Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - For Those Who Doubt (Part 2)

December 27, 2024 | S24:E5206

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

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - For Those Who Doubt (Part 2) | December 27, 2024

Thank you so much for joining us on today's edition
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Of "pathway to victory."
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Before we begin today's program,
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I wanted to say a word about the recent election.
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In 1 timothy 2, paul said we should pray
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That government would basically protect us
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And then leave us alone to practice our faith.
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And i think the election has ensured that's going to happen
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For the next four years.
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I've known president trump for almost 10 years,
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And i know religious freedom
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Is a very real priority with him.
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But we need to remember
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That it is not government's responsibility
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To share the gospel of jesus christ.
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That's our responsibility,
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And one we need to take advantage of
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While there's still time.
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The only way we're going to change america
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Is by changing the hearts of americans,
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And that's only possible through the power of jesus christ.
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So thank you for supporting "pathway to victory"
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Generously in this important time, but limited time
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Of religious liberty.
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So together we can pierce the darkness
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With the light of god's word.
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♪ 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 am robert jeffress,
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And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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At some point in your christian walk,
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You've probably asked a few of these questions,
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Does god really exist?
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Can the bible be trusted?
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Does god play favorites?
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Well, god's word makes it abundantly clear
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That it's okay to doubt.
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In fact, seasons of uncertainty
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Can actually lead to a stronger faith.
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And today we will turn to a comforting lesson
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Found in luke 7 for anyone who struggles
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To believe in the promises of god.
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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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♪ many are they increased that troubled me ♪
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♪ many are they that rise up against me ♪
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♪ many there be which say of my soul ♪
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♪ there is no help for him in god ♪
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♪ for thou, oh lord are a shield for me ♪
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♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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♪ for thou, oh lord are a shield for me ♪
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♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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♪ for thou, oh lord are a shield for me ♪
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♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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♪ for thou, oh lord are a shield for me ♪
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♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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♪ for thou, oh lord are a shield for me ♪
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♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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♪ for thou, oh lord are a shield for me ♪
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♪ my glory and the lifter of my head ♪
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♪ of my head ♪
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(audience applauding)
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[announcer] the celebration
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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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The fourth cause of doubt
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Is probably the bottom line cause of doubt,
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And that is undeserved suffering.
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A survey recently asked a cross section of americans,
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If you could ask god only one question,
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What would you ask him?
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You know what the overwhelming response was?
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God, why do you allow suffering in the world?
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Now, i have a sneaking suspicion
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When people respond that way
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And they want to know about suffering,
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They're really not thinking about earthquakes,
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Famines, starving children in africa.
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When they ask about suffering in the world,
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They're talking about suffering in their world.
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Lord, why do you allow bad things to happen to me?
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By the way, that question isn't original,
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David, solomon, job all asked the very same question,
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And here was the question,
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God, if both believers and unbelievers
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Suffer financial hardship, illness, divorce, death,
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Then what use is it being a believer?
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If good things and bad things
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Happen both to the righteous and the unrighteous,
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What advantage do the righteous have over the unrighteous?
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Philip yancey, well-known christian author,
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Tells about a very popular radio bible teacher,
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Everybody knows this person's name.
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On the radio he preaches with great authority,
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But in his own private life he suffered an illness
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That caused him to doubt greatly
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The things he believed about god.
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And yancey says, at on one occasion
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This popular bible teacher said to philip yancey,
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"i have no trouble believing god is good,
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My question is more, what good is he?
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I heard a while back
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That billy graham's daughter
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Was undergoing marriage problems,
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So the grahams and the in-laws
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All flew to europe to meet with them
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And pray for the couple,
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They ended up getting divorced anyway.
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If billy graham's prayers don't get answered,
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What's the use of my praying?
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I look at my life, the health problems,
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My own daughter struggles, my marriage,
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I cry out to god for help
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And it's hard to know how he answers.
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Really, what can we count on god for?"
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That's what john was really asking.
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He said, "lord, if you can't even get me out of this prison,
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What good are you?"
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Now i want you to notice how jesus responds.
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First of all, he speaks to john directly
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Through these messengers,
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Secondly, he speaks to the multitude
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Who are overhearing the whole conversation,
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And finally he has a word to the pharisees.
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First of all, to john himself, look at verse 22.
