Dr. Robert Jeffress

Touched By An Angel Part 1

November 30, 2021 | 566 | 27:29

Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear; biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.

#Religion #Signs & Wonders #Angels #Children #Blessing #Struggle #Protection #Robert Jeffress #Luke 1:5-25 COMPLETE IG

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Touched By An Angel Part 1 | December 3, 2021

♪ MUSIC
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FROM THE PULPIT OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
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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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WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTMAS
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MOST PEOPLE THINK ABOUT MARY, JOSEPH
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AND THE BABY JESUS LAYING IN A MANGER,
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BUT THEY OFTEN FORGET ABOUT THE OTHER CHILD
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WHO WAS BORN AROUND THE SAME TIME.
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TODAY WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE STORY
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OF ZACHARIAS AND ELISABETH,
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AND THE MIRACULOUS BIRTH OF A BABY NAMED...
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NO, NOT JESUS BUT JOHN.
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MY MESSAGE IS TITLED "TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL",
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ON TODAY'S EDITION OF "PATHWAY TO VICTORY".
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♪ MUSIC
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"PATHWAY TO VICTORY" IS FULLY COMMITTED
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TO BRINGING BOLD, BIBLICAL TRUTH
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TO A WORLD THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS IT.
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AND BECAUSE OF THE GOSPEL STRONG MATCHING CHALLENGE
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THAT'S ACTIVE RIGHT NOW,
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YOU CAN HELP US REACH MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE.
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UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST YOUR SPECIAL YEAR-END GIFT
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WILL BE MULTIPLIED BY TWO.
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SO, NOW'S THE TIME TO LEVERAGE YOUR GENEROSITY
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FOR THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE MATCHING CHALLENGE,
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AS TOGETHER WE BOLDLY PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS.
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♪ MUSIC
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CHUCK SWINDOL TELLS A GREAT STORY ABOUT
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A FATHER WHO ASKED HIS TEN-YEAR-OLD SON
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WHAT HE HAD LEARNED IN SUNDAY SCHOOL THAT MORNING.
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THE TEN-YEAR-OLD SAID THAT HIS SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER
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HAD TALKED ABOUT THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA,
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SO THE DAD SAID, "WELL, CAN YOU TELL ME THE STORY?"
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HE WANTED TO CHECK AND SEE
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IF THE SON WAS REALLY LISTENING TO THE STORY.
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HE SAID, "WELL, SURE, DAD.
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MOSES WAS THIS REALLY COOL GUY
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BUT PHARAOH WAS A REALLY BAD DUDE
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WHO WOULDN'T LET THE ISRAELITES LEAVE EGYPT
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UNTIL MOSES PERFORMED SOME MIRACLES,
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BUT PHARAOH DECIDED HE DIDN'T WANT TO LET THEM GO
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SO HE CHASED THEM UNTIL THEY GOT TO THE RED SEA.
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THE ISRAELITES DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO
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UNTIL SUDDENLY THEY LOOK UP AND THEY SAW SOME HELICOPTERS
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CARRYING A LARGE PONTOON BRIDGE.
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ONCE THE BRIDGE WAS LOWERED INTO PLACE
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MOSES REACHED INSIDE HIS COAT
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AND PULLED OUT AN ELECTRONIC MEGAPHONE AND SAID,
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'NOW, EVERYBODY FOLLOW ME ACROSS THE BRIDGE.'
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AS SOON AS THEY MADE IT ACROSS THE BRIDGE
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THE EGYPTIANS STARTED CHASING THEM,
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AND THEN SOME JET AIRPLANES SWOOPED DOWN
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AND BOMBED THE BRIDGE WHILE THE EGYPTIANS WERE STILL ON IT,
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AND THEY ALL DROWNED."
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(CONGREGATION LAUGHS)
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THE FATHER SAID,
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"IS THAT WHAT YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER TOLD YOU?"
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HE SAID, "WELL, NOT EXACTLY,
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BUT IF I TOLD IT THE WAY SHE TOLD IT
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YOU'D NEVER BELIEVE IT."
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(CONGREGATION LAUGHS)
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ALL OF US, FROM TIME TO TIME, FACE IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS,
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DON'T WE?
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OUR BACK IS UP AGAINST THE WALL,
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THERE SEEMS TO BE NO WAY OF ESCAPE.
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AND EVEN IF WE BELIEVE THESE STORIES OF THE BIBLE,
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LIKE THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA,
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WE TEND TO THINK WHAT THAT WAS THEN BUT THIS IS NOW,
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GOD JUST DOESN'T DO THE SAME THINGS TODAY
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AS HE DID THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.
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BUT THE BIBLE I READ SAYS GOD HAS NOT CHANGED,
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HE'S THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER.
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AREN'T YOU GRAD GLAD OF THAT?
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(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)
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AND THE SAME GOD WHO IS ABLE TO PART THE RED SEA,
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THE SAME GOD WHO COLLAPSED THE WALLS OF JERICHO,
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THE SAME GOD WHO MIRACULOUSLY FED ELIJAH
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FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS,
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THAT SAME GOD IS READY,
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HE IS ABLE TO WORK MIRACULOUSLY ON YOUR BEHALF.
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AND THAT'S THE STORY THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE
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ILLUSTRATED TODAY.
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USUALLY, HAVE YOU FOUND THIS OUT,
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GOD USUALLY WAITS UNTIL THE VERY LAST MOMENT
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WHEN OUR BACKS ARE UP AGAINST THE WALL
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TO INTERVENE ON OUR BEHALF.
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BECAUSE WHEN HE DOES,
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THEN THERE'S NO DOUBT WHO REALLY PERFORMED THE MIRACLE.
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THAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF THE COUPLE
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WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
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IF YOU HAVE YOUR BIBLES
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I WANT YOU TO TURN TO LUKE 1,
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AS WE DISCOVER ONE COUPLE WHO WAS TRULY TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL.
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NOW, LAST TIME WE BEGAN OUR STUDY OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE,
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IT'S THE MOST DETAILED
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OF ALL OF THE ACCOUNTS OF JESUS' LIFE,
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WHICH IS THE REASON WE'RE STUDYING THIS PARTICULAR GOSPEL.
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NOT ONLY IS IT THE MOST DETAILED,
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IT WAS WRITTEN TO PEOPLE LIKE MOST OF US HERE TODAY
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WHO ARE GENTILES, NON-JEWS.
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AND IF YOU WERE GOING TO DO AN OVERVIEW
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OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE,
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SEE HOW LUKE IS DIVIDED INTO THREE MAJOR PARTS.
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AND REALLY THE THEME VERSE OF LUKE
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IS FOUND IN LUKE 19:10,
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WHEN JESUS SAID ABOUT HIMSELF,
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"FOR THE SON OF MAN HAS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE
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THAT WHICH WAS LOST."
