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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Truth About Faith - Kneeling

August 21, 2025 | S25 E400 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - The Truth About Faith - Kneeling
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#inActive #Victory #Truth #Faithfulness #TrustGod #WalkwithGod #RelationshipwithGod #Prayer

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Truth About Faith - Kneeling | August 21, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist
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  • Church of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with dr.
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  • 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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  • Few topics in christianity generate as much confusion and
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  • Controversy as the subject of divine healing.
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  • Some people believe god heals everyone who has enough faith.
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  • Others claim that the age of miracles ended with
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  • The apostles.
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  • So what does the bible really teach about healing?
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  • Today we're going to discover what james has to say about this
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  • Important topic.
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  • My message is titled "the truth about faith-kneeling" on today's
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  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • Announcer: where there's genuine faith, there will always
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  • Be visible fruit.
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  • In his brand new book "how to know if you're really saved,"
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  • Dr. robert jeffress helps you take stock of the evidence of
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  • Your faith, the spiritual fruit in your daily life.
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  • This outstanding verse by verse walk through the book of james
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  • Will help you cultivate the spiritual fruit that reflects
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  • Genuine faith.
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  • Request "how to know if you're really saved" when you give a
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  • Generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway
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  • To victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: you know, whenever i think about the subject of faith
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  • Healing, i think about several encounters i've had with the
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  • Topic through the years.
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  • I remember a popular faith healer on television that i used
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  • To watch all the time for entertainment value, and i
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  • Remember reading about how he decided which diseases he was
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  • Going to heal.
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  • He said, "in the morning services, the lord tells me what
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  • Healings are available.
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  • The lord will say, 'i've got three cancers available today,
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  • And i've got one bad back.
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  • I've got two headache healings.'
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  • I announce that to the congregation and tell them that
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  • Anyone who comes with faith can claim those healings that are
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  • Available for that evening."
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  • That was his approach to healing.
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  • I think about an experience i had when i was a teenager.
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  • I had something wrong with my right arm.
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  • I'd lost all my feeling in my arm.
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  • We went to the neurologist, they couldn't find anything.
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  • I was scheduled to go on a mission trip in another country,
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  • And one night, in the middle of the night, i was awakened and
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  • Impressed to start praying about my arm, and the lord immediately
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  • Healed me.
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  • When i came back to our country, i found out that there were two
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  • People who had been praying together at exactly the same
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  • Time i was praying for healing.
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  • I think about my experience standing at the foot of my mom's
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  • Hospital bed and listening as a very dedicated pastor prayed
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  • Over her for healing after anointing her with oil.
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  • She died three weeks later.
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  • What does the bible really say about the subject of healing?
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  • Does god physically heal people today the way he did in biblical
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  • Times, and if your answer is no, how do you account for all the
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  • Voluminous accounts of people who have been healed?
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  • And why does james choose to end his letter with the subject
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  • Of healing?
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  • That's what we're going to look at today.
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  • If you have your bibles, turn to james chapter 5, beginning with
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  • Verse 13.
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  • Look at verses 13 and 14, "is any among you suffering?
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  • Then he must pray.
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  • Is anyone cheerful?
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  • He is to sing praises.
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  • Is any among you sick?
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  • Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to
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  • Pray over him, having anointed him with oil in the name of
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  • The lord."
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  • Let's look first at the audience to whom james is speaking.
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  • Remember, james is speaking specifically to christians whose
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  • Belief and behavior did not match with one another, and he
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  • Says in verse 14, "is any among you sick?"
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  • James is writing to sick people.
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  • Now, this word sick is interesting.
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  • It is the greek word asthenes.
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  • Asthenes, it means literally to be without strength.
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  • Now, it's used 34 times in the greek new testament.
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  • Twenty of those times, it's talking about those who are
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  • Without physical strength.
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  • Fourteen times, it's referring to those without
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  • Spiritual strength.
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  • So which is it?
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  • Is james talking to those who are physically ill or those who
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  • Are spiritually ill?
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  • I think the answer is both.
