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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - When Mr. Goldfinger Comes To Church | August 31, 2025
- ♪ music ♪
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- From the pulpit of the first baptist church
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- Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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- 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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- In restaurants, shops, and sadly, even churches,
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- We often see preferential treatment given to those
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- Who seem wealthy or important.
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- The well-dressed get the best tables,
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- The poorly dressed get pushed to the side,
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- But god's house should be different.
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- Today, we're going to learn that how we treat those
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- Who are less fortunate is a test of genuine faith.
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- My message is titled, when mr. goldfinger comes to church.
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ there is a blood ♪
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- ♪ that sights the blind ♪
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- ♪ and heals the sick ♪
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- ♪ and lonely finds ♪
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- ♪ it has the power ♪
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- ♪ to free the bound ♪
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- ♪ as chains they fall ♪
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- ♪ upon the ground ♪
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- ♪ so pour it out ♪
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- ♪ to cleanse my soul ♪
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- ♪ and let's liquid glory flow ♪
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- ♪ because it lives ♪
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- ♪ to make me whole ♪
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- ♪ i owe my life ♪
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- ♪ i owe my all ♪
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- ♪ so i come to tell you that he saves ♪
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- ♪ to shout and to proclaim ♪
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- ♪ that he's coming back for you ♪
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- ♪ what can wash away my sins ♪
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- ♪ nothing but his blood ♪
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- ♪ his precious blood ♪
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- ♪ there is a grave ♪
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- ♪ that tried to hide ♪
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- ♪ this precious blood ♪
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- ♪ that gave me life ♪
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- ♪ but in three days ♪
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- ♪ he breathed again ♪
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- ♪ and rose to stand ♪
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- ♪ in my defense ♪
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- ♪ so i come to tell you he's alive ♪
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- ♪ jesus is alive ♪
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- ♪ to shout and to proclaim ♪
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- ♪ he's coming back ♪
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- ♪ he's coming back for you ♪
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- ♪ he's coming back ♪
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- ♪ he's coming back for you ♪
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- ♪ when the trumpet sounds ♪
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- ♪ he's coming back ♪
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- ♪ he's coming back for you ♪
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- ♪ for you ♪
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- (congregation applauds)
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- Where there's genuine faith,
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- There will always be visible fruit.
- 00:04:11.174 --> 00:04:13.676
- In his brand new book,
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- "how to know if you're really saved?"
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- Dr. robert jeffress helps you take stock of the evidence
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- Of your faith, the spiritual fruit in your daily life.
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- This outstanding verse by verse walk
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- Through the book of james
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- Will help you cultivate the spiritual fruit
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- That reflects genuine faith request.
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- How to know if you are really saved
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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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- Pastor kent hughes tells a story about a woman
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- Who came from the other side of the tracks,
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- As we used to say.
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- She was economically disadvantaged,
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- But she started attending a wealthy church.
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- She liked the singing, she liked the preaching
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- And decided she wanted to join.
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- So she made an appointment with the pastor
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- And the pastor gave her the once over,
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- Decided this wasn't going to be a match.
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- So he tried to be diplomatic
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- And said, you know, church membership's very important.
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- Why don't you go home and think about it a little bit more?"
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- So she did, and she came back the next week
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- Determined to join and said she wanted to join.
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- And the pastor said, "well, you know,
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- In our church we prioritize the word of god
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- And we think the bible has a lot to say.
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- I want you to go home and every day
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- Of the week read a chapter of the bible
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- And see if god has something to say to you."
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- She was getting annoyed,
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- But she wanted to join so she did that.
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- She came back assured that she wanted to join,
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- And the pastor said, "you know, in our church,
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- We believe in the power of prayer.
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- We believe that god leads through prayer, so i want you
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- To go back home and every day pray if god really wants you
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- To join, to show you."
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- Well she left and never came back.
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- About six months later, the pastor found her on the sidewalk
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- And ran into her and said, "did you ever do what i said?
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- Did you ever pray about joining our church?"
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- She said, "oh yes. i prayed about joining it
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- And the lord spoke to me
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- And said, 'don't worry about not getting into that church.
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- I haven't been able to get into it for the last 20 years.'"
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- (congregation laughs)
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- How do we deal with those less fortunate
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- Than we are economically?
