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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - For Those Who Doubt (Part 1)

December 26, 2024 | S24:E5205

Robert Jeffress - For Those Who Doubt (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Faith #Pain #Prayer #Religion #Culture #Politics #WordofGod #inActive #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Rebellion #Suffering #ReturnofChrist #Doubt #Evolution #Illness #Luke7:18

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - For Those Who Doubt (Part 1) | December 26, 2024
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • [announcer] 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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  • At some point,
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  • Nearly every christian goes through a season of doubt
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  • Regarding god's existence or perhaps his goodness,
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  • And many are too ashamed to admit it.
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  • Well, doubt is a natural part of the christian experience,
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  • So how do we handle those inevitable moments of uncertainty?
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  • Today we'll look at jesus' surprising reaction
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  • To the crippling doubts
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  • Of one of his most faithful disciples.
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  • My message is titled "for those who doubt"
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  • On today's edition of pathway to victory.
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • [announcer] the celebration of jesus' birth each christmas
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  • Marks the moment when god's radiant hope entered our world,
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  • And jesus calls us to share this light with others.
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  • You can help pierce the darkness
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  • With the light of god's word
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  • Through the pathway to victory
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  • Light the darkness matching challenge.
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  • Since 1996, pathway to victory
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  • Has been boldly sharing the gospel of jesus christ,
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  • And your gift, doubled in impact,
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  • Will be used to proclaim god's truth
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  • Here in america and around the world.
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • Most of us, at some point in our christian life,
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  • Have times of great doubt.
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  • In fact, i've come to believe those who never doubt
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  • Are those who never think much about their faith.
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  • In fact, if i were to ask today for a show of hands,
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  • And i'm not going to, but if i were to ask you,
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  • "how many of you have ever had a time in your christian life
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  • "when you questioned your faith?"
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  • I imagine most hands would go up, wouldn't they?
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  • It happens to all of us at some point in life.
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  • You may be a student.
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  • You grew up in a christian home
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  • And in a bible-believing church like this one,
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  • But you go off to college,
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  • And you hear the so-called facts of evolution,
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  • And you think, "well, if the bible is wrong about that,
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  • "what else is it wrong about?"
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  • Or maybe a young adult
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  • Picks up a secular news magazine like "time" magazine
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  • And reads the cover story, "the history of christianity,"
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  • And the writer makes the claim
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  • That jesus never claimed to be the son of god.
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  • In fact, that title was conferred upon him
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  • 300 years after his death
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  • At the council of nicaea for political power,
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  • And that young adult reads that
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  • And thinks, "well, gee, it's in "time" magazine;
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  • It has to be true, doesn't it?
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  • Or maybe you have a child or a grandchild
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  • Who is rebelling against god,
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  • And you pray continually
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  • For that son or daughter or grandchild
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  • To return back to god,
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  • And yet they move further and further away from god,
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  • And you think if god can't be counted on
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  • To answer a prayer like that, what good is he?
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  • Or perhaps your mate, a strong follower of christ,
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  • Has been struck with a debilitating illness
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  • That has left that mate in a terrible, painful existence
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  • For months, perhaps years,
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  • And you begin to question
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  • If god deals with his followers like that,
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  • Why would i want to trust in him?
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  • All of us, at some point in our life,
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  • Will question either the love, the wisdom,
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  • Or even the existence of god.
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  • If that's true of you, you're in good company.
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  • It may surprise you to know
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  • That some of the greatest men and women in history
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  • Who have been used by god
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  • Have all had times of great doubt.
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  • I think about martin luther,
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  • Who said at one point in his life, "christ was wholly lost.
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  • "i was shaken by desperation and blasphemy against god."
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  • The puritan preacher, richard baxter,
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  • Said that his faith rested on, "probabilities
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  • "instead of full, undoubted certainties."
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  • A fellow puritan leader named increase mather
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  • Wrote in his diary things like,
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  • "i have been greatly molested with temptations to atheism."
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  • A church in chicago delayed d.l. moody's membership
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  • Because of his beliefs that seemed so uncertain.
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  • Actually, you can go back further in history than that.
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  • People like moses, jeremiah, elijah,
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  • Even the apostle paul had moments of doubt.
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  • Even the lord jesus himself, while he hung on the cross,
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  • Said, "my god, my god,
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  • "why have you forsaken me?"
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  • Today, we're going to look at the individual
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  • Who jesus said was the greatest person
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  • In all of human history,
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  • And yet, even though jesus said that about him,
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  • This individual had moments
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  • When his faith was shaken to its very foundation.
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  • Even though he spent his ministry
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  • Proclaiming that jesus was the messiah, the son of god,
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  • He himself began to doubt that
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  • Because of unanswered prayer
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  • And undeserved suffering in his life.
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  • Of course, we're talking about john the baptist.
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  • If you have your bibles today,
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  • I want you to turn to luke chapter 7
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  • Because today,
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  • You're going to find this message very encouraging
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  • If you've ever had periods of doubt in your life
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  • Or in the life of somebody you care about deeply.
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  • Let's look and see what god's word says for those who doubt.
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  • Luke chapter 7, beginning with verse 18,
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  • "and the disciples of john
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  • "reported to him about all these things."
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  • All what things, you may wonder?
