that time.
  • 00:20:38.225 --> 00:20:40.661
  • We all have examples like that in our life, in our family
  • 00:20:40.661 --> 00:20:44.298
  • History, hopefully, that we can emulate.
  • 00:20:44.298 --> 00:20:47.968
  • Take history seriously.
  • 00:20:47.968 --> 00:20:50.571
  • Secondly, learn from your own personal history.
  • 00:20:50.571 --> 00:20:55.009
  • We only--not only need to study the history of those who have
  • 00:20:55.009 --> 00:20:57.812
  • Gone before us, we need to look at our own personal history and
  • 00:20:57.812 --> 00:21:02.083
  • Learn from those experiences.
  • 00:21:02.083 --> 00:21:04.618
  • As you look back over your life, honestly, are there times that
  • 00:21:04.618 --> 00:21:08.356
  • You've been closer to the lord than you are right now?
  • 00:21:08.356 --> 00:21:12.159
  • What things were you doing then?
  • 00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:14.428
  • What habits did you have in your life?
  • 00:21:14.428 --> 00:21:16.664
  • What were you doing that caused you to live more closely to the
  • 00:21:16.664 --> 00:21:19.767
  • Lord then than you do right now?
  • 00:21:19.767 --> 00:21:23.437
  • You can learn from your successes.
  • 00:21:23.437 --> 00:21:25.206
  • You can learn from your failures.
  • 00:21:25.206 --> 00:21:28.109
  • Your mistakes from your past can inoculate you from
  • 00:21:28.109 --> 00:21:32.012
  • Future mistakes.
  • 00:21:32.012 --> 00:21:34.248
  • Learn from your own personal history, both the successes and
  • 00:21:34.248 --> 00:21:37.918
  • The failures.
  • 00:21:37.918 --> 00:21:39.253
  • And then finally, and this is so important, find heroes
  • 00:21:39.253 --> 00:21:44.925
  • To emulate.
  • 00:21:44.925 --> 00:21:46.527
  • We all need heroes, don't we?
  • 00:21:46.527 --> 00:21:49.497
  • I mean, for alexander the great, his heroes were the characters
  • 00:21:49.497 --> 00:21:52.600
  • In homer's "iliad" and "odyssey."
  • 00:21:52.600 --> 00:21:55.603
  • For julius caesar, his hero that he tried to imitate was
  • 00:21:55.603 --> 00:21:58.072
  • Alexander the great.
  • 00:21:58.072 --> 00:21:59.440
  • For abraham lincoln, it was george washington.
  • 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:02.777
  • I think about hudson taylor, the founder of the china inland
  • 00:22:02.777 --> 00:22:06.414
  • Missionary union.
  • 00:22:06.414 --> 00:22:08.582
  • For 50 years, hudson taylor labored in china with very,
  • 00:22:08.582 --> 00:22:13.187
  • Very few converts.
  • 00:22:13.187 --> 00:22:15.256
  • And yet today there are hundreds, thousands of people
  • 00:22:15.256 --> 00:22:18.092
  • Who chose to become missionaries because of the positive example
  • 00:22:18.092 --> 00:22:22.263
  • Of hudson taylor.
  • 00:22:22.263 --> 00:22:23.631
  • One of those was amy carmichael.
  • 00:22:23.631 --> 00:22:25.900
  • Amy grew up in a wealthy family in ireland.
  • 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:28.803
  • She left her wealth, place of privilege, started a missionary
  • 00:22:28.803 --> 00:22:33.207
  • Ministry in india with no promise of funding whatsoever.
  • 00:22:33.207 --> 00:22:37.812
  • She depended on the lord completely to provide her needs,
  • 00:22:37.812 --> 00:22:41.081
  • And through the years she saved thousands of indian children
  • 00:22:41.081 --> 00:22:45.152
  • From child abuse, sexual child abuse, and won them to faith in
  • 00:22:45.152 --> 00:22:49.356
  • Christ, all because of that positive example, her hero
  • 00:22:49.356 --> 00:22:53.894
  • Hudson taylor.