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"and jesus answered and said to john's messengers,
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Go and report to john what you have seen and heard.
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The blind receive sight, the lame walk,
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The lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear,
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The dead are raised up,
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The poor had the gospel preached to them."
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Jesus knew john was in prison,
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He couldn't see all of this, so he said,
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"go and report to john everything that i'm doing."
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And then jesus said, "and by the way," verse 23,
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"remind john, blessed is he
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Who keeps from stumbling over me."
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That word stumble means to ensnare and trap.
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He was saying very gently to john,
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John, remember, you'll be a lot happier with me
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If you don't stumble over me
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Because i'm not performing just the way you think i should.
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You know what impresses me about this
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Is the way jesus deals with john.
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He doesn't blast him away.
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You infidel, you unbeliever,
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How in the world could you doubt me
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After you've seen so much?
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I'm sending you to hell as quickly as i can.
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He doesn't deal with them that way at all.
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He deals with his doubt gently,
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And he does the same with you and with me.
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You see there's a difference between doubt and unbelief,
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Big difference.
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We'll talk about it more in just a moment,
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But doubt in and of itself is neither good nor bad.
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It's either good or bad depending on where it leads you.
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If doubt leads you to a deeper belief
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After questioning your faith
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And examining the evidence, doubt can be a good thing,
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It can strengthen you.
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But if doubt leads you to turn away from god,
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Then it's an evil thing.
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By the way, parents, please remember that truth.
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If it hadn't happened to you already,
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More than likely there's going to come a time
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When your child, during his or her teenage years
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Or a young adult is going to come and say,
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You know, mom, dad, i grew up hearing all this stuff,
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I thought i believed it,
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But i'm really not sure i believe
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In christianity any longer.
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I'm not even sure i believe in god any longer.
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You know, don't hit the panic button when that happens.
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Don't call in the priest for an exorcism, okay?
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Don't think everything is lost.
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Understand questioning is a normal part
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Of teenage and adult passage,
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As they move from embracing your faith
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Because it was your faith, to embracing their own faith.
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There's nothing wrong about questioning.
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When they question, don't panic.
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You can say if it's true,
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You can say, well, you know what,
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I've gone through those same doubts myself.
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But parents understand that is a normal process,
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It was for john, it will be for you and most people as well.
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Then after dealing gently with john,
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Notice he said a word to the multitudes.
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There's a whole group around jesus.
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They had heard jesus interchange with john's disciples,
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And so after jesus dismissed these men to go back to john,
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Look at what it says in verse 24.
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"when the messengers of john had left,
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Jesus began to speak to the multitudes about john."
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He knew some of the crowd was going to think less of john
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After what they had just heard.
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So jesus wants to correct their thinking.
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He says, "what did you go out
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Into the wilderness to look at?
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Are reed shaken by the wind?"
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Remember just 18 months ago
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When you all were flocking around the jordan river
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To listen to john, what was he?
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Was he one of those little tiny bamboo like shoots
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That springs up out of the lake
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And just blows whichever way the wind blows?
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Was that john? no.
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He spoke with power and with authority.
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Verse 25, "and what did you go out to see
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When you went out to see john?
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A man dressed in soft clothing?"
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That word soft in greek means effeminate.
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If jesus had been arnold schwarzenegger,
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He might have said,
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What do you think john was, a girly man, a sissy?
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That wasn't john.
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He was dressed in camel hair,
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There's nothing more uncomfortable than camel hair.
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He wasn't living a life of luxury in the palace.
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No, he was out there in the wilderness
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Subsisting on locust and honey.
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He was a tough guy.
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Verse 28, "and i say to you,
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Among those born of women,
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There is no one greater than john."
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He extolled the faith of john.
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And then he adds this word,
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"yet he who is least in the kingdom of god
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Is greater than he."
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Why did jesus add that?
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Was that a backhanded kind of compliment? not at all.
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Jesus was saying as great as john was,
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He was part of a bygone era, the prophets.
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He was the last of the prophets.
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Jesus was anticipating a new era
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That was about to come after his death and resurrection,
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The church era,
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In which every follower of christ
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Would be permanently in-dwelt by the holy spirit of god.
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That had never happened before.