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- Turn in your bibles to james 2.
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- Beginning with verse one.
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- James begins with the exhortation.
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- Look at what the text says.
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- "my brethren, do not hold your faith
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- In our glorious lord jesus christ
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- With an attitude of personal favoritism."
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- That phrase, "my brethren" is rich.
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- It comes from a single greek word, adelphoi, adelphos.
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- The word adelphos is sometimes translated brotherly.
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- We call philadelphia.
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- The city of brotherly, delphis, love phileo.
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- But the word adelphos actually means
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- Literally from the same womb.
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- Brothers are brothers because they have a common mother.
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- It's the same way with christian brothers and sisters.
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- James says, "remember what it is that unites us
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- In the church of jesus christ."
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- It's not our economic status.
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- It's not some superficial criterion.
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- It is our love for jesus christ and his love for us.
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- So he says, "my brethren don't hold your faith in jesus
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- With an attitude of personal favoritism."
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- Literally to receive by face, to judge
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- By face value alone.
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- If you have a king james version that says,
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- "don't be a respecter of persons."
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- That phrase was immediately recognizable
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- To james jewish audience.
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- For throughout the old testament,
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- There was a prohibition against being a respecter of persons
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- Because god is not a respecter of persons.
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- He doesn't judge people according to superficial values
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- That they have little control over.
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- Look at this situation in verse two.
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- "for if a man comes into your assembly
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- With a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes,
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- And there also comes a poor man in dirty clothes."
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- Now this hypothetical situation, james says,
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- "if somebody comes into your church."
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- In greek, that's in the third class condition,
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- Meaning it's a theoretical situation
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- That probably isn't going to happen.
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- It was unlikely that unbelievers
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- Would ever come into a church.
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- That rarely happened.
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- By the way, it really rarely happens today.
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- There are some, but there are not that many unbelievers
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- That come to church.
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- He said, "but if by chance a man comes into your assembly
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- With a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes."
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- Now that word translated gold ring
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- Literally means he's gold-fingered.
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- That's where my sermon title came,
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- Not from the "james bond" movie,
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- But from the gold-fingered man.
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- And he doesn't just have one ring on, he has a ring
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- For each one of the fingers on his left hand.
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- You see, the rings you had, the number
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- And the quality was a measure of your wealth.
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- In fact, in james day, there were stores you could go to
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- To rent rings, rent a ring if you wanted to,
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- To appear wealthier than you were.
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- You know, we have an expression for that in texas.
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- People have the appearance of wealth
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- But really don't have it.
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- We call them all hat and no cattle.
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- Well, that was somebody in james day.
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- They may or may not be wealthy.
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- You couldn't tell for sure by their rings,
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- But here's a man who pretends at least to be rich.
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- He has gold rings and he's dressed in fine clothes.
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- That word "fine," (speaks in foreign language),
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- Means bright and shiny.
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- He is dressed in a way to draw attention to himself.
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- He's the first visitor.
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- But notice the second visitor, he comes.
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- Also comes at the same time,
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- A poor man in dirty clothes,
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- In soiled clothes.
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- Here's a man who has dirty clothes
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- Because he only has one change of clothes.
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- He has nothing else to wear.
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- The word indicates not only is it soiled, it's smelly,
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- It just doesn't smell great.
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- And so you've got two people coming into the church
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- At the same time.
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- Two very different men.
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- Notice the two responses.
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- You say to the one who is wearing the fine clothes.
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- Verse three, "you sit here in a good place.
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- I want you to have the best seats in the house."
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- What's not right is to honor somebody
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- And mistreat another person at the same time.
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- You should never favor anybody in the church when it results
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- In disfavoring somebody else.
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- Now the explanation, here's what's wrong with that.
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- James says, "have you not made distinctions among yourselves
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- Or become judges with evil motives?"
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- This is a common theme in the letter of james,
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- Being a double-minded person.
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- A double-minded person is somebody who professes
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- To believe one thing
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- But acts in a way completely contrary
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- To what he or she professes.
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- In james 1:7-8.
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- James says, "for that man ought not to expect
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- That he will receive anything from the lord
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- Being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
- 00:12:05.414 --> 00:12:10.753
- To favor the rich subjugates the plan of god."
