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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Temptation Equation Revisited | October 26, 2025
- ♪ 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" with dr. robert jeffress.
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- Hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- Most people dismiss spiritual warfare
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- As the stuff of hollywood movies or superstition.
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- But scripture reveals we're facing an intelligent enemy
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- Who never sleeps, never rests, and never stops scheming.
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- Satan has one objective for your life,
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- And he's developed specific tactics tailored just for you.
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- Today, we're going to reveal his strategic assault designed
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- To destroy everything meaningful in your life.
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- My message is titled "the temptation equation revisited"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ music ♪
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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 angels ♪
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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 ♪
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- ♪ holy holy holy ♪
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- ♪ lord god almighty ♪
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- ♪ all rise ♪
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- ♪ early in the morning ♪
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- ♪ our song shall rise ♪
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- ♪ to thee ♪
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- ♪ all rise, all rise ♪
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- ♪ to stand before his throne ♪
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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 king of kings and lord of lords ♪
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- ♪ all rise, all rise ♪
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- ♪ all rise ♪
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- (applause)
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- Do your children and grandchildren know how
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- To guard themselves against satan's attacks?
- 00:03:21.724 --> 00:03:24.560
- In "suit up: the armor of god for kids,"
- 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:27.230
- Dr. robert jeffress shares practical strategies
- 00:03:27.230 --> 00:03:29.899
- To protect your children from satan's influence.
- 00:03:29.899 --> 00:03:32.702
- This beautiful book helps you equip the children
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- In your life and put on the spiritual armor
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- Of god every day.
- 00:03:37.473 --> 00:03:39.142
- Plus, you'll receive the brand new book for adults,
- 00:03:39.142 --> 00:03:41.611
- "angels and demons: fact versus fantasy."
- 00:03:41.611 --> 00:03:44.847
- Request both resources
- 00:03:44.847 --> 00:03:46.316
- When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ music ♪
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- Mention the phrase spiritual warfare
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- In a group setting
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- And people are likely to roll their eyes
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- And count you as one of those nutty christians.
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- And yet the fact is spiritual warfare is real,
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- And it really is the explanation for most
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- Of the struggles you and i face every day.
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- A respected british pastor
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- Martin lloyd-jones decades ago
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- Wrote in his book "the invisible war"
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- About the reality of spiritual warfare.
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- He said, "anyone who is not aware of a fight
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- And a conflict in a spiritual sense
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- Is in a drugged and hazardous condition."
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- We begin looking at what i call satan's blueprint
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- For your destruction.
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- It's a threefold strategy that satan uses
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- To destroy everything of value and meaning in your life.
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- Remember strategy number one?
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- He would love to discourage you from worshiping god.
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- He would love to send so many trials
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- And times of testing in your life that you give up.
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- That's exactly what he did with job.
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- His second strategy is to distract you from serving god.
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- You know, if satan can't rob you of eternal life,
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- He would love to create as much distance
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- Between you and god in this life as he can,
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- And he does that by distracting you,
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- Discouraging, distracting.
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- Today, we're going to look at the third strategy,
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- And that is deceiving us into disobeying god.
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- Strategy number three, to deceive you into disobeying god.
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- This is really his favorite strategy
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- Because of the impact our disobedience has,
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- First of all, on our life.
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- Nothing creates more distance between you and god
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- Than unconfessed sin.
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- When we sin, it's like we erect a barrier
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- Between ourselves and god.
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- And so as we talk about satan's plan
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- To deceive you into disobeying god,
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- I want you to turn to a familiar passage in james 1.
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- We're going to look at what i call the temptation equation.
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- I'd encourage you to read these verses, memorize them,
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- Recite them every day,
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- Because they expose satan's plan to take you out.
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- And if you really believe the bible,
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- You have to believe he has a plan to take you out,
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- To destroy everything of value to you.
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- Look at verse 13 of james 1.
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- "let no one say when he is tempted,
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- 'i'm being tempted by god,'
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- For god cannot be tempted by evil,
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- And he himself does not tempt anyone,
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- But each one is tempted when he is carried away
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- And enticed by his own lust.
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- Sin never satisfies our lust.
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- It only increases our lust."
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- That's what james says in verses 15 and 16.
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- "then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin.
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- And when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
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- Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
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- Sin always leads to death."
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- It may be the death of a friendship,
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- It may be the death of your career,
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- It may be the death of your marriage,
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- But sin always destroys.
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- Now let's look at this temptation equation
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- And explain each of the elements.
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- I want you to write this down.
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- See if you can remember it from last time.
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- What's the temptation equation?