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Abraham didn't get to experience that,
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Isaac, jacob, joseph, david,
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No other person before had ever had
00:13:58.193 --> 00:14:00.829
The full in-dwelling of the holy spirit of god.
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You and i living in the church age right now,
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When we trust in christ as savior,
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We are in-dwelt by the holy spirit of god.
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We can do miraculous things.
00:14:10.906 --> 00:14:13.108
We can bring people to faith in christ.
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We can do miracles of conversion
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All through the power of the holy spirit,
00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:20.316
And that's what he means when he says,
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"as great as john was,
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He's nothing compared to those who are least
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In this coming age."
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But what i want you to see in this is
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John and jesus' attitude toward john
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Was not diminished by his momentary lapse of faith.
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Jesus is still saying,
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He's greatest of anyone who's ever been born.
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Aren't you glad god doesn't judge you or me
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By one episode in our life?
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One slip up, one mess up,
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God throws us out of the kingdom?
00:14:57.353 --> 00:14:59.121
Doesn't work that way.
00:14:59.121 --> 00:15:00.956
I mean, just look in history
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At the way god dealt with those
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Who had their own stumbles and falls,
00:15:05.361 --> 00:15:07.463
I think about king david,
00:15:07.463 --> 00:15:09.565
A man guilty of adultery and murder
00:15:09.565 --> 00:15:11.800
And yet god said about him,
00:15:11.800 --> 00:15:13.469
"he's a man after my own heart."
00:15:13.469 --> 00:15:16.071
Or think about abraham, talk about lapses in faith,
00:15:16.071 --> 00:15:19.008
It was one screw up after another in abraham's life,
00:15:19.008 --> 00:15:22.478
And yet god said about abraham, "he is my friend."
00:15:22.478 --> 00:15:27.216
The fact is god doesn't judge us
00:15:27.850 --> 00:15:29.551
By one episode in our life, he looks at the long view.
00:15:29.551 --> 00:15:32.721
And when he looked at john's life,
00:15:32.721 --> 00:15:34.256
He said, no, this momentary lapse of faith,
00:15:34.256 --> 00:15:36.825
That's not who john is.
00:15:36.825 --> 00:15:38.827
My impression of him remains firm,
00:15:38.827 --> 00:15:41.797
He's the greatest in the kingdom of god.
00:15:41.797 --> 00:15:44.666
Now, unfortunately, jesus didn't have such kind words
00:15:44.666 --> 00:15:48.670
For the third group he addressed, the pharisees.
00:15:48.670 --> 00:15:51.040
Look at verse 30.
00:15:51.040 --> 00:15:52.408
"but the pharisees and the lawyers
00:15:52.408 --> 00:15:54.443
Rejected god's purpose for themselves,
00:15:54.443 --> 00:15:57.413
Not having been baptized by john."
00:15:57.413 --> 00:16:00.749
Now you may think, wait a minute,
00:16:00.749 --> 00:16:01.984
Why is jesus so hard on the pharisees?
00:16:01.984 --> 00:16:04.720
They didn't accept him as messiah,
00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:07.556
John questioned whether jesus was the messiah,
00:16:07.556 --> 00:16:10.659
What's the difference between the two?
00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:12.928
The difference is the difference between doubt and unbelief.
00:16:12.928 --> 00:16:17.433
John had doubts,
00:16:17.433 --> 00:16:19.201
The pharisees were plagued with unbelief.
00:16:19.201 --> 00:16:22.371
And to understand the difference
00:16:22.371 --> 00:16:23.939
Between doubt and unbelief
00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:25.374
Jesus tells this brief parable,
00:16:25.374 --> 00:16:27.376
Look at verses 31 and 32.
00:16:27.376 --> 00:16:29.411
"to what then shall i compare the men of this generation
00:16:29.411 --> 00:16:32.915
And what are they like?
00:16:32.915 --> 00:16:34.616
They are like children who sit in the marketplace
00:16:34.616 --> 00:16:37.219
And call to one another and they say,
00:16:37.219 --> 00:16:39.321
We played the flute for you and you did not dance,
00:16:39.321 --> 00:16:42.658
We sang a dirge and you did not weep."
00:16:42.658 --> 00:16:45.794
What in the world is he talking about?
00:16:46.628 --> 00:16:48.864
One commentator calls this
00:16:48.864 --> 00:16:50.799
The parable of the bratty kids.