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THAT WAS JESUS' REASON FOR COMING,
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AND YOU SEE HOW THAT THEME VERSE IS DIVIDED OUT
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OVER THE GOSPEL OF LUKE,
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THE FIRST SECTION IS ABOUT CHRIST'S BIRTH,
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ABOUT HIS COMING, HE HAS COME.
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THE SECOND PORTION IS ABOUT HIS MINISTRY ON EARTH,
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HE CAME TO SEEK,
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AND THEN THE FINAL PORTION OF LUKE DEALS WITH HIS DEATH
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AND RESURRECTION, HE CAME TO SAVE.
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AND SO AFTER THE FIRST FOUR VERSES
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WHICH ARE THE PROLOGUE OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE,
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WE'RE READY TO GET INTO THE STORY IN VERSE 5,
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AND VERSE 5 TELLS US THE STORY OF A MIRACULOUS BIRTH
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OF A BABY.
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AND IT'S NOT THE BABY YOU'RE THINKING OF ABOUT,
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WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT NEXT TIME, THE BABY JESUS.
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BUT DID YOU KNOW THERE WAS ANOTHER MIRACULOUS BIRTH
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THAT PRECEDED THE BIRTH OF JESUS,
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IT WAS THE BIRTH OF A BABY WHOSE NAME WOULD BE JOHN.
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SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE PIVOTAL IN THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST.
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LOOK AT VERSE 5 WITH ME,
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"IN THE DAYS OF HEROD, KING OF JUDEA,"
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NOW IT'S EASY TO SKIP PAST THAT
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AND NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
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IN THE DAYS OF HEROD, WHO WAS HEROD?
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HE WAS THE PUPPET KING THAT ROME HAD PUT IN PLACE
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TO RULE OVER JUDEA, TO RULE OVER PALESTINE.
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HEROD WAS NOT A JEW HE WAS AN EDOMITE.
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NOW, REMEMBER FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT
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WHO THE EDOMITES WERE, THEY WERE THE DESCENDANTS OF ESAU,
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ONE OF THE SONS OF ISAAC, BUT IT WASN'T THE SON OF PROMISE.
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ESAU HAD A BROTHER, REMEMBER HIS NAME, JACOB.
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AND SO JACOB AND ESAU AND THEIR DESCENDANTS
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WERE ALWAYS IN STRIFE WITH ONE ANOTHER,
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AND THAT EDOMITES HATED THE JEWS.
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AND THAT'S WHO THE KING OF JUDEA WAS,
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AN THE EDOMITE NAMED HEROD.
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IT WOULD BE HEROD, FOR EXAMPLE,
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WHO WOULD ERECT PAGAN TEMPLES IN JUDEA,
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IT WAS HEROD WHO LATER, AS WE'LL SEE,
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INSTIGATED THAT GENOCIDE OR INFANTICIDE AGAINST BABIES
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TWO YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER,
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WHEN HEROD FOUND OUT ANOTHER KING WAS THREATENING HIS RULE
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AND HE WAS TRYING TO EXTINGUISH THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH.
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THESE WERE DARK DAYS IN ISRAEL TO SAY IN THE DAYS OF HEROD,
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IT WOULD BE LIKE AN IRAQI CITIZEN TODAY SAYING
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"IN THE DAYS OF SADDAM HUSSEIN,"
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THAT'S WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR THE ISRAELITES
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IN THE DAYS OF HEROD.
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AND YET IT'S AGAINST THIS DARK BACKDROP
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OF DISTRESS AND BLEAKNESS
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THAT GOD WAS READY TO ANSWER THE PRAYER,
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NOT ONLY OF ONE COUPLE BUT OF AN ENTIRE NATION.
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IT WAS IN THESE DARK DAYS, LOOK AT VERSE 5,
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THAT "THERE WAS A CERTAIN PRIEST NAMED ZACHARIAS
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OF THE DIVISION OF ABIJAH;
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AND HE HAD A WIFE FROM THE DAUGHTERS OF AARON,
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AND HER NAME WAS ELIZABETH."
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THE NAME ZACHARIAS MEANS THE LORD REMEMBERS.
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HE WAS A PRIEST, HE WAS FROM ONE OF THE PRIESTLY ORDERS
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OR DIVISIONS OF ABIJAH.
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HIS WIFE, ELIZABETH, HER NAME MEANT OATH OF GOD,
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WHO WAS ALSO OF THE PRIESTLY LINE OF AARON.
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BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEIR VOCATION
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OR EVEN THEIR HERITAGE WAS THEIR CHARACTER.
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I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT VERSE 6,
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AND "THEY WERE BOTH RIGHTEOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD,
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WALKING BLAMELESSLY IN ALL THE COMMANDMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS
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OF THE LORD."
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ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH WERE DECLARED RIGHTEOUS.
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NOW, FOLKS, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
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WHAT THE WORD RIGHTEOUS MEANS,
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THE WORD RIGHTEOUS IS ACTUALLY USED TWO DIFFERENT WAYS
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IN THE BIBLE.
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SOMETIMES THE WORD RIGHTEOUS REFERS TO
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IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS.
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WRITE THAT DOWN, IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS.
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TO IMPUTE MEANS TO PUT TO ONE'S ACCOUNT.
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THIS IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WE RECEIVE
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WHEN WE TRUST IN CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR,
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WE'RE IMMEDIATELY DECLARED RIGHTEOUS.
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WE ARE IN A RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD, WE ARE SAVED,
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WE ARE FORGIVEN FOREVER.
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THAT IS IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS.
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YOU ARE NEVER MORE RIGHTEOUS
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THAN THE MOMENT YOU WERE SAVED IN GOD'S EYES,
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YOU ARE COMPLETELY FORGIVEN.
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THAT IS IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS,
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PUT OUT TO THE SIDE IT DEALS WITH OUR
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RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD,
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BUT THERE'S A SECOND KIND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE BIBLE
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AND THAT'S ETHICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS.
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THAT IS HOW WE LIVE AFTER WE'RE SAVED,
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IT IS A WAY WE CONDUCT OUR LIVES.
00:09:31.160 --> 00:09:33.195
AND OUT BESIDE ETHICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
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WRITE THE WORDS RIGHT ACTING BEFORE GOD .
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IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OUR STANDING,
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WE'VE BEEN DECLARED FORGIVEN, OUR RIGHT STANDING,
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BUT ETHICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OUR RIGHT ACTING BEFORE GOD.
00:09:46.208 --> 00:09:49.879
AND THIS IS THE KIND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
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THAT IS BEING USED TO DESCRIBE THIS COUPLE,
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"THEY WERE RIGHTEOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD,
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WALKING BLAMELESSLY IN ALL THE COMMANDMENTS
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AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE LORD."
00:10:00.556 --> 00:10:01.857
DOES THAT MEAN THEY WERE PERFECT?
00:10:01.857 --> 00:10:03.359
OF COURSE NOT, AND WE'LL SEE THAT IN JUST A MOMENT,
00:10:03.359 --> 00:10:05.594
THEY WEREN'T PERFECT.