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  • Look at verse 15, "the prayer offered in faith will restore
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  • The one who is sick, and the lord will raise him up, and if
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  • He has committed sins, they will be forgiven him."
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  • Or look at verse 16, "therefore, confess your sins to one
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  • Another, and pray for one another so that you may
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  • Be healed.
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  • The effective prayer of a righteous person can
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  • Accomplish much."
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  • Or look at verses 19 and 20 or james 5, "my brethren, if any
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  • Among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him
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  • Know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will
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  • Save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
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  • All these references to sin seem to indicate he's talking about a
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  • Special kind of sickness, and then also, notice the reference
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  • To the elders.
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  • The one who is sick in this pastor is to call
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  • For the elders.
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  • Why the elders?
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  • They were the spiritual leaders in the church.
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  • It's connotating that this is a special type of illness that is
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  • The result of sin.
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  • Again, all illness is not the result of sin, but sometimes
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  • It is.
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  • Well, what are we supposed to do if we're sick?
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  • Notice the things james says we're to do.
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  • "is any among you sick," verse 14, "then he must call for the
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  • Elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing
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  • Him with oil in the name of the lord."
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  • Now, notice who takes the initiative in this.
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  • It's not the elders, it's the one who is sick.
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  • The one who is sick is the one who has the responsibility to
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  • Call for help.
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  • You know, people sometimes think, those of us here on the
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  • Church staff, we have a crystal ball that can tell us who's sick
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  • In the church, and they get offended if nobody calls on them
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  • When they're sick.
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  • We can't know who's sick.
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  • It's the responsibility of the sick to call for people to pray
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  • Over them.
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  • And notice what he says.
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  • The first thing after they've called for the elders is the
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  • Anointing with oil.
  • 00:07:07.316 --> 00:07:09.051
  • I had somebody ask today, "where's the oil?
  • 00:07:09.051 --> 00:07:11.821
  • Are you passing out oil?"
  • 00:07:11.821 --> 00:07:13.823
  • Because it says anoint people with oil.
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  • We'll get to that in just a moment, but an analysis of the
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  • Greek text reveals that this is a participial phrase, anointing
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  • With oil.
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  • It's a subsidiary clause.
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  • In other words, it's secondary to the main action.
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  • But the main point of this verse is to pray.
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  • It is the prayer that is offered in the name of the lord that
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  • Will heal.
  • 00:07:41.317 --> 00:07:42.652
  • Look at verse 14 again, "is any among you sick?
  • 00:07:42.652 --> 00:07:45.021
  • Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to
  • 00:07:45.021 --> 00:07:48.858
  • Pray over him, having anointed him with oil in the name of
  • 00:07:48.858 --> 00:07:53.596
  • The lord."
  • 00:07:53.596 --> 00:07:54.931
  • Now, that phrase is key, "in the name of the lord."
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  • That's a phrase in the bible that's used as a synonym for the
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  • Will of god, and that leads to the promise in verses 15 and 16.
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  • What is the promise?
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  • "the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who
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  • Is sick."
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  • Now, what does it mean to pray in faith?
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  • What is the prayer of faith?
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  • Listen to this, the prayer of faith is not some positive
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  • Thinking feeling we have that god is gonna heal us.
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  • We think if we believe enough that god will heal us, presto,
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  • God will heal us, and if we're not healed, it's because we
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  • Don't have enough faith.
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  • No, that's not the prayer of faith.
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  • Faith in praying is not the belief that god will do what you
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  • Ask him to do.
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  • Faith is the belief that god will do what is best for our
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  • Good and his glory.
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  • To pray in faith means to boldly ask god to do what you want him
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  • To do, including healing.
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  • It's boldly asking but quietly resting in god's will.
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  • It's the prayer that jesus offered in gethsemane, "father,
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  • Deliver me from this evil that is about to happen, and yet not
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  • My will, your will be done."
  • 00:09:11.907 --> 00:09:14.310
  • That's the prayer of faith.
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  • "the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is
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  • Sick, and the lord will raise him up, and if he has committed
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  • Sins, they will be forgiven him."
  • 00:09:22.585 --> 00:09:25.955
  • If this happens to be a sickness caused by sin, god will forgive.
