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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Three Most Important Questions About Easter

April 21, 2025 | S25:E189

Robert Jeffress - The Three Most Important Questions About Easter
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 - The Three Most Important Questions About Easter | April 21, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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  • With dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • The empty tomb stands at the very heart of christianity.
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  • Without the resurrection, our faith would be meaningless and
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  • Our hope misplaced.
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  • Yet for many people, this miraculous event raises
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  • Legitimate questions.
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  • Is there actual evidence that christ rose from the dead?
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  • Why is this historical event so important today?
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  • And what practical difference does it make in our lives today?
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  • My message is titled, "the three most important questions about
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  • Easter" on today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪ there is a blood that sights the blind ♪
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  • ♪ and heals the sick and the lonely find. ♪
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  • ♪ it has the power to free the bound, ♪
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  • ♪ oh, as chains they fall upon the ground. ♪
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  • ♪ so pour it out to cleanse my soul, ♪
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  • ♪ let his liquid glory flow. ♪
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  • ♪ because he lives to make me whole ♪
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  • ♪ i owe my life, i owe my all. ♪
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  • ♪ so i come to tell you that he saves. ♪
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  • ♪ to shout and to proclaim ♪
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  • ♪ that he's coming back for you, oh. ♪
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  • ♪ what can wash away my sin? ♪
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  • ♪ nothing but his blood, ♪
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  • ♪ his cleansing blood. ♪
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  • ♪ nothing but the blood. ♪
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  • ♪ there is a grave that tried to hide ♪
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  • ♪ this precious blood that gave me life. ♪
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  • ♪ but in three days. ♪
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  • ♪ he breathed again. ♪
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  • ♪ and rose to stand. ♪
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  • ♪ in my defense. ♪
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  • ♪ so i come to tell you he's alive. ♪
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  • ♪ jesus is alive. ♪
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  • ♪ to shout and to proclaim ♪
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  • ♪ he's coming back. ♪
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  • ♪ he's coming back for you. ♪
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  • ♪ he's coming back, he's coming back ♪
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  • ♪ in the twinkle of an eye. ♪
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  • ♪ he's coming back for you. ♪
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  • ♪ when the trumpet sounds, ♪
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  • ♪ he's coming back. ♪
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  • ♪ coming back for you. ♪♪
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  • Male announcer: each day millions of lost people are
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  • Searching for hope and truth.
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  • Through "pathway to victory," god's word is reaching into
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  • Homes across america and around the world, but there are still
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  • So many who haven't heard the saving message of jesus christ.
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  • You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
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  • You'll join a dedicated team of broadcast missionaries who are
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  • Sharing the gospel through television and radio.
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  • Your monthly support will help reach people worldwide with the
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  • Life changing power of the cross.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: the three most frequently attended church
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  • Services in the year are, can you guess them?
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  • In third place, mother's day.
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  • Now, moms, don't feel badly, you're still ahead of
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  • Father's day.
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  • Number two most frequently attended service, christmas.
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  • Number one, you guessed it, easter sunday.
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  • You know, i've always thought it was a little bit ironic that the
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  • Most frequently attended service of the church year is the sunday
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  • We celebrate the event in jesus's life that most people
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  • Have trouble believing really happened.
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  • I mean, everybody believes jesus existed.
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  • There's historical evidence for that outside of the bible.
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  • They concede he was a great teacher who taught some really
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  • Nice things we ought to do.
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  • They will even admit that he died on a roman cross, though
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  • Most people can't explain exactly why.
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  • But the resurrection?
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  • Raised from the dead?
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  • Most people will treat that like the legend of santa claus.
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  • Oh sure, one day a year, it's fun to pretend it really
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  • Happened, but nobody takes it seriously.
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  • But i want you to look around you today.
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  • There are thousands of people here who take it seriously.
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  • They believe that the resurrection actually happened,
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  • That it is a part of the great accomplishment of what god did
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  • For each one of us, and the death and resurrection of
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  • Christ, well, you can't separate one from the other.
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  • Both are essential to our christian faith.
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  • Now i realize today we have a lot of ceos with us in church,
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  • Christmas and easter onlys, and if that's true of you, i'm not
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  • Here to berate you, i wanna welcome you.
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  • I'm glad you're here.
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  • I'm glad in this increasingly secular society you thought it
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  • Important enough to be here on the easter sunday morning, but i
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  • Also realize you may have some legitimate questions about this
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  • Resurrection business, and so today, not only to the
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  • Convinced, but those who are yet to be convinced, i want to talk
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  • About three essential questions.