- 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:16.025
- It subjugates, it contradicts, it undermines the plan
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- Of god when we favor the rich.
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- What plan am i talking about?
- 00:12:22.731 --> 00:12:24.800
- Well, james goes on to say, "you need to remember
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- That when that poor man enters your church, he is not poor
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- Because of some deficiency on his part.
- 00:12:32.808 --> 00:12:36.045
- Most of the time, the reason a person is poor
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- And the reason a person is rich
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- Is because of the sovereignty of god."
- 00:12:45.020 --> 00:12:48.090
- God controls every aspect of our life.
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- He has a plan for us that was written
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- Before the foundation of the world.
- 00:12:54.363 --> 00:12:56.398
- Psalm 139 says, "and part of god's plan includes the size
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- Of our bank account."
- 00:13:02.771 --> 00:13:04.707
- Now, some of you're just arguing already
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- In your heart about that.
- 00:13:07.943 --> 00:13:09.745
- Listen to what james says in james 2:5.
- 00:13:09.745 --> 00:13:12.514
- "listen, my beloved brethren, did god not choose the poor
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- Of this world to be rich in faith
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- And heirs of the kingdom which he promised
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- To those who love him?"
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- God had a plan.
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- Secondly, to favor the rich violates logic.
- 00:13:25.327 --> 00:13:29.164
- Listen to verse six and seven.
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- James said, "is it not the rich who oppress you
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- And personally drag you into court?
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- Do they not blaspheme the fair name
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- By which you have been called?"
- 00:13:38.841 --> 00:13:40.676
- Now in jewish society,
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- It was the sadducees who had all the money
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- And they would constantly go to court to sue widows
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- And sue poor jews and cheat them out of their homes.
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- And if they really wanted to add an insult, they would say
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- To the judge, "and not only this,
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- But this poor person has become a christian.
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- He or she is a heretic.
- 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:06.769
- They deserve to have everything taken from them."
- 00:14:06.769 --> 00:14:09.672
- James is saying, "why do you want to favor those people
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- Who oppress you?"
- 00:14:13.008 --> 00:14:14.343
- Well, we'll see in this third reason.
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- To favor the rich demonstrates a lack of faith.
- 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:20.816
- Verse eight.
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- "if however, you are fulfilling the royal law
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- According to scripture,
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- You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
- 00:14:26.789 --> 00:14:28.991
- You are doing well."
- 00:14:28.991 --> 00:14:30.426
- All of the scriptures about how we treat others
- 00:14:30.426 --> 00:14:34.029
- Could be summed up with that phrase.
- 00:14:34.029 --> 00:14:36.432
- "love other people the same way you love yourself."
- 00:14:36.432 --> 00:14:39.568
- Why do we have trouble with that?
- 00:14:39.568 --> 00:14:41.503
- Why do we naturally gravitate toward favoring
- 00:14:41.503 --> 00:14:44.940
- The powerful and the wealthy?
- 00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:47.209
- We think they're going to protect us.
- 00:14:47.209 --> 00:14:49.244
- They don't determine your future.
- 00:14:49.244 --> 00:14:51.280
- God determines your future.
- 00:14:51.280 --> 00:14:54.216
- That's why jesus said in matthew 10:28, "do not fear those
- 00:14:54.216 --> 00:14:58.087
- Who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul,
- 00:14:58.087 --> 00:15:01.890
- But rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul
- 00:15:01.890 --> 00:15:05.828
- And body in hell."
- 00:15:05.828 --> 00:15:07.963
- Focus on god not other people.
- 00:15:07.963 --> 00:15:11.867
- And that leads to the application for us today.
- 00:15:11.867 --> 00:15:14.837
- What's the application of this passage?
- 00:15:14.837 --> 00:15:17.873
- Some of you are tempted to think, "man, showing favoritism?
- 00:15:17.873 --> 00:15:23.145
- Why a whole sermon on this?
- 00:15:23.746 --> 00:15:24.847
- This is much ado about nothing."
- 00:15:24.847 --> 00:15:28.283
- When i was growing up, my father had a hobby.
- 00:15:29.218 --> 00:15:32.554
- He rebuilt volkswagens.
- 00:15:32.554 --> 00:15:35.357
- And our backyard was strewn with volkswagens half-finished.