  • 00:09:25.955 --> 00:09:31.360
  • "therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one
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  • Another so that you may be healed."
  • 00:09:36.132 --> 00:09:39.935
  • Notice, if you have sin in your life, you're to confess it.
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  • Not to the whole congregation.
  • 00:09:44.173 --> 00:09:46.175
  • You know, some churches love to have these open mic services
  • 00:09:46.175 --> 00:09:50.279
  • Where people come down, and they'll share all of their dirty
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  • Laundry with the whole congregation.
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  • No, that doesn't build up anybody.
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  • Your circle of confession should be no larger than the circle
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  • Of offense.
  • 00:10:01.857 --> 00:10:03.225
  • You confess your sins to one another, not to everybody, but
  • 00:10:03.225 --> 00:10:06.595
  • To one another.
  • 00:10:06.595 --> 00:10:07.930
  • If there is sin in your life, confess it, and god will
  • 00:10:07.930 --> 00:10:10.900
  • Heal you.
  • 00:10:10.900 --> 00:10:12.468
  • The prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick.
  • 00:10:12.468 --> 00:10:15.871
  • Now, let me be clear about this.
  • 00:10:15.871 --> 00:10:17.807
  • There is no promise in the bible anywhere that god will heal
  • 00:10:17.807 --> 00:10:23.245
  • Everybody who is sick.
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  • There is no promise that god will give you everything
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  • You desire.
  • 00:10:28.951 --> 00:10:30.286
  • Every promise in the bible that seems to indicate god will do
  • 00:10:30.286 --> 00:10:34.023
  • Whatever we ask him to do, every promise is bounded within the
  • 00:10:34.023 --> 00:10:39.428
  • Will of god.
  • 00:10:39.428 --> 00:10:41.130
  • 1 john 5:14, "this is the confidence we have in him, that,
  • 00:10:41.130 --> 00:10:44.834
  • If we ask anything according to god's will, he hears us."
  • 00:10:44.834 --> 00:10:53.042
  • God's will is a boundary around our life, not to keep good
  • 00:10:53.042 --> 00:10:57.880
  • Things from entering our life, but to keep bad things, things
  • 00:10:57.880 --> 00:11:01.951
  • That are contrary to the will of god.
  • 00:11:01.951 --> 00:11:04.987
  • Let's be clear, god sometimes says yes to healing, sometimes
  • 00:11:04.987 --> 00:11:09.225
  • He says no.
  • 00:11:09.225 --> 00:11:10.893
  • Paul answered no answers to his prayer for physical healing.
  • 00:11:10.893 --> 00:11:15.364
  • Jot down 2 corinthians 12, verses 7 through 10.
  • 00:11:15.364 --> 00:11:19.235
  • Let me read this, because this will encourage some of you.
  • 00:11:19.235 --> 00:11:23.506
  • "because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,
  • 00:11:23.506 --> 00:11:26.609
  • For this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given
  • 00:11:26.609 --> 00:11:30.646
  • Me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of satan to torment
  • 00:11:30.646 --> 00:11:35.584
  • Me--to keep me from exalting myself!"
  • 00:11:35.584 --> 00:11:39.088
  • God sent some affliction into paul's life to humble him.
  • 00:11:39.088 --> 00:11:44.260
  • Some think his thorn in the life was a wife.
  • 00:11:44.260 --> 00:11:46.962
  • I don't believe that.
  • 00:11:46.962 --> 00:11:49.231
  • He wasn't married at this point anyway, but there was some
  • 00:11:49.231 --> 00:11:53.302
  • Physical malady he had that god sent into his life.
  • 00:11:53.302 --> 00:11:57.206
  • Verse 8, "concerning this," i begged, "i implored the lord
  • 00:11:57.206 --> 00:12:01.243
  • Three times that it might leave me."
  • 00:12:01.243 --> 00:12:03.813
  • He begged god on three separate occasions to heal him.
  • 00:12:03.813 --> 00:12:07.216
  • "and god said to me, 'my grace is sufficient for you, for power
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  • Is perfected in weakness.'