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  • Well, the disciples of john went back
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  • To report to john all the things about jesus,
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  • The miracles he had performed,
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  • Just like we looked at last time,
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  • The healing of the centurion slave,
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  • The raising of the widow's only son from the dead,
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  • And so they go back to report to john what jesus was doing.
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  • Now, of course, the question was
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  • Where was john when they reported to him?
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  • Let's go back and remember where we are
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  • In the story of john himself.
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  • The last time we saw john, he was at the river jordan.
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  • John was baptizing.
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  • John was announcing, "get ready,
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  • "for the long-awaited messiah is about to come."
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  • That was his ministry in the wilderness,
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  • And then, one day jesus appeared,
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  • And remember john proclaimed, "behold the lamb of god
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  • "who takes away the sin of the world,"
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  • And jesus came down and requested that john baptize him,
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  • But john's ministry didn't stop there.
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  • We last saw him in luke 3 when those things happened,
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  • But after that time,
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  • John continued to preach that jesus was here,
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  • But not only that, john, in his ministry,
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  • Continued to confront
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  • An ungodly culture and ungodly rulers.
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  • One of those rulers that john the baptist confronted
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  • Was herod antipas, the tetrarch,
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  • The king who had taken his brother's wife
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  • As his own wife,
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  • And john the baptist condemned him
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  • For this unholy act,
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  • And as a result, john was imprisoned,
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  • And later, he would be beheaded.
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  • By the way, i have to stop here
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  • And make an obvious but important point for today.
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  • You know, when john preached,
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  • He didn't just preach to god's own people,
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  • The redeemed israelites,
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  • And when john talked to unbelievers,
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  • He didn't just talk to unbelievers
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  • About their need for jesus christ as their savior.
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  • There's no evidence, in john's words to herod,
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  • That he ever said, "herod,
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  • "you need to trust in jesus as your savior."
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  • Instead, he said, "herod, what you are doing is wrong.
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  • "it is a violation of god's standard."
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  • Somehow we have allowed to seep into our culture,
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  • Our christian culture,
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  • This idea that god's people, especially pastors,
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  • Have absolutely no right to speak to an ungodly culture,
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  • That we can only talk to christians,
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  • And if we ever talk to non-christians,
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  • The only thing we can ever talk to non-christians about
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  • Is their need to accept christ their savior.
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  • That's the only message we have for a lost world.
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  • Wrong, wrong, wrong.
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  • John the baptist is confronting an ungodly leader
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  • Who's living in an ungodly way
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  • And talking to him about the sanctity,
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  • The holiness of marriage.
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  • What he was doing was wrong.
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  • Yesterday i got an idiotic e-mail.
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  • (congregation chuckling)
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  • Now, don't write me. i didn't say the guy was an idiot.
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  • I said what he was writing was idiotic.
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  • You make the distinction yourself,
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  • But he said, you know, pastors who get mixed up in politics,
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  • They are profaning their calling.
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  • They are mixing the holy with the profane,
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  • And pastors should never ever do that.
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  • Well, thank god, and i mean that,
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  • Thank god john the baptist
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  • Didn't fall for that kind of idiotic thinking.
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  • He was willing to confront an ungodly ruler
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  • And say, "thus sayeth the lord,"
  • 00:09:57.086 --> 00:09:59.388
  • And you look at all of the prophets of the old testament,
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  • Whether it's isaiah, jeremiah, ezekiel, daniel,
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  • They didn't live in a cocoon
  • 00:10:05.628 --> 00:10:07.063
  • And just speak to god's own people.
  • 00:10:07.063 --> 00:10:08.864
  • They spoke to a ungodly culture as well.
  • 00:10:08.864 --> 00:10:12.201
  • Thank god the pastors of our own american history
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  • Didn't fall for that malarkey
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  • That all you can do is talk to unbelievers about christ
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  • And nothing else.
  • 00:10:20.109 --> 00:10:21.243
  • You look at our american history.
  • 00:10:21.243 --> 00:10:23.079
  • It was christian pastors
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  • Who were at the forefront of bringing change in our nation.
  • 00:10:24.680 --> 00:10:28.184
  • It was the black robed regiment,
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  • The black robed regiment, the group of pastors,
  • 00:10:30.853 --> 00:10:33.489
  • Courageous pastors in the american revolution
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  • Who stood up and said,
  • 00:10:36.192 --> 00:10:37.593
  • "we are not going to put up
  • 00:10:37.593 --> 00:10:38.861
  • "with the tyranny of king george any longer.
  • 00:10:38.861 --> 00:10:41.263
  • "we believe in a free church and a free state."
  • 00:10:41.263 --> 00:10:44.734
  • It was pastors who led the way
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  • For the abolition of slavery in our country.
  • 00:10:46.569 --> 00:10:49.405
  • It was pastors who were at the forefront
  • 00:10:49.405 --> 00:10:51.774
  • Who led for civil rights in our country
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  • Because they chose to get involved in the political process,
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  • And i believe, ladies and gentlemen,
  • 00:10:58.314 --> 00:11:00.249
  • That god's people, and especially pastors,
  • 00:11:00.249 --> 00:11:03.719
  • Ought to be the ones right now
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  • Standing up and talking about the sanctity of marriage,
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  • The sanctity of life, and religious freedom.
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  • If we don't do it, who's going to do it?
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  • God has called us to do that.
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  • (congregation applauding)
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  • I'll say it again.