  • 00:22:53.894 --> 00:22:56.197
  • In 1 corinthians 11, verse 1, paul said, "be imitators of me,
  • 00:22:56.197 --> 00:23:01.135
  • Even as i'm an imitator of christ."
  • 00:23:01.135 --> 00:23:04.338
  • Paul understood we all need heroes, flesh and blood heroes,
  • 00:23:04.338 --> 00:23:09.677
  • To emulate.
  • 00:23:09.677 --> 00:23:12.179
  • This week i came across a little video clip of dr. criswell,
  • 00:23:12.179 --> 00:23:19.520
  • One of my heroes.
  • 00:23:19.520 --> 00:23:22.223
  • And i turned that video on and just watched it for about
  • 00:23:22.223 --> 00:23:25.693
  • 20 minutes.
  • 00:23:25.693 --> 00:23:27.061
  • Tears streamed down my face and i just said, "thank you, god.
  • 00:23:27.061 --> 00:23:31.565
  • Thank you for giving me a hero, somebody to emulate like
  • 00:23:31.565 --> 00:23:36.170
  • Dr. criswell."
  • 00:23:36.170 --> 00:23:38.405
  • My life is marked forever because of him.
  • 00:23:38.405 --> 00:23:42.142
  • Do you have somebody in your life like that?
  • 00:23:42.142 --> 00:23:46.013
  • Find a hero.
  • 00:23:46.013 --> 00:23:48.582
  • Mimic their strengths, avoid their mistakes, and draw courage
  • 00:23:48.582 --> 00:23:55.389
  • From their example.
  • 00:23:55.389 --> 00:23:57.258
  • And when you do that, you'll find it not only possible but--
  • 00:23:57.258 --> 00:24:01.795
  • To survive, but to thrive during these difficult days.
  • 00:24:01.795 --> 00:24:08.302
  • Jeffress: history isn't just for academics.
  • 00:24:12.239 --> 00:24:14.642
  • It's essential for every believer who wants to survive
  • 00:24:14.642 --> 00:24:17.745
  • And thrive in a hostile world.
  • 00:24:17.745 --> 00:24:20.281
  • Now, before we go today, i want to thank those of you who
  • 00:24:20.281 --> 00:24:23.350
  • Generously support "pathway to victory," especially our
  • 00:24:23.350 --> 00:24:26.921
  • Pathway partners.
  • 00:24:26.921 --> 00:24:28.489
  • I may be the bible teacher on this program, but the impact of
  • 00:24:28.489 --> 00:24:32.526
  • "pathway to victory" around the world can largely be traced back
  • 00:24:32.526 --> 00:24:36.263
  • To you.
  • 00:24:36.263 --> 00:24:37.598
  • It's your giving that helps us sustain what god has already
  • 00:24:37.598 --> 00:24:40.200
  • Built and push into new territory, bringing light where
  • 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:44.104
  • There's darkness, and hope where there's hopelessness.
  • 00:24:44.104 --> 00:24:47.942
  • This ministry simply wouldn't be possible without friends just
  • 00:24:47.942 --> 00:24:52.079
  • Like you.
  • 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:53.480
  • Now please stay right there.
  • 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.949
  • I'll be back in just a few moments with more "pathway
  • 00:24:54.949 --> 00:24:57.952
  • To victory."
  • 00:24:57.952 --> 00:24:59.620
  • Jeffress: christians today are living in hostile territory.
  • 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:03.157
  • The attacks are real, the opposition is fierce, and the
  • 00:25:03.157 --> 00:25:06.627
  • Stakes couldn't be higher.
  • 00:25:06.627 --> 00:25:08.796
  • That's why i wrote "courageous," to give you the biblical tools
  • 00:25:08.796 --> 00:25:12.466
  • You need not just to survive, but to stand strong and thrive.