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- Corrupt desires, plus the right bait,
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- Plus the wrong choice equals sin,
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- And sin equals death.
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- Now let's take those individually corrupt desires,
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- Each one, verse 14,
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- Is tempted when he is carried away
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- And enticed by his own lust.
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- Sin begins with corrupt desires.
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- Now, that word carried away, elkomai in greek,
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- Means to be drawn with an inward desire.
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- Not all of our inward desires are wrong.
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- In fact, jesus used the same word elkomai when he said,
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- "if i be lifted up,
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- I will draw all men unto myself."
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- A corrupt desire is a desire
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- That we try to meet in a wrong way.
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- That's how our desires got corrupted
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- When we try to fulfill them in a way that is contrary
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- To the will of god.
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- And by the way, we've got our great, great, great, great,
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- Great, great grandparents, adam and eve,
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- To thank for that.
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- Their corruption,
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- Their sin ensured that we born into this world
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- With a virus.
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- It's called sin.
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- We've been born into this world
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- With a defective operating system for you computer geeks.
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- It's a flawed operating system called sin.
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- That means every time god tells us to do something,
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- Our natural response is to say no.
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- And every time god tells us not to do something,
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- Our natural inclination is to do it.
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- So sin starts with corrupt desires,
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- But secondly, it takes the right bait.
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- When satan succeeds in deceiving us into believing
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- That god's trying to rob us of something good,
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- Satan knows just the right time
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- To dangle the bait in front of us.
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- Now that's represented by the word enticed.
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- James 1:14 says each person is carried away and enticed.
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- That word enticed is a fishing term.
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- It means to hook with a piece of bait.
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- It's what a fisherman does when he tries to catch a fish.
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- I've told you before about my failed fishing attempt.
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- When i was in a previous church,
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- We had this crusty old deacon named bob,
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- And i was convinced i was going to have a relationship
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- With him even though other pastors
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- Had not succeeded in doing it.
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- And i was going to have a relationship with bob.
- 00:10:20.943 --> 00:10:23.179
- Well, bob was a fisherman,
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- And he decided to invite me
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- To come out on a saturday morning at 6:00 am
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- To fish in lake wichita.
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- Now, those of you who know me know
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- There is not anything i'm interested
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- In doing at 6:00 am on a saturday morning.
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- There is nothing, in fact,
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- I'm afraid if the rapture happens
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- To be at 6:00 am on a saturday, i'm going to miss it.
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- You all put in a good word for me.
- 00:10:48.504 --> 00:10:50.639
- But bob decided he was going to invite me out fishing.
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- So i got up and i went out
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- And got in his little boat on lake wichita.
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- And he no sooner had put his line in the water,
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- Then there was a jiggle on it,
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- He pulled it and got a whopper of a fish.
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- Left it dangling in the boat, put his fish line back in,
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- And there was another one and another one and another one.
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- And i sat on the other end of the boat
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- With my line in the water, not a tug on it,
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- Not one movement on it whatsoever.
- 00:11:19.468 --> 00:11:22.338
- And i said, "bob, why are you catching so many fish
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- And i'm not catching any?"
- 00:11:26.542 --> 00:11:28.110
- He said, "well preacher,
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- There are two secrets to catching fish.
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- Number one, if you're going to catch a fish,
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- You have to smell like a fish."
- 00:11:34.016 --> 00:11:36.418
- He said, "that's why before i go fishing,
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- I don't shower, i don't shave, i don't put on deodorant."
- 00:11:38.420 --> 00:11:41.857
- He really didn't have to tell me that,
- 00:11:41.857 --> 00:11:43.793
- I was close enough to him to pick up on that.
- 00:11:43.793 --> 00:11:46.862
- But if you want to catch a fish, you got to smell like a fish.
- 00:11:48.063 --> 00:11:50.332
- Secondly, you've got to use the right bait.
- 00:11:50.332 --> 00:11:53.402
- Not all fish are attracted to the same bait.
- 00:11:54.336 --> 00:11:56.472
- You've got to know what bait to use.
- 00:11:56.472 --> 00:11:59.909
- Ladies and gentlemen, satan is a master fisherman.
- 00:11:59.909 --> 00:12:03.546
- He knows exactly the bait to use to catch you, to hook you.
- 00:12:03.546 --> 00:12:08.884
- I want you to write this down.
- 00:12:08.884 --> 00:12:10.252
- There are four times
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- That you are most vulnerable to satan's temptation.
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- I got this from another pastor.
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- He said first of all,
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- When you have experienced great success.
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- Did you know after a high point in your life,
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- You're vulnerable to temptation?
- 00:12:23.799 --> 00:12:25.701
- Why is that?