00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:53.502
(audience laughing)
00:16:53.502 --> 00:16:55.237
Let me tell you what...
00:16:55.237 --> 00:16:56.572
Let me help you picture
00:16:56.572 --> 00:16:57.739
What jesus is talking about here.
00:16:57.739 --> 00:16:59.007
You know how kids get together sometime
00:16:59.007 --> 00:17:00.676
And they're looking for something to do
00:17:00.676 --> 00:17:02.444
And somebody says, hey, let's play hide and go seek.
00:17:02.444 --> 00:17:05.914
Everybody else said, nah, we don't want to play that.
00:17:05.914 --> 00:17:08.450
Somebody else says, let's play cowboys and indians.
00:17:08.450 --> 00:17:12.554
I don't know, is that still politically correct
00:17:12.554 --> 00:17:14.323
To play cowboy?
00:17:14.323 --> 00:17:15.524
It may not be, i'm sorry if it's not.
00:17:15.524 --> 00:17:17.025
But let's just say somebody says,
00:17:17.025 --> 00:17:18.026
Let's play cowboy and indians.
00:17:18.026 --> 00:17:19.261
Nah, we don't want to play that either.
00:17:19.261 --> 00:17:21.029
No matter what suggestion is made everybody declines.
00:17:21.029 --> 00:17:24.399
Now, in jesus' day they didn't play hide and go seek,
00:17:24.399 --> 00:17:26.969
They didn't play cowboys and indians,
00:17:26.969 --> 00:17:28.670
But that's the idea here.
00:17:28.670 --> 00:17:30.739
Jesus said, this generation, you pharisees,
00:17:30.739 --> 00:17:33.475
Are like a group of bratty kids.
00:17:33.475 --> 00:17:35.878
Somebody says, hey, let's play wedding.
00:17:35.878 --> 00:17:38.881
That was a popular game back in jesus day.
00:17:38.881 --> 00:17:41.450
Kids would play like they were in a wedding.
00:17:41.450 --> 00:17:43.252
We'll play the flute and you dance
00:17:43.252 --> 00:17:45.687
As they do in a wedding procession.
00:17:45.687 --> 00:17:48.790
The children said, nah, we don't want to do that.
00:17:48.790 --> 00:17:51.093
You keep playing your flute, but we're not going to dance.
00:17:51.093 --> 00:17:53.729
Somebody else says, oh, i've got a better idea,
00:17:53.729 --> 00:17:55.664
Let's play funeral.
00:17:55.664 --> 00:17:59.001
Let's have a funeral procession.
00:17:58.066 --> 00:18:00.469
We'll sing a dirge
00:18:00.469 --> 00:18:01.970
And then you all be the mourners weeping over the lost one.
00:18:01.970 --> 00:18:05.407
And so a group starts singing the funeral dirge,
00:18:05.407 --> 00:18:08.076
But everybody says, ah, we don't want to play that.
00:18:08.076 --> 00:18:09.745
That is a real downer, play funeral, who wants to do that?
00:18:09.745 --> 00:18:13.382
Now jesus said,
00:18:13.382 --> 00:18:14.650
"you pharisees are just like those children.
00:18:14.650 --> 00:18:17.352
You don't like to do anything,
00:18:17.352 --> 00:18:18.754
You won't receive anybody."
00:18:18.754 --> 00:18:20.255
Here, john the baptist comes and says, repent, repent.
00:18:20.255 --> 00:18:24.126
You say, ah, we don't want to listen to that.
00:18:24.126 --> 00:18:26.628
That's too hard of a message.
00:18:26.628 --> 00:18:28.530
Jesus said, "then i come and i preach a message of grace.
00:18:28.530 --> 00:18:30.999
You say, we don't like that either, that's too easy."
00:18:30.999 --> 00:18:34.770
The fact is you're looking for a reason not to believe,
00:18:34.770 --> 00:18:39.541
And that's the difference, folks,
00:18:39.541 --> 00:18:40.976
Between a doubter and an unbeliever.
00:18:40.976 --> 00:18:44.046
Somebody has said,
00:18:44.046 --> 00:18:45.747
"a doubter is one who is honestly searching for the truth,
00:18:45.747 --> 00:18:49.318
An unbeliever is one who runs from the truth.
