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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - When God's Patience Runs Out (Part 2)

May 27, 2025 | S25:E252

Robert Jeffress - When God's Patience Runs Out (Part 2)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Faith #Forgiveness #Religion #Culture #WordofGod #Patience #inActive #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #ChristianMusic #Temptation #Homosexuality #Lust #Purity #Romans1

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - When God's Patience Runs Out (Part 2) | May 27, 2025
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • [announcer] from the pulpit
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  • Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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  • This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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  • And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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  • People today often argue that the bible is outdated.
  • 00:00:18.708 --> 00:00:22.245
  • "the values held by jews and christians
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  • Thousands of years ago
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  • Simply don't apply to the 21st century," they say,
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  • But the bible teaches that god's truth is always relevant
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  • No matter what the current culture says
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  • Or how unpopular god's truth may be.
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  • Today, i'm going to present a timeless lesson
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  • From the story of sodom and gomorrah.
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  • My message is titled, "when god's patience runs out"
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  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • ♪ holy, holy, holy ♪
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  • ♪ lord god almighty ♪
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  • ♪ early in the morning ♪
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  • ♪ our song shall rise to thee ♪
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  • ♪ holy, holy, holy ♪
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  • ♪ merciful and mighty ♪
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  • ♪ god in three persons ♪
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  • ♪ blessed trinity ♪
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • ♪ holy, holy, holy ♪
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  • ♪ lord god almighty ♪
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  • ♪ all thy works shall praise thy name ♪
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  • ♪ in earth, and sky, and sea ♪
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  • ♪ holy, holy, holy ♪
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  • ♪ merciful and mighty ♪
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  • ♪ god in three persons ♪
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  • ♪ blessed trinity ♪
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  • ♪ god in three persons ♪
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  • ♪ blessed trinity ♪
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  • ♪ amen ♪
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  • (congregation applauding)
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  • [announcer] the bible is filled with stories about heroes.
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • But abraham rises above the rest
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  • As a true champion of faith.
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  • In "walking by faith," dr. robert jeffress
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  • Shares how to step forward in faith
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  • Even when the future appears uncertain.
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  • Your faith can thrive despite the challenges you face.
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  • Request your copy of "walking by faith"
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  • When you give a generous gift
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  • To support the ministry of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • We live under the new testament,
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  • And make no mistake about it,
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  • The new testament
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  • Has many prohibitions against homosexuality,
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  • 1 corinthians 6:9, 1 timothy 1:10.
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  • By the way, the clearest denunciation in the new testament
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  • Is found in romans 1:26-27.
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  • Now, some of you listening aren't going to like this,
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  • But this is the word of the lord,
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  • If you believe all scripture is inspired.
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  • Listen to verse 26 of romans 1,
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  • "for this reason god gave them,"
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  • Who?
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  • People who have rejected the truth of god.
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  • "for this reason god gave them over to degrading passions,
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  • For their women exchanged the natural function
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  • For that which is unnatural."
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  • Underline that.
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  • "and in the same way also
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  • Men abandoned their natural function with the woman
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  • And burned in their desire toward one another,
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  • Men with men committing indecent acts
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  • And receiving in their own persons
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  • The due penalty of their error."
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  • What are those due penalties
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  • That people who practice homosexuality receive?
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  • Some people think, "well,
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  • It's talking about a physical penalty,
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  • Certain kinds of illnesses,
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  • Maybe it's aids that paul has in mind here."
  • 00:05:31.154 --> 00:05:34.590
  • Now, it's true that aids is not exclusively reserved
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  • For the homosexual community,
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  • But it is primarily a homosexual disease.
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  • According to the center for disease control,
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  • Men who have sex with men
  • 00:05:48.304 --> 00:05:50.373
  • Have an hiv prevalence 60 times higher
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  • Than the rest of the general population.
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  • Matt foreman, who served as the executive director
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  • For the national gay and lesbian task force,
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  • Said at a homosexual rally, quote,
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  • "with 70% of people living in this country with hiv
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  • Being homosexual or bisexual,
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  • We cannot deny that hiv is a gay disease."
  • 00:06:14.797 --> 00:06:20.136
  • Now that's a gay activist himself admitting.
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  • He's not saying that 70% of homosexuals have aids,
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  • He's saying that 70% of those who have aids
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  • Are homosexual or bisexual.
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  • Indeed, by one estimate,
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  • 80% of the serious sexually-transmitted diseases
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  • In this country occur in the homosexual population.
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  • Why is there such a high incidence of disease
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  • And sickness among homosexuals?
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  • It's very simple,
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  • Because what they do is, the bible says, "unnatural."
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  • That word un is a prefix that means against.
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  • What homosexuals do goes against nature,
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  • And perhaps that's what paul says.
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  • There are physical consequences,
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  • But i think he may have something else in mind here as well.
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  • There are not only spiritual consequences,
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  • Physical consequences,
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  • There are spiritual consequences as well.
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  • Listen to this.