- 00:12:25.701 --> 00:12:27.102
- Every mountain climber knows the most dangerous part
- 00:12:27.102 --> 00:12:30.472
- Of an expedition is not the ascent to the summit.
- 00:12:30.472 --> 00:12:34.743
- It's afterwards, the descent from the summit. why?
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- Because the mountain climber is less careful
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- After reaching his goal.
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- He's tired.
- 00:12:43.853 --> 00:12:45.221
- He doesn't pay attention to what's in front of him.
- 00:12:45.221 --> 00:12:47.423
- And he's most likely to stumble.
- 00:12:47.423 --> 00:12:49.525
- The apostle paul said the same thing is true
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- In our spiritual life.
- 00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:53.028
- In 1 corinthians 10:12, he says,
- 00:12:53.028 --> 00:12:56.298
- "let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
- 00:12:56.298 --> 00:13:01.470
- Secondly, we're most vulnerable to temptation
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- When we're tired.
- 00:13:03.906 --> 00:13:05.608
- Vince lombardi, the famous football coach,
- 00:13:05.608 --> 00:13:07.943
- Said, "fatigue makes cowards of us all."
- 00:13:07.943 --> 00:13:13.182
- It not only makes cowards of us,
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- It makes victims of some of us.
- 00:13:14.750 --> 00:13:17.119
- Remember the story of elijah?
- 00:13:17.119 --> 00:13:19.088
- He had battled the prophets, 850 of them on mount carmel,
- 00:13:19.088 --> 00:13:22.958
- The false prophets of baal,
- 00:13:22.958 --> 00:13:25.194
- But he was emotionally exhausted,
- 00:13:25.194 --> 00:13:27.162
- Spiritually fatigued after that.
- 00:13:27.162 --> 00:13:29.865
- All it took was one disgruntled female
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- Named queen jezebel to cause him to run.
- 00:13:32.301 --> 00:13:35.604
- And he ran and he ran and he ran for 90 miles.
- 00:13:35.604 --> 00:13:39.608
- And even then he was so tired,
- 00:13:39.608 --> 00:13:41.377
- He just crawled under a juniper tree and said,
- 00:13:41.377 --> 00:13:43.879
- "god, take my life."
- 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:46.081
- What was wrong with elijah?
- 00:13:46.081 --> 00:13:48.017
- He was emotionally and spiritually fatigued.
- 00:13:48.017 --> 00:13:51.153
- Remember, satan loves to come
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- And tempt you when you're tired.
- 00:13:53.322 --> 00:13:55.357
- Thirdly, we're vulnerable when we are alone.
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- When we're alone, maybe we're experiencing loneliness
- 00:13:59.295 --> 00:14:02.498
- Because of an unwanted divorce.
- 00:14:02.498 --> 00:14:05.334
- Maybe it's because of a friend
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- Or a loved one who has passed away.
- 00:14:06.902 --> 00:14:09.371
- The loneliness we feel sometimes is just a result
- 00:14:09.371 --> 00:14:12.441
- Of geographical distance, being out of town, being alone.
- 00:14:12.441 --> 00:14:16.845
- And it's at those moments
- 00:14:16.845 --> 00:14:18.881
- That satan comes and whispers into our ear,
- 00:14:18.881 --> 00:14:22.718
- "you are all alone.
- 00:14:22.718 --> 00:14:24.620
- Nobody will know if you do this certain thing."
- 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:28.324
- That's how the enemy works.
- 00:14:28.324 --> 00:14:30.159
- And finally, we're most vulnerable to temptation.
- 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:33.395
- When we are waiting on god to answer a prayer request.
- 00:14:33.395 --> 00:14:37.800
- It's that period of time
- 00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:39.201
- Between when we've poured out our heart to god,
- 00:14:39.201 --> 00:14:41.670
- Ask him to intervene in our life,
- 00:14:41.670 --> 00:14:44.306
- And yet he hasn't answered.
- 00:14:44.306 --> 00:14:46.241
- That's when satan comes and says,
- 00:14:46.241 --> 00:14:48.243
- "you can't depend upon god.
- 00:14:48.243 --> 00:14:50.379
- He's abandoned you. he's forgotten about you.
- 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:53.248
- Maybe he doesn't even exist."
- 00:14:53.248 --> 00:14:56.018
- Satan has a plan for your destruction.
- 00:14:56.018 --> 00:14:59.088
- We need to be aware of his methods.
- 00:14:59.088 --> 00:15:02.091
- What is his strategy for disobedience?
- 00:15:02.091 --> 00:15:05.394
- Corrupt desires, plus the right bait.
