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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - The Truth About Faith-Kneeling

September 18, 2025 | 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.
#Truth #Salvation #HandofGod #Healing #Prayer #Faith #Sin #Sickness #Strength #Weakness #Disease

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Truth About Faith-Kneeling | September 18, 2025
  • ♪♪
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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.
  • 00:00:08.031 --> 00:00:11.701
  • Robert jeffress.
  • 00:00:11.701 --> 00:00:14.170
  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
  • 00:00:14.170 --> 00:00:15.939
  • Again to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:15.939 --> 00:00:18.241
  • Few topics in christianity generate as much confusion and
  • 00:00:18.241 --> 00:00:21.878
  • Controversy as the subject of divine healing.
  • 00:00:21.878 --> 00:00:25.849
  • Some people believe god heals everyone who has enough faith.
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  • Others claim that the age of miracles ended with
  • 00:00:29.486 --> 00:00:32.222
  • 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.
  • 00:00:40.430 --> 00:00:41.798
  • My message is titled "the truth about faith-kneeling" on today's
  • 00:00:41.798 --> 00:00:46.669
  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:46.669 --> 00:00:55.979
  • Announcer: where there's genuine faith, there will always
  • 00:00:57.080 --> 00:00:59.516
  • Be visible fruit.
  • 00:00:59.516 --> 00:01:01.417
  • In his brand new book "how to know if you're really saved,"
  • 00:01:01.417 --> 00:01:04.687
  • Dr. robert jeffress helps you take stock of the evidence of
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  • Your faith, the spiritual fruit in your daily life.
  • 00:01:07.891 --> 00:01:11.694
  • This outstanding verse by verse walk through the book of james
  • 00:01:11.694 --> 00:01:15.331
  • 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
  • 00:01:20.170 --> 00:01:23.072
  • Generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway
  • 00:01:23.072 --> 00:01:25.675
  • To victory."
  • 00:01:25.675 --> 00:01:28.144
  • ♪♪
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  • Jeffress: you know, whenever i think about the subject of faith
  • 00:01:36.119 --> 00:01:38.988
  • Healing, i think about several encounters i've had with the
  • 00:01:38.988 --> 00:01:42.325
  • Topic through the years.
  • 00:01:42.325 --> 00:01:44.494
  • I remember a popular faith healer on television that i used
  • 00:01:44.494 --> 00:01:48.464
  • To watch all the time for entertainment value, and i
  • 00:01:48.464 --> 00:01:52.936
  • Remember reading about how he decided which diseases he was
  • 00:01:52.936 --> 00:01:56.539
  • Going to heal.
  • 00:01:56.539 --> 00:01:57.874
  • He said, "in the morning services, the lord tells me what
  • 00:01:57.874 --> 00:02:00.643
  • Healings are available.
  • 00:02:00.643 --> 00:02:02.512
  • The lord will say, 'i've got three cancers available today,
  • 00:02:02.512 --> 00:02:06.149
  • And i've got one bad back.
  • 00:02:06.149 --> 00:02:07.750
  • I've got two headache healings.'
  • 00:02:07.750 --> 00:02:09.953
  • I announce that to the congregation and tell them that
  • 00:02:09.953 --> 00:02:12.322
  • Anyone who comes with faith can claim those healings that are
  • 00:02:12.322 --> 00:02:16.092
  • Available for that evening."
  • 00:02:16.092 --> 00:02:18.394
  • That was his approach to healing.
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  • I think about an experience i had when i was a teenager.
  • 00:02:20.964 --> 00:02:25.001
  • I had something wrong with my right arm.
  • 00:02:25.001 --> 00:02:28.571
  • I'd lost all my feeling in my arm.
  • 00:02:28.571 --> 00:02:31.207
  • We went to the neurologist, they couldn't find anything.
  • 00:02:31.207 --> 00:02:35.378
  • I was scheduled to go on a mission trip in another country,
  • 00:02:35.378 --> 00:02:38.281
  • And one night, in the middle of the night, i was awakened and
  • 00:02:38.281 --> 00:02:41.618
  • Impressed to start praying about my arm, and the lord immediately
  • 00:02:41.618 --> 00:02:46.289
  • 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.
  • 00:02:54.130 --> 00:02:57.734
  • 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.
  • 00:03:07.243 --> 00:03:12.148
  • She died three weeks later.
  • 00:03:12.148 --> 00:03:15.251
  • What does the bible really say about the subject of healing?