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  • We're not going to transform the world
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  • Through politics.
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  • All we can do through politics
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  • And standing up for these principles
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  • Is slow down the decay of our country,
  • 00:11:35.084 --> 00:11:39.188
  • Slow down the unraveling,
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  • Slow down the rotting away of our culture.
  • 00:11:41.924 --> 00:11:44.894
  • Slow it down. we're not going to stop it.
  • 00:11:44.894 --> 00:11:46.629
  • Slow it down
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  • So that we have longer to preach the gospel of jesus christ
  • 00:11:48.130 --> 00:11:51.400
  • Before the lord returns again.
  • 00:11:51.400 --> 00:11:53.269
  • That's the only reason we do that.
  • 00:11:53.269 --> 00:11:54.804
  • That's the only reason we get involved.
  • 00:11:54.804 --> 00:11:56.338
  • That's what jesus said when he said,
  • 00:11:56.338 --> 00:11:57.740
  • "you are the salt of the world."
  • 00:11:57.740 --> 00:11:59.508
  • Salt was a preservative.
  • 00:11:59.508 --> 00:12:00.810
  • It didn't stop the rotting of the meat.
  • 00:12:00.810 --> 00:12:03.212
  • It just delayed the rotting of the meat,
  • 00:12:03.212 --> 00:12:05.314
  • Gave the meat a little longer,
  • 00:12:05.314 --> 00:12:06.849
  • Gave it a little longer shelf life.
  • 00:12:06.849 --> 00:12:09.084
  • John the baptist understood that.
  • 00:12:09.084 --> 00:12:11.187
  • John the baptist was willing to confront an ungodly leader
  • 00:12:11.187 --> 00:12:15.724
  • In an ungodly culture,
  • 00:12:15.724 --> 00:12:17.226
  • And because of that, he ended up losing his head,
  • 00:12:17.226 --> 00:12:21.597
  • But i digress.
  • 00:12:21.964 --> 00:12:24.166
  • Back to the story of john here.
  • 00:12:24.166 --> 00:12:26.468
  • John would be beheaded,
  • 00:12:26.468 --> 00:12:27.970
  • But right now, at luke chapter 7, john is in prison.
  • 00:12:27.970 --> 00:12:30.739
  • He's been there for 18 months languishing,
  • 00:12:30.739 --> 00:12:35.244
  • And at this point,
  • 00:12:35.244 --> 00:12:37.179
  • The disciples of john go back to report to john
  • 00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:41.417
  • About all the things that jesus is doing.
  • 00:12:41.417 --> 00:12:43.853
  • Now, look at verse 19:
  • 00:12:43.853 --> 00:12:45.421
  • "and summoning two of his disciples,
  • 00:12:45.421 --> 00:12:48.324
  • "john sent them to the lord, saying,
  • 00:12:48.324 --> 00:12:50.993
  • "'are you the expected one?
  • 00:12:50.993 --> 00:12:54.163
  • "'or do we look for something else?'"
  • 00:12:54.163 --> 00:12:57.132
  • John, what are you saying? are you the expected one?
  • 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:01.804
  • Have you had a heat stroke? don't you remember, john?
  • 00:13:01.804 --> 00:13:05.007
  • You are the one who said, "behold the lamb of god
  • 00:13:05.007 --> 00:13:08.544
  • "who takes away the sin of the world."
  • 00:13:08.544 --> 00:13:09.945
  • You've said, "here is the one who is the answer
  • 00:13:09.945 --> 00:13:13.082
  • "to the old testament prophecies for a messiah."
  • 00:13:13.082 --> 00:13:16.018
  • What's wrong, john? why are you having these doubts?
  • 00:13:16.018 --> 00:13:18.787
  • Now, i've actually read people who say,
  • 00:13:18.787 --> 00:13:20.689
  • "well, john really wasn't asking for himself.
  • 00:13:20.689 --> 00:13:22.725
  • "he was asking for others around him who had those doubts."
  • 00:13:22.725 --> 00:13:26.028
  • No, he's asked a question here,
  • 00:13:26.028 --> 00:13:28.430
  • Verse 20, he asked the same question again:
  • 00:13:28.430 --> 00:13:30.966
  • "lord, are you the messiah?"
  • 00:13:30.966 --> 00:13:33.736
  • What would cause john to doubt that?
  • 00:13:33.736 --> 00:13:36.872
  • Remember, the old testament prophets and john
  • 00:13:36.872 --> 00:13:40.643
  • Believed that when the messiah came,
  • 00:13:40.643 --> 00:13:42.645
  • He would come not only to be the savior of the world,
  • 00:13:42.645 --> 00:13:46.715
  • But the king of the world.
  • 00:13:46.715 --> 00:13:48.450
  • He would come not only to offer salvation,
  • 00:13:48.450 --> 00:13:50.886
  • But to offer freedom from oppression.
  • 00:13:50.886 --> 00:13:53.889
  • They didn't understand
  • 00:13:53.889 --> 00:13:55.291
  • That there would be a gap of thousands of years
  • 00:13:55.291 --> 00:13:57.359
  • Between the messiah's first coming and his second coming.
  • 00:13:57.359 --> 00:14:01.563
  • When jesus came the first time,
  • 00:14:01.563 --> 00:14:03.399
  • He came to be the sacrifice for our sins,
  • 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:06.435
  • The suffering servant,
  • 00:14:06.435 --> 00:14:07.703
  • But he's coming back again one day, isn't he?