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  • Ask and answer three essential questions about
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  • The resurrection.
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  • Number one, why is the resurrection important?
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  • Secondly, how do we know that it really happened?
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  • And thirdly, what does the resurrection mean to me?
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  • First of all, question number one, why is the resurrection
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  • So important?
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  • One professing christian scholar said, "i'd have no problem
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  • Whatsoever with archaeologists finding the corpse of jesus.
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  • For me, that would not discredit the christian faith or the
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  • Christian tradition."
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  • To which the apostle paul says, "i beg to differ."
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  • Paul wrote 1 corinthians chapter 15 to combat the teaching of
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  • The sadducees.
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  • Just what if the corpse of jesus is discovered one day?
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  • Well, in verse 13, paul says, "if there is no resurrection of
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  • The day--of the dead, not even christ has been raised."
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  • Now that makes sense.
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  • If there's no such thing as a resurrection, then christ will
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  • Not have been raised from the dead.
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  • You may say, "well, if i learned that i'd be disappointed," but
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  • Then i was disappointed when i heard the truth about santa
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  • Claus, the easter bunny, and the tooth fairy, but i got over
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  • It eventually.
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  • No, it doesn't just stop there.
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  • He says in verse 14, for "if christ has not been raised, then
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  • Our preaching is in vain."
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  • Every sermon you ever listened to, every sermon i ever
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  • Preached, was a waste of time.
  • 00:08:36.906 --> 00:08:38.975
  • It has no more authority than an aesop fable, and not only that,
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  • He says if there's no resurrection, your faith is
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  • In vain.
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  • That so-called faith that led you to christ, when you were a
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  • Youngster perhaps, that was just emotion.
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  • That faith that sustained you through a difficult time in your
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  • Life, that was just your imagination.
  • 00:08:59.295 --> 00:09:02.865
  • That faith that gave you hope and assurance when a loved one
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  • Passed away, that was a sham.
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  • It never really happened.
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  • Do you believe that?
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  • Do you believe your faith has been worthless?
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  • It is if there is no resurrection.
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  • In verse 15, he said, "moreover, we are even found to be false
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  • Witnesses of god, because we testified against god that he
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  • Raised christ, whom he did not raise, if in fact the dead are
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  • Not raised."
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  • He's saying every christian who has ever testified of the
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  • Resurrection and the new life they have in christ, every one
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  • Of them is a liar.
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  • Now think about that.
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  • For 2,000 years, every christian is a liar.
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  • The great church leaders, saint augustine, martin luther, john
  • 00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:48.744
  • Calvin, liars, every one of them.
  • 00:09:48.744 --> 00:09:51.614
  • And that leads to the second logical question.
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  • How do we know that the resurrection really happened?
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  • Let me quickly share with you five of the strongest pieces of
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  • Evidence for the resurrection.
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  • First of all, the transformation, the immediate
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  • Transformation of the disciples.
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  • People forget this, that by good friday, when christ was nailed
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  • To the cross, most all of his disciples had left him.
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  • They'd abandoned him.
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  • They were scared to death of being identified with him.
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  • They were not expecting a resurrection.
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  • They departed from christ quicker than rats off a
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  • Sinking ship.
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  • They didn't want to have anything to do with it.
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  • Think about peter who was gonna be the leader of the church.
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  • He denied jesus three times within a couple of hours on that
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  • Thursday evening.
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  • He was afraid of a little slave girl who said, "aren't you a
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  • Follower of jesus of nazareth?"
  • 00:10:41.831 --> 00:10:44.366
  • Now how do you explain the difference three days after the
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  • Crucifixion, when they were boldly willing to witness and
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  • Stand up and testify, even if it cost them their life?
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  • How do you explain peter seven weeks later, standing on the
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  • Steps of jerusalem, of the temple, preaching to the crowd
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  • That had just earlier crucified jesus, said, "you evil men, you
  • 00:11:03.352 --> 00:11:07.923
  • Nailed him to the cross, but it was all according to the
  • 00:11:07.923 --> 00:11:11.293
  • Predetermined plan of god, and god raised him up just as he
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  • Said he would."
  • 00:11:15.664 --> 00:11:17.032
  • How did peter get the courage to do that?
  • 00:11:17.032 --> 00:11:18.868
  • How did the disciples have the courage to do it?