  • 00:03:15.251 --> 00:03:19.522
  • Does god physically heal people today the way he did in biblical
  • 00:03:19.522 --> 00:03:23.559
  • Times, and if your answer is no, how do you account for all the
  • 00:03:23.559 --> 00:03:27.697
  • Voluminous accounts of people who have been healed?
  • 00:03:27.697 --> 00:03:31.934
  • 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
  • 00:03:39.942 --> 00:03:43.813
  • 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?
  • 00:03:53.990 --> 00:03:55.591
  • Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to
  • 00:03:55.591 --> 00:03:58.795
  • Pray over him, having anointed him with oil in the name of
  • 00:03:58.795 --> 00:04:03.533
  • The lord."
  • 00:04:03.533 --> 00:04:05.001
  • Let's look first at the audience to whom james is speaking.
  • 00:04:05.001 --> 00:04:08.805
  • Remember, james is speaking specifically to christians whose
  • 00:04:08.805 --> 00:04:12.942
  • Belief and behavior did not match with one another, and he
  • 00:04:12.942 --> 00:04:17.280
  • Says in verse 14, "is any among you sick?"
  • 00:04:17.280 --> 00:04:20.817
  • James is writing to sick people.
  • 00:04:20.817 --> 00:04:23.586
  • Now, this word sick is interesting.
  • 00:04:23.586 --> 00:04:26.723
  • 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
  • 00:04:44.741 --> 00:04:48.177
  • Spiritual strength.
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  • So which is it?
  • 00:04:50.246 --> 00:04:51.714
  • 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
  • 00:05:01.023 --> 00:05:04.794
  • The one who is sick, and the lord will raise him up, and if
  • 00:05:04.794 --> 00:05:08.331
  • He has committed sins, they will be forgiven him."
  • 00:05:08.331 --> 00:05:12.568
  • Or look at verse 16, "therefore, confess your sins to one
  • 00:05:12.568 --> 00:05:16.873
  • 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
  • 00:05:21.110 --> 00:05:23.146
  • Accomplish much."
  • 00:05:23.146 --> 00:05:24.781
  • 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
  • 00:05:28.951 --> 00:05:32.588
  • Know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will
  • 00:05:32.588 --> 00:05:37.760
  • Save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
  • 00:05:37.760 --> 00:05:42.732
  • All these references to sin seem to indicate he's talking about a
  • 00:05:42.732 --> 00:05:46.836
  • 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?
  • 00:05:56.212 --> 00:05:57.547
  • 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
  • 00:06:00.283 --> 00:06:04.554
  • The result of sin.
  • 00:06:04.554 --> 00:06:06.022
  • Again, all illness is not the result of sin, but sometimes
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  • It is.
  • 00:06:10.726 --> 00:06:12.195
  • Well, what are we supposed to do if we're sick?
  • 00:06:12.195 --> 00:06:15.398
  • Notice the things james says we're to do.
  • 00:06:15.398 --> 00:06:18.167
  • "is any among you sick," verse 14, "then he must call for the
  • 00:06:18.167 --> 00:06:23.105
  • Elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing
  • 00:06:23.105 --> 00:06:27.210
  • Him with oil in the name of the lord."
  • 00:06:27.210 --> 00:06:30.847
  • 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.
  • 00:06:40.823 --> 00:06:42.825
  • You know, people sometimes think, those of us here on the
  • 00:06:42.825 --> 00:06:46.229
  • 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
  • 00:07:03.813 --> 00:07:07.116
  • Anointing with oil.
  • 00:07:07.116 --> 00:07:08.851
  • I had somebody ask today, "where's the oil?
  • 00:07:08.851 --> 00:07:11.621
  • Are you passing out oil?"
  • 00:07:11.621 --> 00:07:13.623
  • Because it says anoint people with oil.
  • 00:07:13.623 --> 00:07:15.825
  • We'll get to that in just a moment, but an analysis of the
  • 00:07:15.825 --> 00:07:19.629
  • Greek text reveals that this is a participial phrase, anointing
  • 00:07:19.629 --> 00:07:24.467
  • With oil.
  • 00:07:24.467 --> 00:07:25.835
  • It's a subsidiary clause.
  • 00:07:25.835 --> 00:07:28.905
  • In other words, it's secondary to the main action.
  • 00:07:28.905 --> 00:07:33.576
  • 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
  • 00:07:36.979 --> 00:07:41.117
  • Will heal.
  • 00:07:41.117 --> 00:07:42.451
  • Look at verse 14 again, "is any among you sick?