00:10:05.594 --> 00:10:07.396
BUT WALKING BLAMELESSLY,
00:10:07.396 --> 00:10:08.898
THE WORD WALKING REFERS TO THE WAY YOU CONDUCT YOUR LIFE.
00:10:08.898 --> 00:10:12.034
LISTEN TO THIS,
00:10:12.034 --> 00:10:13.502
THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THEIR LIFE WAS MOVING TOWARD GOD
00:10:13.502 --> 00:10:17.907
RATHER THAN AWAY FROM GOD.
00:10:17.907 --> 00:10:20.076
THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO WALK BLAMELESSLY,
00:10:20.076 --> 00:10:22.611
IT MEANS YOUR HEART'S DESIRE IS THAT YOU OBEY GOD.
00:10:22.611 --> 00:10:26.782
IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU NEVER MAKE A MISTAKE, THINK ABOUT IT.
00:10:26.782 --> 00:10:31.187
NOAH FOUND FAVOR IN THE EYES OF GOD AND YET HE GOT DRUNK,
00:10:31.187 --> 00:10:35.257
DAVID COMMITTED ADULTERY.
00:10:35.257 --> 00:10:37.526
ABRAHAM, THE FRIEND OF GOD, REMEMBER WHAT HE DID?
00:10:37.526 --> 00:10:41.030
TO SAVE HIS OWN SKIN HE ALLOWED HIS WIFE TO...
00:10:41.030 --> 00:10:43.966
WELL, HEE DIDN'T ALLOW HE MADE HIS WIFE
00:10:43.966 --> 00:10:45.935
SLEEP IN THE HAREM OF THE KING IN ORDER TO PROTECT HIMSELF.
00:10:45.935 --> 00:10:49.305
HE WAS HARDLY BLAMELESS BEFORE GOD.
00:10:49.305 --> 00:10:51.974
WE'LL EVEN SEE ZACHARIAS,
00:10:51.974 --> 00:10:53.542
HE HAD HIS MOMENTS OF DOUBT AS WELL.
00:10:53.542 --> 00:10:56.178
IT'S NOT THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE PERFECT,
00:10:56.178 --> 00:10:58.481
BUT THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THEIR LIFE
00:10:58.481 --> 00:11:00.616
WAS MOVING TOWARD GOD RATHER THAN AWAY FROM GOD.
00:11:00.616 --> 00:11:05.588
AREN'T YOU GLAD GOD DOESN'T JUDGE THE TOTALITY OF OUR LIVES
00:11:05.588 --> 00:11:09.191
BY ONE OR TWO EPISODES IN OUR LIFE?
00:11:09.191 --> 00:11:12.628
INSTEAD, HE LOOKS AT THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF OUR LIFE,
00:11:12.628 --> 00:11:16.232
HE LOOKS INTO OUR MOTIVATION AND SAYS,
00:11:16.232 --> 00:11:18.234
"IS THAT A PERSON WHO REALLY WANTS TO FOLLOW ME?"
00:11:18.234 --> 00:11:22.638
WHAT ABOUT YOUR LIFE,
00:11:22.638 --> 00:11:23.773
IS THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE
00:11:23.773 --> 00:11:25.641
MOVING YOU TOWARD GOD OR AWAY FROM GOD?
00:11:25.641 --> 00:11:29.912
THIS COUPLE WAS MOVING TOWARD GOD,
00:11:29.912 --> 00:11:32.848
AND YET EVEN THOUGH THEY WALKED TOWARD GOD
00:11:32.848 --> 00:11:35.451
THAT DIDN'T EXEMPT THEM FROM PROBLEMS,
00:11:35.451 --> 00:11:37.119
IN FACT, YOU'LL FIND, USUALLY,
00:11:37.119 --> 00:11:38.554
WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO WALK WITH GOD
00:11:38.554 --> 00:11:39.855
IT GUARANTEES YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS.
00:11:39.855 --> 00:11:41.991
LOOK AT VERSE 7,
00:11:41.991 --> 00:11:43.459
"AND THEY HAD NO CHILD BECAUSE ELIZABETH WAS BARREN
00:11:43.459 --> 00:11:47.263
AND THEN THEY WERE BOTH ADVANCED IN YEARS."
00:11:47.263 --> 00:11:50.199
NOW, IN JEWISH CULTURE THIS DIDN'T COME FROM THE BIBLE
00:11:50.199 --> 00:11:53.435
BUT IN JEWISH CULTURE,
00:11:53.435 --> 00:11:54.970
IF YOU ARE A FEMALE AND MARRIED, AND HAD NO CHILD,
00:11:54.970 --> 00:11:57.173
IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A CURSE FROM GOD.
00:11:57.173 --> 00:11:59.475
AND SO THEY WERE ASHAMED OF THE FACT
00:11:59.475 --> 00:12:01.544
THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD TRIED TO HAVE A CHILD,
00:12:01.544 --> 00:12:03.546
THEY HAD NO CHILD.
00:12:03.546 --> 00:12:05.581
AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE BOTH ADVANCED IN YEARS
00:12:05.581 --> 00:12:07.750
MEANS THAT THEY HAD NO PROSPECTS OF HAVING A CHILD AS WELL.
00:12:07.750 --> 00:12:11.720
THEY WERE IN A HOPELESS SITUATION, OR SO THEY THOUGHT.
00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:15.891
BUT NOTICE HOW GOD INTERVENED, LOOK AT VERSE 8,
00:12:15.891 --> 00:12:18.994
"NOW IT CAME ABOUT WHILE ZACHARIAS WAS PERFORMING
00:12:18.994 --> 00:12:23.098
HIS PRIESTLY SERVICE BEFORE GOD
00:12:23.098 --> 00:12:25.935
IN THE APPOINTED ORDER OF HIS DIVISION,
00:12:25.935 --> 00:12:28.304
ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM OF THE PRIESTLY OFFICE,
00:12:28.304 --> 00:12:30.873
HE WAS CHOSEN BY LOT TO ENTER THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD
00:12:30.873 --> 00:12:34.710
AND TO BURN INCENSE."
00:12:34.710 --> 00:12:36.212
NOW, LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
00:12:36.212 --> 00:12:39.081
900 YEARS BEFORE THIS KING DAVID HAD A PROBLEM,
00:12:39.081 --> 00:12:42.284
AND THE PROBLEM WAS THEY HAD TOO MANY PRIESTS IN ISRAEL
00:12:42.284 --> 00:12:45.688
AND NOT ENOUGH WORK TO DO.
00:12:45.688 --> 00:12:47.556
BACK THEN PRIESTS WERE KIND OF LIKE BAPTIST PREACHERS,
00:12:47.556 --> 00:12:50.292
THEY WERE A DIME A DOZEN.
00:12:50.292 --> 00:12:52.328
I MEAN, THEY WERE EVERYWHERE,
00:12:52.328 --> 00:12:53.796
THERE JUST WASN'T ENOUGH FOR THEM TO DO.
