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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Survival Tip #9: Help Others (Part 2) | May 28, 2026
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- Male announcer: ephesus, thessaloniki, the greek islands,
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- The apostle paul didn't just write about these places,
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- He lived in them.
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- And this may, so can you, on the "pathway to victory" journeys
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- Of paul cruise.
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- Dr. robert jeffress: i've read the book of acts my entire life,
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- But there's nothing like standing in ephesus, walking
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- Where paul walked and feeling the weight of what
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- Happened there.
- 00:00:21.710 --> 00:00:23.045
- Announcer: nine unforgettable nights aboard "celebrity
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- Infinity," sailing round trip from athens with stops in
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- Mykonos, rhodes, santorini and more.
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- And there's an optional pre-cruise extension in athens.
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- Jeffress: every port carries the fingerprints of god's
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- Redemptive plan.
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- Every ancient stone tells a story.
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- This is truly the trip of a lifetime, and i promise you, you
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- Will never read the bible the same way again.
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- Announcer: reserve your cabin today for the 2027 "pathway to
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- Victory" journeys of paul cruise.
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- Call ...
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- Or visit ptv.org.
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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
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- Dr. robert jeffress.
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- Jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome again to
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- "pathway to victory."
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- When you're in a dangerous situation, every instinct tells
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- You to focus on yourself, but time and again we find that the
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- People who stopped to help others are the ones who make
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- It out.
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- Today i want to show you why selfless living, even in the
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- Midst of a crisis, is one of the most powerful things you can do
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- For your own survival.
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- My message is titled "survival tip #9, help others," on
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- Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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- ♪ there was a holy hush all over ♪
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- ♪ as i walked into the room ♪
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- ♪ and i stood before him face to face. ♪
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- ♪ i was gloriously made new. ♪
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- ♪ there was a great and awesome presence ♪
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- ♪ and a light as bright as day. ♪
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- ♪ and when i bowed to kneel with the angel, ♪
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- ♪ i heard the spirit say. ♪
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- ♪ all rise, all rise ♪
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- ♪ to stand before the throne ♪
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- ♪ in the presence of the holy one. ♪
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- ♪ all rise, all rise. ♪
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- ♪ holy, holy ♪
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- ♪ lord god almighty ♪
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- ♪ all rise, all rise, ♪
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- ♪ our song shall rise to thee. ♪
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- ♪ all rise, all rise, ♪
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- ♪ all rise, all rise, ♪
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- ♪ to stand before his glory ♪
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- ♪ in the presence of the holy one. ♪
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- ♪ all rise, all rise ♪
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- ♪ as we worship the messiah. ♪
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- ♪ all rise, all rise, ♪
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- ♪ all rise, all rise, ♪
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- ♪ all rise. ♪
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- ♪ all rise, all rise, ♪
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- ♪ all rise. ♪♪
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- [congregation applauding]
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- Announcer: each day millions of lost people are searching for
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- Hope and truth.
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- Through "pathway to victory," god's word is reaching into
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- Homes across america and around the world.
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- But there are still so many who haven't heard the saving message
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- Of jesus christ, you can help change that by becoming
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- A pathway partner.
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- You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries who are
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- Sharing the gospel through television and radio.
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- Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide with
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- The life-changing power of the cross.
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- Announcer: stay tuned for a very special ask dr. jeffress segment
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- After today's message.
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- Jeffress: when people saw barnabas, they yelled out,
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- "there comes that son of encouragement."
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- That's a better nickname to have, soe, son of encouragement.
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- That was barnabas.
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- In fact, you look at that word encouragement, it's the greek
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- Word "paraclete."
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- It means to come alongside and encourage somebody.
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- It's the same word that is used to describe the holy spirit.
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- The holy spirit is the paraclete, the one who comes
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- Alongside of us to encourage us.
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- Well, that was barnabas, he was the one who came alongside and
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- Encouraged people.
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- I want you to notice in the book of acts three ways he encouraged
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- People, through his money, through his mentoring, and
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- Through his own ministry.
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- We see barnabas the philanthropist beginning in
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- Verses 32 of acts 4.
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- Look at this, "and the congregation of
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- Those who believed were of one heart and one soul."
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- I mean, we're talking about within weeks of pentecost, the
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- Beginning of the church.
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- "and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him
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- Was his own, but all things were common property to them.
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- And with great power the apostles were giving witness to
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- The resurrection of the lord jesus, and abundant grace was
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- Upon them all.
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- For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were
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- Owners of land and houses would sell them and bring the proceeds
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- Of the sales and laid them at the apostles' feet, and they
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- Would be distributed to each if any had need.