- 00:15:05.394 --> 00:15:09.131
- But thirdly, the wrong choice, the wrong choice.
- 00:15:09.131 --> 00:15:13.202
- May i say this clearly?
- 00:15:13.202 --> 00:15:14.770
- Being tempted in and of itself is not a sin.
- 00:15:14.770 --> 00:15:19.208
- Don't feel guilty for the wrong thing.
- 00:15:19.208 --> 00:15:21.076
- If you're being tempted right now,
- 00:15:21.076 --> 00:15:22.911
- Temptation does not equate with sin.
- 00:15:22.911 --> 00:15:25.347
- If temptation is sin,
- 00:15:25.347 --> 00:15:27.483
- Then jesus was the biggest sinner of all time,
- 00:15:27.483 --> 00:15:30.652
- Because he was tempted to a level
- 00:15:30.652 --> 00:15:32.688
- Nobody else has ever experienced.
- 00:15:32.688 --> 00:15:35.824
- Remember hebrews 4, for we do not have a high priest
- 00:15:35.824 --> 00:15:39.094
- Who can't sympathize with our weaknesses,
- 00:15:39.094 --> 00:15:41.230
- But one who was tested in all things as we are
- 00:15:41.230 --> 00:15:44.633
- And yet without sin.
- 00:15:44.633 --> 00:15:46.869
- No, it's not the temptation that it's a sin.
- 00:15:46.869 --> 00:15:49.671
- It's the choice we make to sin.
- 00:15:49.671 --> 00:15:52.508
- And that's why the third element
- 00:15:52.508 --> 00:15:54.043
- In this temptation equation is a wrong choice.
- 00:15:54.043 --> 00:15:57.546
- Now listen to me.
- 00:15:57.546 --> 00:15:59.014
- You and i have no control over our corrupt desires.
- 00:15:59.014 --> 00:16:02.217
- We're not responsible for that.
- 00:16:02.217 --> 00:16:03.852
- That goes to adam and eve.
- 00:16:03.852 --> 00:16:06.055
- And secondly, we're not responsible for the bait
- 00:16:06.055 --> 00:16:08.991
- That gets dangled in front of us.
- 00:16:08.991 --> 00:16:11.193
- Now there's some things we can do to run from the bait,
- 00:16:11.193 --> 00:16:13.796
- But we can't control what satan does.
- 00:16:13.796 --> 00:16:16.432
- But we can thirdly control our choice.
- 00:16:16.432 --> 00:16:20.002
- That's what produces sin.
- 00:16:20.002 --> 00:16:22.071
- And unfortunately,
- 00:16:22.071 --> 00:16:23.305
- Many christians followed what oscar wilde,
- 00:16:23.305 --> 00:16:26.942
- That deviant playwright, did when he was tempted.
- 00:16:26.942 --> 00:16:30.546
- He said, "i found the greatest way to get rid of temptation
- 00:16:30.546 --> 00:16:35.284
- Is to give into it."
- 00:16:35.284 --> 00:16:36.752
- Now, that's a perverse man,
- 00:16:36.752 --> 00:16:38.887
- But a lot of christians follow that plan.
- 00:16:38.887 --> 00:16:40.923
- They think, "well, i'm a sinful human being.
- 00:16:40.923 --> 00:16:43.292
- I don't have any choice.
- 00:16:43.292 --> 00:16:44.726
- I might as well just give into this temptation."
- 00:16:44.726 --> 00:16:47.396
- No, you as a christian are no longer a slave to sin.
- 00:16:47.396 --> 00:16:52.734
- In fact, that's what paul said in romans 6:6-7.
- 00:16:53.735 --> 00:16:56.872
- "know this, that our old self was crucified with christ
- 00:16:56.872 --> 00:17:01.410
- In order that our body of sin might be done away with
- 00:17:01.410 --> 00:17:04.780
- So that we are no longer slaves to sin.
- 00:17:04.780 --> 00:17:08.050
- For he who has died is freed from sin."
- 00:17:08.050 --> 00:17:12.421
- And then he says in verse four, "knowing this,
- 00:17:12.421 --> 00:17:14.823
- That we have been buried with christ
- 00:17:14.823 --> 00:17:16.959
- Through baptism and to death
- 00:17:16.959 --> 00:17:18.660
- So that as christ was raised from the dead
- 00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:20.896
- Through the glory of the father,
- 00:17:20.896 --> 00:17:22.331
- So too we might walk in newness of life."
- 00:17:22.331 --> 00:17:25.834
- Every time we baptize somebody, we're painting a picture.