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  • Paul is saying that homosexuality
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  • Is not only the cause of god's judgment,
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  • In some cases, it is the result of god's judgment.
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  • Look at verse 24 of romans 1.
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  • "therefore, god gave them over
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  • In the lust of their hearts to impurity
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  • So that their bodies would be dishonored among them."
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  • God gave them over,
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  • Because they rejected the knowledge of the true god,
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  • Part of their judgment was god let them go,
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  • He let them follow their own desires
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  • That resulted in this degradation.
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  • Now, i'm going to keep saying this for everybody listening,
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  • Homosexuality is a grave sin just as adultery,
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  • And unbiblical divorce, and greed, and injustice.
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  • All sin is sin
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  • And there is no sin including homosexuality
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  • That is beyond the forgiveness of god.
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  • Every sin can be forgiven,
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  • But before you can receive god's forgiveness,
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  • You have to admit that you need god's forgiveness.
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  • Can homosexuals be forgiven?
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  • Can adulterers be forgiven?
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  • Of course they can,
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  • But to receive god's forgiveness,
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  • They first have to admit that what they're doing is wrong
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  • And that they need god's forgiveness.
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  • Anybody can be forgiven for anything.
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  • What happened here?
  • 00:08:51.921 --> 00:08:53.956
  • Lot, horrified that they want to assault these two visitors,
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  • Offers them an alternative, and this just blows my mind.
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  • Lot says, "don't rape these two men,
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  • Instead, i have two daughters.
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  • Take them and rape them if you would like to,
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  • But just don't rape these men."
  • 00:09:13.609 --> 00:09:15.177
  • Can you imagine any father doing that with his daughters?
  • 00:09:15.177 --> 00:09:19.515
  • That shows you how perverse lot had become
  • 00:09:19.515 --> 00:09:24.153
  • After living in a perverse city for so long
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  • That immorality had definitely rubbed off on him.
  • 00:09:27.490 --> 00:09:30.860
  • You know what they said?
  • 00:09:30.860 --> 00:09:32.128
  • They said, "we don't want your daughters,
  • 00:09:32.128 --> 00:09:33.596
  • We want these two men, and in fact, we want you too.
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  • We want to rape you as well."
  • 00:09:36.198 --> 00:09:38.401
  • At this point, the angels have had enough.
  • 00:09:38.401 --> 00:09:40.302
  • Verse 11, "they struck the men who were at the doorway
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  • Of the house with blindness, both small and great,
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  • So that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway,"
  • 00:09:47.710 --> 00:09:51.080
  • Talk about being touched by an angel.
  • 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:53.349
  • They got the wrong kind of touch from the angel,
  • 00:09:53.349 --> 00:09:56.519
  • But that wasn't the limit of god's destruction.
  • 00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:59.689
  • They delivered this warning to lot.
  • 00:09:59.689 --> 00:10:01.624
  • Look at verse 12 and 13.
  • 00:10:01.624 --> 00:10:03.993
  • "the two men said to lot, 'whom else have you here?
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  • A son-in-law and your sons and your daughters
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  • And whomever else you have in this city,
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  • Bring them out of the place
  • 00:10:12.802 --> 00:10:14.236
  • For we are about to destroy this place
  • 00:10:14.236 --> 00:10:16.972
  • Because of their outcry has become so great before the lord
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  • That the lord has sent us to destroy it.'"
  • 00:10:21.143 --> 00:10:24.080
  • The angels announced what they were about to do.
  • 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:26.849
  • How did lot's family respond?
  • 00:10:26.849 --> 00:10:29.485
  • They scoffed at the idea.
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  • They laughed at the idea of god's judgment.
  • 00:10:32.388 --> 00:10:35.391
  • That's the way unbelievers today respond.
  • 00:10:35.391 --> 00:10:38.894
  • Remember what happened in the days of noah?
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  • For over 100 years,
  • 00:10:42.231 --> 00:10:43.432
  • Noah preached that a flood was coming
  • 00:10:43.432 --> 00:10:45.568
  • And the people scoffed at noah.
  • 00:10:45.568 --> 00:10:47.703
  • In the last days before jesus returned,
  • 00:10:47.703 --> 00:10:50.272
  • 2 peter 3:3 says, "know this first of all,
  • 00:10:50.272 --> 00:10:52.842
  • That in the last days,
  • 00:10:52.842 --> 00:10:54.577
  • Mockers, scoffers will come with their mocking saying,
  • 00:10:54.577 --> 00:10:58.047
  • 'where is the promise of his coming?'"
  • 00:10:58.047 --> 00:11:01.016
  • "oh, you've been talking about this jesus
  • 00:11:01.016 --> 00:11:03.018
  • Coming back for 2,000 years,
  • 00:11:03.018 --> 00:11:04.787
  • He's not here yet, he's not coming back."
  • 00:11:04.787 --> 00:11:08.190
  • What they don't realize, peter says is,
  • 00:11:08.991 --> 00:11:11.127
  • Is "one day with the lord is as 1,000 years,
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  • And 1,000 years is as one day."