  • 00:11:18.868 --> 00:11:22.004
  • They had seen the resurrected christ.
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  • That's what made the difference.
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  • The transformation of the disciples.
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  • Secondly, the conversion of the skeptics.
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  • Think about people who were not just unbelievers, but they were
  • 00:11:33.215 --> 00:11:36.418
  • Enemies of the gospel of jesus christ.
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  • I mentioned two of them to you.
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  • First of all, james.
  • 00:11:40.790 --> 00:11:42.525
  • Remember james, the half brother of jesus.
  • 00:11:42.525 --> 00:11:45.060
  • Now you may be wondering, "wait a minute, half brother?
  • 00:11:45.060 --> 00:11:48.164
  • How did james get to be a half brother of jesus?"
  • 00:11:48.164 --> 00:11:50.800
  • Listen, jesus had many brothers and sisters, but they were born
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  • The old fashioned way with mary and joseph.
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  • Jesus was virgin born.
  • 00:11:58.374 --> 00:12:00.543
  • They all shared the same mother, but had a different father.
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  • The rest of his siblings had joseph.
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  • Jesus had god the father.
  • 00:12:06.015 --> 00:12:08.117
  • But remember what happened during jesus's life?
  • 00:12:08.117 --> 00:12:11.554
  • His family, they were so concerned about jesus claiming
  • 00:12:11.554 --> 00:12:15.357
  • To be the messiah that they had a family intervention.
  • 00:12:15.357 --> 00:12:19.094
  • They called jesus in and said, "jesus, you gotta quit doing
  • 00:12:19.094 --> 00:12:21.964
  • This messiah stuff," and james led the way.
  • 00:12:21.964 --> 00:12:25.267
  • Now what happened to james?
  • 00:12:25.267 --> 00:12:27.436
  • After the resurrection he became the leader of the church
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  • Of jerusalem.
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  • He was stoned to death because of his faith.
  • 00:12:31.941 --> 00:12:34.243
  • What made the difference?
  • 00:12:34.243 --> 00:12:35.845
  • Remember, paul said jesus appeared to whom, james.
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  • James, his half brother, to say, "james, it is real."
  • 00:12:40.983 --> 00:12:45.654
  • You know, people say, "well, just because they died for their
  • 00:12:45.654 --> 00:12:48.824
  • Faith doesn't mean it's real.
  • 00:12:48.824 --> 00:12:50.993
  • I mean, a lot of followers of false religions die for
  • 00:12:50.993 --> 00:12:54.864
  • Their faith.
  • 00:12:54.864 --> 00:12:56.198
  • Hindus, muslims, others, they die for a lie."
  • 00:12:56.198 --> 00:13:00.469
  • The point is they think it's the truth.
  • 00:13:00.469 --> 00:13:04.039
  • Nobody willingly dies for a lie that they know is a lie.
  • 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:08.878
  • You had the conversion of james.
  • 00:13:08.878 --> 00:13:10.246
  • Think about the apostle paul, another skeptic.
  • 00:13:10.246 --> 00:13:13.048
  • He was an enemy of the cross.
  • 00:13:13.048 --> 00:13:15.217
  • He was on his way to damascus as a zealot jew to stamp out this
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  • New heresy called christianity, but acts 9 tells us that on the
  • 00:13:19.622 --> 00:13:23.659
  • Way to damascus, he was confronted by the living christ
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  • Who said, "saul, saul, why do you persecute me," and that
  • 00:13:27.096 --> 00:13:32.201
  • Appearance of the risen christ is what changed paul forever and
  • 00:13:32.201 --> 00:13:36.071
  • Turned him, transformed him from being a violent aggressor
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  • Against the church to being the greatest apologist ever for the
  • 00:13:40.109 --> 00:13:43.946
  • Veracity of the christian faith.
  • 00:13:43.946 --> 00:13:46.415
  • Thirdly, consider the radiclu--radical changes
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  • In judaism.
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  • That is an evidence for the truth of the resurrection.
  • 00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:54.890
  • What do i mean the changes in judaism?
  • 00:13:54.890 --> 00:13:57.693
  • Like, for example, the sacrificial system.
  • 00:13:57.693 --> 00:14:01.430
  • They quit immediately offering sacrifices for their sins.
  • 00:14:01.430 --> 00:14:05.467
  • They changed their perspective of the mosaic law.
  • 00:14:05.467 --> 00:14:08.270
  • They had been depending on the mosaic law for their salvation,
  • 00:14:08.270 --> 00:14:12.041
  • And now they called it the old covenant.