  • 00:14:07.703 --> 00:14:09.972
  • And when he comes back again,
  • 00:14:09.972 --> 00:14:11.607
  • He's coming to rule the world in justice and righteousness.
  • 00:14:11.607 --> 00:14:16.378
  • Well, they didn't understand that.
  • 00:14:16.378 --> 00:14:18.480
  • They thought it was the whole ball of wax with one coming,
  • 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:22.217
  • And so here is john,
  • 00:14:22.217 --> 00:14:23.619
  • And he's saying, "lord, are you the expected one?
  • 00:14:23.619 --> 00:14:26.355
  • "i mean, after all, i mean, you've said some nice things.
  • 00:14:26.355 --> 00:14:29.959
  • "you've performed some pretty impressive miracles,
  • 00:14:29.959 --> 00:14:32.795
  • "but i'm still here in prison,
  • 00:14:32.795 --> 00:14:35.864
  • "and so where is this freedom
  • 00:14:35.864 --> 00:14:38.000
  • "that you've been talking about?
  • 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.501
  • "it hasn't happened yet."
  • 00:14:39.501 --> 00:14:41.203
  • Now, john, out of his respect for jesus,
  • 00:14:41.203 --> 00:14:43.405
  • Actually softens the question a little bit.
  • 00:14:43.405 --> 00:14:45.607
  • He pulls his punch.
  • 00:14:45.607 --> 00:14:47.076
  • He says, "lord,
  • 00:14:47.076 --> 00:14:48.477
  • "are you this expected one in the old testament?
  • 00:14:48.477 --> 00:14:50.379
  • "or have we just misunderstood it?
  • 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:52.214
  • "should we be looking for someone else?"
  • 00:14:52.214 --> 00:14:55.784
  • At the root of john's question
  • 00:14:55.784 --> 00:14:58.520
  • Was a profound disappointment
  • 00:14:58.520 --> 00:15:00.789
  • In what jesus was doing or not doing in his own life.
  • 00:15:00.789 --> 00:15:05.260
  • John was saying, "lord, if you're the expected one,
  • 00:15:05.260 --> 00:15:08.030
  • "why am i in this dark, damp roman prison?"
  • 00:15:08.030 --> 00:15:13.369
  • Let me stop here for a moment and point out
  • 00:15:14.269 --> 00:15:16.338
  • What i believe are four sources of doubt in our life.
  • 00:15:16.338 --> 00:15:21.110
  • If you or somebody you know
  • 00:15:21.110 --> 00:15:23.512
  • Doubts his or her christian faith,
  • 00:15:23.512 --> 00:15:26.048
  • It's usually for one or more of these reasons,
  • 00:15:26.048 --> 00:15:28.717
  • And i want you to write this down.
  • 00:15:28.717 --> 00:15:29.985
  • First of all, unlived truth.
  • 00:15:29.985 --> 00:15:33.722
  • Unlived truth can be a source of doubt.
  • 00:15:33.722 --> 00:15:37.626
  • One of my seminary professors used to say to us,
  • 00:15:37.626 --> 00:15:40.295
  • He said, "remember this, preachers:
  • 00:15:40.295 --> 00:15:43.432
  • "nothing will cause more doubt in your life
  • 00:15:43.432 --> 00:15:47.102
  • "than trafficking in unlived truth."
  • 00:15:47.102 --> 00:15:50.806
  • He was saying, "if you stand up week after week
  • 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:53.942
  • "and profess and teach things
  • 00:15:53.942 --> 00:15:55.477
  • "that are not true in your own life,
  • 00:15:55.477 --> 00:15:57.312
  • "it's going to cause doubt."
  • 00:15:57.312 --> 00:15:59.314
  • That's not only true for pastors; it's true for all of us.
  • 00:15:59.314 --> 00:16:03.352
  • If there is a contradiction
  • 00:16:03.352 --> 00:16:04.987
  • Between what you profess to be true
  • 00:16:04.987 --> 00:16:07.589
  • And how you actually live,
  • 00:16:07.589 --> 00:16:09.224
  • You can't live with that dissonance
  • 00:16:09.224 --> 00:16:10.926
  • For a long period of time.
  • 00:16:10.926 --> 00:16:12.728
  • I tell christians who are living disobediently,
  • 00:16:12.728 --> 00:16:16.298
  • "one of two things is going to happen soon.
  • 00:16:16.298 --> 00:16:19.001
  • "either you're going to change your behavior,
  • 00:16:19.001 --> 00:16:21.703
  • "or you're going to change your beliefs,
  • 00:16:21.703 --> 00:16:24.406
  • "but you can't continue to claim
  • 00:16:24.406 --> 00:16:26.675
  • "what the bible says to be true
  • 00:16:26.675 --> 00:16:28.510
  • "and live a disobedient lifestyle."
  • 00:16:28.510 --> 00:16:30.813
  • Unlived truth can be the source of doubt.
  • 00:16:30.813 --> 00:16:33.315
  • Secondly, an unexamined faith can be the source of doubt,
  • 00:16:33.315 --> 00:16:38.287
  • And somebody has said,
  • 00:16:38.287 --> 00:16:39.688
  • "it's better to debate a question before settling it
  • 00:16:39.688 --> 00:16:42.758
  • "than to settle a question before debating it."