00:12:53.796 --> 00:12:55.898
SO, ACCORDING TO GOD'S INSTRUCTION, FIRST CHRONICLES 24,
00:12:55.898 --> 00:12:59.034
DAVID SAYS, "OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THESE PRIESTS
00:12:59.034 --> 00:13:01.003
AND WE'RE GOING TO DIVIDE THEM INTO 24 GROUPS.
00:13:01.003 --> 00:13:03.672
AND THEN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS,
00:13:03.672 --> 00:13:05.474
ACCORDING TO EACH GROUP AND EACH DIVISION
00:13:05.474 --> 00:13:08.878
EVERY PRIEST WILL GO TO THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM
00:13:08.878 --> 00:13:12.448
FOR ONE WEEK TWICE A YEAR TO DO HIS DUTIES,"
00:13:12.448 --> 00:13:15.584
KIND OF LIKE THE NATIONAL GUARD OR PRIEST, OKAY.
00:13:15.584 --> 00:13:18.220
"YOU GO TO JERUSALEM AND YOU PERFORM YOUR SERVICE
00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:21.290
ONE WEEK A YEAR, TWICE A YEAR."
00:13:21.290 --> 00:13:24.293
SO, ZACHARIAS, BEING ONE OF THOSE PRIESTS,
00:13:24.293 --> 00:13:27.963
WAS SIMPLY FULFILLING HIS DUTY,
00:13:27.963 --> 00:13:30.199
HE WAS IN JERUSALEM
00:13:30.199 --> 00:13:32.368
THE WEEK THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE
00:13:32.368 --> 00:13:34.570
TO PERFORM HIS SERVICE.
00:13:34.570 --> 00:13:35.838
NOW, HERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PRIESTS
00:13:35.838 --> 00:13:37.740
WHO HAPPENED TO BE IN JERUSALEM ON THIS PARTICULAR WEEK.
00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:40.910
NOW, THEY WOULD CAST LOTS, THAT'S LIKE THROWING DICE,
00:13:40.910 --> 00:13:45.648
TO DECIDE WHICH PRIEST GOT THE RIGHT THAT WEEK
00:13:45.648 --> 00:13:49.818
TO GO INSIDE OF THE HOLY PLACE.
00:13:49.818 --> 00:13:53.022
NOT THE HOLY OF HOLIES,
00:13:53.022 --> 00:13:54.556
THAT WAS ONLY FOR THE HIGH PRIEST ONCE A YEAR.
00:13:54.556 --> 00:13:56.892
BUT THE HOLY PLACE OUTSIDE IS WHERE THERE WAS AN ALTAR,
00:13:56.892 --> 00:13:59.795
AND THERE WAS A PRIEST WHO WAS CHOSEN BY CHANCE
00:13:59.795 --> 00:14:02.898
TO BE THE ONE WHO GOT TO GO IN AND LIGHT INCENSE
00:14:02.898 --> 00:14:05.935
ON THE ALTAR, AND TO SAY YOUR PRAYER.
00:14:05.935 --> 00:14:08.504
THIS WAS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE THE ONE CHOSEN TO DO THIS,
00:14:08.504 --> 00:14:11.540
THAT YOU ONLY GOT TO DO THAT ONE TIME IN YOUR LIFETIME.
00:14:11.540 --> 00:14:15.010
AND SO NOTICE WHAT LUKE IS SAYING HERE.
00:14:15.010 --> 00:14:17.212
ZACHARIAS JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN JERUSALEM
00:14:17.212 --> 00:14:23.319
ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY,
00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:25.421
AND BY CHANCE HE WAS THE ONE CHOSEN
00:14:25.421 --> 00:14:30.225
TO BURN THE INCENSE ON THE ALTAR.
00:14:30.225 --> 00:14:32.928
BY CHANCE MY FOOT, NOTHING HAPPENS BY CHANCE IN GOD'S WILL.
00:14:32.928 --> 00:14:37.933
PROVERBS 16:33 SAYS
00:14:37.933 --> 00:14:39.702
"THE LOT IS CAST INTO THE LAP,
00:14:39.702 --> 00:14:42.738
BUT ITS EVERY DECISION IS FROM THE LORD."
00:14:42.738 --> 00:14:47.076
THE LORD IS THE ONE WHO DETERMINES
00:14:47.076 --> 00:14:50.913
THE RESULT OF THE THROWING OF THE DICE,
00:14:50.913 --> 00:14:53.182
OR THE CASTING OF THE LOT, OR THE WINNING OF THE LOTTERY.
00:14:53.182 --> 00:14:56.352
NO, WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT THAT,
00:14:56.352 --> 00:14:57.920
BUT THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THINGS THAT SEEM BY CHANCE.
00:14:57.920 --> 00:15:02.057
NOW, HERE IS ZACHARIAS,
00:15:02.057 --> 00:15:04.059
HE'S THE ONE CHOSEN, HE'S FEELING SO GREAT,
00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:06.228
HE GOES INTO THE HOLY PLACE TO BURN THE INCENSE.
00:15:06.228 --> 00:15:10.399
NOW, MAY I STOP HERE AND POINT OUT SOMETHING
00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:13.135
THAT I THINK WILL BE A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU?
00:15:13.135 --> 00:15:16.105
WHEN IS IT THAT GOD CHOSE TO ANSWER ZACHARIAS PRAYERS,
00:15:16.105 --> 00:15:21.844
WE'LL SEE IN A MOMENT.
00:15:21.844 --> 00:15:22.778
IT WASN'T WHEN HE WAS CLOISTERED
00:15:22.778 --> 00:15:24.279
IN SOME MONASTERY SOMEWHERE, MEDITATING,
00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:30.019
CHANTING ALL BY HIMSELF.
00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:33.355
NO, IT WASN'T WHEN HE WAS ALL BY HIMSELF
00:15:33.355 --> 00:15:35.924
CLOISTERED IN A MONASTERY,
00:15:35.924 --> 00:15:37.526
IT WAS WHEN HE WAS PERFORMING HIS EVERYDAY RESPONSIBILITY
00:15:37.526 --> 00:15:41.630
THAT GOD CHOSE TO SPEAK TO HIM.
00:15:41.630 --> 00:15:44.433
HIS EVERYDAY RESPONSIBILITY HAPPENED TO BE
00:15:44.433 --> 00:15:46.602
IN JERUSALEM AND IN THE HOLY PLACE,
00:15:46.602 --> 00:15:48.737
BUT THE POINT IS THAT IS WHEN GOD INTERVENED
00:15:48.737 --> 00:15:52.074
IN HIS SITUATION.
00:15:52.074 --> 00:15:53.375
AND YOU SEE THAT ALL THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE,
00:15:53.375 --> 00:15:55.344
IT'S WHEN PEOPLE ARE DOING THEIR EVERYDAY CHORES
00:15:55.344 --> 00:15:58.781
THAT GOD SEEMS TO ANSWER AND GIVE DIRECTION.