  • 00:07:42.451 --> 00:07:44.820
  • Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to
  • 00:07:44.820 --> 00:07:48.658
  • Pray over him, having anointed him with oil in the name of
  • 00:07:48.658 --> 00:07:53.396
  • The lord."
  • 00:07:53.396 --> 00:07:54.730
  • Now, that phrase is key, "in the name of the lord."
  • 00:07:54.730 --> 00:07:56.866
  • That's a phrase in the bible that's used as a synonym for the
  • 00:07:56.866 --> 00:08:01.103
  • Will of god, and that leads to the promise in verses 15 and 16.
  • 00:08:01.103 --> 00:08:06.742
  • What is the promise?
  • 00:08:06.742 --> 00:08:08.110
  • "the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who
  • 00:08:08.110 --> 00:08:12.782
  • Is sick."
  • 00:08:12.782 --> 00:08:15.384
  • Now, what does it mean to pray in faith?
  • 00:08:15.384 --> 00:08:17.820
  • What is the prayer of faith?
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  • Listen to this, the prayer of faith is not some positive
  • 00:08:19.655 --> 00:08:23.426
  • 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,
  • 00:08:27.363 --> 00:08:32.301
  • God will heal us, and if we're not healed, it's because we
  • 00:08:32.301 --> 00:08:35.304
  • Don't have enough faith.
  • 00:08:35.304 --> 00:08:36.806
  • 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
  • 00:08:38.975 --> 00:08:42.845
  • Ask him to do.
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  • Faith is the belief that god will do what is best for our
  • 00:08:44.413 --> 00:08:48.651
  • Good and his glory.
  • 00:08:48.651 --> 00:08:50.853
  • To pray in faith means to boldly ask god to do what you want him
  • 00:08:50.853 --> 00:08:55.558
  • 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,
  • 00:09:04.100 --> 00:09:07.837
  • Deliver me from this evil that is about to happen, and yet not
  • 00:09:07.837 --> 00:09:11.707
  • My will, your will be done."
  • 00:09:11.707 --> 00:09:14.110
  • That's the prayer of faith.
  • 00:09:14.110 --> 00:09:15.711
  • "the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is
  • 00:09:15.711 --> 00:09:18.314
  • Sick, and the lord will raise him up, and if he has committed
  • 00:09:18.314 --> 00:09:22.385
  • Sins, they will be forgiven him."
  • 00:09:22.385 --> 00:09:25.755
  • If this happens to be a sickness caused by sin, god will forgive.
  • 00:09:25.755 --> 00:09:31.160
  • "therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one
  • 00:09:31.160 --> 00:09:35.931
  • Another so that you may be healed."
  • 00:09:35.931 --> 00:09:39.735
  • Notice, if you have sin in your life, you're to confess it.
  • 00:09:39.735 --> 00:09:43.973
  • Not to the whole congregation.
  • 00:09:43.973 --> 00:09:45.975
  • You know, some churches love to have these open mic services
  • 00:09:45.975 --> 00:09:50.079
  • Where people come down, and they'll share all of their dirty
  • 00:09:50.079 --> 00:09:53.182
  • Laundry with the whole congregation.
  • 00:09:53.182 --> 00:09:55.351
  • No, that doesn't build up anybody.
  • 00:09:55.351 --> 00:09:57.987
  • Your circle of confession should be no larger than the circle
  • 00:09:57.987 --> 00:10:01.657
  • Of offense.
  • 00:10:01.657 --> 00:10:03.025
  • You confess your sins to one another, not to everybody, but
  • 00:10:03.025 --> 00:10:06.395
  • To one another.
  • 00:10:06.395 --> 00:10:07.730
  • If there is sin in your life, confess it, and god will
  • 00:10:07.730 --> 00:10:10.700
  • Heal you.
  • 00:10:10.700 --> 00:10:12.268
  • The prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick.
  • 00:10:12.268 --> 00:10:15.671
  • Now, let me be clear about this.
  • 00:10:15.671 --> 00:10:17.606
  • There is no promise in the bible anywhere that god will heal
  • 00:10:17.606 --> 00:10:23.045
  • Everybody who is sick.
  • 00:10:23.045 --> 00:10:25.781
  • There is no promise that god will give you everything
  • 00:10:25.781 --> 00:10:28.751
  • You desire.