  • 00:16:42.758 --> 00:16:47.096
  • You know that old adage: "the bible says it.
  • 00:16:47.096 --> 00:16:50.032
  • "i believe it. that settles it."
  • 00:16:50.032 --> 00:16:52.734
  • That's a great motto, but it really doesn't work that well.
  • 00:16:52.734 --> 00:16:56.205
  • The fact is there needs to be a time
  • 00:16:56.205 --> 00:16:58.474
  • When you closely study and examine what you believe
  • 00:16:58.474 --> 00:17:01.944
  • Because there's going to come a time of testing.
  • 00:17:01.944 --> 00:17:04.580
  • There's going to come a time of doubt,
  • 00:17:04.580 --> 00:17:06.148
  • And as 1 peter 3:15 says,
  • 00:17:06.148 --> 00:17:07.883
  • "you need to be ready to give an answer
  • 00:17:07.883 --> 00:17:09.885
  • "to anyone who asks, including yourself,
  • 00:17:09.885 --> 00:17:13.288
  • "for the hope that is within you."
  • 00:17:13.288 --> 00:17:15.557
  • You know, this is especially true
  • 00:17:15.557 --> 00:17:16.758
  • Of students who go off to college.
  • 00:17:16.758 --> 00:17:18.494
  • They grow up in a cocoon,
  • 00:17:18.494 --> 00:17:19.862
  • Like this church, or a christian home,
  • 00:17:19.862 --> 00:17:22.231
  • And then they go,
  • 00:17:22.231 --> 00:17:23.632
  • And they're confronted with an ungodly professor
  • 00:17:23.632 --> 00:17:25.767
  • Who teaches ungodly things,
  • 00:17:25.767 --> 00:17:27.669
  • And they begin to question their faith.
  • 00:17:27.669 --> 00:17:30.005
  • I think about the atheist professor
  • 00:17:30.806 --> 00:17:33.108
  • Who was lecturing his class one day,
  • 00:17:33.108 --> 00:17:34.843
  • And he said,
  • 00:17:34.843 --> 00:17:36.211
  • "i'm going to prove to you that god doesn't exist,"
  • 00:17:36.211 --> 00:17:39.781
  • And he looks up, and he said, "god, if you're up there,
  • 00:17:39.781 --> 00:17:42.918
  • "i want you to come down and strike me."
  • 00:17:42.918 --> 00:17:46.788
  • Few minutes pass. nothing happens.
  • 00:17:47.556 --> 00:17:51.093
  • Finally, a 300-pound football player
  • 00:17:51.093 --> 00:17:54.029
  • At the back of the class
  • 00:17:54.029 --> 00:17:55.664
  • Stands up, starts walking toward the professor,
  • 00:17:55.664 --> 00:17:58.901
  • Gets in front of him, and cold-cocks him.
  • 00:17:58.901 --> 00:18:01.136
  • (congregation laughing)
  • 00:18:01.136 --> 00:18:02.571
  • Sends him reeling on his posterior.
  • 00:18:02.571 --> 00:18:05.374
  • The professor stands up, wipes the blood off of his nose,
  • 00:18:05.374 --> 00:18:08.477
  • And said, "why did you do that?"
  • 00:18:08.477 --> 00:18:11.480
  • The football player said, "god was busy, so he sent me."
  • 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:15.651
  • (congregation laughing)
  • 00:18:15.651 --> 00:18:18.453
  • Now, students,
  • 00:18:18.453 --> 00:18:19.922
  • Somewhere you're going to meet a professor like that
  • 00:18:19.922 --> 00:18:21.957
  • Who has all of this evidence,
  • 00:18:21.957 --> 00:18:23.559
  • And that's why it is so important
  • 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:25.727
  • That you be grounded in your faith
  • 00:18:25.727 --> 00:18:28.197
  • And know what you believe and why you believe it,
  • 00:18:28.197 --> 00:18:30.699
  • And let me just take this moment
  • 00:18:30.699 --> 00:18:32.034
  • To say that is why i am so grateful
  • 00:18:32.034 --> 00:18:34.503
  • For the youth ministry of our church.
  • 00:18:34.503 --> 00:18:37.005
  • Our youth ministry has a long tradition,
  • 00:18:37.005 --> 00:18:40.008
  • Which they continue to this very day,
  • 00:18:40.008 --> 00:18:42.344
  • Of equipping our high school students
  • 00:18:42.344 --> 00:18:44.346
  • In the fundamentals of the faith,
  • 00:18:44.346 --> 00:18:46.215
  • What they believe and why they believe that,
  • 00:18:46.215 --> 00:18:48.383
  • So that when their beliefs are assaulted,
  • 00:18:48.383 --> 00:18:51.220
  • They can be firm in their faith,
  • 00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:53.789
  • And that's why parenthood is so important.
  • 00:18:53.789 --> 00:18:56.158
  • Forget every other involvement.
  • 00:18:56.158 --> 00:18:58.293
  • You make sure your child,
  • 00:18:58.293 --> 00:19:00.295
  • Whether they're in grade school or in the youth area,
  • 00:19:00.295 --> 00:19:02.798
  • They're here every time the church door is open
  • 00:19:02.798 --> 00:19:05.601
  • So that they can receive that foundation
  • 00:19:05.601 --> 00:19:08.036
  • They're going to need in their faith.