  • 00:11:14.263 --> 00:11:17.867
  • And what happened here is very, very descriptive.
  • 00:11:18.868 --> 00:11:21.437
  • Verse 16 says that when lot heard that, he hesitated.
  • 00:11:21.437 --> 00:11:26.776
  • When he heard sodom was going to be destroyed,
  • 00:11:27.676 --> 00:11:28.944
  • He hesitated in fleeing sodom
  • 00:11:28.944 --> 00:11:30.513
  • And he made a deal, or tried to, with the angels, said,
  • 00:11:30.513 --> 00:11:33.315
  • "angels, i'll get out of sodom,
  • 00:11:33.315 --> 00:11:34.950
  • But can't i live close by just in a neighboring town?
  • 00:11:34.950 --> 00:11:38.988
  • I still have a taste for sodom in my life.
  • 00:11:38.988 --> 00:11:41.991
  • I still am tantalized by the sin here.
  • 00:11:41.991 --> 00:11:44.593
  • Can i stay just close to sin without actually being in sin?"
  • 00:11:44.593 --> 00:11:49.498
  • He's like so many christians today.
  • 00:11:49.498 --> 00:11:52.168
  • They claim they want a new life in jesus christ,
  • 00:11:52.168 --> 00:11:54.904
  • But there's some private sin in their life,
  • 00:11:54.904 --> 00:11:57.540
  • Some habit, some addiction, some relationship.
  • 00:11:57.540 --> 00:12:00.409
  • "lord, surely you don't mind this little thing in my heart
  • 00:12:00.409 --> 00:12:05.314
  • That i hang on to myself,
  • 00:12:05.314 --> 00:12:06.649
  • It gives me such happiness,
  • 00:12:06.649 --> 00:12:08.250
  • And lord, you want me to be happy, don't you?"
  • 00:12:08.250 --> 00:12:11.320
  • No, no, that's the sign of a fleshly, a carnal believer.
  • 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:15.457
  • And so, even though he hesitated, verse 16 says,
  • 00:12:15.457 --> 00:12:18.694
  • "the angels seized his hand and the hand of his wife,
  • 00:12:18.694 --> 00:12:21.864
  • And the hands of his daughters,
  • 00:12:21.864 --> 00:12:23.299
  • For the compassion of the lord was upon him
  • 00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:26.135
  • And they brought him out and put him outside of the city."
  • 00:12:26.135 --> 00:12:29.605
  • Look now at verse 24,
  • 00:12:30.105 --> 00:12:31.707
  • "then the lord rained on sodom and gomorrah
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  • Brimstone and fire from the lord out of heaven."
  • 00:12:35.077 --> 00:12:38.247
  • This is the first mention of fire in the bible
  • 00:12:38.247 --> 00:12:41.350
  • And it's related to god's judgment, fire and brimstone,
  • 00:12:41.350 --> 00:12:44.620
  • "and he overthrew those cities and all the valleys
  • 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:47.122
  • And all the inhabitants of the cities,
  • 00:12:47.122 --> 00:12:49.191
  • What grew on the ground."
  • 00:12:49.191 --> 00:12:51.861
  • You know, a lot of people speculate how this city,
  • 00:12:51.861 --> 00:12:54.597
  • All five of them were destroyed.
  • 00:12:54.597 --> 00:12:56.498
  • Some people speculate
  • 00:12:56.498 --> 00:12:57.766
  • There may have been a volcanic eruption
  • 00:12:57.766 --> 00:13:00.903
  • Or perhaps an earthquake
  • 00:13:00.903 --> 00:13:02.338
  • That released certain hydrocarbons into the air,
  • 00:13:02.338 --> 00:13:05.441
  • And lightning came at the right time and caused a combustion
  • 00:13:05.441 --> 00:13:10.246
  • And an explosion and fire and brimstone rained down.
  • 00:13:10.246 --> 00:13:14.283
  • There's some archeological evidence from that area
  • 00:13:14.283 --> 00:13:16.785
  • That that actually happened,
  • 00:13:16.785 --> 00:13:18.487
  • But moses really doesn't tell us the how of it happening,
  • 00:13:18.487 --> 00:13:21.991
  • But he tells us who, this was not nature or mother nature,
  • 00:13:21.991 --> 00:13:26.428
  • This was god himself pouring down his promised judgment.
  • 00:13:26.428 --> 00:13:30.766
  • Look at verse 27,
  • 00:13:30.766 --> 00:13:32.001
  • "now abraham rose early in the morning
  • 00:13:32.001 --> 00:13:34.470
  • And went to the place where he had stood before the lord,
  • 00:13:34.470 --> 00:13:37.573
  • And he looked down towards sodom and gomorrah
  • 00:13:37.573 --> 00:13:40.409
  • And toward all the land of the valley,
  • 00:13:40.409 --> 00:13:42.077
  • And he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land
  • 00:13:42.077 --> 00:13:45.447
  • Ascended like the smoke of a furnace."