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- And joseph, a levite of cyprian birth, who was also called
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- Barnabas by the apostles (which means son of encouragement), who
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- Owned a tract of land, he sold it and he brought the money and
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- He laid it at the apostles' feet."
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- And again, some people read this passage, and they try to read
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- Something into it that isn't there.
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- I've actually heard people use this passage to say, well, you
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- See, god really wants us to be socialist.
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- He wants us to be communist because that's what the early
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- Church was.
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- They were socialists.
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- They were communists.
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- Nobody owned anything.
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- Everybody put it in a common fund.
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- They didn't have any personal ownership of property.
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- They sold everything, put it in a fund, and people just took as
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- They needed.
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- No, the bible does not advocate socialism.
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- You know, winston churchill defined socialism as the equal
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- Sharing of miseries.
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- Somebody else said, very well, socialism works until you run
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- Out of other people's money.
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- I mean, the fact is you can only sell everything you have,
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- Liquidate it, one time, and then you're out of funds.
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- Socialism, communism is based on government confiscating what
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- Belongs to us.
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- The bible never advocates that.
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- These people in the early church voluntarily released a portion
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- Of what they owned in order to meet the needs of other people.
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- There's a big difference.
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- And at the head of the list of people who did that
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- Was barnabas.
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- Apparently, because luke notes it, he must have been a man
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- Of means.
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- He sold a large tract of land and he gave it to the church to
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- Meet the needs of other people.
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- The inference is other people followed barnabas's example.
- 00:08:06.541 --> 00:08:10.979
- And they were encouraged by barnabas's encouragement.
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- As the momentum picked up, people said, "we wanna be a part
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- Of that.
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- We can do that too."
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- It all started with people who wanted to be an encouragement
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- To others.
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- That was barnabas.
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- He not only, though, encouraged people through his money by
- 00:08:26.328 --> 00:08:28.663
- Being a philanthropist, he encouraged people by his
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- Mentoring of other people, coming alongside individuals and
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- Encouraging them.
- 00:08:37.472 --> 00:08:38.940
- You know, the church was only a few weeks old when
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- Persecution began.
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- First, the imprisonment of peter and john, and then the stoning
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- Of stephen, and then a guy named saul from tarsus beginning
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- Breathing threats against the church, arresting christians,
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- Having them tortured, throwing them into prison.
- 00:08:55.423 --> 00:08:59.494
- And you remember saul of tarsus was on the way to damascus to
- 00:08:59.494 --> 00:09:03.798
- Arrest more christians when he encountered jesus christ.
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- And paul the persecutor became paul, the greatest evangelist
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- The world has ever known.
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- But after that encounter, he was blind.
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- And for three days, during his blindness, he prayed and fasted.
- 00:09:15.777 --> 00:09:19.914
- And remember, god told ananias to go and minister to paul,
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- Which he did.
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- Ananias showed great courage in his willingness to do that.
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- He didn't know for sure what had happened to saul, but he wanted
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- To obey the lord.
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- And then came time for saul to meet the apostles in jerusalem.
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- Now, here was a guy who was known for killing christians.
- 00:09:39.834 --> 00:09:43.438
- How did they know this wasn't a ruse, that this wasn't some
- 00:09:43.438 --> 00:09:46.675
- Attempt to trick them?
- 00:09:46.675 --> 00:09:48.410
- They were naturally hesitant about embracing saul, but look
- 00:09:48.410 --> 00:09:52.313
- At acts 9:27 and 28, "but barnabas took hold of him and
- 00:09:52.313 --> 00:09:58.019
- Brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had
- 00:09:58.019 --> 00:10:01.322
- Seen the lord on the road, and that he had talked to him, and
- 00:10:01.322 --> 00:10:04.426
- How at damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of jesus.
- 00:10:04.426 --> 00:10:08.430
- And he was with them, moving about freely in jerusalem,
- 00:10:08.430 --> 00:10:11.866
- Speaking out boldly in the name of the lord."
- 00:10:11.866 --> 00:10:15.804
- Barnabas was willing to take a chance on this new convert,
- 00:10:15.804 --> 00:10:20.442
- Come alongside of him and encourage him.
- 00:10:20.442 --> 00:10:24.145
- You know, in fact, when you look through the book of acts, when
- 00:10:24.145 --> 00:10:26.748
- Anybody needed encouragement, it seems like barnabas was
- 00:10:26.748 --> 00:10:29.284
- Always there.
- 00:10:29.284 --> 00:10:30.752
- Remember, barnabas and paul were gonna go on their first
- 00:10:30.752 --> 00:10:32.954
- Missionary journey together and they were gonna take barnabas's
- 00:10:32.954 --> 00:10:38.626
- Cousin with them, a guy named john mark.