  • 00:19:08.036 --> 00:19:10.706
  • An unexamined faith can be a source of doubt.
  • 00:19:10.706 --> 00:19:13.742
  • Now, there's really nothing in the text that suggests
  • 00:19:13.742 --> 00:19:16.044
  • That there was any unlived truth in john's life
  • 00:19:16.044 --> 00:19:19.014
  • Or an unexamined faith,
  • 00:19:19.014 --> 00:19:20.682
  • But these next two sources of doubt, i think, apply.
  • 00:19:20.682 --> 00:19:23.752
  • The third source of doubt can be unanswered prayer.
  • 00:19:23.752 --> 00:19:27.256
  • You know, john wasn't upset about what jesus was doing;
  • 00:19:27.256 --> 00:19:30.759
  • It's what he wasn't doing.
  • 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:33.895
  • When john the baptist said,
  • 00:19:33.895 --> 00:19:36.598
  • "send a message to jesus,
  • 00:19:37.165 --> 00:19:39.167
  • "and ask him if he's the expected one,"
  • 00:19:39.167 --> 00:19:42.004
  • What john was really saying was, "hey, jesus, remember me?
  • 00:19:42.004 --> 00:19:46.475
  • "i hadn't heard from you in 18 months.
  • 00:19:47.309 --> 00:19:50.345
  • "have you forgotten about me?"
  • 00:19:50.345 --> 00:19:52.581
  • No doubt he was requesting
  • 00:19:53.148 --> 00:19:55.484
  • That jesus intervene in his situation.
  • 00:19:55.484 --> 00:19:59.187
  • Many times we do the same thing.
  • 00:19:59.821 --> 00:20:02.791
  • We ask god for an intervention in our life,
  • 00:20:02.791 --> 00:20:06.428
  • To do something miraculous on our behalf
  • 00:20:06.428 --> 00:20:09.164
  • Or the behalf of somebody we care about deeply,
  • 00:20:09.164 --> 00:20:11.333
  • And yet the more we plead with god, the more silent god is.
  • 00:20:11.333 --> 00:20:15.737
  • The heavens seem as brass,
  • 00:20:15.737 --> 00:20:18.140
  • And that causes doubt for many people.
  • 00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:21.176
  • The fourth cause of doubt
  • 00:20:21.176 --> 00:20:23.679
  • Is probably the bottom-line cause of doubt,
  • 00:20:23.679 --> 00:20:25.947
  • And that is undeserved suffering.
  • 00:20:25.947 --> 00:20:29.651
  • A survey recently asked a cross section of americans,
  • 00:20:29.651 --> 00:20:33.388
  • "if you could ask god only one question,
  • 00:20:33.388 --> 00:20:36.692
  • "what would you ask him?"
  • 00:20:36.692 --> 00:20:38.427
  • You know what the overwhelming response was?
  • 00:20:38.427 --> 00:20:40.796
  • "god, why do you allow suffering in the world?"
  • 00:20:40.796 --> 00:20:45.467
  • Now, i have a sneaking suspicion
  • 00:20:46.101 --> 00:20:47.803
  • When people respond that way,
  • 00:20:47.803 --> 00:20:49.771
  • And they want to know about suffering,
  • 00:20:49.771 --> 00:20:51.973
  • They're really not thinking
  • 00:20:51.973 --> 00:20:53.508
  • About earthquakes, famines, starving children in africa.
  • 00:20:53.508 --> 00:20:58.113
  • When they ask about suffering in the world,
  • 00:20:58.113 --> 00:21:00.615
  • They're talking about suffering in their world:
  • 00:21:00.615 --> 00:21:04.519
  • "lord, why do you allow bad things to happen to me?"
  • 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:09.157
  • By the way, that question isn't original.
  • 00:21:09.958 --> 00:21:12.627
  • David, solomon, job all asked the very same question,
  • 00:21:12.627 --> 00:21:17.332
  • And here was the question:
  • 00:21:17.332 --> 00:21:19.000
  • "god, if both believers and unbelievers
  • 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:22.738
  • "suffer financial hardship,
  • 00:21:22.738 --> 00:21:24.773
  • "illness, divorce, death,
  • 00:21:24.773 --> 00:21:28.543
  • "then what use is it being a believer?"
  • 00:21:29.378 --> 00:21:32.714
  • If good things and bad things happen
  • 00:21:33.515 --> 00:21:35.550
  • Both to the righteous and the unrighteous,
  • 00:21:35.550 --> 00:21:37.486
  • What advantage do the righteous have over the unrighteous?
  • 00:21:37.486 --> 00:21:41.957
  • Philip yancey, well-known christian author,
  • 00:21:41.957 --> 00:21:45.026
  • Tells about a very popular radio bible teacher.
  • 00:21:45.994 --> 00:21:48.930
  • Everybody knows this person's name.
  • 00:21:48.930 --> 00:21:51.299
  • On the radio, he preaches with great authority,
  • 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:54.403
  • But in his own private life,
  • 00:21:54.403 --> 00:21:56.171
  • He suffered an illness that caused him to doubt greatly
  • 00:21:56.171 --> 00:22:00.242
  • The things he believed about god,
  • 00:22:00.242 --> 00:22:02.778
  • And yancey says,
  • 00:22:02.778 --> 00:22:04.513
  • On one occasion, this popular bible teacher
  • 00:22:04.513 --> 00:22:07.682
  • Said to philip yancey,
  • 00:22:07.682 --> 00:22:09.951
  • "i have no trouble believing god is good.