  • 00:13:45.447 --> 00:13:48.951
  • He could see the smoke still rising to the air.
  • 00:13:48.951 --> 00:13:53.155
  • That's what the end times are going to be like, by the way,
  • 00:13:53.155 --> 00:13:56.725
  • Revelation 18, we read about the destruction
  • 00:13:56.725 --> 00:13:59.595
  • Of the great center of commerce in the world,
  • 00:13:59.595 --> 00:14:02.264
  • The city that will be known as babylon,
  • 00:14:02.264 --> 00:14:04.800
  • And in an hour that city is completely destroyed
  • 00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:08.504
  • And the people of the world will lament,
  • 00:14:08.504 --> 00:14:10.439
  • "fallen, fallen is babylon the great."
  • 00:14:10.439 --> 00:14:15.177
  • What is this story
  • 00:14:15.611 --> 00:14:16.912
  • Of god's destruction of sodom and gomorrah
  • 00:14:16.912 --> 00:14:20.482
  • Have to say to us today?
  • 00:14:20.482 --> 00:14:21.817
  • I think this passage is always relevant,
  • 00:14:21.817 --> 00:14:24.386
  • But it's especially relevant
  • 00:14:24.386 --> 00:14:25.921
  • For us in our country right now.
  • 00:14:25.921 --> 00:14:28.457
  • Let me close today
  • 00:14:28.457 --> 00:14:29.858
  • With three timeless principles from this story.
  • 00:14:29.858 --> 00:14:32.361
  • First one is about sin's influence.
  • 00:14:32.361 --> 00:14:35.497
  • Write this down.
  • 00:14:35.497 --> 00:14:37.166
  • Bad company corrupts good morals.
  • 00:14:37.166 --> 00:14:44.773
  • Make no mistake about it.
  • 00:14:41.670 --> 00:14:46.041
  • Lot was a believer.
  • 00:14:46.041 --> 00:14:47.643
  • The bible refers to him consistently
  • 00:14:47.643 --> 00:14:49.778
  • As "that righteous man lot."
  • 00:14:49.778 --> 00:14:52.848
  • He was a believer, but he was an immature believer.
  • 00:14:52.848 --> 00:14:55.517
  • He was a fleshly believer,
  • 00:14:55.517 --> 00:14:57.886
  • And because he was immature as a believer,
  • 00:14:57.886 --> 00:15:02.057
  • He was easily influenced by others,
  • 00:15:02.057 --> 00:15:04.960
  • And you see him pulled into sin over a period of time.
  • 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:09.598
  • In genesis 13, we see him living on the outskirts
  • 00:15:09.598 --> 00:15:13.335
  • Of the city of sodom.
  • 00:15:13.335 --> 00:15:15.471
  • When we get to verse 14,
  • 00:15:15.471 --> 00:15:17.606
  • He's now living in the city of sodom,
  • 00:15:17.606 --> 00:15:20.175
  • And by the time we get to chapter 19,
  • 00:15:20.175 --> 00:15:22.578
  • We find him as a judge in the city of sodom.
  • 00:15:22.578 --> 00:15:25.514
  • He gets more and more involved in sodom.
  • 00:15:25.514 --> 00:15:29.952
  • You know, psalm 1 says, "blessed, happy are those
  • 00:15:29.952 --> 00:15:33.889
  • Who do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly,
  • 00:15:33.889 --> 00:15:37.059
  • Who do not stand in the path of sinners,
  • 00:15:37.059 --> 00:15:39.194
  • Who do not sit in the seat of the scoffer,"
  • 00:15:39.194 --> 00:15:41.964
  • And yet lot did all three,
  • 00:15:41.964 --> 00:15:44.333
  • And he became more like the sodomites
  • 00:15:44.333 --> 00:15:46.602
  • Instead of the sodomites becoming more like righteous lot.
  • 00:15:46.602 --> 00:15:50.973
  • You know, chuck swindoll has a great illustration of this.
  • 00:15:52.141 --> 00:15:55.044
  • He says, "imagine it's raining cats and dogs outside
  • 00:15:55.044 --> 00:15:59.014
  • And you decide still to go work in your flower bed,
  • 00:15:59.014 --> 00:16:02.985
  • And you put on white gloves to work in the mud.
  • 00:16:02.985 --> 00:16:06.755
  • What happens to those white gloves?
  • 00:16:06.755 --> 00:16:09.925
  • Real simple,
  • 00:16:09.925 --> 00:16:11.393
  • They become muddy, every time they will become muddy,
  • 00:16:11.393 --> 00:16:16.065
  • But never in 1,000 years will the mud become glovey."
  • 00:16:16.065 --> 00:16:21.136
  • Oh, the mud impacts the glove,
  • 00:16:21.770 --> 00:16:23.605
  • The glove doesn't impact the mud.
  • 00:16:23.605 --> 00:16:27.576
  • It's the same with people today and ungodly people.