  • 00:14:12.041 --> 00:14:14.743
  • They not only did that, they changed their day of worship
  • 00:14:14.743 --> 00:14:17.780
  • Overnight from saturdays, the sabbath, to sunday, the
  • 00:14:17.780 --> 00:14:21.784
  • Resurrection day.
  • 00:14:21.784 --> 00:14:23.419
  • How do you explain that radical transformation of so many
  • 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:28.090
  • Devout jews?
  • 00:14:28.090 --> 00:14:29.558
  • One scholar says it this way, "these changes to jewish social
  • 00:14:29.558 --> 00:14:33.963
  • Structures were not just minor adjustments, they were social
  • 00:14:33.963 --> 00:14:38.434
  • Earthquakes, and earthquakes don't happen without a cause."
  • 00:14:38.434 --> 00:14:43.672
  • There was an earthquake.
  • 00:14:43.672 --> 00:14:45.040
  • It's called the resurrection of jesus christ.
  • 00:14:45.040 --> 00:14:48.243
  • That's the only way you explain those radical changes.
  • 00:14:48.243 --> 00:14:51.380
  • Fourth, the ordinances about--of the lord's supper and baptism.
  • 00:14:51.380 --> 00:14:55.751
  • I bet you've never thought about this before, but the quick
  • 00:14:55.751 --> 00:14:59.521
  • Institution of these religious rituals argues for
  • 00:14:59.521 --> 00:15:02.324
  • The resurrection.
  • 00:15:02.324 --> 00:15:03.826
  • You say, "well, how so?
  • 00:15:03.826 --> 00:15:05.194
  • Every religion has its own rituals."
  • 00:15:05.194 --> 00:15:07.429
  • None like this one.
  • 00:15:07.429 --> 00:15:08.964
  • Think about what the lord's supper and baptism represent.
  • 00:15:08.964 --> 00:15:13.235
  • They represent the death and the resurrection of jesus.
  • 00:15:13.235 --> 00:15:17.506
  • When you eat this bread and drink the cup, you show what?
  • 00:15:17.506 --> 00:15:22.211
  • The lord's death until he comes.
  • 00:15:22.211 --> 00:15:26.382
  • Has it ever struck you as odd that we sit around and celebrate
  • 00:15:26.382 --> 00:15:31.420
  • The death, the torture, the execution of the founder of our
  • 00:15:31.420 --> 00:15:36.358
  • Faith, jesus christ?
  • 00:15:36.358 --> 00:15:38.460
  • Lee strobel puts it this way.
  • 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:40.729
  • He says, "imagine admirers of john f. kennedy said, 'we want
  • 00:15:40.729 --> 00:15:45.934
  • To get together once a week to pay tribute to president
  • 00:15:45.934 --> 00:15:51.040
  • Kennedy, but we're not going to celebrate his courageous
  • 00:15:51.040 --> 00:15:55.444
  • Confrontation with cuba or his push for civil rights.
  • 00:15:55.444 --> 00:15:59.782
  • Instead, we want to meet together once a week to
  • 00:15:59.782 --> 00:16:02.918
  • Celebrate that date, november 22, 1963, when kennedy had his
  • 00:16:02.918 --> 00:16:09.091
  • Head nearly blown off right here on the streets of dallas.
  • 00:16:09.091 --> 00:16:12.161
  • We're gonna celebrate that and sing hymns about that.'"
  • 00:16:12.161 --> 00:16:15.497
  • Would that strike you as a little odd?
  • 00:16:15.497 --> 00:16:19.001
  • Why do we celebrate the torture and execution of jesus christ?
  • 00:16:19.001 --> 00:16:23.772
  • Because the story doesn't stop there.
  • 00:16:23.772 --> 00:16:26.308
  • Three days later, there was a resurrection that put the cross
  • 00:16:26.308 --> 00:16:30.245
  • Into perspective, and the fact that the early church started
  • 00:16:30.245 --> 00:16:33.782
  • Celebrating the death and resurrection of jesus is a
  • 00:16:33.782 --> 00:16:37.453
  • Strong case for its veracity.
  • 00:16:37.453 --> 00:16:39.955
  • I've saved the best, the strongest piece of evidence for
  • 00:16:39.955 --> 00:16:42.991
  • Last, the empty tomb.