- 00:10:38.626 --> 00:10:41.663
- We know him as the author of the gospel of mark, but he was
- 00:10:41.663 --> 00:10:44.966
- Barnabas's cousin, colossians tells us.
- 00:10:44.966 --> 00:10:48.369
- And so they went on this missionary journey and about
- 00:10:48.369 --> 00:10:50.772
- Halfway through, john mark got fed up with the walking and with
- 00:10:50.772 --> 00:10:55.176
- The sleeping out in open places and the insect bites and
- 00:10:55.176 --> 00:10:59.180
- Everything that went along with that.
- 00:10:59.180 --> 00:11:00.715
- And so in acts 13:13, the bible says he left them, he deserted
- 00:11:00.715 --> 00:11:05.153
- Them and returned to jerusalem.
- 00:11:05.153 --> 00:11:08.990
- Fast forward, it's time for the second missionary journey.
- 00:11:08.990 --> 00:11:12.026
- Paul and barnabas are getting ready for the journey.
- 00:11:12.026 --> 00:11:14.229
- Barnabas says, "now, where should i have john mark
- 00:11:14.229 --> 00:11:16.865
- Meet us?"
- 00:11:16.865 --> 00:11:18.199
- Paul said, "john mark, i'm not about to take that snotty-nosed
- 00:11:18.199 --> 00:11:22.437
- Kid with us again.
- 00:11:22.437 --> 00:11:23.938
- Look at what he did.
- 00:11:23.938 --> 00:11:25.273
- He deserted us!"
- 00:11:25.273 --> 00:11:27.075
- Barnabas said, "that's right.
- 00:11:27.075 --> 00:11:29.244
- But we need to show him grace, paul, just like god showed you
- 00:11:29.244 --> 00:11:33.681
- Grace one time."
- 00:11:33.681 --> 00:11:35.717
- And they had a bitter disagreement.
- 00:11:35.717 --> 00:11:37.986
- They ended up parting ways, and paul instead took silas up
- 00:11:37.986 --> 00:11:42.524
- North, and barnabas took john mark, his cousin, south.
- 00:11:42.524 --> 00:11:47.762
- And yet john mark, because of barnabas's encouragement, grew
- 00:11:47.762 --> 00:11:51.232
- In his faith, so much so that when the apostle paul was in
- 00:11:51.232 --> 00:11:55.103
- Prison in rome facing his execution, he sent this word
- 00:11:55.103 --> 00:11:58.506
- To timothy.
- 00:11:58.506 --> 00:11:59.874
- He said, "please pick up john mark and bring him with you, for
- 00:11:59.874 --> 00:12:04.078
- He is useful to me for service."
- 00:12:04.078 --> 00:12:08.983
- How do you see other people?
- 00:12:08.983 --> 00:12:10.351
- Do you define other people by their failures or by
- 00:12:10.351 --> 00:12:13.755
- Their potential?
- 00:12:13.755 --> 00:12:15.557
- Barnabas was a mentor who saw people for their potential in
- 00:12:15.557 --> 00:12:19.828
- God's service.
- 00:12:19.828 --> 00:12:21.796
- He encouraged people through his money, through his mentoring,
- 00:12:21.796 --> 00:12:24.199
- And finally, through his ministry.
- 00:12:24.199 --> 00:12:27.202
- Look at acts chapter 11, verses 23 and 24.
- 00:12:27.202 --> 00:12:30.972
- When word came to the apostles in jerusalem that gentiles, of
- 00:12:30.972 --> 00:12:35.109
- All people, were being saved in antioch, they decided to send
- 00:12:35.109 --> 00:12:39.214
- Barnabas down to check things out.
- 00:12:39.214 --> 00:12:41.983
- Verse 23 says, "when he," barnabas, "had come and
- 00:12:41.983 --> 00:12:44.919
- Witnessed the grace of god, he rejoiced and began to encourage
- 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:49.090
- All with resolute heart to remain true to the lord; for he
- 00:12:49.090 --> 00:12:53.461
- Was a good man, and full of the holy spirit and of faith.
- 00:12:53.461 --> 00:12:56.965
- And considerable numbers were brought to the lord."
- 00:12:56.965 --> 00:13:00.301
- You know, when i read that, i was thinking, you know, barnabas
- 00:13:00.301 --> 00:13:04.105
- Could have said, well, i know there's that need down there in
- 00:13:04.105 --> 00:13:06.941
- Antioch for somebody to go and preach the word and minister,
- 00:13:06.941 --> 00:13:09.844
- But that's just not my thing.
- 00:13:09.844 --> 00:13:12.213
- You know, i'm more of a one-on-one person, or i like to
- 00:13:12.213 --> 00:13:15.183
- Give money, but i'm not too sure about that ministry thing.