- 00:17:25.834 --> 00:17:29.171
- We're telling the truth
- 00:17:29.171 --> 00:17:30.506
- That when we trust in christ as our savior,
- 00:17:30.506 --> 00:17:33.041
- We die to our old way of living.
- 00:17:33.041 --> 00:17:35.944
- We are freed from our old nature.
- 00:17:35.944 --> 00:17:38.514
- Sin has no more power over your life
- 00:17:38.514 --> 00:17:42.484
- Than you choose to allow it to have.
- 00:17:42.484 --> 00:17:45.220
- Instead, the same power
- 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:47.623
- That raised jesus from the dead
- 00:17:47.623 --> 00:17:49.691
- Has raised us to a new kind of living,
- 00:17:49.691 --> 00:17:52.761
- To a newness of life.
- 00:17:52.761 --> 00:17:55.230
- Listen to me.
- 00:17:55.230 --> 00:17:56.665
- The great promise to christians this morning is this.
- 00:17:56.665 --> 00:17:59.434
- You do not have to be another casualty
- 00:17:59.434 --> 00:18:02.771
- On the spiritual battlefield.
- 00:18:02.771 --> 00:18:05.274
- You no longer have to be another notch on satan's belt.
- 00:18:05.274 --> 00:18:09.611
- You have a choice.
- 00:18:09.611 --> 00:18:12.314
- James 4:7 says,
- 00:18:12.314 --> 00:18:14.149
- "resist the devil and he will flee from you."
- 00:18:14.149 --> 00:18:18.453
- Well pastor, that sounds good,
- 00:18:18.453 --> 00:18:19.721
- But how do you resist the devil?
- 00:18:19.721 --> 00:18:22.558
- Well in ephesians 6, paul gives us what he calls weapons.
- 00:18:22.558 --> 00:18:26.528
- They're really strategies for resisting,
- 00:18:26.528 --> 00:18:30.866
- For destroying satan's plan to destroy your life.
- 00:18:30.866 --> 00:18:36.205
- And over the weeks that are to come,
- 00:18:37.005 --> 00:18:38.173
- We're going to look very carefully
- 00:18:38.173 --> 00:18:40.509
- At each one of these six strategies
- 00:18:40.509 --> 00:18:43.712
- That are your divine defense.
- 00:18:43.712 --> 00:18:46.415
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:18:46.415 --> 00:18:50.485
- When you give into temptation, we discover a terrible truth.
- 00:18:51.687 --> 00:18:55.991
- Sin never delivers what it promises,
- 00:18:55.991 --> 00:18:59.528
- But you don't have to be another casualty
- 00:18:59.528 --> 00:19:01.597
- On the spiritual battlefield.
- 00:19:01.597 --> 00:19:03.699
- God has given you divine weapons to resist the enemy
- 00:19:03.699 --> 00:19:07.603
- And live victoriously.
- 00:19:07.603 --> 00:19:10.005
- Now, in the time remaining today,
- 00:19:10.005 --> 00:19:11.773
- Let me express my heartfelt gratitude to those of you
- 00:19:11.773 --> 00:19:15.177
- Who support "pathway to victory,"
- 00:19:15.177 --> 00:19:17.312
- Especially our pathway partners.
- 00:19:17.312 --> 00:19:20.315
- Your faithful partnership enables us
- 00:19:20.315 --> 00:19:22.484
- To proclaim biblical truth to millions
- 00:19:22.484 --> 00:19:24.987
- Of people every single day.
- 00:19:24.987 --> 00:19:27.389
- Right now, our nation desperately needs
- 00:19:27.389 --> 00:19:29.791
- To hear the uncompromising word of god.
- 00:19:29.791 --> 00:19:33.028
- Through television, radio,
- 00:19:33.028 --> 00:19:34.663
- And digital streaming platforms,
- 00:19:34.663 --> 00:19:36.798
- We're reaching men and women who are hungry for god's word.
- 00:19:36.798 --> 00:19:40.936
- Your generous giving makes it possible for us
- 00:19:40.936 --> 00:19:43.538
- To broadcast god's truth into homes, cars,
- 00:19:43.538 --> 00:19:46.975
- And offices across america and around the world.
- 00:19:46.975 --> 00:19:50.812
- Together, we're fulfilling our mission
- 00:19:50.812 --> 00:19:53.282
- To pierce the darkness with the light of god's word.
- 00:19:53.282 --> 00:19:57.019
- Thank you so much for your continued faithful generosity.
- 00:19:57.019 --> 00:20:00.989
- Now stay right there.
- 00:20:00.989 --> 00:20:02.524
- I'll be back with more in just a moment.