  • 00:12:12.154 --> 00:12:14.123
  • Most gladly, therefore, i will rather boast about my
  • 00:12:14.123 --> 00:12:17.459
  • Weaknesses, so that the power of christ may dwell in me.
  • 00:12:17.459 --> 00:12:22.198
  • Therefore i am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with
  • 00:12:22.198 --> 00:12:26.602
  • Distresses and persecutions, with difficulties, for christ's
  • 00:12:26.602 --> 00:12:30.072
  • Sake; for when i am weak, then i am strong."
  • 00:12:30.072 --> 00:12:33.442
  • Paul experienced no answers to his prayer for physical healing.
  • 00:12:33.442 --> 00:12:37.646
  • In 2 timothy 4:20, paul said to timothy, "i had to leave our
  • 00:12:37.646 --> 00:12:42.051
  • Friend trophimus sick at melitus."
  • 00:12:42.051 --> 00:12:45.487
  • Why didn't paul heal his friend if he could?
  • 00:12:45.487 --> 00:12:48.057
  • He had the power.
  • 00:12:48.057 --> 00:12:49.391
  • He didn't have the power to heal his friend.
  • 00:12:49.391 --> 00:12:51.427
  • The same was true with epaphroditus.
  • 00:12:51.427 --> 00:12:53.996
  • The bible says sometimes god says yes, sometimes he says no.
  • 00:12:53.996 --> 00:12:59.168
  • And notice in this passage, he says, and while you're praying,
  • 00:12:59.168 --> 00:13:02.838
  • If you have sin in your life, confess it.
  • 00:13:02.838 --> 00:13:08.377
  • Can we know for sure if sin is responsible
  • 00:13:08.377 --> 00:13:10.779
  • For illness in our life?
  • 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:12.248
  • We can't know for sure, but sometimes we can.
  • 00:13:12.248 --> 00:13:16.185
  • But here's a good prayer to pray, any and every time
  • 00:13:16.185 --> 00:13:19.255
  • You can.
  • 00:13:19.255 --> 00:13:20.623
  • Psalm 139, verses 23 to 24, "search me, o lord, and know my
  • 00:13:20.623 --> 00:13:27.296
  • Heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be
  • 00:13:27.296 --> 00:13:31.901
  • Any way in me that is wicked, and lead me to the
  • 00:13:31.901 --> 00:13:36.105
  • Everlasting way."
  • 00:13:36.105 --> 00:13:38.474
  • In other words, always be asking god to reveal sin in your life,
  • 00:13:38.474 --> 00:13:43.812
  • And if there is sin in your life, ask for his forgiveness.
  • 00:13:43.812 --> 00:13:48.317
  • You know, let me say a word about biblical healing versus,
  • 00:13:48.317 --> 00:13:52.688
  • Instead of faith healing, what i call fake healing.
  • 00:13:52.688 --> 00:13:56.892
  • First of all, biblical healing was always instantaneous.
  • 00:13:56.892 --> 00:14:01.931
  • When god healed in the bible, he did it instantly with a word or
  • 00:14:01.931 --> 00:14:06.001
  • With a touch.
  • 00:14:06.001 --> 00:14:07.403
  • Secondly, biblical healing is total.
  • 00:14:07.403 --> 00:14:10.606
  • You know, when i watched the faith healer do his thing, he
  • 00:14:10.606 --> 00:14:14.610
  • Would ask for a testimony, and people would say, "oh, i'm
  • 00:14:14.610 --> 00:14:17.446
  • Seeing a little bit better," or, "my back is feeling better," or,
  • 00:14:17.446 --> 00:14:21.483
  • "i'm healing better."
  • 00:14:21.483 --> 00:14:23.419
  • Not in the bible times.
  • 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:24.787
  • In biblical times it was complete.
  • 00:14:24.787 --> 00:14:27.623
  • It was total.
  • 00:14:27.623 --> 00:14:28.958
  • It was complete healing.
  • 00:14:28.958 --> 00:14:30.826
  • Thirdly, biblical healing included organic diseases.
  • 00:14:30.826 --> 00:14:35.197
  • Jesus healed withered arms.