  • 00:22:09.951 --> 00:22:12.988
  • "my question is more what good is he?"
  • 00:22:12.988 --> 00:22:17.726
  • I heard a while back that billy graham's daughter
  • 00:22:17.726 --> 00:22:20.128
  • Was undergoing marriage problems,
  • 00:22:20.128 --> 00:22:22.297
  • So the grahams and the in-laws all flew to europe
  • 00:22:22.297 --> 00:22:25.066
  • To meet with them and pray for the couple.
  • 00:22:25.066 --> 00:22:27.702
  • They ended up getting divorced anyway.
  • 00:22:27.702 --> 00:22:30.372
  • If billy graham's prayers don't get answered,
  • 00:22:30.372 --> 00:22:33.341
  • What's the use of my praying?
  • 00:22:33.341 --> 00:22:36.111
  • I look at my life, the health problems,
  • 00:22:36.111 --> 00:22:39.047
  • My own daughter's struggles, my marriage.
  • 00:22:39.047 --> 00:22:41.950
  • I cry out to god for help,
  • 00:22:41.950 --> 00:22:44.152
  • And it's hard to know how he answers.
  • 00:22:44.152 --> 00:22:47.389
  • Really, what can we count on god for?
  • 00:22:47.389 --> 00:22:51.359
  • That's what john was really asking.
  • 00:22:52.093 --> 00:22:54.596
  • He said, "lord, if you can't even get me out of this prison,
  • 00:22:54.596 --> 00:22:57.566
  • "what good are you?"
  • 00:22:57.566 --> 00:23:00.502
  • Now, i want you to notice how jesus responds.
  • 00:23:00.502 --> 00:23:04.406
  • First of all,
  • 00:23:04.406 --> 00:23:05.874
  • He speaks to john directly through these messengers.
  • 00:23:05.874 --> 00:23:08.243
  • Secondly, he speaks to the multitude
  • 00:23:08.243 --> 00:23:10.145
  • Who are overhearing the whole conversation,
  • 00:23:10.145 --> 00:23:12.380
  • And finally, he has a word to the pharisees.
  • 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:14.516
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:23:14.516 --> 00:23:18.320
  • Following christ doesn't guarantee that life will be easy
  • 00:23:19.387 --> 00:23:22.924
  • Or that god will answer our prayers according to our liking,
  • 00:23:22.924 --> 00:23:26.595
  • But even when our troubles cause us to doubt god's goodness,
  • 00:23:26.595 --> 00:23:30.665
  • God reaches out to us with his patience and his love.
  • 00:23:30.665 --> 00:23:35.003
  • Well, i want to bring you an encouraging report
  • 00:23:35.003 --> 00:23:38.306
  • That pathway to victory is enjoying a remarkable season
  • 00:23:38.306 --> 00:23:41.576
  • Of growth and influence for the gospel.
  • 00:23:41.576 --> 00:23:44.479
  • For example, we just launched a new spanish ministry
  • 00:23:44.479 --> 00:23:48.250
  • Allowing us to minister
  • 00:23:48.250 --> 00:23:49.684
  • To spanish speakers around the world,
  • 00:23:49.684 --> 00:23:52.354
  • And we want to see this trend continue
  • 00:23:52.354 --> 00:23:54.990
  • Next year and far beyond that.
  • 00:23:54.990 --> 00:23:57.792
  • Just as god commanded, "let there be light,"
  • 00:23:57.792 --> 00:24:00.328
  • At the dawn of creation,
  • 00:24:00.328 --> 00:24:02.063
  • We're called to shine god's light
  • 00:24:02.063 --> 00:24:04.432
  • In the darkest corners of our world,
  • 00:24:04.432 --> 00:24:07.068
  • But we couldn't accomplish that mission
  • 00:24:07.068 --> 00:24:08.837
  • Without faithful friends like you.
  • 00:24:08.837 --> 00:24:11.606
  • Right now,
  • 00:24:11.606 --> 00:24:13.008
  • Because of the light the darkness matching challenge,
  • 00:24:13.008 --> 00:24:15.176
  • Your gift to pathway to victory
  • 00:24:15.176 --> 00:24:16.711
  • Will be automatically matched
  • 00:24:16.711 --> 00:24:18.480
  • And doubled in size and impact,
  • 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:21.716
  • So thank you for partnering with pathway to victory
  • 00:24:21.716 --> 00:24:24.886
  • And helping us to shine the light of god's word
  • 00:24:24.886 --> 00:24:27.889
  • In a world overshadowed by darkness.
  • 00:24:27.889 --> 00:24:31.059
  • Now, stay right there.
  • 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:32.627
  • I'll be back with more pathway to victory in just a moment.
  • 00:24:32.627 --> 00:24:36.765
  • [announcer] the one thing god wants
  • 00:24:37.532 --> 00:24:39.034
  • More than anything else in this world is time with you.
  • 00:24:39.034 --> 00:24:42.737
  • Make god your priority by spending quality time in his word
  • 00:24:42.737 --> 00:24:46.274
  • With the brand-new 2025 pathway to victory daily devotional.