00:15:58.781 --> 00:16:01.917
THINK ABOUT MOSES AND DAVID,
00:16:01.917 --> 00:16:03.685
WHERE WERE THEY WHEN GOD SPOKE TO THEM?
00:16:03.685 --> 00:16:05.254
THEY WERE TAKING CARE OF THE SHEEP,
00:16:05.254 --> 00:16:06.522
THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
00:16:06.522 --> 00:16:08.290
OR THINK ABOUT GIDEON, HE WAS THRESHING WHEAT.
00:16:08.290 --> 00:16:11.293
OR THINK ABOUT PETER, THE APOSTLE PETER,
00:16:11.293 --> 00:16:14.997
WHERE WAS HE WHEN JESUS CALLED HIM INTO SERVICE?
00:16:14.997 --> 00:16:17.866
HE WAS OUT DOING HIS DAY JOB,
00:16:17.866 --> 00:16:19.868
HE WAS MENDING NETS WHEN JESUS SAID, "COME AND FOLLOW ME."
00:16:19.868 --> 00:16:24.273
WARREN WIERSBE SAYS, "IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEER A CAR
00:16:24.273 --> 00:16:28.043
WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING.
00:16:28.043 --> 00:16:30.179
WHEN WE GET BUSY GOD STARTS TO DIRECT US."
00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:34.183
THAT IS A GREAT PRINCIPLE.
00:16:34.183 --> 00:16:35.984
WHEN WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING,
00:16:35.984 --> 00:16:38.387
WE'RE NOT STATIONARY WE'RE MOVING,
00:16:38.387 --> 00:16:40.722
THAT'S WHEN GOD CAN DIRECT US.
00:16:40.722 --> 00:16:43.358
I KNOW TODAY I'M SPEAKING TO SOME OF YOU WHO ARE STUDENTS,
00:16:43.358 --> 00:16:46.762
MAYBE YOU'RE YOUNG ADULTS,
00:16:46.762 --> 00:16:48.297
YOU'RE AT THAT STAGE IN YOUR LIFE
00:16:48.297 --> 00:16:49.865
WHEN YOU'RE SEEKING GOD'S DIRECTION
00:16:49.865 --> 00:16:51.633
ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC DECISIONS,
00:16:51.633 --> 00:16:53.502
MAYBE ABOUT WHERE TO GO TO SCHOOL
00:16:53.502 --> 00:16:55.337
OR MAYBE WHAT VOCATION TO CHOOSE,
00:16:55.337 --> 00:16:57.206
OR MAYBE WHAT MATE TO CHOOSE.
00:16:57.206 --> 00:17:00.209
(INDISTINCT) POINT OUT THREE PRINCIPLES
00:17:00.209 --> 00:17:02.444
ABOUT HOW TO FIND GOD'S WILL IN YOUR LIFE
00:17:02.444 --> 00:17:05.080
WHENEVER YOU'RE SEEKING GOD'S DIRECTION,
00:17:05.080 --> 00:17:07.249
MAYBE YOU'RE A MIDDLE-AGED ADULT OR SENIOR ADULT
00:17:07.249 --> 00:17:09.885
AND YOU'RE IN ONE OF THOSE INTERMISSIONS
00:17:09.885 --> 00:17:11.720
WE TALKED ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AGO,
00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:13.388
AND YOU'RE SENSING GOD'S DIRECTION
00:17:13.388 --> 00:17:15.124
FOR THE SECOND ACT OF YOUR LIFE.
00:17:15.124 --> 00:17:16.625
WHENEVER YOU'RE SEEKING GOD'S DIRECTION,
00:17:16.625 --> 00:17:19.094
NOTICE THESE THREE PRINCIPLES.
00:17:19.094 --> 00:17:20.596
NUMBER ONE, WALK BLAMELESSLY BEFORE THE LORD.
00:17:20.596 --> 00:17:26.034
THAT'S WHAT ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH DID,
00:17:26.034 --> 00:17:28.303
THAT IS THEY KNEW TO DO WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.
00:17:28.303 --> 00:17:32.241
THEY WERE OBEDIENT TO GOD
00:17:32.241 --> 00:17:34.810
IN EVERY WAY THEY POSSIBLY COULD BE.
00:17:34.810 --> 00:17:38.247
IF YOU WANT GOD'S DIRECTION IN YOUR LIFE
00:17:38.247 --> 00:17:41.216
YOU CANNOT BE DISOBEYING GOD BLATANTLY
00:17:41.216 --> 00:17:44.019
AND ASKING HIM FOR DIRECTION, HE JUST WON'T GIVE IT TO YOU.
00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:46.655
FIRST PETER THREE SAYS,
00:17:46.655 --> 00:17:48.157
"GOD ATTENDS HIS EAR TO THE PRAYERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
00:17:48.157 --> 00:17:53.829
THOSE WHO ARE RIGHT ACTING BEFORE HIM,
00:17:53.829 --> 00:17:55.631
BUT HE TURNS AWAY HIS EAR FROM THOSE WHO PRACTICE EVIL."
00:17:55.631 --> 00:17:58.734
IF YOU WANT GOD'S DIRECTION,
00:17:58.734 --> 00:18:00.335
DO WHAT YOU KNOW YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO,
00:18:00.335 --> 00:18:01.937
WALK BLAMELESSLY BEFORE THE LORD.
00:18:01.937 --> 00:18:03.939
NUMBER TWO, WHEN SEEKING GOD'S DIRECTION PERSIST IN PRAYER.
00:18:03.939 --> 00:18:09.811
THAT'S WHAT ZACHARIAS DID,
00:18:09.811 --> 00:18:10.979
HE NEVER QUIT PRAYING FOR A CHILD
00:18:10.979 --> 00:18:13.015
EVEN THOUGH GOD DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY ANSWER HIS REQUEST.
00:18:13.015 --> 00:18:15.984
WHEN WE GET TO LUKE 18 WE'RE GOING TO SEE A STORY JESUS TOLD
00:18:15.984 --> 00:18:19.588
ABOUT HOW WE OUGHT TO PERSIST IN PRAYER AT ALL TIMES.
00:18:19.588 --> 00:18:23.358
WE'RE NOT TO PRAY JUST WHEN THE ANSWER SEEMS OBVIOUS,
00:18:23.358 --> 00:18:26.461
WE'RE TO PRAY WHEN THE ANSWER SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE.
00:18:26.461 --> 00:18:29.064
AND THEN, THIRDLY,
00:18:29.064 --> 00:18:30.499
BE FAITHFUL IN YOUR EVERYDAY RESPONSIBILITIES.
00:18:30.499 --> 00:18:34.102
IF YOU WANT GOD'S DIRECTION,
00:18:34.102 --> 00:18:36.638
BE SURE YOU'RE NOT ONLY OBEYING GOD
00:18:36.638 --> 00:18:38.640
BUT YOU'RE FULFILLING YOUR EVERYDAY RESPONSIBILITIES
00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:40.909
TO YOUR FAMILY, TO YOUR WORKPLACE,
00:18:40.909 --> 00:18:42.978
THAT'S WHEN GOD IS MOST LIKELY TO SPEAK.