  • 00:14:35.197 --> 00:14:37.466
  • The lame were healed, the crippled, the totally blind.
  • 00:14:37.466 --> 00:14:40.602
  • Even people who were dead were raised from the dead.
  • 00:14:40.602 --> 00:14:44.206
  • And finally, biblical healing involved those who were
  • 00:14:44.206 --> 00:14:47.176
  • Chosen of god.
  • 00:14:47.176 --> 00:14:48.510
  • Not every believer had the power to heal.
  • 00:14:48.510 --> 00:14:51.046
  • First of all, it was jesus, and then the apostles, and then it
  • 00:14:51.046 --> 00:14:55.517
  • Expanded to the disciples, the 70 followers of jesus, and a few
  • 00:14:55.517 --> 00:15:00.556
  • Of their associates, but that was it.
  • 00:15:00.556 --> 00:15:03.392
  • And the purpose of healing was not for the benefit of the sick.
  • 00:15:03.392 --> 00:15:07.963
  • It was to authenticate the message of god's messenger.
  • 00:15:07.963 --> 00:15:12.001
  • Biblical healing involved those who were chosen by god.
  • 00:15:12.001 --> 00:15:16.338
  • You know, i think of something dr. criswell used to say, "i
  • 00:15:16.338 --> 00:15:20.609
  • Believe in faith healing, i just don't believe in faith healers."
  • 00:15:20.609 --> 00:15:26.682
  • Because we have the new testament, we don't need the
  • 00:15:26.682 --> 00:15:29.752
  • Authentication of prophets of god today.
  • 00:15:29.752 --> 00:15:33.188
  • God doesn't need a middleman or a middlewoman to bring healing.
  • 00:15:33.188 --> 00:15:37.092
  • If he wants to heal, he does it directly.
  • 00:15:37.092 --> 00:15:40.729
  • And that leads to the question: well, why does god
  • 00:15:40.729 --> 00:15:44.299
  • Allow sickness?
  • 00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:45.634
  • If he says no to our request for healing, why does god allow it?
  • 00:15:45.634 --> 00:15:50.939
  • Somebody asked me this week, what do you think of so-and-so,
  • 00:15:50.939 --> 00:15:54.076
  • A pastor who says that god is sovereign over everything except
  • 00:15:54.076 --> 00:15:58.714
  • Illness, and god takes no responsibility for
  • 00:15:58.714 --> 00:16:02.184
  • Our illnesses?
  • 00:16:02.184 --> 00:16:03.585
  • I said, "what i think is he's a heretic."
  • 00:16:03.585 --> 00:16:07.423
  • If you say god has no role in our sickness or our problems
  • 00:16:07.423 --> 00:16:14.530
  • That's heresy.
  • 00:16:14.530 --> 00:16:15.998
  • Listen to what god said to moses in exodus 4, verse 11, "the lord
  • 00:16:15.998 --> 00:16:20.836
  • Said to moses, 'who has made man's mouth?
  • 00:16:20.836 --> 00:16:24.473
  • Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind?
  • 00:16:24.473 --> 00:16:30.012
  • Is it not i, the lord?'"
  • 00:16:30.012 --> 00:16:32.481
  • Some people think that is harsh, to blame god for our illnesses.
  • 00:16:32.481 --> 00:16:37.219
  • God's saying, "i take responsibility for it.
  • 00:16:37.219 --> 00:16:40.022
  • I have a purpose."
  • 00:16:40.022 --> 00:16:41.390
  • If you're sick today, that ought to give you great comfort.
  • 00:16:41.390 --> 00:16:44.793
  • That god's not unaware of your situation.
  • 00:16:44.793 --> 00:16:47.429
  • He has a purpose for your illness.
  • 00:16:47.429 --> 00:16:50.232
  • What are the various purposes for sickness?
  • 00:16:50.232 --> 00:16:53.068
  • Well, some sickness is meant to lead to death.
  • 00:16:53.068 --> 00:16:57.339
  • There is a sickness, the bible says, leading to death.