- 00:20:02.524 --> 00:20:05.861
- Remember when you were a kid
- 00:20:06.461 --> 00:20:07.896
- And seeing the difference
- 00:20:07.896 --> 00:20:09.131
- Between good and bad was easy to tell?
- 00:20:09.131 --> 00:20:11.566
- The good guys versus the bad guys, all in good fun?
- 00:20:11.566 --> 00:20:15.504
- But this was never a real battle.
- 00:20:16.238 --> 00:20:18.573
- But there's a real battle going on
- 00:20:18.573 --> 00:20:20.275
- For the lives of our children and grandchildren,
- 00:20:20.275 --> 00:20:22.844
- And it's up to us to prepare them.
- 00:20:22.844 --> 00:20:24.980
- Equip the children in your life to stand firm in god's truth
- 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:28.450
- With "suit up: the armor of god for kids."
- 00:20:28.450 --> 00:20:31.753
- This full color,
- 00:20:31.753 --> 00:20:32.754
- Fully illustrated hardcover book
- 00:20:32.754 --> 00:20:34.823
- Helps you teach your children
- 00:20:34.823 --> 00:20:36.224
- To put on the spiritual armor of god every day.
- 00:20:36.224 --> 00:20:39.461
- Each interactive lesson includes discussion questions,
- 00:20:39.461 --> 00:20:42.597
- Practical applications, and prayers you can say together.
- 00:20:42.597 --> 00:20:46.401
- In my new children's book, "suit up,"
- 00:20:46.401 --> 00:20:48.904
- I share the weapons and armor
- 00:20:48.904 --> 00:20:51.106
- God has gifted us for protection,
- 00:20:51.106 --> 00:20:53.408
- And i give practical ways to protect our children
- 00:20:53.408 --> 00:20:56.511
- And grandchildren from satan's influence.
- 00:20:56.511 --> 00:20:59.681
- Request "suit up: the armor of god for kids"
- 00:20:59.681 --> 00:21:02.384
- When you give a generous gift to support the ministry
- 00:21:02.384 --> 00:21:05.087
- Of "pathway to victory,"
- 00:21:05.087 --> 00:21:06.588
- Or when you become a pathway partner.
- 00:21:06.588 --> 00:21:08.824
- You'll also receive
- 00:21:08.824 --> 00:21:10.125
- "angels and demons: fact versus fantasy."
- 00:21:10.125 --> 00:21:13.061
- It's a brand new book for adults
- 00:21:13.061 --> 00:21:14.730
- Providing a simple biblical understanding
- 00:21:14.730 --> 00:21:17.132
- Of angels and demons.
- 00:21:17.132 --> 00:21:18.767
- And with your ministry gift of $100 or more,
- 00:21:18.767 --> 00:21:21.837
- We'll also send you the "spirit wars" message series
- 00:21:21.837 --> 00:21:24.773
- On both cd and dvd,
- 00:21:24.773 --> 00:21:26.708
- And the bestselling book by dr. jeffress,
- 00:21:26.708 --> 00:21:29.010
- "the divine defense."
- 00:21:29.010 --> 00:21:30.779
- Thank you for your faithfulness,
- 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:32.481
- As together, we pierce the darkness
- 00:21:32.481 --> 00:21:34.449
- With the light of god's word.
- 00:21:34.449 --> 00:21:37.753
- Carmela, that is a great question,
- 00:21:38.520 --> 00:21:40.655
- And one of the most basic questions we can ever ask.
- 00:21:40.655 --> 00:21:44.292
- I have found that as a pastor for more than 40 years,
- 00:21:44.292 --> 00:21:46.995
- The two most important issues in life deal with forgiveness,
- 00:21:46.995 --> 00:21:50.899
- Receiving god's forgiveness for our salvation,
- 00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:54.569
- And then secondly,
- 00:21:54.569 --> 00:21:56.171
- Granting forgiveness to other people who have wronged us.
- 00:21:56.171 --> 00:21:59.708
- And they are both inseparably linked together.
- 00:21:59.708 --> 00:22:02.644
- You know, cs lewis said one time,
- 00:22:02.644 --> 00:22:04.479
- "forgiveness is a beautiful word
- 00:22:04.479 --> 00:22:06.982
- Until you have somebody to forgive."
- 00:22:06.982 --> 00:22:09.684
- It's tough to forgive, to let go of offenses.
- 00:22:09.684 --> 00:22:13.488
- But the bible says we can't control
- 00:22:13.488 --> 00:22:15.690
- What other people do to us.