- 00:15:35.357 --> 00:15:40.362
- But every now and then he would finish one
- 00:15:40.362 --> 00:15:42.498
- And he had his newest volkswagen parked out
- 00:15:42.498 --> 00:15:46.735
- In front of our house in richardson.
- 00:15:46.735 --> 00:15:48.737
- And one day, he heard a knock at the door.
- 00:15:48.737 --> 00:15:51.573
- He opened the door and it was a richardson policeman.
- 00:15:51.573 --> 00:15:55.244
- And the policeman asked,
- 00:15:55.244 --> 00:15:56.645
- "who owns that volkswagen out front?"
- 00:15:56.645 --> 00:16:00.049
- And my dad got excited thinking
- 00:16:00.049 --> 00:16:01.950
- He had a potential customer on the hook.
- 00:16:01.950 --> 00:16:03.919
- Said, "well, it belongs to me."
- 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:05.487
- He said, "fine."
- 00:16:05.487 --> 00:16:06.455
- And he wrote him out a ticket.
- 00:16:06.455 --> 00:16:08.290
- You know what the ticket was for my dad in his repainting
- 00:16:09.425 --> 00:16:12.361
- Of the volkswagen, got a little bit
- 00:16:12.361 --> 00:16:14.463
- Of paint on the license plate
- 00:16:14.463 --> 00:16:16.965
- And he got a ticket for his efforts.
- 00:16:16.965 --> 00:16:19.234
- My dad was furious.
- 00:16:19.234 --> 00:16:22.004
- I'll never forget, he went into a rant about,
- 00:16:22.004 --> 00:16:24.573
- "why can't the police spend time
- 00:16:24.573 --> 00:16:26.308
- Hunting down the murderers and the rapists
- 00:16:26.308 --> 00:16:28.744
- And the bank thieves instead of giving tickets to people
- 00:16:28.744 --> 00:16:31.413
- Because of paint on a license plate?
- 00:16:31.413 --> 00:16:33.515
- What a small thing."
- 00:16:33.515 --> 00:16:35.084
- Well, we kind of think that way about this sin of favoritism.
- 00:16:35.084 --> 00:16:38.821
- Why the big deal?
- 00:16:38.821 --> 00:16:40.089
- Why not james talk about really big sins
- 00:16:40.089 --> 00:16:44.026
- Instead of little sins?
- 00:16:44.026 --> 00:16:46.028
- The answer he says in verses 9-10
- 00:16:46.028 --> 00:16:48.263
- Is because there is no such thing as a little sin.
- 00:16:48.263 --> 00:16:52.868
- Look at this.
- 00:16:52.868 --> 00:16:54.169
- "if you show partiality, you're committing sin
- 00:16:54.169 --> 00:16:57.439
- And are convicted by the law as transgressors
- 00:16:57.439 --> 00:17:01.143
- For whoever keeps the whole law
- 00:17:01.143 --> 00:17:04.580
- And yet stumbles in one point,
- 00:17:04.580 --> 00:17:07.950
- He has become guilty of all."
- 00:17:07.950 --> 00:17:11.553
- Pop quiz.
- 00:17:11.553 --> 00:17:13.188
- Anybody know how many laws moses had in the old testament?
- 00:17:13.188 --> 00:17:19.394
- 613.
- 00:17:19.595 --> 00:17:21.930
- There are 613 laws.
- 00:17:22.397 --> 00:17:24.399
- I want you to imagine a giant chain with 613 links in it.
- 00:17:24.399 --> 00:17:30.139
- A chain that is used to keep a luxury ocean liner,
- 00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:35.644
- Harbored at a pier.
- 00:17:35.644 --> 00:17:37.779
- It's held there by these 613 chains in a chain,
- 00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:43.051
- Links in a chain.
- 00:17:43.485 --> 00:17:44.987
- How many links would you have to break to set
- 00:17:44.987 --> 00:17:48.090
- That entire ship adrift?
- 00:17:48.090 --> 00:17:50.359
- Only one.
- 00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:51.693
- One link broken and the ship is lost.
- 00:17:52.528 --> 00:17:57.232
- It's the same way with god's law.