  • 00:16:27.576 --> 00:16:30.846
  • You hang around an immoral person long enough
  • 00:16:31.780 --> 00:16:35.184
  • And guess what?
  • 00:16:35.184 --> 00:16:36.385
  • You begin to think and act immorally.
  • 00:16:36.385 --> 00:16:38.821
  • "hang around an angry person," proverbs says,
  • 00:16:38.821 --> 00:16:41.490
  • "you'll become more angry."
  • 00:16:41.490 --> 00:16:43.659
  • Hang around somebody who scoffs and mocks
  • 00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:46.095
  • At the things of god
  • 00:16:46.095 --> 00:16:48.230
  • And you'll become a mocker and a scoffer.
  • 00:16:48.230 --> 00:16:51.800
  • 1 corinthians 15:33,
  • 00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:53.635
  • "bad company corrupts good morals."
  • 00:16:53.635 --> 00:16:57.673
  • And that leads to a second truth
  • 00:16:57.673 --> 00:16:59.208
  • About a christian's responsibility.
  • 00:16:59.208 --> 00:17:02.077
  • God does want us to impact our culture,
  • 00:17:02.077 --> 00:17:04.246
  • And this principle is this,
  • 00:17:04.246 --> 00:17:05.848
  • Believers are to act as preservatives in a corrupt world.
  • 00:17:05.848 --> 00:17:10.252
  • One reason god left us here on earth
  • 00:17:10.252 --> 00:17:12.654
  • Is to push back against evil,
  • 00:17:12.654 --> 00:17:15.424
  • Not that we're going to ultimately win,
  • 00:17:15.424 --> 00:17:17.659
  • This world is ultimately going to implode,
  • 00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:19.862
  • God's going to judge it, the lord's going to return,
  • 00:17:19.862 --> 00:17:22.264
  • But we are to be a preserving influence
  • 00:17:22.264 --> 00:17:25.400
  • To push back against evil
  • 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:27.236
  • So that people have longer to hear the gospel.
  • 00:17:27.236 --> 00:17:30.339
  • 2 thessalonians 2 says,
  • 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:32.608
  • "there is a restrainer of evil in the world today."
  • 00:17:32.608 --> 00:17:36.245
  • Who is that restrainer?
  • 00:17:36.245 --> 00:17:37.279
  • He's the holy spirit of god,
  • 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.947
  • And where is the holy spirit of god?
  • 00:17:38.947 --> 00:17:40.549
  • He's in the lives of believers.
  • 00:17:40.549 --> 00:17:43.118
  • The holy spirit through your life and my life
  • 00:17:43.118 --> 00:17:45.954
  • Acts as a preservative in a corrupt world
  • 00:17:45.954 --> 00:17:49.591
  • To give the world longer to hear the gospel,
  • 00:17:49.591 --> 00:17:52.528
  • And that's why it's so important
  • 00:17:52.528 --> 00:17:54.096
  • That christians take public stands against sin.
  • 00:17:54.096 --> 00:17:58.267
  • We take public stands against abortion,
  • 00:17:58.267 --> 00:18:02.070
  • Against injustice, against immorality of every kind,
  • 00:18:02.070 --> 00:18:06.408
  • Not that we're going to save the world by doing that,
  • 00:18:06.408 --> 00:18:09.311
  • But hopefully we can give the world a little longer
  • 00:18:09.311 --> 00:18:13.215
  • To hear the gospel of jesus christ
  • 00:18:13.215 --> 00:18:15.250
  • And be transformed inwardly.
  • 00:18:15.250 --> 00:18:17.953
  • The third truth here,
  • 00:18:18.453 --> 00:18:19.988
  • And this is so important, has to do with god's patience.
  • 00:18:19.988 --> 00:18:24.326
  • God eventually says, "enough."
  • 00:18:24.326 --> 00:18:28.764
  • God's patience eventually runs out.
  • 00:18:28.764 --> 00:18:31.166
  • You know, there is a fascinating verse to me
  • 00:18:31.166 --> 00:18:33.001
  • In ecclesiastes 8:11,
  • 00:18:33.001 --> 00:18:34.836
  • Solomon said, "because the sentence against an evil deed
  • 00:18:34.836 --> 00:18:40.108
  • Is not executed immediately,
  • 00:18:40.709 --> 00:18:42.911
  • The sons of men are fully to give that which is evil."
  • 00:18:42.911 --> 00:18:47.082
  • In other words, what solomon is saying is
  • 00:18:47.082 --> 00:18:48.650
  • Because people don't get struck down
  • 00:18:48.650 --> 00:18:50.752
  • Immediately when they sin,
  • 00:18:50.752 --> 00:18:52.554
  • People make the mistake
  • 00:18:52.554 --> 00:18:53.922
  • Of confusing god's tolerance with god's mercy.
  • 00:18:53.922 --> 00:18:57.593
  • God is long suffering,
  • 00:18:58.093 --> 00:18:59.795
  • But there's a time when god says, "enough."