- 00:13:15.183 --> 00:13:18.987
- That wasn't barnabas.
- 00:13:18.987 --> 00:13:20.488
- He was on the front lines of ministry.
- 00:13:20.488 --> 00:13:22.423
- That was barnabas.
- 00:13:22.423 --> 00:13:23.758
- In fact, when he went to antioch, god gave him such
- 00:13:23.758 --> 00:13:26.928
- Success in his ministry, the church began to grow so
- 00:13:26.928 --> 00:13:29.530
- Furiously that he asked for help, and he asked that new
- 00:13:29.530 --> 00:13:32.734
- Convert saul, now paul, to come and minister with him.
- 00:13:32.734 --> 00:13:37.372
- And for a while, the scripture talks about barnabas and paul.
- 00:13:37.372 --> 00:13:41.676
- Barnabas and paul.
- 00:13:41.676 --> 00:13:44.078
- But pretty soon things flipped, and it was paul and barnabas.
- 00:13:44.078 --> 00:13:50.151
- He decreased as paul increased, but barnabas didn't care because
- 00:13:50.151 --> 00:13:54.822
- His job, his ministry was to help others.
- 00:13:54.822 --> 00:13:59.260
- You know, as i think about this principle of helping others, it
- 00:13:59.260 --> 00:14:03.531
- Begs a question.
- 00:14:03.531 --> 00:14:05.833
- Are there people who have been a help to you in your life, that
- 00:14:05.833 --> 00:14:09.537
- Have helped make the way a little smoother for you in
- 00:14:09.537 --> 00:14:12.173
- Your life?
- 00:14:12.173 --> 00:14:13.508
- You know, we all need a barnabas, don't we?
- 00:14:13.508 --> 00:14:15.476
- If we're gonna survive this hostile world.
- 00:14:15.476 --> 00:14:18.112
- Somebody who will come alongside of us and encourage us.
- 00:14:18.112 --> 00:14:22.250
- Somebody who's willing to take a chance on us.
- 00:14:22.250 --> 00:14:25.820
- I encourage you to thank those people who have done that for
- 00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:29.724
- You in your business, in your christian faith, as a friend,
- 00:14:29.724 --> 00:14:35.096
- Who've been willing to take a chance on you when nobody
- 00:14:35.096 --> 00:14:37.465
- Else would.
- 00:14:37.465 --> 00:14:39.567
- You know, when i think about that truth, i'm grateful to so
- 00:14:39.567 --> 00:14:43.871
- Many people, but i'm certainly grateful to dr. criswell, who
- 00:14:43.871 --> 00:14:48.376
- Was for 50 years the pastor of this great church.
- 00:14:48.376 --> 00:14:53.147
- When i was 22 years old, he invited me to come on the staff
- 00:14:53.147 --> 00:14:57.652
- And to be an intern here.
- 00:14:57.652 --> 00:15:00.288
- And i was an intern for exactly four weeks.
- 00:15:00.288 --> 00:15:04.759
- And after four weeks, the youth minister here left.
- 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:08.763
- And so dr. criswell called me and said, "you're the youth
- 00:15:08.763 --> 00:15:11.599
- Minister now."
- 00:15:11.599 --> 00:15:13.501
- And so i was planning to do that.
- 00:15:13.501 --> 00:15:16.871
- A few days later, he called me back and he said, "well, robert,
- 00:15:16.871 --> 00:15:20.575
- We've got some trouble.
- 00:15:20.575 --> 00:15:22.877
- Some of those youth leaders aren't sure they want you to be
- 00:15:22.877 --> 00:15:26.447
- The youth minister, so this is what we're going to do."
- 00:15:26.447 --> 00:15:30.952
- I was just 22 years old.
- 00:15:30.952 --> 00:15:32.353
- He said, "this is what we're gonna do.
- 00:15:32.353 --> 00:15:34.355
- You meet me wednesday night up on the second floor of the
- 00:15:34.355 --> 00:15:37.825
- Christian education building, and we're gonna have a meeting
- 00:15:37.825 --> 00:15:40.461
- With them."
- 00:15:40.461 --> 00:15:41.996
- So i met dr. criswell out in the alcove of that assembly room.
- 00:15:41.996 --> 00:15:46.267
- All the youth leaders were inside and i was standing out
- 00:15:46.267 --> 00:15:49.270
- There, and so he said, "you wait right here and i'm gonna go in
- 00:15:49.270 --> 00:15:52.774
- And talk to them."
- 00:15:52.774 --> 00:15:54.542
- So he goes in and talks to them.
- 00:15:54.542 --> 00:15:56.344
- I have my ear up against the door listening to every word
- 00:15:56.344 --> 00:16:00.581
- They were saying.