- 00:17:57.232 --> 00:17:59.701
- "all you have to do," james says, "is stumble in one point
- 00:17:59.701 --> 00:18:03.472
- Of the law and before god, you're guilty."
- 00:18:03.472 --> 00:18:07.209
- You see, god doesn't grade us on the curve.
- 00:18:07.209 --> 00:18:10.646
- He doesn't say, "you may not be perfect,
- 00:18:10.646 --> 00:18:12.347
- But you're better than this person."
- 00:18:12.347 --> 00:18:14.016
- We don't get graded on a curve.
- 00:18:14.016 --> 00:18:16.418
- It is an absolute standard.
- 00:18:16.418 --> 00:18:18.987
- All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of god
- 00:18:18.987 --> 00:18:22.157
- And that's why we all need to savior, the lord jesus christ.
- 00:18:22.157 --> 00:18:26.995
- When christ came and died on the cross, he came
- 00:18:26.995 --> 00:18:30.699
- To offer forgiveness from all of our sins.
- 00:18:30.699 --> 00:18:35.003
- To draw favor to one person over another,
- 00:18:35.871 --> 00:18:40.242
- To judge somebody based on external circumstances
- 00:18:41.243 --> 00:18:45.113
- Like their net worth over which they have no control
- 00:18:45.113 --> 00:18:49.117
- Is a complete violation of what james is telling us.
- 00:18:49.117 --> 00:18:53.555
- Three principles i want to share with you.
- 00:18:53.555 --> 00:18:56.491
- First of all, to show preference to others is contrary
- 00:18:56.491 --> 00:19:00.729
- To the nature of god.
- 00:19:00.729 --> 00:19:02.564
- You know, we call the church the body of christ.
- 00:19:02.564 --> 00:19:07.436
- The head, jesus, is in heaven,
- 00:19:07.436 --> 00:19:10.239
- But we are his body, paul said.
- 00:19:10.239 --> 00:19:13.675
- And that means what unbelievers see is not jesus the head.
- 00:19:13.675 --> 00:19:18.113
- They can only see his body that you and me in the church.
- 00:19:18.113 --> 00:19:23.418
- And how they feel about god is largely determined
- 00:19:24.419 --> 00:19:26.722
- By what they think about us.
- 00:19:26.722 --> 00:19:29.191
- If we act with partiality, they think god is partial
- 00:19:29.191 --> 00:19:33.762
- To superficial criterion.
- 00:19:33.762 --> 00:19:37.232
- Secondly, to show preference toward the rich
- 00:19:38.166 --> 00:19:40.802
- Prioritizes the material over the spiritual.
- 00:19:40.802 --> 00:19:44.773
- When we in the church show preference toward the rich,
- 00:19:44.773 --> 00:19:48.410
- It prioritizes the material over the spiritual.
- 00:19:48.410 --> 00:19:52.648
- People ought to have a day of the week.
- 00:19:52.648 --> 00:19:54.650
- They come and see the world as god sees it.
- 00:19:54.650 --> 00:19:58.687
- It's not about the material, it's not about keeping up
- 00:19:58.687 --> 00:20:01.590
- With the joneses, it's about our relationship with god.
- 00:20:01.590 --> 00:20:06.128
- Finally, to show preference
- 00:20:06.128 --> 00:20:08.263
- To the rich prioritizes the temporal over the eternal.
- 00:20:08.263 --> 00:20:13.602
- One of the constant themes in the letter of james
- 00:20:14.603 --> 00:20:17.239
- Is how fleeting riches really are.
- 00:20:17.239 --> 00:20:20.842
- In verses 10 to 11 of chapter one, james says,
- 00:20:20.842 --> 00:20:23.945
- "and the rich man is the glory in his humiliation
- 00:20:23.945 --> 00:20:27.816
- Because like flowering grass, he will pass away.
- 00:20:27.816 --> 00:20:32.821
- For the sun rises with a scorching wind
- 00:20:32.821 --> 00:20:35.390
- And withers the grass and its flowers fall off
- 00:20:35.390 --> 00:20:38.760
- And the beauty of its appearance is destroyed.
- 00:20:38.760 --> 00:20:41.330
- So too, the rich man
- 00:20:41.330 --> 00:20:43.832
- And the midst of his pursuits will fade away."