  • 00:16:42.991 --> 00:16:47.162
  • Years ago i was on a program, television program in canada,
  • 00:16:47.162 --> 00:16:51.266
  • Featuring dr. paul meyer.
  • 00:16:51.266 --> 00:16:54.103
  • Not our paul meyer here in the metroplex, but a harvard phd in
  • 00:16:54.103 --> 00:16:59.007
  • Archaeology, and during one of the commercials, the interviewer
  • 00:16:59.007 --> 00:17:03.145
  • Asked dr. meyer, "what is the strongest piece of evidence for
  • 00:17:03.145 --> 00:17:07.649
  • The resurrection," and without hesitating, he said, "that's
  • 00:17:07.649 --> 00:17:10.919
  • Easy, it's the empty tomb."
  • 00:17:10.919 --> 00:17:14.223
  • Think about it.
  • 00:17:14.223 --> 00:17:15.557
  • For 2,000 years, nobody's been able to find the body of jesus.
  • 00:17:15.557 --> 00:17:20.162
  • Now you know what skeptics say?
  • 00:17:20.162 --> 00:17:21.497
  • They say, "well, somebody stole the body," but then you have to
  • 00:17:21.497 --> 00:17:24.199
  • Ask the question, who stole the body?
  • 00:17:24.199 --> 00:17:27.069
  • Who moved the stone, as frank morris wrote in his book.
  • 00:17:27.069 --> 00:17:30.339
  • The only explanation for the empty tomb is that god himself
  • 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:34.543
  • Reached down and rescued his son from the grave, and he promises
  • 00:17:34.543 --> 00:17:38.847
  • To do the same for us one day as well.
  • 00:17:38.847 --> 00:17:41.984
  • "i will not abandon my holy one to sheol," to the grave, god
  • 00:17:41.984 --> 00:17:46.555
  • Said, and that leads to the third and perhaps the most
  • 00:17:46.555 --> 00:17:50.692
  • Important question.
  • 00:17:50.692 --> 00:17:52.094
  • We've talked about why the resurrection is important, and
  • 00:17:52.094 --> 00:17:54.696
  • How we know it happened.
  • 00:17:54.696 --> 00:17:56.131
  • What does the resurrection mean to me?
  • 00:17:56.131 --> 00:17:59.334
  • Well, first of all, it authenticates the bible,
  • 00:17:59.334 --> 00:18:03.405
  • Especially the teachings of jesus.
  • 00:18:03.405 --> 00:18:05.641
  • Romans 1 says, "jesus was declared to be the son of god
  • 00:18:05.641 --> 00:18:09.578
  • With power," by his what?
  • 00:18:09.578 --> 00:18:11.547
  • "his resurrection from the dead."
  • 00:18:11.547 --> 00:18:13.849
  • The resurrection of jesus proves that he is who he said he was,
  • 00:18:13.849 --> 00:18:17.920
  • The son of god, and it means we must take seriously everything
  • 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:22.658
  • He taught.
  • 00:18:22.658 --> 00:18:23.992
  • Secondly, it validates the death of jesus.
  • 00:18:23.992 --> 00:18:27.496
  • If jesus had remained in that tomb, it would have meant when
  • 00:18:27.496 --> 00:18:30.365
  • He died, he died for his own sins, but the fact that he was
  • 00:18:30.365 --> 00:18:34.836
  • Raised from the dead was god's way of saying, "i accept his
  • 00:18:34.836 --> 00:18:39.575
  • Payment on your behalf."
  • 00:18:39.575 --> 00:18:41.777
  • Romans 4:25 says, for jesus was delivered over to be crucified
  • 00:18:41.777 --> 00:18:46.615
  • For our transgressions.
  • 00:18:46.615 --> 00:18:48.150
  • He was raised for our justification.
  • 00:18:48.150 --> 00:18:51.920
  • The way we know we are justified, declared not guilty
  • 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:55.757
  • When we trust in christ, is the resurrection from the dead.
  • 00:18:55.757 --> 00:18:59.628
  • Somebody once said, "easter is god's amen to jesus's, 'it
  • 00:18:59.628 --> 00:19:05.767
  • Is finished.'"
  • 00:19:05.767 --> 00:19:07.102
  • It is the exclamation point.
  • 00:19:07.102 --> 00:19:08.837
  • It is the proof that jesus did what he promised he would do.
  • 00:19:08.837 --> 00:19:12.941
  • And thirdly, the resurrection means to me that it eliminates
  • 00:19:12.941 --> 00:19:18.046
  • The fear of death.