  • 00:10:28.751 --> 00:10:30.086
  • Every promise in the bible that seems to indicate god will do
  • 00:10:30.086 --> 00:10:33.823
  • Whatever we ask him to do, every promise is bounded within the
  • 00:10:33.823 --> 00:10:39.228
  • Will of god.
  • 00:10:39.228 --> 00:10:40.930
  • 1 john 5:14, "this is the confidence we have in him, that,
  • 00:10:40.930 --> 00:10:44.633
  • If we ask anything according to god's will, he hears us."
  • 00:10:44.633 --> 00:10:52.842
  • God's will is a boundary around our life, not to keep good
  • 00:10:52.842 --> 00:10:57.680
  • Things from entering our life, but to keep bad things, things
  • 00:10:57.680 --> 00:11:01.751
  • That are contrary to the will of god.
  • 00:11:01.751 --> 00:11:04.787
  • Let's be clear, god sometimes says yes to healing, sometimes
  • 00:11:04.787 --> 00:11:09.024
  • He says no.
  • 00:11:09.024 --> 00:11:10.693
  • Paul answered no answers to his prayer for physical healing.
  • 00:11:10.693 --> 00:11:15.164
  • Jot down 2 corinthians 12, verses 7 through 10.
  • 00:11:15.164 --> 00:11:19.034
  • Let me read this, because this will encourage some of you.
  • 00:11:19.034 --> 00:11:23.305
  • "because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,
  • 00:11:23.305 --> 00:11:26.408
  • For this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given
  • 00:11:26.408 --> 00:11:30.446
  • Me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of satan to torment
  • 00:11:30.446 --> 00:11:35.384
  • Me--to keep me from exalting myself!"
  • 00:11:35.384 --> 00:11:38.888
  • God sent some affliction into paul's life to humble him.
  • 00:11:38.888 --> 00:11:44.059
  • Some think his thorn in the life was a wife.
  • 00:11:44.059 --> 00:11:46.762
  • I don't believe that.
  • 00:11:46.762 --> 00:11:49.031
  • He wasn't married at this point anyway, but there was some
  • 00:11:49.031 --> 00:11:53.102
  • Physical malady he had that god sent into his life.
  • 00:11:53.102 --> 00:11:57.006
  • Verse 8, "concerning this," i begged, "i implored the lord
  • 00:11:57.006 --> 00:12:01.043
  • Three times that it might leave me."
  • 00:12:01.043 --> 00:12:03.612
  • He begged god on three separate occasions to heal him.
  • 00:12:03.612 --> 00:12:07.016
  • "and god said to me, 'my grace is sufficient for you, for power
  • 00:12:07.016 --> 00:12:11.954
  • Is perfected in weakness.'
  • 00:12:11.954 --> 00:12:13.923
  • Most gladly, therefore, i will rather boast about my
  • 00:12:13.923 --> 00:12:17.259
  • Weaknesses, so that the power of christ may dwell in me.
  • 00:12:17.259 --> 00:12:21.997
  • Therefore i am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with
  • 00:12:21.997 --> 00:12:26.402
  • Distresses and persecutions, with difficulties, for christ's
  • 00:12:26.402 --> 00:12:29.872
  • Sake; for when i am weak, then i am strong."
  • 00:12:29.872 --> 00:12:33.242
  • Paul experienced no answers to his prayer for physical healing.
  • 00:12:33.242 --> 00:12:37.446
  • In 2 timothy 4:20, paul said to timothy, "i had to leave our
  • 00:12:37.446 --> 00:12:41.851
  • Friend trophimus sick at melitus."
  • 00:12:41.851 --> 00:12:45.287
  • Why didn't paul heal his friend if he could?
  • 00:12:45.287 --> 00:12:47.857
  • He had the power.
  • 00:12:47.857 --> 00:12:49.191
  • He didn't have the power to heal his friend.
  • 00:12:49.191 --> 00:12:51.227
  • The same was true with epaphroditus.
  • 00:12:51.227 --> 00:12:53.796
  • The bible says sometimes god says yes, sometimes he says no.
  • 00:12:53.796 --> 00:12:58.968
  • And notice in this passage, he says, and while you're praying,
  • 00:12:58.968 --> 00:13:02.638
  • If you have sin in your life, confess it.
  • 00:13:02.638 --> 00:13:08.177
  • Can we know for sure if sin is responsible
  • 00:13:08.177 --> 00:13:10.579
  • For illness in our life?
  • 00:13:10.579 --> 00:13:12.047
  • We can't know for sure, but sometimes we can.