00:18:42.978 --> 00:18:45.447
THERE'S A GREAT ILLUSTRATION OF THAT IN GENESIS 24,
00:18:45.447 --> 00:18:48.450
REMEMBER THE STORY OF REBECCA?
00:18:48.450 --> 00:18:52.187
ABRAHAM WAS CONCERNED THAT HIS SON, ISAAC,
00:18:52.187 --> 00:18:56.091
WAS STILL LIVING AT HOME, FAILURE TO LAUNCH,
00:18:56.091 --> 00:18:59.361
AND SO HE WANTED TO GET HIM A WIFE,
00:18:59.361 --> 00:19:01.263
AND SO HE SENDS HIS SERVANT, ELIZAR,
00:19:01.263 --> 00:19:03.732
OUT TO FIND A BRIDE FOR ISAAC.
00:19:03.732 --> 00:19:06.468
SO, ELIZAR GOES AND HE STOPS AT THE WELL
00:19:06.468 --> 00:19:10.706
AND HE SEES THIS WOMAN, A GIRL REALLY, NAMED REBECCA.
00:19:10.706 --> 00:19:15.644
AND WHAT IS SHE DOING?
00:19:15.644 --> 00:19:17.079
SHE'S DOING HER HOUSEHOLD CHORES, SHE'S GETTING THE WATER,
00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:19.748
SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF RETRIEVING THE WATER
00:19:19.748 --> 00:19:21.550
AND TAKING IT BACK HOME.
00:19:21.550 --> 00:19:22.951
AND HE SPOTTED HER AND SAID,
00:19:22.951 --> 00:19:24.286
"THIS IS THE GIRL FOR ISAAC."
00:19:24.286 --> 00:19:27.189
NOW, JUST THINK, WHAT IF REBECCA HAD REBELLED
00:19:27.189 --> 00:19:29.625
AGAINST HER PARENTS AND SAID,
00:19:29.625 --> 00:19:30.826
"YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT TODAY
00:19:30.826 --> 00:19:32.127
I WANT TO GO HANG OUT WITH MY FRIENDS."
00:19:32.127 --> 00:19:34.463
HAD SHE NOT BEEN THERE ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY,
00:19:34.463 --> 00:19:36.932
SHE WOULD HAVE MISSED GOD'S CHOICE FOR HER MATE.
00:19:36.932 --> 00:19:40.636
GOD MANY TIMES ANSWERS OUR PRAYER
00:19:40.636 --> 00:19:43.572
WHEN WE'RE THE MIDST
00:19:43.572 --> 00:19:44.973
OF FULFILLING OUR EVERYDAY RESPONSIBILITIES.
00:19:44.973 --> 00:19:47.576
REMEMBER, IT IS MUCH EASIER FOR GOD TO STEER AN OBJECT
00:19:47.576 --> 00:19:51.179
THAT IS MOVING THAN ONE THAT IS STATIONARY.
00:19:51.179 --> 00:19:54.182
NOW IT'S WHILE ZACHARIAS IS INSIDE THE TEMPLE
00:19:54.182 --> 00:19:57.786
THAT THE ANGEL APPEARS, LOOK AT VERSE 11,
00:19:57.786 --> 00:20:00.389
"AND AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO ZACHARIAS,
00:20:00.389 --> 00:20:04.092
STANDING TO THE RIGHT OF THE ALTAR OF INCENSE.
00:20:04.092 --> 00:20:06.862
AND ZACHARIAS WAS TROUBLED WHEN HE SAW HIM,
00:20:06.862 --> 00:20:10.232
AND FEAR GRIPPED HIM."
00:20:10.232 --> 00:20:13.168
NOW, THERE ARE ONLY TWO ANGELS IN THE BIBLE
00:20:13.168 --> 00:20:16.705
WHO HAVE NAMES ATTACHED TO THEM.
00:20:16.705 --> 00:20:19.341
ONE ANGEL WAS MICHAEL, MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL.
00:20:19.341 --> 00:20:22.577
HE SEEMS TO BE THE ANGEL IN CHARGE OF DEFENDING ISRAEL,
00:20:22.577 --> 00:20:26.415
MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL.
00:20:26.415 --> 00:20:28.050
THE OTHER ANGEL THAT IS NAMED, AS WE'LL SEE IN THIS PASSAGE,
00:20:28.050 --> 00:20:31.420
IS GABRIEL.
00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:32.954
GABRIEL IS THE MESSENGER ANGEL,
00:20:32.954 --> 00:20:35.057
HE'S THE ONE WE'LL SEE NEXT TIME
00:20:35.057 --> 00:20:36.658
THAT WOULD APPEAR TO A TEENAGE PEASANT GIRL NAMED MARY,
00:20:36.658 --> 00:20:39.995
TO ANNOUNCE THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH.
00:20:39.995 --> 00:20:42.831
BUT ZACHARIAS, WHEN HE SAW THIS APPEARANCE OF GABRIEL,
00:20:42.831 --> 00:20:45.867
HE WAS GRIPPED WITH FEAR.
00:20:45.867 --> 00:20:48.170
WHY IS THAT?
00:20:48.170 --> 00:20:49.471
NOW, REMEMBER, IT HAD BEEN 400 YEARS
00:20:49.471 --> 00:20:51.206
SINCE GOD HAD SPOKEN A WORD, SINCE THE OLD TESTAMENT,
00:20:51.206 --> 00:20:53.809
THE ENDING OF MALAKAI.
00:20:53.809 --> 00:20:55.243
GOD HAD NOT SPOKEN FOR 400 YEARS,
00:20:55.243 --> 00:20:57.846
AND THAT MEANS THERE WAS NOBODY ALIVE IN ZACHARIAS' DAY
00:20:57.846 --> 00:21:01.083
WHO HAD EVEN SEEN AN ANGEL.
00:21:01.083 --> 00:21:03.652
THEY HADN'T SEEN AN ANGEL
00:21:03.652 --> 00:21:05.153
BUT THEY KNEW ABOUT ANGELS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT,
00:21:05.153 --> 00:21:06.822
AND THEY KNEW WHENEVER AN ANGEL APPEARED
00:21:06.822 --> 00:21:08.857
IT USUALLY WASN'T GOOD NEWS.
00:21:08.857 --> 00:21:11.960
WHENEVER AN ANGEL APPEARED
00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:13.328
IT WAS USUALLY AN ANGEL OF JUDGMENT,
00:21:13.328 --> 00:21:15.464
AND SO, ZACHARIAS, WHEN HE SAW THIS ANGEL
00:21:15.464 --> 00:21:18.333
SUDDENLY APPEAR BEFORE HIM HE THOUGHT,
00:21:18.333 --> 00:21:19.935
"THIS IS IT, MY LIFE IS OVER."
00:21:19.935 --> 00:21:23.138
BUT NOTICE HOW THE ANGEL GREETED ZACHARIAS.