  • 00:25:12.466 --> 00:25:17.137
  • Announcer: in "courageous," you'll find ten biblical
  • 00:25:17.137 --> 00:25:19.640
  • Survival strategies drawn straight from scripture that
  • 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:22.676
  • Will give you fresh fire and real hope, no matter what
  • 00:25:22.676 --> 00:25:25.813
  • You're facing.
  • 00:25:25.813 --> 00:25:27.181
  • Jeffress: survivors have two things in common: a different
  • 00:25:27.181 --> 00:25:30.050
  • Response to trouble and a different perspective on life.
  • 00:25:30.050 --> 00:25:34.054
  • In "courageous," i'll give you ten biblical strategies to
  • 00:25:34.054 --> 00:25:37.625
  • Develop both and come out stronger on the other side.
  • 00:25:37.625 --> 00:25:41.562
  • Announcer: request your copy of "courageous" when you give
  • 00:25:41.562 --> 00:25:43.931
  • A generous ministry gift to "pathway to victory" or when you
  • 00:25:43.931 --> 00:25:47.401
  • Become a pathway partner.
  • 00:25:47.401 --> 00:25:49.036
  • And when your ministry gift is $75 or more, we'll send you the
  • 00:25:49.036 --> 00:25:53.374
  • "courageous" leadership kit containing the "courageous"
  • 00:25:53.374 --> 00:25:56.243
  • Book, the personal and group study guide book, 10
  • 00:25:56.243 --> 00:25:59.446
  • "courageous" encouragement cards, plus the complete
  • 00:25:59.446 --> 00:26:02.316
  • Teaching series on cd and dvd.
  • 00:26:02.316 --> 00:26:04.985
  • Jeffress: as christians, we're living in
  • 00:26:04.985 --> 00:26:07.187
  • A threatening environment.
  • 00:26:07.187 --> 00:26:09.089
  • We have an adversary, the devil, who is intent on destroying
  • 00:26:09.089 --> 00:26:13.427
  • Everything important to us.
  • 00:26:13.427 --> 00:26:14.928
  • Announcer: thank you for partnering with "pathway
  • 00:26:14.928 --> 00:26:16.764
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:16.764 --> 00:26:18.132
  • Your generosity funds the proclamation of god's word
  • 00:26:18.132 --> 00:26:20.868
  • Across television, radio, and online, bringing bold biblical
  • 00:26:20.868 --> 00:26:24.805
  • Hope right here at home and around the world.
  • 00:26:24.805 --> 00:26:28.342
  • Jeffress: we can't possibly learn everything there is to
  • 00:26:31.679 --> 00:26:34.181
  • Know over the course of a single lifetime.
  • 00:26:34.181 --> 00:26:37.251
  • Gratefully, god's word is filled with the wisdom of the ages, and
  • 00:26:37.251 --> 00:26:41.321
  • All we have to do is open it.
  • 00:26:41.321 --> 00:26:44.158
  • Well, surviving in a hostile world is about more than
  • 00:26:44.158 --> 00:26:47.428
  • Self-preservation, and next time we'll discover that helping
  • 00:26:47.428 --> 00:26:50.864
  • Others is one of the most powerful things you can do
  • 00:26:50.864 --> 00:26:54.535
  • For yourself.
  • 00:26:54.535 --> 00:26:55.903
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:55.903 --> 00:26:58.505
  • Series, "courageous."
  • 00:26:58.505 --> 00:27:01.408
  • Jeffress: when you find yourself in a difficult situation, don't
  • 00:27:01.408 --> 00:27:04.611
  • Just think about helping yourself.
  • 00:27:04.611 --> 00:27:06.847
  • Think about helping others, because when you help others,
  • 00:27:06.847 --> 00:27:10.451
  • You help yourself as well.
  • 00:27:10.451 --> 00:27:13.721
  • You know, jesus was certainly the model, the supreme example
  • 00:27:13.721 --> 00:27:17.791
  • Of selflessness.
  • 00:27:17.791 --> 00:27:20.260
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for "survival tip
  • 00:27:20.260 --> 00:27:23.397
  • #9: help others," here on "pathway to victory."
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