- 00:20:43.832 --> 00:20:47.969
- An old southern preacher said it this way.
- 00:20:48.837 --> 00:20:50.539
- "our lives is like grass.
- 00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:53.709
- It is sewn, it is grown, it is moan, and then it's gone."
- 00:20:53.709 --> 00:20:59.348
- (congregation laughs)
- 00:20:59.848 --> 00:21:02.150
- That's not just grass, that's us.
- 00:21:02.150 --> 00:21:05.087
- If you're rich today,
- 00:21:05.587 --> 00:21:07.556
- Don't get too excited about your wealth.
- 00:21:07.556 --> 00:21:10.359
- If you're poor today, don't despair over your poverty
- 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:14.396
- Because your economic status,
- 00:21:14.396 --> 00:21:16.298
- Whether rich or poor, is very temporary.
- 00:21:16.298 --> 00:21:20.068
- It's all going to be left behind.
- 00:21:20.068 --> 00:21:23.105
- And the church's responsibility is to show people,
- 00:21:23.105 --> 00:21:27.209
- To help people prioritize that which is eternal
- 00:21:27.209 --> 00:21:30.946
- Over that which is temporal.
- 00:21:30.946 --> 00:21:33.382
- Paul said it this way in one timothy 6:17, he said,
- 00:21:33.382 --> 00:21:36.752
- "instruct those who are rich in this present world,
- 00:21:36.752 --> 00:21:41.256
- Not to be conceited
- 00:21:41.256 --> 00:21:43.392
- Or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches,
- 00:21:43.392 --> 00:21:47.329
- But on god, who richly supplies us
- 00:21:47.329 --> 00:21:50.499
- With all things to enjoy."
- 00:21:50.499 --> 00:21:53.034
- D.l. moody, the great evangelist, said it this way,
- 00:21:54.102 --> 00:21:56.571
- "trust in yourself and you're doomed to disappointment.
- 00:21:56.571 --> 00:22:01.510
- Trust in your friends and they may leave you or die.
- 00:22:02.577 --> 00:22:05.947
- Trust in your riches and they may be taken from you.
- 00:22:07.015 --> 00:22:11.019
- Trust in your reputation
- 00:22:11.520 --> 00:22:13.188
- And some slanderous tongue may destroy it.
- 00:22:13.188 --> 00:22:17.025
- But trust in god
- 00:22:17.392 --> 00:22:19.461
- And you'll never be confounded in time or eternity."
- 00:22:19.461 --> 00:22:24.132
- James says, "if you have authentic saving faith,
- 00:22:25.066 --> 00:22:29.638
- You'll prioritize the spiritual over the material.
- 00:22:30.672 --> 00:22:35.510
- The eternal over the temporal."
- 00:22:35.510 --> 00:22:38.613
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:22:38.613 --> 00:22:43.118
- James reminds us
- 00:22:43.485 --> 00:22:44.753
- That authentic faith doesn't play favorites.
- 00:22:44.753 --> 00:22:47.889
- When we truly understand god's impartial love,
- 00:22:47.889 --> 00:22:51.293
- We'll treat everyone who enters our church
- 00:22:51.293 --> 00:22:53.895
- With equal dignity and respect.
- 00:22:53.895 --> 00:22:56.498
- I want to thank those of you who support "pathway to victory"
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- Through your faithful giving.
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- Especially our pathway partners.
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- And digital streaming, we're reaching into homes,
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- Automobiles, and workplaces with a transforming power
- 00:23:15.517 --> 00:23:19.721
- Of the gospel.
- 00:23:19.721 --> 00:23:21.122
- Every day we receive testimonies from viewers whose lives
- 00:23:21.122 --> 00:23:24.860
- Have been touched by this ministry and it's all possible
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- Because of partners like you.
- 00:23:28.463 --> 00:23:30.999
- Thank you for helping us pierce the darkness
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- With the light of god's word.
- 00:23:33.768 --> 00:23:35.770
- To stay right there, i'll be back
- 00:23:35.770 --> 00:23:37.205
- With more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
- 00:23:37.205 --> 00:23:41.776
- Every believer wants to see clear evidence
- 00:23:42.677 --> 00:23:45.180
- Of their spiritual growth
- 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.715
- And discover the fruit that god is producing in their lives.