  • 00:19:18.046 --> 00:19:19.648
  • The resurrection is important because it eliminates the fear
  • 00:19:19.648 --> 00:19:23.085
  • Of death.
  • 00:19:23.085 --> 00:19:24.419
  • The greatest problem we all face, the greatest question, is
  • 00:19:24.419 --> 00:19:28.257
  • The one job articulated in job 14:14 when he said, "if a person
  • 00:19:28.257 --> 00:19:33.996
  • Dies, will he live again?"
  • 00:19:33.996 --> 00:19:36.999
  • Isn't that the bottom line question of the universe?
  • 00:19:36.999 --> 00:19:40.702
  • Is this life all that there is, or is there something
  • 00:19:40.702 --> 00:19:45.240
  • Better ahead?
  • 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:47.676
  • If a person dies, will he live again?
  • 00:19:47.676 --> 00:19:51.713
  • If my father and mother die, will they live again?
  • 00:19:51.713 --> 00:19:57.052
  • If my mate dies, will he or she live again?
  • 00:19:57.052 --> 00:20:02.958
  • If my child dies, will he or she live again?
  • 00:20:02.958 --> 00:20:08.430
  • If i die, when i die, will i live again?
  • 00:20:08.430 --> 00:20:15.737
  • The resurrection provides an answer to that question.
  • 00:20:15.737 --> 00:20:20.108
  • Jesus is the way to heaven.
  • 00:20:20.108 --> 00:20:23.412
  • Paul said in 1 corinthians 15, "as in adam all die, so in
  • 00:20:23.412 --> 00:20:28.750
  • Christ all shall be made alive."
  • 00:20:28.750 --> 00:20:32.220
  • And he eliminates not only the power of death, but even the
  • 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:35.324
  • Fear of death.
  • 00:20:35.324 --> 00:20:36.658
  • Hebrews 2, verses 14 to 15 says that jesus christ came to, "free
  • 00:20:36.658 --> 00:20:41.530
  • Those who through the fear of death are subject to slavery all
  • 00:20:41.530 --> 00:20:46.435
  • Of their lives."
  • 00:20:46.435 --> 00:20:47.836
  • We no longer have to fear death if we're a christian.
  • 00:20:47.836 --> 00:20:51.206
  • Because of the resurrection, we know that death is simply
  • 00:20:51.206 --> 00:20:54.943
  • A door.
  • 00:20:54.943 --> 00:20:56.278
  • It's a passageway we go through to experience the wonderful,
  • 00:20:56.278 --> 00:20:59.614
  • Unending blessings of heaven.
  • 00:20:59.614 --> 00:21:03.018
  • The late preacher vance hafner once said, "the hope of dying is
  • 00:21:03.018 --> 00:21:07.689
  • The only thing that keeps me alive."
  • 00:21:07.689 --> 00:21:11.259
  • That's true for all of us.
  • 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:12.594
  • The only way to keep living is to know that there's
  • 00:21:12.594 --> 00:21:15.030
  • Something better.
  • 00:21:15.030 --> 00:21:16.798
  • You know, i think about the story of golf pro paul azinger.
  • 00:21:16.798 --> 00:21:21.870
  • You may remember, this champion golfer was diagnosed with cancer
  • 00:21:21.870 --> 00:21:25.741
  • When he was 33 years old.
  • 00:21:25.741 --> 00:21:27.709
  • He had just won a pga tournament and ten other tournaments.
  • 00:21:27.709 --> 00:21:32.147
  • When he discovered he had cancer, he wrote this.
  • 00:21:32.147 --> 00:21:35.217
  • "a genuine feeling of fear came over me.
  • 00:21:35.217 --> 00:21:38.487
  • I could die from cancer.
  • 00:21:38.487 --> 00:21:40.789
  • Then another reality hit me even harder; i'm going to die
  • 00:21:40.789 --> 00:21:45.327
  • Eventually anyway, whether it's from cancer or something else.
  • 00:21:45.327 --> 00:21:49.798
  • It's just a question of when.
  • 00:21:49.798 --> 00:21:52.734
  • Everything i had accomplished in golf became meaningless to me.
  • 00:21:52.734 --> 00:21:56.938
  • All i wanted to do was to live."
  • 00:21:56.938 --> 00:22:00.542
  • And then he recounts something a friend told him.
  • 00:22:00.542 --> 00:22:03.278
  • He said, "zinger, remember this.