  • 00:13:12.047 --> 00:13:15.985
  • But here's a good prayer to pray, any and every time
  • 00:13:15.985 --> 00:13:19.054
  • You can.
  • 00:13:19.054 --> 00:13:20.422
  • Psalm 139, verses 23 to 24, "search me, o lord, and know my
  • 00:13:20.422 --> 00:13:27.096
  • Heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be
  • 00:13:27.096 --> 00:13:31.700
  • Any way in me that is wicked, and lead me to the
  • 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:35.905
  • Everlasting way."
  • 00:13:35.905 --> 00:13:38.274
  • In other words, always be asking god to reveal sin in your life,
  • 00:13:38.274 --> 00:13:43.612
  • And if there is sin in your life, ask for his forgiveness.
  • 00:13:43.612 --> 00:13:48.117
  • You know, let me say a word about biblical healing versus,
  • 00:13:48.117 --> 00:13:52.488
  • Instead of faith healing, what i call fake healing.
  • 00:13:52.488 --> 00:13:56.692
  • First of all, biblical healing was always instantaneous.
  • 00:13:56.692 --> 00:14:01.730
  • When god healed in the bible, he did it instantly with a word or
  • 00:14:01.730 --> 00:14:05.801
  • With a touch.
  • 00:14:05.801 --> 00:14:07.202
  • Secondly, biblical healing is total.
  • 00:14:07.202 --> 00:14:10.406
  • You know, when i watched the faith healer do his thing, he
  • 00:14:10.406 --> 00:14:14.410
  • Would ask for a testimony, and people would say, "oh, i'm
  • 00:14:14.410 --> 00:14:17.246
  • Seeing a little bit better," or, "my back is feeling better," or,
  • 00:14:17.246 --> 00:14:21.283
  • "i'm healing better."
  • 00:14:21.283 --> 00:14:23.218
  • Not in the bible times.
  • 00:14:23.218 --> 00:14:24.586
  • In biblical times it was complete.
  • 00:14:24.586 --> 00:14:27.423
  • It was total.
  • 00:14:27.423 --> 00:14:28.757
  • It was complete healing.
  • 00:14:28.757 --> 00:14:30.626
  • Thirdly, biblical healing included organic diseases.
  • 00:14:30.626 --> 00:14:34.997
  • Jesus healed withered arms.
  • 00:14:34.997 --> 00:14:37.266
  • The lame were healed, the crippled, the totally blind.
  • 00:14:37.266 --> 00:14:40.402
  • Even people who were dead were raised from the dead.
  • 00:14:40.402 --> 00:14:44.006
  • And finally, biblical healing involved those who were
  • 00:14:44.006 --> 00:14:46.976
  • Chosen of god.
  • 00:14:46.976 --> 00:14:48.310
  • Not every believer had the power to heal.
  • 00:14:48.310 --> 00:14:50.846
  • First of all, it was jesus, and then the apostles, and then it
  • 00:14:50.846 --> 00:14:55.317
  • Expanded to the disciples, the 70 followers of jesus, and a few
  • 00:14:55.317 --> 00:15:00.356
  • Of their associates, but that was it.
  • 00:15:00.356 --> 00:15:03.192
  • And the purpose of healing was not for the benefit of the sick.
  • 00:15:03.192 --> 00:15:07.763
  • It was to authenticate the message of god's messenger.
  • 00:15:07.763 --> 00:15:11.800
  • Biblical healing involved those who were chosen by god.
  • 00:15:11.800 --> 00:15:16.138
  • You know, i think of something dr. criswell used to say, "i
  • 00:15:16.138 --> 00:15:20.409
  • Believe in faith healing, i just don't believe in faith healers."
  • 00:15:20.409 --> 00:15:26.482
  • Because we have the new testament, we don't need the
  • 00:15:26.482 --> 00:15:29.551
  • Authentication of prophets of god today.
  • 00:15:29.551 --> 00:15:32.988
  • God doesn't need a middleman or a middlewoman to bring healing.
  • 00:15:32.988 --> 00:15:36.892
  • If he wants to heal, he does it directly.
  • 00:15:36.892 --> 00:15:40.529
  • And that leads to the question: well, why does god
  • 00:15:40.529 --> 00:15:44.099
  • Allow sickness?
  • 00:15:44.099 --> 00:15:45.434
  • If he says no to our request for healing, why does god allow it?