- 00:16:00.581 --> 00:16:01.983
- And they were saying--said, "we love robert, he's a
- 00:16:01.983 --> 00:16:05.186
- Wonderful person.
- 00:16:05.186 --> 00:16:06.554
- But, dr. criswell, he is so young, he's 22.
- 00:16:06.554 --> 00:16:10.758
- He doesn't have any experience," which was absolutely true.
- 00:16:10.758 --> 00:16:14.595
- And so they were giving their complaints, dr. criswell
- 00:16:14.595 --> 00:16:16.798
- Listening to them.
- 00:16:16.798 --> 00:16:18.132
- When dr. criswell goes into this diatribe, he starts describing
- 00:16:18.132 --> 00:16:23.104
- Me like i'm the apostle paul.
- 00:16:23.104 --> 00:16:24.972
- I didn't even know who he was talking about.
- 00:16:24.972 --> 00:16:27.909
- And so he goes through that.
- 00:16:27.909 --> 00:16:29.410
- They said, "yes, but he's so young and he is inexperienced."
- 00:16:29.410 --> 00:16:34.382
- Dr. criswell said, "that's fine.
- 00:16:34.382 --> 00:16:37.151
- If you don't want robert, i'm not gonna force him down your
- 00:16:37.151 --> 00:16:40.455
- Throat at all.
- 00:16:40.455 --> 00:16:41.889
- That is fine.
- 00:16:41.889 --> 00:16:43.257
- That is perfect.
- 00:16:43.257 --> 00:16:44.592
- That is wonderful.
- 00:16:44.592 --> 00:16:45.960
- If you don't want robert, because if you don't take him,
- 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:49.097
- I'm gonna hire him as my number one associate to run this
- 00:16:49.097 --> 00:16:52.900
- Entire church."
- 00:16:52.900 --> 00:16:56.104
- And all of a sudden the people start speaking up and they said,
- 00:16:56.104 --> 00:16:58.773
- "wait a minute, wait a minute!
- 00:16:58.773 --> 00:17:01.142
- If you think that much of him, yes, we want him, we want him!"
- 00:17:01.142 --> 00:17:05.980
- He said, "all right, it's settled."
- 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:08.449
- He walks out the room, i'm standing outside paralyzed.
- 00:17:08.449 --> 00:17:12.053
- I couldn't believe it.
- 00:17:12.053 --> 00:17:13.621
- He puts his hand on my shoulder, he said, "son, it's all yours,
- 00:17:13.621 --> 00:17:18.793
- Just don't let me down."
- 00:17:18.793 --> 00:17:22.363
- I am so grateful to somebody like that, who took a chance on
- 00:17:24.365 --> 00:17:30.138
- Me for no reason whatsoever.
- 00:17:30.138 --> 00:17:34.642
- I bet you've got somebody like that in your life.
- 00:17:34.642 --> 00:17:38.079
- Thank god for the mentors he has placed in your life.
- 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:42.116
- But also recognize your responsibility to be somebody
- 00:17:42.116 --> 00:17:46.254
- Else's mentor, to be somebody else's encourager.
- 00:17:46.254 --> 00:17:51.025
- Who around you needs help, needs encouragement?
- 00:17:51.025 --> 00:17:55.863
- You know, i get calls all the time from pastors who are
- 00:17:55.863 --> 00:18:01.068
- Struggling in their church and having a problem or have
- 00:18:01.068 --> 00:18:04.872
- A question or wanna talk about things.
- 00:18:04.872 --> 00:18:07.108
- And sometimes i'll be in the heat of trying to get through
- 00:18:07.108 --> 00:18:10.011
- The day and meet this appointment and that
- 00:18:10.011 --> 00:18:11.679
- Appointment, and carolyn will say, "there's a pastor on the
- 00:18:11.679 --> 00:18:14.549
- Phone who needs to talk to you," and for a nanosecond, i'm
- 00:18:14.549 --> 00:18:19.921
- Tempted to think, oh, i'm so busy, i just can't do that.
- 00:18:19.921 --> 00:18:23.291
- That--it only lasts a second, till god brings back to my mind
- 00:18:23.291 --> 00:18:28.462
- All the people who helped me when i needed help, people who
- 00:18:28.462 --> 00:18:32.967
- Spent time with me.
- 00:18:32.967 --> 00:18:34.902
- W. a. criswell, howie hendricks, paige patterson, others who have
- 00:18:34.902 --> 00:18:39.574
- Come alongside during crucial times in my life.
- 00:18:39.574 --> 00:18:43.244
- Make sure you're an encourager to somebody else.
- 00:18:43.244 --> 00:18:46.147
- How do you do that?
- 00:18:46.147 --> 00:18:47.615
- Final thoughts here, three things.