  • 00:16:57.339 --> 00:17:01.243
  • The fact is, if we never got sick, we would never die, and we
  • 00:17:01.243 --> 00:17:05.814
  • Would be left trapped in these imperfect bodies forever.
  • 00:17:05.814 --> 00:17:10.085
  • You know, many times god allows sickness to transition us to our
  • 00:17:10.085 --> 00:17:14.323
  • New bodies and the future god has for us, and that's, by the
  • 00:17:14.323 --> 00:17:18.760
  • Way, why i don't get that excited about testimonies of
  • 00:17:18.760 --> 00:17:22.297
  • Physical healing.
  • 00:17:22.297 --> 00:17:23.699
  • I do believe god heals, but any healing is only temporary.
  • 00:17:23.699 --> 00:17:28.937
  • Whoever is healed is going to get sick again and they're going
  • 00:17:28.937 --> 00:17:32.341
  • To ultimately die.
  • 00:17:32.341 --> 00:17:34.343
  • That's part of god's plan.
  • 00:17:34.343 --> 00:17:36.478
  • Secondly, there is a sickness that is the result of sin.
  • 00:17:36.478 --> 00:17:40.649
  • Again, so you hear me clearly, not all sickness is the result
  • 00:17:40.649 --> 00:17:44.386
  • Of our personal sin, but some of it is.
  • 00:17:44.386 --> 00:17:48.657
  • For example, numbers chapter 12 records miriam, the sister of
  • 00:17:48.657 --> 00:17:53.662
  • Moses, being struck with leprosy because she rebelled against
  • 00:17:53.662 --> 00:17:58.066
  • Her brother.
  • 00:17:58.066 --> 00:17:59.401
  • David describes the physical effects of his unconfessed sin,
  • 00:17:59.401 --> 00:18:02.971
  • His adultery with bathsheba and murder of her husband uriah.
  • 00:18:02.971 --> 00:18:07.209
  • David said, "when i kept silent about my sin, my body wasted
  • 00:18:07.209 --> 00:18:11.613
  • Away through my groaning all day long.
  • 00:18:11.613 --> 00:18:14.583
  • For day and through night your hand was heavy upon me; my
  • 00:18:14.583 --> 00:18:19.288
  • Vitality was drained away as the fever heat of summer."
  • 00:18:19.288 --> 00:18:24.660
  • Thirdly, some sickness is given for the glory of god, so that
  • 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:29.865
  • God might be glorified.
  • 00:18:29.865 --> 00:18:31.333
  • Remember in john 9, jesus and the apostles passed by a man who
  • 00:18:31.333 --> 00:18:35.904
  • Was blind from birth, and the disciples said, "jesus, who's
  • 00:18:35.904 --> 00:18:41.043
  • Responsible for this man's blindness?
  • 00:18:41.043 --> 00:18:43.312
  • Was it his sin, or was it his parents's sin?"
  • 00:18:43.312 --> 00:18:47.783
  • And jesus said, "neither, it was that god might be glorified,"
  • 00:18:47.783 --> 00:18:51.687
  • And jesus immediately cured his blindness and once again proved
  • 00:18:51.687 --> 00:18:57.693
  • That he was the messiah.
  • 00:18:57.693 --> 00:18:59.294
  • In other words, jesus said, "this man has been blind all of
  • 00:18:59.294 --> 00:19:02.431
  • His life for one reason, so that at this time in history, i could
  • 00:19:02.431 --> 00:19:06.768
  • Perform a miracle and prove to the world i am the messiah."
  • 00:19:06.768 --> 00:19:11.373
  • Sometimes we're allowed to be sick so that god can be
  • 00:19:11.373 --> 00:19:15.844
  • Glorified through our healing.
  • 00:19:15.844 --> 00:19:17.913
  • Many times it is through our sickness that god is
  • 00:19:17.913 --> 00:19:21.183
  • Best glorified.
  • 00:19:21.183 --> 00:19:22.517
  • That's what paul said.
  • 00:19:22.517 --> 00:19:24.086
  • Paul said, "it is when i was weak that the power of god was
  • 00:19:24.086 --> 00:19:28.223
  • Most strongly manifest in me."