  • 00:15:45.434 --> 00:15:50.739
  • Somebody asked me this week, what do you think of so-and-so,
  • 00:15:50.739 --> 00:15:53.876
  • A pastor who says that god is sovereign over everything except
  • 00:15:53.876 --> 00:15:58.514
  • Illness, and god takes no responsibility for
  • 00:15:58.514 --> 00:16:01.984
  • Our illnesses?
  • 00:16:01.984 --> 00:16:03.385
  • I said, "what i think is he's a heretic."
  • 00:16:03.385 --> 00:16:07.222
  • If you say god has no role in our sickness or our problems
  • 00:16:07.222 --> 00:16:14.329
  • That's heresy.
  • 00:16:14.329 --> 00:16:15.798
  • Listen to what god said to moses in exodus 4, verse 11, "the lord
  • 00:16:15.798 --> 00:16:20.636
  • Said to moses, 'who has made man's mouth?
  • 00:16:20.636 --> 00:16:24.273
  • Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind?
  • 00:16:24.273 --> 00:16:29.812
  • Is it not i, the lord?'"
  • 00:16:29.812 --> 00:16:32.281
  • Some people think that is harsh, to blame god for our illnesses.
  • 00:16:32.281 --> 00:16:37.019
  • God's saying, "i take responsibility for it.
  • 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:39.822
  • I have a purpose."
  • 00:16:39.822 --> 00:16:41.190
  • If you're sick today, that ought to give you great comfort.
  • 00:16:41.190 --> 00:16:44.593
  • That god's not unaware of your situation.
  • 00:16:44.593 --> 00:16:47.229
  • He has a purpose for your illness.
  • 00:16:47.229 --> 00:16:50.032
  • What are the various purposes for sickness?
  • 00:16:50.032 --> 00:16:52.868
  • Well, some sickness is meant to lead to death.
  • 00:16:52.868 --> 00:16:57.139
  • There is a sickness, the bible says, leading to death.
  • 00:16:57.139 --> 00:17:01.043
  • The fact is, if we never got sick, we would never die, and we
  • 00:17:01.043 --> 00:17:05.614
  • Would be left trapped in these imperfect bodies forever.
  • 00:17:05.614 --> 00:17:09.885
  • You know, many times god allows sickness to transition us to our
  • 00:17:09.885 --> 00:17:14.123
  • New bodies and the future god has for us, and that's, by the
  • 00:17:14.123 --> 00:17:18.560
  • Way, why i don't get that excited about testimonies of
  • 00:17:18.560 --> 00:17:22.097
  • Physical healing.
  • 00:17:22.097 --> 00:17:23.499
  • I do believe god heals, but any healing is only temporary.
  • 00:17:23.499 --> 00:17:28.737
  • Whoever is healed is going to get sick again and they're going
  • 00:17:28.737 --> 00:17:32.141
  • To ultimately die.
  • 00:17:32.141 --> 00:17:34.143
  • That's part of god's plan.
  • 00:17:34.143 --> 00:17:36.278
  • Secondly, there is a sickness that is the result of sin.
  • 00:17:36.278 --> 00:17:40.449
  • Again, so you hear me clearly, not all sickness is the result
  • 00:17:40.449 --> 00:17:44.186
  • Of our personal sin, but some of it is.
  • 00:17:44.186 --> 00:17:48.457
  • For example, numbers chapter 12 records miriam, the sister of
  • 00:17:48.457 --> 00:17:53.462
  • Moses, being struck with leprosy because she rebelled against
  • 00:17:53.462 --> 00:17:57.866
  • Her brother.
  • 00:17:57.866 --> 00:17:59.201
  • David describes the physical effects of his unconfessed sin,
  • 00:17:59.201 --> 00:18:02.771
  • His adultery with bathsheba and murder of her husband uriah.
  • 00:18:02.771 --> 00:18:07.009
  • David said, "when i kept silent about my sin, my body wasted
  • 00:18:07.009 --> 00:18:11.413
  • Away through my groaning all day long.
  • 00:18:11.413 --> 00:18:14.383
  • For day and through night your hand was heavy upon me; my
  • 00:18:14.383 --> 00:18:19.087
  • Vitality was drained away as the fever heat of summer."
  • 00:18:19.087 --> 00:18:24.459
  • Thirdly, some sickness is given for the glory of god, so that
  • 00:18:24.459 --> 00:18:29.665
  • God might be glorified.
  • 00:18:29.665 --> 00:18:31.133
  • Remember in john 9, jesus and the apostles passed by a man who
  • 00:18:31.133 --> 00:18:35.704
  • Was blind from birth, and the disciples said, "jesus, who's
  • 00:18:35.704 --> 00:18:40.842
  • Responsible for this man's blindness?