  • 00:24:46.274 --> 00:24:50.278
  • This year's devotional
  • 00:24:50.278 --> 00:24:51.513
  • Has a beautiful navy blue leather cover
  • 00:24:51.513 --> 00:24:53.348
  • With inlaid brown and gold foil accents,
  • 00:24:53.348 --> 00:24:55.717
  • And now, with larger print,
  • 00:24:55.717 --> 00:24:57.152
  • The 260 practical insights from dr. robert jeffress
  • 00:24:57.152 --> 00:25:00.488
  • Are easier to read.
  • 00:25:00.488 --> 00:25:01.890
  • This stunning 532-page devotional
  • 00:25:01.890 --> 00:25:04.526
  • Makes an ideal christmas gift
  • 00:25:04.526 --> 00:25:05.994
  • For loved ones who want to grow in their faith too.
  • 00:25:05.994 --> 00:25:08.763
  • Of all the ways god could have revealed himself to us,
  • 00:25:08.763 --> 00:25:12.200
  • He chose do it through the written word,
  • 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:15.203
  • And that's why it's so important for you and for me
  • 00:25:15.203 --> 00:25:17.472
  • To set aside regular time to read the word of god.
  • 00:25:17.472 --> 00:25:22.143
  • [announcer] every season carries an uplifting theme.
  • 00:25:22.143 --> 00:25:25.046
  • Begin the new year by exploring god's will for your life.
  • 00:25:25.046 --> 00:25:28.650
  • In spring and summer, grow stronger in christ
  • 00:25:29.584 --> 00:25:31.653
  • With insights from colossians,
  • 00:25:31.653 --> 00:25:33.755
  • And in the fall and winter, embrace the father who loves you
  • 00:25:33.755 --> 00:25:36.925
  • With inspirational readings
  • 00:25:36.925 --> 00:25:38.426
  • Based on the parable of the prodigal son.
  • 00:25:38.426 --> 00:25:40.929
  • When the day-to-day problems of life feel overwhelming,
  • 00:25:42.030 --> 00:25:44.499
  • Take a moment to anchor yourself
  • 00:25:44.499 --> 00:25:46.201
  • In the calming truth of god's word
  • 00:25:46.201 --> 00:25:48.069
  • With the brand-new 2025 pathway to victory daily devotional.
  • 00:25:48.069 --> 00:25:52.641
  • Your gift of support
  • 00:25:52.641 --> 00:25:54.109
  • Not only provides you with this life-giving resource;
  • 00:25:54.109 --> 00:25:56.611
  • It empowers us
  • 00:25:56.611 --> 00:25:58.113
  • To spread the hope-filled message of jesus christ as well.
  • 00:25:58.113 --> 00:26:01.316
  • Thank you for supporting the ministry of pathway to victory.
  • 00:26:01.316 --> 00:26:07.422
  • Whether doubt is caused by unlived truth
  • 00:26:08.256 --> 00:26:11.259
  • Or an unexamined faith,
  • 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:13.194
  • By unanswered prayer or undeserved suffering,
  • 00:26:13.194 --> 00:26:16.331
  • It's natural at times to question your faith,
  • 00:26:16.331 --> 00:26:20.068
  • And next time, we'll see how jesus responded
  • 00:26:20.068 --> 00:26:23.304
  • To the doubt of one of his most devout followers,
  • 00:26:23.304 --> 00:26:26.808
  • John the baptist.
  • 00:26:26.808 --> 00:26:28.376
  • Remember, john helped prepare the way for jesus,
  • 00:26:28.376 --> 00:26:31.646
  • Proclaiming to the israelites that the messiah was coming
  • 00:26:31.646 --> 00:26:35.183
  • And urging others to repent,
  • 00:26:35.183 --> 00:26:37.652
  • But once herod threw him in prison,
  • 00:26:37.652 --> 00:26:40.021
  • Even john couldn't help but wonder,
  • 00:26:40.021 --> 00:26:42.490
  • "are you the one who is to come?
  • 00:26:42.490 --> 00:26:44.626
  • "or should we expect someone else?"
  • 00:26:44.626 --> 00:26:47.228
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
  • 00:26:47.228 --> 00:26:49.964
  • On pathway to victory.
  • 00:26:49.964 --> 00:26:52.300
  • I think about king david,
  • 00:26:52.867 --> 00:26:54.969
  • A man guilty of adultery and murder,
  • 00:26:54.969 --> 00:26:57.238
  • And yet god said about him, "he's a man after my own heart."
  • 00:26:57.238 --> 00:27:01.342
  • Fact is, god doesn't judge us by one episode in our life.
  • 00:27:01.342 --> 00:27:05.080
  • He looks at the long view,
  • 00:27:05.080 --> 00:27:06.281
  • And when he looked at john's life,
  • 00:27:06.281 --> 00:27:07.849
  • He said, "now, this momentary lapse of faith,
  • 00:27:07.849 --> 00:27:10.318
  • "that's not who john is.
  • 00:27:10.318 --> 00:27:12.420
  • "my impression of him remains firm."
  • 00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:16.024
  • [announcer] set your dvr and join us next time
  • 00:27:16.024 --> 00:27:18.259
  • For part 2 of the message "for those who doubt,"
  • 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:21.296
  • Here on pathway to victory.
  • 00:27:21.296 --> 00:27:23.131
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:27:23.131 --> 00:27:23.131