- 00:18:47.615 --> 00:18:49.884
- First of all, value other people.
- 00:18:49.884 --> 00:18:52.420
- Truly value other people.
- 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:54.388
- See them as god sees them.
- 00:18:54.388 --> 00:18:56.090
- You know, there's a running joke among pastors, oh, ministry
- 00:18:56.090 --> 00:18:59.493
- Would be great if it just weren't for the people.
- 00:18:59.493 --> 00:19:02.730
- Well, that's what ministry is about.
- 00:19:02.730 --> 00:19:07.435
- It's about people, and everybody is important to god.
- 00:19:07.435 --> 00:19:13.007
- You know, i love the words of c.s. lewis when he said, "there
- 00:19:13.007 --> 00:19:17.411
- Are no ordinary people.
- 00:19:17.411 --> 00:19:20.514
- You have never talked to a mere mortal.
- 00:19:20.514 --> 00:19:24.652
- Nations, cultures, civilizations--these are mortal,
- 00:19:24.652 --> 00:19:28.155
- Their life is to ours like the life of a gnat.
- 00:19:28.155 --> 00:19:31.092
- But it is the immortals whom every day we joke with, work
- 00:19:31.092 --> 00:19:36.297
- With, marry, snub, exploit."
- 00:19:36.297 --> 00:19:40.835
- Think about that.
- 00:19:40.835 --> 00:19:42.203
- Everybody you encounter every day is an immortal soul who will
- 00:19:42.203 --> 00:19:45.940
- Last forever.
- 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:49.243
- That makes you look at other people differently, value
- 00:19:49.243 --> 00:19:51.846
- Other people.
- 00:19:51.846 --> 00:19:53.180
- Secondly, champion the underdog, champion the underdog.
- 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:58.686
- You may remember the kid on the playground at elementary school
- 00:19:58.686 --> 00:20:01.956
- Who was always the last to be picked for a team.
- 00:20:01.956 --> 00:20:05.426
- Maybe you were that kid.
- 00:20:05.426 --> 00:20:07.862
- Maybe you know what the pain is of loneliness or rejection.
- 00:20:07.862 --> 00:20:13.301
- Champion the underdog because god does.
- 00:20:13.301 --> 00:20:16.337
- I mean, when you think about it, god so many times would choose
- 00:20:16.337 --> 00:20:19.573
- The younger person, like abel or joseph or david, instead of the
- 00:20:19.573 --> 00:20:24.045
- Older son to bless.
- 00:20:24.045 --> 00:20:26.080
- God took that little, nothing, small nation of israel, chose
- 00:20:26.080 --> 00:20:30.918
- That nation to be his chosen nation, rather than a great
- 00:20:30.918 --> 00:20:34.188
- Empire like assyria, babylon, or egypt.
- 00:20:34.188 --> 00:20:37.992
- I agree with philip yancey, who said, "as i read the birth
- 00:20:37.992 --> 00:20:41.162
- Stories about jesus, i cannot help but conclude that though
- 00:20:41.162 --> 00:20:45.399
- The world may be tilted toward the rich and the powerful, god
- 00:20:45.399 --> 00:20:50.237
- Is tilted toward the underdog."
- 00:20:50.237 --> 00:20:53.808
- And finally, offer second chances to people.
- 00:20:53.808 --> 00:20:58.245
- People are gonna fail you, they're gonna disappoint you,
- 00:20:58.245 --> 00:21:01.182
- But people deserve your grace.
- 00:21:01.182 --> 00:21:04.685
- Because you and i are the recipients of god's grace, offer
- 00:21:04.685 --> 00:21:09.323
- Second chances to people when they fail.
- 00:21:09.323 --> 00:21:13.027
- The late christian psychiatrist karl menninger was asked one
- 00:21:13.027 --> 00:21:16.464
- Time a fascinating question.
- 00:21:16.464 --> 00:21:18.799
- "dr. menninger, if you were on the verge of a nervous
- 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:24.138
- Breakdown, what would you do?"
- 00:21:24.138 --> 00:21:28.843
- Without a pause, he said, "i would go out and find somebody
- 00:21:28.843 --> 00:21:31.879
- In need and help them."
- 00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:36.150
- That's good advice.
- 00:21:36.150 --> 00:21:38.386
- Whenever we're going through a difficult time, we need to
- 00:21:38.386 --> 00:21:41.789
- Remember to help others, just like jesus.
- 00:21:41.789 --> 00:21:46.327
- Just like barnabas.
- 00:21:46.327 --> 00:21:49.063
- Just like oskar schindler, who discovered that by saving
- 00:21:49.063 --> 00:21:52.967
- Others, he was saving himself.