  • 00:18:40.842 --> 00:18:43.111
  • Was it his sin, or was it his parents's sin?"
  • 00:18:43.111 --> 00:18:47.583
  • And jesus said, "neither, it was that god might be glorified,"
  • 00:18:47.583 --> 00:18:51.486
  • And jesus immediately cured his blindness and once again proved
  • 00:18:51.486 --> 00:18:57.492
  • That he was the messiah.
  • 00:18:57.492 --> 00:18:59.094
  • In other words, jesus said, "this man has been blind all of
  • 00:18:59.094 --> 00:19:02.231
  • His life for one reason, so that at this time in history, i could
  • 00:19:02.231 --> 00:19:06.568
  • Perform a miracle and prove to the world i am the messiah."
  • 00:19:06.568 --> 00:19:11.173
  • Sometimes we're allowed to be sick so that god can be
  • 00:19:11.173 --> 00:19:15.644
  • Glorified through our healing.
  • 00:19:15.644 --> 00:19:17.713
  • Many times it is through our sickness that god is
  • 00:19:17.713 --> 00:19:20.983
  • Best glorified.
  • 00:19:20.983 --> 00:19:22.317
  • That's what paul said.
  • 00:19:22.317 --> 00:19:23.885
  • Paul said, "it is when i was weak that the power of god was
  • 00:19:23.885 --> 00:19:28.023
  • Most strongly manifest in me."
  • 00:19:28.023 --> 00:19:31.293
  • So, what are we supposed to do if we're sick?
  • 00:19:31.293 --> 00:19:35.030
  • I'm speaking to some of you here, some of you watching on
  • 00:19:35.030 --> 00:19:37.766
  • Television, you're ill or somebody you care about is ill.
  • 00:19:37.766 --> 00:19:42.738
  • What are we supposed to do?
  • 00:19:42.738 --> 00:19:44.573
  • Number one, if you're sick, go to the doctor.
  • 00:19:44.573 --> 00:19:48.610
  • That's not anti-faith, that is recognizing how god works.
  • 00:19:48.610 --> 00:19:53.248
  • Again, jesus is the one who said it's not those who are well who
  • 00:19:53.248 --> 00:19:57.319
  • Need a physician, but those who are ill.
  • 00:19:57.319 --> 00:20:00.155
  • Secondly, ask god's purpose in your illness.
  • 00:20:00.155 --> 00:20:04.326
  • Ask him to reveal to you his purpose in your illness.
  • 00:20:04.326 --> 00:20:08.597
  • Might it be a sickness unto death?
  • 00:20:08.597 --> 00:20:10.832
  • Then get your affairs together, make sure you're in a right
  • 00:20:10.832 --> 00:20:13.802
  • Relationship with god.
  • 00:20:13.802 --> 00:20:15.704
  • Is it a sickness caused by sin?
  • 00:20:15.704 --> 00:20:17.939
  • If it is, confess your sin and turn from your sin.
  • 00:20:17.939 --> 00:20:22.844
  • Or is it that your sickness is for god's glory?
  • 00:20:22.844 --> 00:20:26.214
  • Then ask how he can best be magnified through your illness.
  • 00:20:26.214 --> 00:20:30.886
  • Thirdly, pray for god's healing.
  • 00:20:30.886 --> 00:20:34.323
  • That's the point of this passage.
  • 00:20:34.323 --> 00:20:36.825
  • Just because god doesn't say yes every time, doesn't mean we
  • 00:20:36.825 --> 00:20:41.430
  • Shouldn't pray.
  • 00:20:41.430 --> 00:20:42.798
  • We ought to pray boldly for what is in our hearts, and quietly
  • 00:20:42.798 --> 00:20:47.636
  • Rest in god's answer.
  • 00:20:47.636 --> 00:20:50.138
  • And finally, seek god's glory.
  • 00:20:50.138 --> 00:20:53.542
  • In 2 corinthians 12:9, god said to paul, "'my grace is
  • 00:20:53.542 --> 00:20:57.913
  • Sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'
  • 00:20:57.913 --> 00:21:02.351
  • Most gladly, therefore, i will rather boast about my
  • 00:21:02.351 --> 00:21:05.654
  • Weaknesses, so that the power of christ may dwell in me."