00:21:23.138 --> 00:21:26.908
HE SAID, "DO NOT BE AFRAID," VERSE 13.
00:21:26.908 --> 00:21:30.545
OR AS THE KING JAMES SAYS, "FEAR NOT."
00:21:30.545 --> 00:21:33.382
AND APPARENTLY GABRIEL HAD TO SAY THAT
00:21:33.382 --> 00:21:35.317
EVERY TIME HE APPEARED TO SOMEBODY,
00:21:35.317 --> 00:21:37.119
"FEAR NOT, FEAR NOT," TO THE SHEPHERDS, "FEAR NOT."
00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:40.455
IT WAS A WAY OF KEEPING HIS AUDIENCE
00:21:40.455 --> 00:21:41.923
FROM GOING INTO CARDIAC ARREST WHENEVER THEY APPEARED,
00:21:41.923 --> 00:21:44.893
SO I'M SURE HE GOT TIRED OF HAVING TO SAY THAT ALL THE TIME,
00:21:44.893 --> 00:21:46.928
"FEAR NOT, FEAR NOT, FEAR NOT, I'M NOT HERE TO KILL YOU."
00:21:46.928 --> 00:21:49.765
HE GOES ON TO SAY, "FOR YOUR PETITION HAS BEEN HEARD."
00:21:49.765 --> 00:21:55.504
NOW, WHAT PETITION?
00:21:55.504 --> 00:21:57.005
WELL, THE OBVIOUS ONE IS YOUR PETITION FOR A SON.
00:21:57.005 --> 00:22:00.575
HE AND ELIZABETH HAD BEEN PRAYING FOR YEARS
00:22:00.575 --> 00:22:03.044
THAT GOD WOULD GIVE THEM A CHILD,
00:22:03.044 --> 00:22:05.247
BUT I THINK IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
00:22:05.247 --> 00:22:08.016
IT WAS NOT ONLY THEIR PETITION FOR A CHILD
00:22:08.016 --> 00:22:09.651
BUT IT WAS THE NATION'S PETITION FOR A SAVIOR.
00:22:09.651 --> 00:22:13.822
FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS THE JEWISH PEOPLE
00:22:13.822 --> 00:22:16.558
HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THE MESSIAH TO COME,
00:22:16.558 --> 00:22:20.262
AND THEY WERE ESPECIALLY ANXIOUS RIGHT NOW
00:22:20.262 --> 00:22:23.732
BECAUSE TIME SEEMED TO BE RUNNING OUT.
00:22:23.732 --> 00:22:26.101
SO, WHEN GABRIEL SAYS YOUR PETITION HAS BEEN HEARD,
00:22:26.101 --> 00:22:29.704
IT'S NOT JUST THE PETITION FOR OUR SON
00:22:29.704 --> 00:22:32.174
IT'S THE PETITION FOR A SAVIOR.
00:22:32.174 --> 00:22:34.309
BUT THE BIBLE ALSO SAID BEFORE MESSIAH COMES
00:22:34.309 --> 00:22:36.912
THERE WILL BE ONE WHO ANNOUNCED HIS COMING, A MESSENGER.
00:22:36.912 --> 00:22:40.916
AND WE SEE THAT IN ISAIAH 40:3-5,
00:22:40.916 --> 00:22:44.286
I HAVE IT ON YOUR OUTLINE.
00:22:44.286 --> 00:22:45.520
WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT IT
00:22:45.520 --> 00:22:47.189
BUT ISAIAH THE PROPHET SAID,
00:22:47.189 --> 00:22:48.590
"BEFORE THE MESSIAH WOULD COME A MESSENGER."
00:22:48.590 --> 00:22:52.961
NOW, REMEMBER WHAT GABRIEL SAYS HERE, HE SAYS,
00:22:52.961 --> 00:22:55.797
"YOU SHALL HAVE A SON, YOU WILL CALL HIS NAME JOHN."
00:22:55.797 --> 00:22:59.468
THAT NAMED JOHN LIBERALLY MEANS THE GRACE OF JEHOVAH.
00:22:59.468 --> 00:23:03.472
AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE PROPHECIES,
00:23:03.472 --> 00:23:05.774
THE SIX PROPHECIES RELATED TO THE COMING OF JOHN
00:23:05.774 --> 00:23:08.910
THAT GABRIEL ANNOUNCED ZACHARIAS, WRITE THESE DOWN QUICKLY.
00:23:08.910 --> 00:23:12.814
NUMBER ONE, HE WILL BRING JOY TO OTHERS.
00:23:12.814 --> 00:23:17.185
JOHN WILL BRING JOY TO OTHERS.
00:23:17.185 --> 00:23:18.987
THROUGHOUT LUKE'S GOSPEL JOY IS ALWAYS RELATED TO SALVATION.
00:23:18.987 --> 00:23:25.160
JOHN WOULD BRING JOY TO THE PEOPLE
00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:26.595
BECAUSE HIS COMING WOULD MEAN
00:23:26.595 --> 00:23:28.163
SALVATION IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
00:23:28.163 --> 00:23:30.699
NUMBER TWO, JOHN WILL BE GREAT IN GOD'S SIGHT.
00:23:30.699 --> 00:23:34.236
REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 11:11
00:23:34.236 --> 00:23:36.471
ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTIZER?
00:23:36.471 --> 00:23:37.939
"THERE'S NOBODY GREATER IN THE WORLD THAN HE."
00:23:37.939 --> 00:23:40.709
WHY WAS HE GREAT?
00:23:40.709 --> 00:23:42.644
BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD HIS ROLE.
00:23:42.644 --> 00:23:44.646
♪ MUSIC
00:23:44.646 --> 00:23:50.452
THERE'S MUCH MORE TO LEARN
00:23:50.452 --> 00:23:51.786
ABOUT THE MIRACULOUS BIRTH OF JOHN,
00:23:51.786 --> 00:23:54.322
AND I HOPE YOU'LL MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US AGAIN NEXT TIME.
00:23:54.322 --> 00:23:58.059
BUT RIGHT NOW I WANT TO SHARE
00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:59.427
SOME TRULY EXCITING NEWS WITH YOU.
00:23:59.427 --> 00:24:01.897
"PATHWAY TO VICTORY" IS THE RECIPIENT
00:24:01.897 --> 00:24:04.232
OF A RECORD SHATTERING MATCHING CHALLENGE
00:24:04.232 --> 00:24:07.135
IN THE AMOUNT OF $1.5 MILLION.
00:24:07.135 --> 00:24:10.472
AND AS A RESULT,
00:24:10.472 --> 00:24:11.873
EVERY DOLLAR YOU GIVE BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER 31ST
00:24:11.873 --> 00:24:15.977
WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY MATCHED,
00:24:15.977 --> 00:24:17.913
AND THEREFORE DOUBLED FOR GOD'S GLORY.