  • 00:18:59.795 --> 00:19:02.664
  • Don't make the mistake of confusing god's mercy,
  • 00:19:02.664 --> 00:19:06.602
  • God's patience with god's tolerance for sin.
  • 00:19:06.602 --> 00:19:10.672
  • Just because consequences don't come immediately
  • 00:19:10.672 --> 00:19:14.343
  • Doesn't mean they won't come ultimately.
  • 00:19:14.343 --> 00:19:16.945
  • We need to hear this as a nation, first of all.
  • 00:19:16.945 --> 00:19:20.315
  • You know when god was talking to israel,
  • 00:19:20.315 --> 00:19:22.618
  • He used the example of sodom for them to consider.
  • 00:19:22.618 --> 00:19:27.356
  • Listen to ezekiel 16:49-50,
  • 00:19:27.356 --> 00:19:31.059
  • "behold, this was the guilt of your sister sodom,
  • 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:34.363
  • She and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food,
  • 00:19:34.363 --> 00:19:37.966
  • Careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.
  • 00:19:37.966 --> 00:19:41.770
  • Thus, they were haughty
  • 00:19:41.770 --> 00:19:43.005
  • And committed abominations before me,
  • 00:19:43.005 --> 00:19:45.674
  • Therefore i removed them when i saw it."
  • 00:19:45.674 --> 00:19:49.911
  • Isn't that a great description of america today?
  • 00:19:49.911 --> 00:19:53.482
  • Arrogant, prideful.
  • 00:19:53.482 --> 00:19:55.284
  • "we've got the greatest military in the world.
  • 00:19:55.284 --> 00:19:58.720
  • We've got the greatest economy in the world.
  • 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.622
  • We can do whatever we want to.
  • 00:20:00.622 --> 00:20:02.124
  • America's number one."
  • 00:20:02.124 --> 00:20:04.760
  • Arrogance.
  • 00:20:04.760 --> 00:20:06.595
  • We don't realize that in a moment, in an instant,
  • 00:20:06.595 --> 00:20:10.465
  • God's judgment can come.
  • 00:20:10.465 --> 00:20:12.567
  • Just because it hasn't come for 250 years,
  • 00:20:12.567 --> 00:20:15.604
  • The history of our country, doesn't mean it's not coming.
  • 00:20:15.604 --> 00:20:18.206
  • Don't confuse god's mercy with god's tolerance for sin.
  • 00:20:18.206 --> 00:20:22.811
  • America is going to collapse one day.
  • 00:20:23.645 --> 00:20:26.782
  • I don't care what any political party tells you,
  • 00:20:26.782 --> 00:20:29.551
  • It is going to collapse.
  • 00:20:29.551 --> 00:20:31.853
  • That doesn't mean we just give up.
  • 00:20:31.853 --> 00:20:34.056
  • We ought to push back.
  • 00:20:34.056 --> 00:20:35.457
  • We ought to pray for revival,
  • 00:20:35.457 --> 00:20:37.192
  • But america is going to collapse.
  • 00:20:37.192 --> 00:20:39.194
  • I don't know how the collapse is going to come,
  • 00:20:39.194 --> 00:20:40.762
  • It may come from an external invasion from russia or china,
  • 00:20:40.762 --> 00:20:44.399
  • It may be a terrorist attack,
  • 00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:46.268
  • It could be a rot from the inside,
  • 00:20:46.268 --> 00:20:49.705
  • It could be a pandemic, it could be a financial catastrophe,
  • 00:20:49.705 --> 00:20:53.575
  • It could be just a complete breakdown of our government,
  • 00:20:53.575 --> 00:20:56.712
  • But it is coming.
  • 00:20:56.712 --> 00:20:58.480
  • Like ruth graham,
  • 00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.915
  • The wife of the late evangelist, billy graham said,
  • 00:20:59.915 --> 00:21:02.784
  • "if god doesn't judge america,
  • 00:21:02.784 --> 00:21:05.354
  • He's going to have to apologize to sodom and gomorrah."
  • 00:21:05.354 --> 00:21:11.860
  • What applies to nations apply to our lives as well.
  • 00:21:12.894 --> 00:21:17.366
  • Don't confuse god's mercy in your life
  • 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:22.604
  • With god's tolerance for sin.
  • 00:21:22.604 --> 00:21:24.873
  • Don't think because you haven't experienced
  • 00:21:25.774 --> 00:21:27.909
  • Severe consequences yet,
  • 00:21:27.909 --> 00:21:29.778
  • You won't experience them at all.
  • 00:21:29.778 --> 00:21:32.547
  • If you're living in rebellion against god right now,
  • 00:21:33.582 --> 00:21:36.284
  • If you've not asked for his forgiveness,
  • 00:21:36.284 --> 00:21:39.388
  • There's only one reason
  • 00:21:39.388 --> 00:21:40.789
  • You haven't experienced those consequences.