  • 00:19:28.223 --> 00:19:31.493
  • So, what are we supposed to do if we're sick?
  • 00:19:31.493 --> 00:19:35.230
  • I'm speaking to some of you here, some of you watching on
  • 00:19:35.230 --> 00:19:37.966
  • Television, you're ill or somebody you care about is ill.
  • 00:19:37.966 --> 00:19:42.938
  • What are we supposed to do?
  • 00:19:42.938 --> 00:19:44.773
  • Number one, if you're sick, go to the doctor.
  • 00:19:44.773 --> 00:19:48.810
  • That's not anti-faith, that is recognizing how god works.
  • 00:19:48.810 --> 00:19:53.448
  • Again, jesus is the one who said it's not those who are well who
  • 00:19:53.448 --> 00:19:57.519
  • Need a physician, but those who are ill.
  • 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:00.355
  • Secondly, ask god's purpose in your illness.
  • 00:20:00.355 --> 00:20:04.526
  • Ask him to reveal to you his purpose in your illness.
  • 00:20:04.526 --> 00:20:08.797
  • Might it be a sickness unto death?
  • 00:20:08.797 --> 00:20:11.033
  • Then get your affairs together, make sure you're in a right
  • 00:20:11.033 --> 00:20:14.002
  • Relationship with god.
  • 00:20:14.002 --> 00:20:15.904
  • Is it a sickness caused by sin?
  • 00:20:15.904 --> 00:20:18.140
  • If it is, confess your sin and turn from your sin.
  • 00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:23.045
  • Or is it that your sickness is for god's glory?
  • 00:20:23.045 --> 00:20:26.415
  • Then ask how he can best be magnified through your illness.
  • 00:20:26.415 --> 00:20:31.086
  • Thirdly, pray for god's healing.
  • 00:20:31.086 --> 00:20:34.523
  • That's the point of this passage.
  • 00:20:34.523 --> 00:20:37.025
  • Just because god doesn't say yes every time, doesn't mean we
  • 00:20:37.025 --> 00:20:41.630
  • Shouldn't pray.
  • 00:20:41.630 --> 00:20:42.998
  • We ought to pray boldly for what is in our hearts, and quietly
  • 00:20:42.998 --> 00:20:47.836
  • Rest in god's answer.
  • 00:20:47.836 --> 00:20:50.339
  • And finally, seek god's glory.
  • 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:53.742
  • In 2 corinthians 12:9, god said to paul, "'my grace is
  • 00:20:53.742 --> 00:20:58.113
  • Sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'
  • 00:20:58.113 --> 00:21:02.551
  • Most gladly, therefore, i will rather boast about my
  • 00:21:02.551 --> 00:21:05.854
  • Weaknesses, so that the power of christ may dwell in me."
  • 00:21:05.854 --> 00:21:11.093
  • Several years ago we had one of these services in which we
  • 00:21:11.093 --> 00:21:15.297
  • Prayed for healing, and a couple, not members of our
  • 00:21:15.297 --> 00:21:19.501
  • Church, heard about it on the radio, so they decided to come.
  • 00:21:19.501 --> 00:21:24.272
  • They came from a church that doesn't offer prayers
  • 00:21:24.272 --> 00:21:27.008
  • For healing.
  • 00:21:27.008 --> 00:21:28.510
  • The wife had been diagnosed with cancer.
  • 00:21:28.510 --> 00:21:31.446
  • She had begun her cancer treatments, but she wanted god's
  • 00:21:31.446 --> 00:21:34.416
  • Intervention, and so when we offered a time for people to
  • 00:21:34.416 --> 00:21:37.919
  • Come and ask for healing, she came down to the front of this
  • 00:21:37.919 --> 00:21:41.323
  • Worship center, and she met scott baker, the chairman of our
  • 00:21:41.323 --> 00:21:45.894
  • Prayer partners, and they prayed together, and after a year of
  • 00:21:45.894 --> 00:21:50.932
  • Medical treatment and prayer, she was completely healed.
  • 00:21:50.932 --> 00:21:55.670
  • She is still cancer free.