- 00:23:46.715 --> 00:23:50.485
- Dr. robert jeffress shows you exactly how to recognize
- 00:23:50.485 --> 00:23:53.889
- That fruit in his brand new book,
- 00:23:53.889 --> 00:23:55.724
- "how to know if you're really saved."
- 00:23:55.724 --> 00:23:58.159
- The book of james teaches us that the christian life
- 00:23:58.159 --> 00:24:01.129
- Is about more than just knowing god's word.
- 00:24:01.129 --> 00:24:04.165
- It's about living it out.
- 00:24:04.165 --> 00:24:05.834
- In my new book, "how to know if you're really saved,"
- 00:24:05.834 --> 00:24:08.570
- I'll walk you through what it truly means to be a doer
- 00:24:08.570 --> 00:24:11.806
- Of the word, showing you how to respond to trials,
- 00:24:11.806 --> 00:24:15.143
- Control your speech, endure hardships,
- 00:24:15.143 --> 00:24:17.913
- Resist temptation, and so much more.
- 00:24:17.913 --> 00:24:21.016
- This outstanding 232-page book will help you examine
- 00:24:22.083 --> 00:24:25.120
- The evidence of your faith
- 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:26.755
- And see the spiritual fruit
- 00:24:26.755 --> 00:24:28.356
- That should be growing in your daily life.
- 00:24:28.356 --> 00:24:30.992
- Request your copy of "how to know if you're really saved"
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- 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:47.742
- And the complete message series on both cd and dvd.
- 00:24:47.742 --> 00:24:51.713
- If you are truly saved, there's going to be evidence of it.
- 00:24:51.713 --> 00:24:55.650
- There's some tests that you need to apply to your life.
- 00:24:55.650 --> 00:24:59.654
- Thank you for your generous support
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- Of "pathway to victory."
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- And practical teaching into homes
- 00:25:05.827 --> 00:25:07.729
- Across the nation and around the world.
- 00:25:07.729 --> 00:25:12.434
- We often judge people by their appearance,
- 00:25:13.335 --> 00:25:16.004
- Their bank account,
- 00:25:16.004 --> 00:25:17.305
- Or their social status even in the church.
- 00:25:17.305 --> 00:25:20.375
- But god's kingdom operates by different standards.
- 00:25:20.375 --> 00:25:23.979
- God chose the poor to be rich in faith, reminding us
- 00:25:23.979 --> 00:25:28.016
- That eternal treasures matter more than temporary wealth.
- 00:25:28.016 --> 00:25:32.654
- Well, next time, we'll tackle
- 00:25:32.654 --> 00:25:34.155
- What many call the biggest contradiction in the bible.
- 00:25:34.155 --> 00:25:38.360
- Paul says, "we're saved by faith alone."
- 00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:41.563
- James seems to say, "faith without works is dead."
- 00:25:41.563 --> 00:25:45.333
- So which one is it?
- 00:25:45.333 --> 00:25:46.968
- Or can it be both?
- 00:25:46.968 --> 00:25:48.536
- Stay tuned for a preview
- 00:25:48.536 --> 00:25:49.804
- Of what's coming up next in our series,
- 00:25:49.804 --> 00:25:51.973
- How to know if you're really saved.
- 00:25:51.973 --> 00:25:55.377
- But if we're honest, we would have to say
- 00:25:55.377 --> 00:25:57.612
- That there are some passages
- 00:25:57.612 --> 00:25:59.581
- That seem at least at face value to contradict one another,
- 00:25:59.581 --> 00:26:04.753
- And that is true of the passage
- 00:26:05.387 --> 00:26:06.821
- We're going to look at today.
- 00:26:06.821 --> 00:26:08.957
- I call it the biggest contradiction in the bible.
- 00:26:08.957 --> 00:26:13.728
- Set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
- 00:26:13.728 --> 00:26:16.931
- The biggest contradiction in the bible
- 00:26:16.931 --> 00:26:19.401
- Here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:19.401 --> 00:26:21.236
- ♪ music ♪
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- Like juneau, skagway, and ketchikan.
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- There's something powerful about connecting with god
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- And fellow believers in the majesty
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- Of his untamed wilderness.
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- From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles,
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