- 00:21:52.967 --> 00:21:57.471
- Jeffress: selflessness doesn't come naturally, we're wired to
- 00:22:01.709 --> 00:22:05.513
- Look out for number one.
- 00:22:05.513 --> 00:22:07.615
- But the characters we've studied today show us what it looks like
- 00:22:07.615 --> 00:22:11.018
- To put others first.
- 00:22:11.018 --> 00:22:13.354
- Now, before we go today, i want to say a word of thanks to our
- 00:22:13.354 --> 00:22:16.524
- Pathway partners and everyone who supports this ministry.
- 00:22:16.524 --> 00:22:20.461
- Across our nation people are hungry for the truth, they're
- 00:22:20.461 --> 00:22:24.198
- Searching for something real, and god is opening doors to
- 00:22:24.198 --> 00:22:27.568
- Reach them like never before.
- 00:22:27.568 --> 00:22:29.937
- Your generosity is putting god's word in front of people who need
- 00:22:29.937 --> 00:22:33.607
- To hear it, and i'm grateful for every one of you who partners
- 00:22:33.607 --> 00:22:37.178
- With us.
- 00:22:37.178 --> 00:22:38.546
- Now please stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway
- 00:22:38.546 --> 00:22:41.282
- To victory" in just a moment.
- 00:22:41.282 --> 00:22:44.218
- Jeffress: christians today are living in hostile territory.
- 00:22:44.218 --> 00:22:47.755
- The attacks are real,
- 00:22:47.755 --> 00:22:49.156
- The opposition is fierce, and the stakes couldn't be higher.
- 00:22:49.156 --> 00:22:53.394
- That's why i wrote "courageous," to give you the biblical tools
- 00:22:53.394 --> 00:22:57.064
- You need not just to survive, but to stand strong and thrive.
- 00:22:57.064 --> 00:23:01.735
- Announcer: in "courageous," you'll find ten biblical
- 00:23:01.735 --> 00:23:04.271
- Survival strategies drawn straight from scripture that
- 00:23:04.271 --> 00:23:07.274
- Will give you fresh fire and real hope, no matter what
- 00:23:07.274 --> 00:23:10.444
- You're facing.
- 00:23:10.444 --> 00:23:11.779
- Jeffress: survivors have two things in common, a different
- 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:14.648
- Response to trouble and a different perspective on life.
- 00:23:14.648 --> 00:23:18.652
- In "courageous," i'll give you ten biblical strategies to
- 00:23:18.652 --> 00:23:22.256
- Develop both and come out stronger on the other side.
- 00:23:22.256 --> 00:23:26.160
- Announcer: request your copy of "courageous" when you give
- 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:28.529
- A generous ministry gift to "pathway to victory" or when you
- 00:23:28.529 --> 00:23:31.999
- Become a pathway partner.
- 00:23:31.999 --> 00:23:33.634
- And when your ministry gift is $75 or more, we'll send you the
- 00:23:33.634 --> 00:23:37.972
- Courageous leadership kit containing the "courageous"
- 00:23:37.972 --> 00:23:40.841
- Book, the personal and group study guide book, ten courageous
- 00:23:40.841 --> 00:23:44.578
- Encouragement cards, plus the complete teaching series on cd
- 00:23:44.578 --> 00:23:48.516
- And dvd.
- 00:23:48.516 --> 00:23:49.850
- Jeffress: as christians, we're living in a
- 00:23:49.850 --> 00:23:51.785
- Threatening environment.
- 00:23:51.785 --> 00:23:53.687
- We have an adversary, the devil, who is intent on destroying
- 00:23:53.687 --> 00:23:58.025
- Everything important to us.
- 00:23:58.025 --> 00:23:59.527
- Announcer: thank you for partnering with "pathway
- 00:23:59.527 --> 00:24:01.362
- To victory."
- 00:24:01.362 --> 00:24:02.730
- Your generosity funds the proclamation of god's word
- 00:24:02.730 --> 00:24:05.466
- Across television, radio, and online, bringing bold biblical
- 00:24:05.466 --> 00:24:09.403
- Hope right here at home and around the world.
- 00:24:09.403 --> 00:24:14.909
- Jeffress: gary, that's a great question.
- 00:24:14.909 --> 00:24:16.844
- Fortunately, the bible doesn't stutter in answering
- 00:24:16.844 --> 00:24:19.446
- That question.
- 00:24:19.446 --> 00:24:20.814
- In 1 corinthians 12:13, paul was writing to a group of carnal
- 00:24:20.814 --> 00:24:25.286
- Christians, backslidden, who were involved in immorality.
- 00:24:25.286 --> 00:24:29.390
- They were terrible excuses and examples of christians.