00:18:49.318 --> 00:18:52.721
A doubter looks for a reason to believe,
00:18:52.721 --> 00:18:55.557
An unbeliever looks for any reason not to believe.
00:18:55.557 --> 00:18:59.895
God accepts doubters,
00:18:59.895 --> 00:19:02.664
But he rejects unbelievers."
00:19:02.664 --> 00:19:06.468
I'm speaking to some of you today,
00:19:07.202 --> 00:19:08.937
Some of you watching or listening to this broadcast.
00:19:08.937 --> 00:19:11.840
Perhaps you're going through a period of doubt in your life
00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:15.844
Or you know somebody who is.
00:19:15.844 --> 00:19:18.880
How do you deal with that doubt?
00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:20.482
Let me give you four principles in closing,
00:19:20.482 --> 00:19:22.551
Very, very quickly
00:19:22.551 --> 00:19:23.885
For dealing with doubt either in your life
00:19:23.885 --> 00:19:26.488
Or the life of somebody you care about.
00:19:26.488 --> 00:19:29.024
Number one, discern the cause of your doubt.
00:19:29.024 --> 00:19:32.961
Look over those four reasons i gave,
00:19:32.961 --> 00:19:34.796
Is it because of unlived truth in your life?
00:19:34.796 --> 00:19:38.400
Is it because of an unexamined faith?
00:19:39.234 --> 00:19:42.304
Maybe, but more than likely,
00:19:42.304 --> 00:19:45.173
The cause of your doubt is
00:19:45.173 --> 00:19:47.542
God is not behaving like you think he should in your life.
00:19:47.542 --> 00:19:51.780
Andrew greeley once said,
00:19:51.780 --> 00:19:53.015
"if you wish to eliminate uncertainty,
00:19:53.015 --> 00:19:56.051
Tension, confusion, and disorder from your life,
00:19:56.051 --> 00:20:00.155
Then there's no point in getting mixed up with god."
00:20:00.155 --> 00:20:04.226
It's a big mistake to think of jesus like a cupid doll
00:20:04.226 --> 00:20:07.829
Or a genie or divine bellhop
00:20:07.829 --> 00:20:11.099
Who's there at your every beck and call,
00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:14.403
That he needs to operate just as you telling to,
00:20:14.403 --> 00:20:17.839
God's not like that.
00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:19.441
Remember the words of isaiah 55:9 in which god said,
00:20:19.441 --> 00:20:22.878
"my ways are higher than your ways.
00:20:22.878 --> 00:20:26.315
My thoughts are higher than your thoughts."
00:20:26.315 --> 00:20:30.218
Discern the cause of your doubt.
00:20:30.218 --> 00:20:32.821
Number two, share your doubts with a mature christian.
00:20:32.821 --> 00:20:37.326
Share your doubts with a mature christian.
00:20:37.326 --> 00:20:39.494
Somebody has written that,
00:20:39.494 --> 00:20:40.796
"doubt flourishes in the dark
00:20:40.796 --> 00:20:43.498
Like mushrooms that grow in a damp cellar."
00:20:43.498 --> 00:20:47.736
It's in solitude when we're separated,
00:20:47.736 --> 00:20:50.138
When we feel all alone,
00:20:50.138 --> 00:20:51.440
That our doubts become larger and more ominous.
00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:55.610
Remember where john was when his doubts begin to grow?
00:20:55.610 --> 00:20:58.480
He was isolated, he was in prison, he was alone.
00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:02.484
And that's why it's so important that if we have doubts,
00:21:02.484 --> 00:21:05.554
We talk to somebody about it.
00:21:05.554 --> 00:21:06.922
A mature christian, may be a sunday school teacher,
00:21:06.922 --> 00:21:09.825
It may be a mature christian friend, it may be a parent.
00:21:09.825 --> 00:21:14.129
You know, solomon said in ecclesiastes 4:9 and 12,
00:21:14.129 --> 00:21:17.899
"two are better than one, solomon said,
00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:21.236
And a cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."
00:21:21.236 --> 00:21:26.641
That's why it's so important folks
00:21:27.376 --> 00:21:28.877
To become not just a spectator in a church like this,
00:21:28.877 --> 00:21:32.381
But to become a member
00:21:32.381 --> 00:21:34.149
Where you are bound together with other people
00:21:34.149 --> 00:21:36.418
Who can help you, who can encourage you
00:21:36.418 --> 00:21:38.687
Whenever you stumble or fall in your faith.