  • 00:21:05.654 --> 00:21:10.892
  • Several years ago we had one of these services in which we
  • 00:21:10.892 --> 00:21:15.097
  • Prayed for healing, and a couple, not members of our
  • 00:21:15.097 --> 00:21:19.301
  • Church, heard about it on the radio, so they decided to come.
  • 00:21:19.301 --> 00:21:24.072
  • They came from a church that doesn't offer prayers
  • 00:21:24.072 --> 00:21:26.808
  • For healing.
  • 00:21:26.808 --> 00:21:28.310
  • The wife had been diagnosed with cancer.
  • 00:21:28.310 --> 00:21:31.246
  • She had begun her cancer treatments, but she wanted god's
  • 00:21:31.246 --> 00:21:34.216
  • Intervention, and so when we offered a time for people to
  • 00:21:34.216 --> 00:21:37.719
  • Come and ask for healing, she came down to the front of this
  • 00:21:37.719 --> 00:21:41.123
  • Worship center, and she met scott baker, the chairman of our
  • 00:21:41.123 --> 00:21:45.694
  • Prayer partners, and they prayed together, and after a year of
  • 00:21:45.694 --> 00:21:50.732
  • Medical treatment and prayer, she was completely healed.
  • 00:21:50.732 --> 00:21:55.470
  • She is still cancer free.
  • 00:21:55.470 --> 00:21:57.806
  • She used that experience to glorify god and allowed it to
  • 00:21:57.806 --> 00:22:02.677
  • Produce some real changes in her life.
  • 00:22:02.677 --> 00:22:05.514
  • That's how god says we ought to approach illness.
  • 00:22:05.514 --> 00:22:09.217
  • Go to the doctor, pray for god's intervention, and then leave the
  • 00:22:09.217 --> 00:22:14.856
  • Results to god.
  • 00:22:14.856 --> 00:22:16.425
  • ♪♪
  • 00:22:16.425 --> 00:22:21.997
  • Jeffress: when we're faced with illness or pain, our natural
  • 00:22:21.997 --> 00:22:24.566
  • Tendency is to demand god's intervention, but true faith
  • 00:22:24.566 --> 00:22:29.237
  • Involves kneeling before our sovereign god, trusting his
  • 00:22:29.237 --> 00:22:33.241
  • Perfect will whether he chooses to heal us or not.
  • 00:22:33.241 --> 00:22:37.245
  • 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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  • You through what it truly means to be a doer of the word,
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  • Jeffress: sometimes god says yes to our prayers for healing, and
  • 00:24:56.451 --> 00:25:00.055
  • Sometimes he says no.
  • 00:25:00.055 --> 00:25:02.424
  • What matters most is our posture of humility before him, seeking
  • 00:25:02.424 --> 00:25:07.095
  • His will above our own desires.
  • 00:25:07.095 --> 00:25:10.131
  • Well, speaking of answered prayers, have you ever wondered
  • 00:25:10.131 --> 00:25:12.934
  • Why some believers seem to experience dramatic answers to
  • 00:25:12.934 --> 00:25:16.638
  • Their prayers, while others struggle to get god's attention?
  • 00:25:16.638 --> 00:25:20.575
  • Next time we're going to look at the story of elijah and discover
  • 00:25:20.575 --> 00:25:24.312
  • The secret to unleashing god's power through effective praying.
  • 00:25:24.312 --> 00:25:29.050
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:29.050 --> 00:25:31.586
  • Series, "how to know if you're really saved."
  • 00:25:31.586 --> 00:25:35.957
  • Jeffress: have you ever wondered why it is that some of our
  • 00:25:35.957 --> 00:25:38.093
  • Prayers, many of them, seem never to make it past the roof,
  • 00:25:38.093 --> 00:25:42.197
  • And yet sometimes god chooses to answer our prayer requests
  • 00:25:42.197 --> 00:25:47.102
  • Suddenly and dramatically?
  • 00:25:47.102 --> 00:25:50.372
  • Why is that?
  • 00:25:50.372 --> 00:25:52.173
  • Well, james answers that question in the passage we're
  • 00:25:52.173 --> 00:25:55.076
  • Going to look at today from james chapter 5.
  • 00:25:55.076 --> 00:25:58.847
  • If you have your bibles, turn to james 5 as we discover the
  • 00:25:58.847 --> 00:26:02.384
  • 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.
  • 00:26:53.768 --> 00:26:55.437
  • From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles, these moments in
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  • God's creation will deepen your faith in powerful ways.
  • 00:26:59.607 --> 00:27:03.511
  • 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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