- 00:24:29.390 --> 00:24:32.593
- And yet paul said in 1 corinthians 12:13, "for by one
- 00:24:32.593 --> 00:24:36.964
- Spirit we were all baptized into one body."
- 00:24:36.964 --> 00:24:41.402
- The baptism with the holy spirit is not just reserved for
- 00:24:41.402 --> 00:24:45.272
- A special group of superior christians.
- 00:24:45.272 --> 00:24:48.676
- The baptism with the holy spirit is a part of the basic package
- 00:24:48.676 --> 00:24:52.913
- That each one of us receives when we trust in christ
- 00:24:52.913 --> 00:24:56.083
- As savior.
- 00:24:56.083 --> 00:24:57.451
- The baptism with the holy spirit is that act of god by which god
- 00:24:57.451 --> 00:25:02.323
- Connects us to the head of the body of christ, jesus christ,
- 00:25:02.323 --> 00:25:06.794
- And to other members of the body, the church.
- 00:25:06.794 --> 00:25:10.130
- We receive that the moment we trust in god.
- 00:25:10.130 --> 00:25:13.400
- There's no command ever to be baptized with the spirit.
- 00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:17.504
- That's something god does, it's not something we do.
- 00:25:17.504 --> 00:25:20.874
- But what the bible does command in relationship to the
- 00:25:20.874 --> 00:25:23.911
- Holy spirit is to be filled with the holy spirit, ephesians 5:18.
- 00:25:23.911 --> 00:25:29.350
- What is the filling of the holy spirit?
- 00:25:29.350 --> 00:25:31.085
- It means to be controlled by the holy spirit of god.
- 00:25:31.085 --> 00:25:35.089
- It's a greek word "pleroo," that was used to describe the wind
- 00:25:35.089 --> 00:25:39.727
- Filling up the mast of a ship and driving that ship in
- 00:25:39.727 --> 00:25:43.764
- A particular direction.
- 00:25:43.764 --> 00:25:45.332
- To be filled with the spirit means to be controlled by the
- 00:25:45.332 --> 00:25:48.902
- Spirit of god, and that's a continual process.
- 00:25:48.902 --> 00:25:52.606
- Think of it this way.
- 00:25:52.606 --> 00:25:54.108
- The moment you're saved, you receive all the holy--of the
- 00:25:54.108 --> 00:25:57.845
- Holy spirit of god.
- 00:25:57.845 --> 00:25:59.413
- There's no more to receive.
- 00:25:59.413 --> 00:26:01.215
- You are baptized with the holy spirit.
- 00:26:01.215 --> 00:26:03.917
- So the question is no longer do we have all of the holy spirit,
- 00:26:03.917 --> 00:26:07.988
- The question is does the holy spirit have all of us?
- 00:26:07.988 --> 00:26:12.626
- And that's what being filled with the spirit talks about.
- 00:26:12.626 --> 00:26:15.729
- So if you're a christian today, you've been baptized with the
- 00:26:15.729 --> 00:26:18.932
- Holy spirit of god, and there is no greater gift.
- 00:26:18.932 --> 00:26:23.971
- Jeffress: helping others isn't just a noble impulse, it's
- 00:26:24.038 --> 00:26:27.508
- Essential to surviving in our hostile world.
- 00:26:27.508 --> 00:26:30.844
- And next time i'll close out this series with "survival tip
- 00:26:30.844 --> 00:26:33.881
- #10, do the next right thing."
- 00:26:33.881 --> 00:26:37.718
- You may not be able to change your circumstances, but you can
- 00:26:37.718 --> 00:26:40.888
- Always take that next faithful step, and i'll show you why that
- 00:26:40.888 --> 00:26:45.292
- Commitment could make all the difference in your life.
- 00:26:45.292 --> 00:26:48.762
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up in this final
- 00:26:48.762 --> 00:26:51.799
- Message of our series "courageous."
- 00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:55.202
- Jeffress: you know, you may not be in a literal prison.
- 00:26:55.202 --> 00:26:58.539
- But perhaps some of you this morning listening to this
- 00:26:58.539 --> 00:27:00.908
- Message, you're in a prison of regret over something you've
- 00:27:00.908 --> 00:27:05.012
- Done from the past, or the regret of a missed opportunity.
- 00:27:05.012 --> 00:27:09.550
- What can you do in that kind of situation?
- 00:27:09.550 --> 00:27:12.553
- You may not be able to change your situation, but you can
- 00:27:12.553 --> 00:27:15.322
- Always do the next right thing.
- 00:27:15.322 --> 00:27:18.892
- Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for "survival tip
- 00:27:18.892 --> 00:27:22.062
- #10, do the next right thing," here on "pathway
- 00:27:22.062 --> 00:27:25.899
- To victory."
- 00:27:25.899 --> 00:27:25.899