00:21:38.687 --> 00:21:42.557
That's the value of being a part of a body of believers.
00:21:42.557 --> 00:21:45.994
Number three, view your doubt as an opportunity to grow.
00:21:45.994 --> 00:21:51.333
James 1:3 says, "the testing of your faith
00:21:52.234 --> 00:21:54.803
Can produce endurance," and that's true about doubt,
00:21:54.803 --> 00:21:57.706
If you respond to it the right way,
00:21:57.706 --> 00:21:59.641
It can actually make your faith stronger.
00:21:59.641 --> 00:22:03.245
Mark littleton gives this little formula
00:22:04.112 --> 00:22:07.416
About how to deal with doubt.
00:22:07.416 --> 00:22:09.584
I put it on your outline, jot it down,
00:22:09.584 --> 00:22:11.653
Turn your doubts to questions,
00:22:11.653 --> 00:22:15.524
Turn your questions to prayers,
00:22:15.524 --> 00:22:18.727
And turn your prayers to god.
00:22:18.727 --> 00:22:21.863
Finally, remember that our doubts never diminish god's love.
00:22:23.131 --> 00:22:29.838
Our doubts never diminish god's love.
00:22:30.605 --> 00:22:32.974
Can i tell you something about god?
00:22:32.974 --> 00:22:34.443
He's not threatened by your questions.
00:22:34.443 --> 00:22:37.312
He's big enough to handle your doubts.
00:22:37.312 --> 00:22:40.682
Whenever you doubt
00:22:40.682 --> 00:22:42.083
It doesn't change what god thinks of you one bit.
00:22:42.083 --> 00:22:46.721
Number of years ago,
00:22:47.189 --> 00:22:48.423
I was talking to a young christian girl
00:22:48.423 --> 00:22:50.192
Who was going through a very hard time in her life.
00:22:50.192 --> 00:22:53.161
She was crying and through the tears she said,
00:22:53.161 --> 00:22:57.466
"i'm not even sure i believe in god any longer."
00:22:57.466 --> 00:23:02.304
And i think god gave me exactly the words to say to her.
00:23:03.405 --> 00:23:07.108
I said, that's okay, even when you don't believe in god,
00:23:07.108 --> 00:23:12.380
He still believes in you.
00:23:12.948 --> 00:23:14.382
Isn't that the truth of scripture?
00:23:15.116 --> 00:23:17.219
2 timothy 2:13, "even when we are faithless,
00:23:17.219 --> 00:23:21.723
He remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself."
00:23:22.657 --> 00:23:27.596
Good words to remember for those who doubt.
00:23:28.497 --> 00:23:32.267
♪ music ♪
00:23:32.267 --> 00:23:36.371
We're praying that god would use today's message
00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:39.941
To rekindle a flame of passion for him
00:23:39.941 --> 00:23:43.478
Among those who doubt
00:23:43.478 --> 00:23:44.913
Or among those who have grown indifferent
00:23:44.913 --> 00:23:47.048
About their walk with him.
00:23:47.048 --> 00:23:49.518
In closing today, i want to remind you
00:23:49.518 --> 00:23:51.653
That time is running out to take advantage
00:23:51.653 --> 00:23:53.688
Of the "pathway to victory"
00:23:53.688 --> 00:23:55.357
Light the darkness matching challenge.
00:23:55.357 --> 00:23:57.959
We're praying that god will stir in the hearts
00:23:57.959 --> 00:24:00.262
Of friends like you
00:24:00.262 --> 00:24:01.530
To help us shine his light into the darkness
00:24:01.530 --> 00:24:04.599
In the year ahead.
00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:06.101
From now until december 31st,
00:24:06.101 --> 00:24:08.737
Your gift will be matched and therefore doubled in impact
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Until we reach the goal of $1.5 million.
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Just as god commanded, let there be light at creation,
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Your gift to "pathway to victory"
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Will help us pierce the darkness
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00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:27.455
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00:24:29.391 --> 00:24:32.394
Can you imagine lives that will be transformed
00:24:32.394 --> 00:24:35.697
As we shine the light of christ
00:24:35.697 --> 00:24:37.799
Across our nation and around our world?