  • 00:21:40.789 --> 00:21:43.458
  • God's giving you another chance,
  • 00:21:43.458 --> 00:21:45.293
  • Perhaps the last chance to receive his forgiveness.
  • 00:21:45.293 --> 00:21:49.798
  • God said through ezekiel and ezekiel 33:11,
  • 00:21:50.665 --> 00:21:53.435
  • "as i live," says the lord,
  • 00:21:53.435 --> 00:21:56.171
  • "i take no pleasure in the death of the wicked,
  • 00:21:56.171 --> 00:21:59.508
  • But i desire that the wicked turn from his wickedness
  • 00:21:59.508 --> 00:22:02.377
  • And live."
  • 00:22:02.377 --> 00:22:04.212
  • Turn, turn from your wickedness, for why will you die?
  • 00:22:04.212 --> 00:22:09.985
  • It doesn't matter who you are,
  • 00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:11.920
  • It doesn't matter what sins you have committed,
  • 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:13.755
  • No sin is beyond the forgiveness of god
  • 00:22:13.755 --> 00:22:17.459
  • And that's what the love and forgiveness
  • 00:22:18.326 --> 00:22:20.328
  • Of jesus christ are all about.
  • 00:22:20.328 --> 00:22:22.964
  • Turn, turn from your wickedness.
  • 00:22:23.598 --> 00:22:27.235
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:22:27.235 --> 00:22:31.740
  • If god's spirit is nudging you right now
  • 00:22:32.607 --> 00:22:35.510
  • And you feel him prompting you to make a change,
  • 00:22:35.510 --> 00:22:38.480
  • Please say yes to his call.
  • 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:41.316
  • Whatever issue he's asking you to address in your life,
  • 00:22:41.316 --> 00:22:44.686
  • He wants to help you conquer your sin.
  • 00:22:44.686 --> 00:22:48.023
  • These are sacred moments of decision.
  • 00:22:48.023 --> 00:22:50.759
  • I know that's true because we hear from so many viewers
  • 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:54.696
  • Who contact "pathway to victory" and tell us their stories.
  • 00:22:54.696 --> 00:22:58.733
  • Not long ago i was encouraged
  • 00:22:58.733 --> 00:23:00.368
  • To receive a comment from a friend in california
  • 00:23:00.368 --> 00:23:03.305
  • Who wrote, "pastor jeffress,
  • 00:23:03.305 --> 00:23:05.240
  • For over 30 years, i was a practicing homosexual.
  • 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:09.411
  • Not long ago, i wrote to 'pathway to victory'
  • 00:23:09.411 --> 00:23:12.314
  • And you provided me with scripture.
  • 00:23:12.314 --> 00:23:14.883
  • As a result, it turned my heart away
  • 00:23:14.883 --> 00:23:17.085
  • From living that lifestyle
  • 00:23:17.085 --> 00:23:19.020
  • And furthered my love for jesus christ."
  • 00:23:19.020 --> 00:23:22.624
  • Isn't god's word powerful?
  • 00:23:22.624 --> 00:23:24.926
  • And his spirit radically changes the hearts of those
  • 00:23:24.926 --> 00:23:28.230
  • Who are willing to apply his truth.
  • 00:23:28.230 --> 00:23:31.500
  • Thanks for supporting the ministry of "pathway to victory"
  • 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:34.936
  • So that we can continue serving as light in the darkness.
  • 00:23:34.936 --> 00:23:39.474
  • Now, stay right there,
  • 00:23:39.474 --> 00:23:40.775
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
  • 00:23:40.775 --> 00:23:43.211
  • In just a moment.
  • 00:23:43.211 --> 00:23:45.247
  • [announcer] in the midst of our chaotic world
  • 00:23:45.247 --> 00:23:47.449
  • And the personal problems that we face,
  • 00:23:47.449 --> 00:23:49.818
  • Is it possible to find peace and contentment?
  • 00:23:49.818 --> 00:23:52.787
  • Abraham did and so can you.
  • 00:23:52.787 --> 00:23:55.190
  • In "walking by faith," dr. robert jeffress
  • 00:23:55.190 --> 00:23:57.759
  • Shows you how to make courageous decisions,
  • 00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:00.295
  • Ones that are far outside your comfort zone.
  • 00:24:00.295 --> 00:24:03.398
  • In doing so, god will prove faithful.
  • 00:24:03.398 --> 00:24:06.301
  • Abraham was far from perfect.
  • 00:24:06.301 --> 00:24:08.270
  • He made mistakes, including some really big ones,
  • 00:24:08.270 --> 00:24:11.473
  • But through it all, he walked with god in faith,
  • 00:24:11.473 --> 00:24:14.809
  • And you can too.
  • 00:24:14.809 --> 00:24:16.211
  • [announcer] in this dynamic book,
  • 00:24:16.211 --> 00:24:17.746
  • Dr. jeffress explains how to walk by faith
  • 00:24:17.746 --> 00:24:20.682
  • In a faithless world,
  • 00:24:20.682 --> 00:24:22.250
  • Squarely founded on the wisdom
  • 00:24:22.250 --> 00:24:24.119
  • Gained from the story of abraham.