00:24:17.913 --> 00:24:20.882
THAT MEANS TODAY YOUR GENEROUS GIFT OF $100 BECOMES $200,
00:24:20.882 --> 00:24:25.787
A $500 GIFT BECOMES A $1.000,
00:24:25.787 --> 00:24:28.957
A $5.000 GIFT WOULD BECOME $10.000.
00:24:28.957 --> 00:24:33.595
WHATEVER AMOUNT YOU CHOOSE,
00:24:33.595 --> 00:24:35.230
YOUR GIFT EMPOWERS US TO BRING HOPE AND LIGHT
00:24:35.230 --> 00:24:38.700
TO PEOPLE ALL ACROSS OUR NATION, AND EVEN AROUND THE WORLD.
00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:42.971
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GENEROUSLY GIVING
00:24:42.971 --> 00:24:45.440
TOWARD THE GOSPEL STRONG MATCHING CHALLENGE.
00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:48.877
NOW, STAY RIGHT THERE
00:24:48.877 --> 00:24:50.312
I'LL BE BACK WITH MORE "PATHWAY TO VICTORY"
00:24:50.312 --> 00:24:53.048
IN JUST A MOMENT.
00:24:53.048 --> 00:24:55.450
TO SUSTAIN OUR LIVES WE DO SIMPLE THINGS,
00:24:55.450 --> 00:24:58.353
LIKE EAT HEALTHY FOOD, STAY HYDRATED,
00:24:58.353 --> 00:25:00.622
GET A LITTLE EXERCISE AND A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.
00:25:00.622 --> 00:25:03.291
THIS DAILY ROUTINE PRODUCES A HEALTHY OUTCOME.
00:25:03.291 --> 00:25:06.695
THE SAME IS TRUE IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE AS WELL.
00:25:06.695 --> 00:25:09.931
THIS COMING YEAR, JOIN US ON A DAILY JOURNEY
00:25:09.931 --> 00:25:12.968
TOWARD A STRONGER, HEALTHIER SPIRITUAL LIFE
00:25:12.968 --> 00:25:16.037
WHERE YOU WALK WITH GOD EVERY DAY,
00:25:16.037 --> 00:25:18.473
GUIDED BY THE BRAND NEW
00:25:18.473 --> 00:25:19.941
2022 PATHWAY TO VICTORY DAILY DEVOTION.
00:25:19.941 --> 00:25:23.845
THIS BEAUTIFUL 528 PAGE LEATHER-BOUND BOOK
00:25:23.845 --> 00:25:27.549
CONTAINS 260 BIBLICAL PRACTICAL DEVOTIONS
00:25:27.549 --> 00:25:31.419
BASED ON THE TEACHING OF DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS.
00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:33.955
THAT'S ONE INSPIRATIONAL READING FOR EVERY WEEKDAY
00:25:33.955 --> 00:25:37.125
IN THE NEW YEAR.
00:25:37.125 --> 00:25:38.426
FROM JANUARY TO MARCH,
00:25:38.426 --> 00:25:40.195
YOU'LL LEARN HOW TO CONQUER THE OBSTACLES
00:25:40.195 --> 00:25:42.297
THAT KEEP YOU FROM LIVING YOUR DREAMS.
00:25:42.297 --> 00:25:44.599
FROM APRIL TO JUNE, YOU'LL GAIN SPIRITUAL COURAGE,
00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:48.169
LEARNING HOW TO THRIVE IN A CULTURE THAT'S OPPOSED
00:25:48.169 --> 00:25:51.072
TO GOD'S TRUTH.
00:25:51.072 --> 00:25:52.540
IN THE SUMMER, YOU'LL EXPLORE THE EXCLUSIVITY OF CHRIST
00:25:52.540 --> 00:25:56.111
AND WHY IT MATTERS.
00:25:56.111 --> 00:25:57.612
AND IN FALL AND WINTER,
00:25:57.612 --> 00:25:58.980
YOU'LL LEARN HOW TO WIN YOUR UNSEEN BATTLES
00:25:58.980 --> 00:26:01.683
AGAINST AN INVISIBLE ENEMY.
00:26:01.683 --> 00:26:05.120
REQUEST THE NEW 2022 DEVOTIONAL FOR YOURSELF
00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:08.256
AND ORDER ADDITIONAL COPIES TO GIVE AS GIFTS
00:26:08.256 --> 00:26:10.759
TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:12.627
THE HABITS WE BEGIN TODAY SHAPE OUR TOMORROW,
00:26:12.627 --> 00:26:16.031
SO SPEND A FEW MINUTES EACH DAY DRAWING CLOSER
00:26:16.031 --> 00:26:18.967
TO THE GOD WHO LOVES YOU,
00:26:18.967 --> 00:26:20.535
WITH THE NEW 2022 PATHWAY TO VICTORY DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
00:26:20.535 --> 00:26:27.542
ZACHARIAS CERTAINLY WASN'T EXPECTING AN ANGEL
00:26:27.542 --> 00:26:30.779
TO APPEAR TO HIM THAT DAY IN THE TEMPLE,
00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:34.349
BUT GOD HAD THE DATE MARKED ON HIS CALENDAR
00:26:34.349 --> 00:26:37.385
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,
00:26:37.385 --> 00:26:39.387
AND IT WAS AN ESSENTIAL STEP IN GOD'S GREAT PLAN
00:26:39.387 --> 00:26:42.190
OF REDEMPTION FOR MANKIND.
00:26:42.190 --> 00:26:45.026
NEXT TIME WE'LL LOOK AT ZACHARIAS' RESPONSE
00:26:45.026 --> 00:26:47.929
TO THE ANGEL SHOCKING REVELATION,
00:26:47.929 --> 00:26:50.532
AND THEN WE'LL SEE HOW GOD ULTIMATELY FULFILLED HIS PROMISE
00:26:50.532 --> 00:26:54.703
TO ZACHARIAS,
00:26:54.703 --> 00:26:56.171
ALONG WITH TWO TIMELESS TRUTHS FOR OUR LIVES TODAY.
00:26:56.171 --> 00:27:00.642
STAY TUNED FOR A PREVIEW OF WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT
00:27:00.642 --> 00:27:03.278
ON "PATHWAY TO VICTORY."
00:27:03.278 --> 00:27:05.280
♪ MUSIC
00:27:05.280 --> 00:27:06.347
OUR PROBLEMS ARE REALLY OPPORTUNITIES IN DISGUISE
00:27:06.347 --> 00:27:11.753
FOR GOD TO DEMONSTRATE HIS FAITHFULNESS
00:27:11.753 --> 00:27:15.090
AND HIS POWER TO ACT ON OUR BEHALF.
00:27:15.090 --> 00:27:18.626
SET YOUR DVR AND JOIN US NEXT TIME FOR THE MESSAGE
00:27:18.626 --> 00:27:21.296
TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL
00:27:21.296 --> 00:27:24.032
HERE ON "PATHWAY TO VICTORY".
00:27:24.032 --> 00:27:25.967
♪ MUSIC
00:27:25.967 --> 00:27:25.967

Touched By An Angel Part 1

November 30, 2021 | 566 | 27:29

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