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Please don't wait any longer,
00:24:40.702 --> 00:24:42.304
Contact us today to give your special year end gift
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Let's stay right there,
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I'll be back with more in just a moment.
00:24:49.477 --> 00:24:52.948
[announcer] the one thing god wants more
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Than anything else in this world is time with you.
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Make god your priority
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By spending quality time in his word
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With the brand new 2025 pathway to victory daily devotional.
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This year's devotional
00:25:06.628 --> 00:25:07.862
Has a beautiful navy blue leather cover
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With inlaid brown and gold foil accents.
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And now with larger print,
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The 260 practical insights from dr. robert jeffress
00:25:13.468 --> 00:25:16.805
Are easier to read.
00:25:16.805 --> 00:25:18.206
This stunning 532 page devotional
00:25:18.206 --> 00:25:20.842
Makes an ideal christmas gift
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For loved ones who want to grow in their faith too.
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Of all the ways god could have revealed himself to us,
00:25:25.080 --> 00:25:28.516
He chose to do it through the written word,
00:25:28.516 --> 00:25:31.519
And that's why it's so important for you and for me
00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:33.788
To set aside regular time to read the word of god.
00:25:33.788 --> 00:25:38.426
[announcer] every season carries an uplifting theme,
00:25:38.426 --> 00:25:41.296
Begin the new year by exploring god's will for your life.
00:25:41.296 --> 00:25:44.966
In spring and summer, grow stronger in christ
00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:48.003
With insights from colossians,
00:25:48.003 --> 00:25:49.604
And in the fall and winter,
00:25:49.604 --> 00:25:51.306
Embrace the father who loves you
00:25:51.306 --> 00:25:53.208
With inspirational readings
00:25:53.208 --> 00:25:54.743
Based on the parable of the prodigal son.
00:25:54.743 --> 00:25:57.245
When the day-to-day problems of life feel overwhelming,
00:25:58.346 --> 00:26:00.849
Take a moment to anchor yourself
00:26:00.849 --> 00:26:02.517
In the calming truth of god's word
00:26:02.517 --> 00:26:04.352
With the brand new 2025 pathway to victory daily devotion.
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Of jesus christ as well.
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Thank you for supporting
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The ministry of "pathway to victory."
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♪ music ♪
00:26:22.570 --> 00:26:24.572
Doubt in and of itself is neither good nor bad,
00:26:24.572 --> 00:26:27.842
It can either strengthen your faith
00:26:27.842 --> 00:26:29.878
Or cause you to turn away from god.
00:26:29.878 --> 00:26:32.414
And i hope today's message
00:26:32.414 --> 00:26:33.948
Has given you a practical way to deal with doubt
00:26:33.948 --> 00:26:37.018
In a way that ultimately brings you closer to god.
00:26:37.018 --> 00:26:41.122
Well, it's safe to say
00:26:41.122 --> 00:26:42.357
That all of us want to enjoy
00:26:42.357 --> 00:26:43.925
The fruits of god's blessing in our lives,
00:26:43.925 --> 00:26:47.395
But how do we turn our good intentions into reality?
00:26:47.395 --> 00:26:51.933
Next time we'll turn to hebrews 4
00:26:51.933 --> 00:26:54.502
To discover the key to experiencing god's blessings.
00:26:54.502 --> 00:26:58.973
Stay tuned for a preview
00:26:58.973 --> 00:27:00.241
Of what's coming up next on "pathway to victory."
00:27:00.241 --> 00:27:04.212
You know, god gave us his word not to just read,
00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:08.483
Admire, or even defend,
00:27:08.483 --> 00:27:11.186
He gave us his word to convict us and to change us,
00:27:11.186 --> 00:27:16.458
And that's the truth
00:27:16.925 --> 00:27:18.193
Of the passage we're going to see today.
00:27:18.193 --> 00:27:19.861
[announcer] set your dvr
00:27:19.861 --> 00:27:21.029
And join us next time for the message,
00:27:21.029 --> 00:27:23.031
The truth that transforms here on "pathway to victory."
00:27:23.031 --> 00:27:23.031

Robert Jeffress - For Those Who Doubt (Part 2)

December 27, 2024 | S24:E5206

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