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  • Request your copy of "walking by faith"
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  • When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
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  • Along with the personal and group study guidebook.
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  • If the story of abraham tells us anything,
  • 00:24:46.474 --> 00:24:48.743
  • It tells us this,
  • 00:24:48.743 --> 00:24:50.211
  • It doesn't matter how old you are,
  • 00:24:50.211 --> 00:24:51.746
  • It doesn't matter how far you've drifted away from god,
  • 00:24:51.746 --> 00:24:54.516
  • You can come back.
  • 00:24:54.516 --> 00:24:56.051
  • [announcer] your gift today is important and appreciated
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  • As we impact your home and reach a nation
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  • And world in spiritual need.
  • 00:25:01.489 --> 00:25:03.692
  • God is clearly using "pathway to victory"
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  • To fulfill his mandate to pierce the darkness
  • 00:25:06.528 --> 00:25:09.397
  • With the light of his word.
  • 00:25:09.397 --> 00:25:11.199
  • Thank you for investing in this important gospel work.
  • 00:25:11.199 --> 00:25:15.737
  • My job is not to bend the words of scripture
  • 00:25:16.671 --> 00:25:19.207
  • To fit popular opinions.
  • 00:25:19.207 --> 00:25:21.176
  • My job is to preach exactly what the bible says
  • 00:25:21.176 --> 00:25:24.813
  • And leave the rest to god.
  • 00:25:24.813 --> 00:25:27.082
  • And the story of sodom and gomorrah clearly articulates
  • 00:25:27.082 --> 00:25:29.985
  • What happens to those who refuse to repent of their sin.
  • 00:25:29.985 --> 00:25:35.223
  • Well, in the book of genesis,
  • 00:25:35.857 --> 00:25:36.958
  • Moses recounts the story of abraham
  • 00:25:36.958 --> 00:25:38.827
  • Securing a bride for his son isaac.
  • 00:25:38.827 --> 00:25:42.130
  • And next time, we'll see how this moment
  • 00:25:42.130 --> 00:25:44.633
  • Teaches us four lessons on how to discover god's will.
  • 00:25:44.633 --> 00:25:48.970
  • Stay tuned for a preview
  • 00:25:48.970 --> 00:25:50.505
  • Of what's coming up next in our series, "walking by faith."
  • 00:25:50.505 --> 00:25:54.909
  • Do you want to be used by god in a significant way?
  • 00:25:55.977 --> 00:25:59.214
  • Do you desire to have his stamp of approval on your life?
  • 00:25:59.214 --> 00:26:02.984
  • Before you answer too quickly,
  • 00:26:02.984 --> 00:26:05.820
  • Consider the experience of abraham.
  • 00:26:06.588 --> 00:26:09.991
  • Today we're going to look at abraham's defining moment,
  • 00:26:09.991 --> 00:26:14.095
  • It was the greatest test that he ever experienced.
  • 00:26:14.095 --> 00:26:18.133
  • [announcer] set your dvr
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  • And join us next time for the message,
  • 00:26:19.300 --> 00:26:21.236
  • "our greatest test" here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:21.236 --> 00:26:24.939
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • Each of us will leave a legacy.
  • 00:26:31.012 --> 00:26:33.848
  • What will your legacy be?
  • 00:26:33.848 --> 00:26:36.251
  • Your legacy giving can further the gospel
  • 00:26:36.251 --> 00:26:38.987
  • And be an example to your children
  • 00:26:38.987 --> 00:26:41.356
  • About what matters most in life.
  • 00:26:41.356 --> 00:26:43.925
  • The world my daughters and grandchildren are growing up in
  • 00:26:43.925 --> 00:26:47.429
  • Is vastly different than the one you and i grew up in.
  • 00:26:47.429 --> 00:26:51.132
  • The gospel of jesus christ is our only answer.
  • 00:26:51.132 --> 00:26:55.303
  • And naming "pathway to victory"
  • 00:26:55.303 --> 00:26:57.005
  • As a beneficiary in your will helps guarantee
  • 00:26:57.005 --> 00:27:00.642
  • That there will be a trusted ministry
  • 00:27:00.642 --> 00:27:03.244
  • That will continue to be salt and light.
  • 00:27:03.244 --> 00:27:06.347
  • Like the ripples that emanate from a rock
  • 00:27:06.347 --> 00:27:08.917
  • Thrown into a pond,
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  • Your influence for christ
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  • Can keep going on and on after you die
  • 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:15.690
  • With a gift in your will.
  • 00:27:15.690 --> 00:27:17.559
  • What will your legacy be?
  • 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:19.861
  • Only one life will soon be past,
  • 00:27:19.861 --> 00:27:23.665
  • Only what's done for christ will last.
  • 00:27:23.665 --> 00:27:23.665