  • 00:22:03.278 --> 00:22:06.314
  • We are not in the land of the living headed to the land of
  • 00:22:06.314 --> 00:22:09.251
  • The dying.
  • 00:22:09.251 --> 00:22:11.019
  • We're in the land of the dying headed to the land of
  • 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:13.855
  • The living."
  • 00:22:13.855 --> 00:22:15.857
  • Paul azinger recovered from his chemotherapy, and he actually
  • 00:22:15.857 --> 00:22:19.928
  • Returned to the pga tour, but he said his bout with cancer
  • 00:22:19.928 --> 00:22:23.765
  • Changed his perspective about everything.
  • 00:22:23.765 --> 00:22:27.369
  • He said, "i've made a lot of money since i've been on
  • 00:22:27.369 --> 00:22:29.404
  • The tours.
  • 00:22:29.404 --> 00:22:30.739
  • I've won a lot of tournaments, but that happiness is
  • 00:22:30.739 --> 00:22:33.041
  • Always temporary.
  • 00:22:33.041 --> 00:22:34.776
  • The only way you will have true contentment is in a personal
  • 00:22:34.776 --> 00:22:38.914
  • Relationship with jesus christ.
  • 00:22:38.914 --> 00:22:42.184
  • I'm not saying that nothing ever bothers me and i don't have
  • 00:22:42.184 --> 00:22:46.021
  • Problems, but i feel like i found the answer
  • 00:22:46.021 --> 00:22:51.326
  • To the 6-foot hole in the ground."
  • 00:22:51.326 --> 00:22:55.497
  • Have you found the answer to the 6 foot hole?
  • 00:22:55.497 --> 00:22:59.367
  • Something we're all going to experience one day.
  • 00:22:59.367 --> 00:23:02.671
  • The only answer is jesus.
  • 00:23:02.671 --> 00:23:06.107
  • The one who said, "i am the resurrection and the life.
  • 00:23:06.107 --> 00:23:11.780
  • He who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he
  • 00:23:11.780 --> 00:23:17.552
  • Live again."
  • 00:23:17.552 --> 00:23:19.254
  • Aren't you glad we have a savior who conquered death
  • 00:23:19.254 --> 00:23:23.225
  • Once and for all?
  • 00:23:23.225 --> 00:23:26.294
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:26.294 --> 00:23:31.700
  • Jeffress: the empty tomb reminds us that death has been defeated,
  • 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:35.303
  • And we have the promise of eternal life through faith
  • 00:23:35.303 --> 00:23:38.540
  • In christ.
  • 00:23:38.540 --> 00:23:39.908
  • I want to conclude this easter celebration by sharing a note
  • 00:23:39.908 --> 00:23:43.211
  • From karen in delaware.
  • 00:23:43.211 --> 00:23:45.380
  • She wrote, "i just started watching "pathway to victory" on
  • 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:48.783
  • Tv a few weeks ago.
  • 00:23:48.783 --> 00:23:50.585
  • I've been a christian since 1975,
  • 00:23:50.585 --> 00:23:53.655
  • But have learned more about grace, forgiveness, and
  • 00:23:53.655 --> 00:23:56.658
  • Other biblical topics in the past few weeks than i learned in
  • 00:23:56.658 --> 00:24:00.896
  • 46 years because of your programs.
  • 00:24:00.896 --> 00:24:04.332
  • I'm growing in my faith and so, so grateful."
  • 00:24:04.332 --> 00:24:08.370
  • Well, it's such an encouragement to hear how god is using this
  • 00:24:08.370 --> 00:24:11.973
  • Ministry to touch lives like karen's, and with every letter
  • 00:24:11.973 --> 00:24:16.077
  • Of thanks i receive, i think about our pathway partners and
  • 00:24:16.077 --> 00:24:20.048
  • All of you who give to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:20.048 --> 00:24:23.385
  • Your generosity enables me to proclaim the life changing
  • 00:24:23.385 --> 00:24:27.122
  • Message of christ's resurrection to millions around the world.
  • 00:24:27.122 --> 00:24:32.427
  • Now, stay right there.
  • 00:24:32.427 --> 00:24:33.762
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:33.762 --> 00:24:37.299
  • Jeffress: we know that easter is much more than chocolate bunnies
  • 00:24:40.502 --> 00:24:43.138
  • And easter eggs.