  • 00:21:55.670 --> 00:21:58.006
  • She used that experience to glorify god and allowed it to
  • 00:21:58.006 --> 00:22:02.878
  • Produce some real changes in her life.
  • 00:22:02.878 --> 00:22:05.714
  • That's how god says we ought to approach illness.
  • 00:22:05.714 --> 00:22:09.418
  • Go to the doctor, pray for god's intervention, and then leave the
  • 00:22:09.418 --> 00:22:15.056
  • Results to god.
  • 00:22:15.056 --> 00:22:16.625
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:22:16.625 --> 00:22:22.097
  • Jeffress: when we're faced with illness or pain, our natural
  • 00:22:22.164 --> 00:22:24.766
  • Tendency is to demand god's intervention, but true faith
  • 00:22:24.766 --> 00:22:29.438
  • Involves kneeling before our sovereign god, trusting his
  • 00:22:29.438 --> 00:22:33.442
  • Perfect will whether he chooses to heal us or not.
  • 00:22:33.442 --> 00:22:37.446
  • Well, i want to express my heartfelt gratitude for faithful
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  • Supporters who make "pathway to victory" possible.
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  • Now please stay right there.
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  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
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  • Announcer: every believer wants to see clear evidence of
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  • Fruit in his brand new book "how to know if you're really saved."
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  • Jeffress: the book of james teaches us that the christian
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  • Life is about more than just knowing god's word, it's about
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  • Living it out.
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  • Jeffress: sometimes god says yes to our prayers for healing, and
  • 00:24:56.651 --> 00:25:00.255
  • Sometimes he says no.
  • 00:25:00.255 --> 00:25:02.624
  • What matters most is our posture of humility before him, seeking
  • 00:25:02.624 --> 00:25:07.295
  • His will above our own desires.
  • 00:25:07.295 --> 00:25:10.332
  • Well, speaking of answered prayers, have you ever wondered
  • 00:25:10.332 --> 00:25:13.134
  • Why some believers seem to experience dramatic answers to
  • 00:25:13.134 --> 00:25:16.838
  • Their prayers, while others struggle to get god's attention?
  • 00:25:16.838 --> 00:25:20.775
  • Next time we're going to look at the story of elijah and discover
  • 00:25:20.775 --> 00:25:24.512
  • The secret to unleashing god's power through effective praying.
  • 00:25:24.512 --> 00:25:29.250
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
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  • Series, "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:25:31.786 --> 00:25:36.157
  • Jeffress: have you ever wondered why it is that some of our
  • 00:25:36.157 --> 00:25:38.293
  • Prayers, many of them, seem never to make it past the roof,
  • 00:25:38.293 --> 00:25:42.397
  • And yet sometimes god chooses to answer our prayer requests
  • 00:25:42.397 --> 00:25:47.302
  • Suddenly and dramatically?
  • 00:25:47.302 --> 00:25:50.572
  • Why is that?
  • 00:25:50.572 --> 00:25:52.374
  • Well, james answers that question in the passage we're
  • 00:25:52.374 --> 00:25:55.276
  • Going to look at today from james chapter 5.
  • 00:25:55.276 --> 00:25:59.047
  • If you have your bibles, turn to james 5 as we discover the
  • 00:25:59.047 --> 00:26:02.584
  • Secret to unleashing god's power in your life.
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  • Magnificent koningsdam.
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  • Be inspired by award-winning musician michael o'brien's
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  • Powerful worship.
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  • Share laughter with dennis swanberg, america's minister of
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  • Encouragement, all while exploring frontier towns like
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  • Juneau, skagway, and ketchikan.
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  • Jeffress: there's something powerful about connecting with
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  • God and fellow believers in the majesty of his
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  • Untamed wilderness.
  • 00:26:53.968 --> 00:26:55.637
  • From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles, these moments in
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  • God's creation will deepen your faith in powerful ways.
  • 00:26:59.808 --> 00:27:03.712
  • Announcer: join us for a spiritual journey through some
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  • Of creation's most spectacular displays.
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  • Don't wait, our best cabins are going fast.
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  • Secure your alaska adventure now.
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  • Call ...
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  • Or visit ptv.org.
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