- 00:22:15.690 --> 00:22:17.192
- We can't keep people from hurting us and wronging us,
- 00:22:17.192 --> 00:22:20.462
- But we can choose how to respond to that hurt.
- 00:22:20.462 --> 00:22:23.398
- We can hold on to it
- 00:22:23.398 --> 00:22:25.167
- Until it metastasizes into a tumor of bitterness
- 00:22:25.167 --> 00:22:28.703
- And destroys us and everything around us,
- 00:22:28.703 --> 00:22:31.606
- Or we can make the decision to let go of that offense.
- 00:22:31.606 --> 00:22:35.610
- You see, that's what forgiveness is.
- 00:22:35.610 --> 00:22:37.479
- It's letting go of our right to hurt somebody else
- 00:22:37.479 --> 00:22:41.183
- For hurting us.
- 00:22:41.183 --> 00:22:42.584
- When we forgive people,
- 00:22:42.584 --> 00:22:43.852
- We're not denying that they wronged us.
- 00:22:43.852 --> 00:22:46.087
- We're not trying to rationalize it.
- 00:22:46.087 --> 00:22:48.423
- What we're doing is we're saying,
- 00:22:48.423 --> 00:22:49.991
- "god, what this person did to me is wrong,
- 00:22:49.991 --> 00:22:53.295
- But life is too short for me to keep holding onto this.
- 00:22:53.295 --> 00:22:56.932
- I'm releasing them to you so that you can settle the score
- 00:22:56.932 --> 00:23:01.136
- And i can be free to get on with my life."
- 00:23:01.136 --> 00:23:04.339
- That's what forgiveness is.
- 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:06.875
- You may remember,
- 00:23:06.875 --> 00:23:09.177
- Or maybe you've participated in a three-legged race
- 00:23:09.177 --> 00:23:12.814
- That they used to have at old fashioned picnics,
- 00:23:12.814 --> 00:23:15.917
- Where you would bind your leg to another person
- 00:23:15.917 --> 00:23:19.087
- And you would hobble down to the finish line
- 00:23:19.087 --> 00:23:21.656
- While the audience would roar with laughter.
- 00:23:21.656 --> 00:23:23.992
- And if you've ever been in a three-legged race,
- 00:23:23.992 --> 00:23:26.561
- You know that sensation that you feel when you're trying
- 00:23:26.561 --> 00:23:29.364
- To hobble along with the person tied to you.
- 00:23:29.364 --> 00:23:32.100
- You think, "if i could just get free from this idiot,
- 00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:34.569
- I could run a lot faster and win the race."
- 00:23:34.569 --> 00:23:37.572
- Well three-legged races don't allow for solo contenders.
- 00:23:37.572 --> 00:23:42.010
- You can go no further or faster than your partner.
- 00:23:42.010 --> 00:23:46.448
- Do you know
- 00:23:46.448 --> 00:23:47.716
- That's exactly what happens when you refuse
- 00:23:47.716 --> 00:23:49.317
- To forgive somebody?
- 00:23:49.317 --> 00:23:50.685
- You bind yourself.
- 00:23:50.685 --> 00:23:52.187
- You tie yourself emotionally to that person.
- 00:23:52.187 --> 00:23:55.357
- You can't be any happier in life than they are.
- 00:23:55.357 --> 00:23:58.693
- You can't go any further in your life,
- 00:23:58.693 --> 00:24:01.196
- And as long as you're being tied to them,
- 00:24:01.196 --> 00:24:04.199
- Forgiveness is the process by what you say to this person.
- 00:24:04.199 --> 00:24:08.303
- I care too much about my life to allow it
- 00:24:08.303 --> 00:24:11.540
- To be held back by you.
- 00:24:11.540 --> 00:24:13.441
- I'm letting go of that offense.
- 00:24:13.441 --> 00:24:15.410
- I'm going to let god deal with it so that i can be free
- 00:24:15.410 --> 00:24:18.813
- To get on with the life god has given me.
- 00:24:18.813 --> 00:24:21.883
- You know, the bible is very clear about this.
- 00:24:21.883 --> 00:24:23.985
- Jesus said in matthew 6,
- 00:24:23.985 --> 00:24:25.720
- "if we forgive others, we will be forgiven.
- 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:29.291
- But if we refuse to forgive others,
- 00:24:29.291 --> 00:24:32.027
- We will not be forgiven by god."
- 00:24:32.027 --> 00:24:35.163
- I'm not saying that we will lose our salvation
- 00:24:35.163 --> 00:24:37.732
- Or earn our salvation,
- 00:24:37.732 --> 00:24:39.768
- But when you realize the great debt
- 00:24:39.768 --> 00:24:42.170
- That god has forgiven you,
- 00:24:42.170 --> 00:24:44.739
- You only find it natural
- 00:24:44.739 --> 00:24:46.541
- To want to forgive somebody else.