  • 00:24:43.138 --> 00:24:44.773
  • Easter celebrates the most important event
  • 00:24:44.773 --> 00:24:46.875
  • In all of human history.
  • 00:24:46.875 --> 00:24:49.077
  • Announcer: in "the power of the cross,"
  • 00:24:49.077 --> 00:24:50.679
  • Dr. robert jeffress retraces the steps of jesus
  • 00:24:50.679 --> 00:24:53.748
  • Each day of holy week, from bethany to jerusalem
  • 00:24:53.748 --> 00:24:57.519
  • To calvary and to the empty tomb.
  • 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:01.056
  • Jeffress: through his incredible sacrifice,
  • 00:25:01.056 --> 00:25:02.791
  • Jesus conquered sin and death once and for all.
  • 00:25:02.791 --> 00:25:06.294
  • And this beautifully illustrated book provides a trustworthy and
  • 00:25:06.294 --> 00:25:09.998
  • Approachable way to share the good news with someone you love.
  • 00:25:09.998 --> 00:25:15.570
  • Announcer: "the power of the cross" is a full-color, 96-page,
  • 00:25:15.570 --> 00:25:18.840
  • Large-print book filled with imagery from the holy land
  • 00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:22.377
  • And photographic depictions of key scriptural events
  • 00:25:22.377 --> 00:25:25.647
  • That bring holy week to life.
  • 00:25:25.647 --> 00:25:28.583
  • Request "the power of the cross" when you give a generous gift
  • 00:25:28.583 --> 00:25:31.820
  • To pathway to victory.
  • 00:25:31.820 --> 00:25:34.122
  • And as you give $75 or more, you'll also receive eight
  • 00:25:34.122 --> 00:25:38.426
  • Powerful messages by dr. jeffress from the holy land
  • 00:25:38.426 --> 00:25:42.097
  • On dvd and mp3 format audio disc.
  • 00:25:42.097 --> 00:25:45.634
  • It's called "live from israel."
  • 00:25:45.634 --> 00:25:48.536
  • Thank you for partnering with pathway to victory
  • 00:25:48.536 --> 00:25:51.272
  • To share the life-changing truth of the gospel,
  • 00:25:51.272 --> 00:25:53.775
  • This easter season.
  • 00:25:53.775 --> 00:25:55.877
  • Together, we are proclaiming the radical transforming power
  • 00:25:55.877 --> 00:25:59.614
  • Of the cross of christ, the only hope
  • 00:25:59.614 --> 00:26:02.384
  • For our beloved country and world.
  • 00:26:02.384 --> 00:26:05.954
  • Jeffress: the resurrection of jesus christ changes everything.
  • 00:26:10.158 --> 00:26:14.429
  • Because christ died and rose again, we can face the future
  • 00:26:14.429 --> 00:26:18.400
  • With confidence and hope, knowing that death is not
  • 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:22.070
  • The end.
  • 00:26:22.070 --> 00:26:23.405
  • Rather, it's a door we go through to experience the
  • 00:26:23.405 --> 00:26:26.074
  • Wonderful and unending blessings of heaven.
  • 00:26:26.074 --> 00:26:30.278
  • Well, in his sermon on the mount, jesus said, "blessed are
  • 00:26:30.278 --> 00:26:33.348
  • Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall
  • 00:26:33.348 --> 00:26:37.318
  • Be satisfied."
  • 00:26:37.318 --> 00:26:39.054
  • What does it mean to truly hunger for god, and how can we
  • 00:26:39.054 --> 00:26:43.158
  • Experience the satisfaction jesus promised?
  • 00:26:43.158 --> 00:26:46.795
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next on
  • 00:26:46.795 --> 00:26:49.998
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:49.998 --> 00:26:52.734
  • Jeffress: one reason we don't get our prayers answered
  • 00:26:52.801 --> 00:26:55.336
  • Sometimes is we're not acting righteously.
  • 00:26:55.336 --> 00:26:58.139
  • We may be in a right relationship with god.
  • 00:26:58.139 --> 00:27:00.508
  • We may be forgiven of our sins, but if we don't act righteously,
  • 00:27:00.508 --> 00:27:05.213
  • God doesn't hear our prayers.
  • 00:27:05.213 --> 00:27:08.817
  • Male announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the
  • 00:27:08.883 --> 00:27:11.453
  • Message, "the one prayer god always answers," here on
  • 00:27:11.453 --> 00:27:15.156
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:15.156 --> 00:27:16.524
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:16.524 --> 00:27:28.703