- 00:24:46.541 --> 00:24:49.344
- Ephesians 4:32 says, "be kind to one another,
- 00:24:49.344 --> 00:24:52.681
- Tender hearted, forgiving one another,
- 00:24:52.681 --> 00:24:55.850
- Just as god in christ has forgiven you."
- 00:24:55.850 --> 00:25:00.021
- Forgiveness is the obligation of those
- 00:25:00.021 --> 00:25:03.425
- Who have really been forgiven by god.
- 00:25:03.425 --> 00:25:05.994
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:25:05.994 --> 00:25:07.429
- The temptation equation reveals how satan operates.
- 00:25:07.429 --> 00:25:11.700
- Corrupt desires, plus the right bait,
- 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:14.302
- Plus the wrong choice equals sin.
- 00:25:14.302 --> 00:25:17.505
- But remember, you're not a slave to sin anymore.
- 00:25:17.505 --> 00:25:21.309
- James 4:7 says,
- 00:25:21.309 --> 00:25:23.445
- "resist the devil and he will flee from you."
- 00:25:23.445 --> 00:25:27.415
- Well, satan doesn't work alone.
- 00:25:27.415 --> 00:25:29.484
- He commands a vast army of demons who carry out his schemes.
- 00:25:29.484 --> 00:25:33.922
- And next time,
- 00:25:33.922 --> 00:25:35.123
- We'll uncover what scripture reveals
- 00:25:35.123 --> 00:25:37.158
- About these fallen angels,
- 00:25:37.158 --> 00:25:39.027
- Where they came from, what they want,
- 00:25:39.027 --> 00:25:41.296
- And how they operate in our world today.
- 00:25:41.296 --> 00:25:44.299
- Stay tuned for a preview
- 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.800
- Of what's coming up next in our series, "spirit wars."
- 00:25:45.800 --> 00:25:50.038
- Somebody on the outside is taking advantage
- 00:25:50.038 --> 00:25:53.908
- Of our inward desire towards sin,
- 00:25:53.908 --> 00:25:56.478
- And he dangles the right piece of bait at the right time.
- 00:25:56.478 --> 00:26:00.749
- Who is that adversary who is tempting us,
- 00:26:00.749 --> 00:26:04.519
- Who is enticing us?
- 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:07.055
- It's not just satan who's dangling the bait in front of you.
- 00:26:07.055 --> 00:26:10.592
- He can only be fishing out of one pond at a time.
- 00:26:10.592 --> 00:26:14.195
- Set your dvr
- 00:26:14.195 --> 00:26:15.330
- And join us next time for the message
- 00:26:15.330 --> 00:26:17.232
- "the world of demons" here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:17.232 --> 00:26:22.504
- God has a purpose for your life.
- 00:26:23.238 --> 00:26:25.974
- God causes all things to work together
- 00:26:25.974 --> 00:26:29.310
- For the good that is to make you like christ.
- 00:26:29.310 --> 00:26:32.647
- Hi i'm robert jeffress, i'm excited to spend time
- 00:26:32.647 --> 00:26:35.250
- In god's word with you.
- 00:26:35.250 --> 00:26:37.218
- You'll be strengthed, you'll be encouraged,
- 00:26:37.218 --> 00:26:39.754
- And i'm looking forward to seeing you right here
- 00:26:39.754 --> 00:26:42.323
- On pathway to victory.
- 00:26:42.323 --> 00:26:52.400
- Take a journey through alaska's awe-inspiring wilderness
- 00:26:53.501 --> 00:26:56.805
- On the 2026 pathway to victory cruise to alaska
- 00:26:56.805 --> 00:27:00.008
- With dr. robert jeffress
- 00:27:00.008 --> 00:27:01.443
- Aboard holland america's magnificent koningsdam.
- 00:27:01.443 --> 00:27:04.379
- Share laughter with dennis swanberg.
- 00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:07.115
- Be inspired by award-winning musician
- 00:27:07.115 --> 00:27:09.150
- Michael o'brien's powerful worship.
- 00:27:09.150 --> 00:27:11.352
- Make plans to set sale
- 00:27:11.352 --> 00:27:12.821
- For an unforgettable week of adventure,
- 00:27:12.821 --> 00:27:14.989
- June 13th through 20, 2026.
- 00:27:14.989 --> 00:27:17.659
- Call 888-280-6747 or visit ptv.org.
- 00:27:17.659 --> 00:27:17.659
