Pathway to Victory

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Hey podcast listeners.

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Thanks for streaming today's podcast from Pathway.

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To victory and Dr. Robert Jeffress.

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We're dedicated to bringing you bold biblical teaching that transforms your life and strengthens your walk with God. And you can study God's word alongside Dr. Jeffress in person on the 2026 pathway to victory cruise to Alaska.

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Have you ever witnessed the breathtaking majesty of massive glaciers rising from crystal blue waters? Or stood in awe as bald eagles soar over snow capped mountain? I want you to experience these unforgettable.

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Moments with me on the Pathway to.

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Victory Cruise to Alaska, June 13th through 20th, 2026.

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Join Dr. Jeffress and the Pathway to Victory family for a spectacular seven-day adventure aboard Holland America's luxurious Koningsdam.

Indulge in elegant staterooms, world-class dining, and expansive decks perfect for breathtaking views.

Visit historic ports like Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, where wilderness and frontier history await.

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There's something powerful about connecting with God.

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And fellow believers in the majesty of his untamed wilderness. I truly believe this journey will refresh you spiritually, physically and emotionally.

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Cabins are filling quickly, so reserve yours today. To book your spot on the 2026 Pathway to Victory cruise to Alaska, call 888-280-6747 or go to ptv.org now here's.

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Today'S podcast from Pathway to Victory.

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Hi, this is Robert Jeffress and I'm glad to study God's Word with you every day on this Bible teaching program.

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On today's edition of Pathway to Victory.

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Spiritual transformations, the renovation of our lives don't happen automatically.

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They require a plan. Listen, you can believe that the transformation of your life is essential, that it's necessary, that it's desirable, that it's possible. But it won't happen until you execute a plan.

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Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress. Every good thing in life requires intentional effort, commitment, and planning. And the same is true for our spiritual transformation.

Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress shares the possibility, the barriers, and the benefits of experiencing complete spiritual transformation. It's a message from our series, Seven Marks of a Disciple.

But first, let's take a minute to hear some important ministry updates.

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Thanks, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory. There's an old Greek saying that goes something like, will break the bow if you keep it always bent.

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That's clear, isn't it?

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God didn't intend for us to work endlessly without rest. In that spirit, you're invited to join us for the Pathway to Victory Cruise to Alaska on June 13, 2026. In addition to witnessing the great frontier of Alaska, we'll have plenty of fun on board the luxury liner. We'll enjoy fellowship and Christian entertainment, and we'll study God's Word together as well. So go to ptv.org today and secure your spot on the 2026 Pathway to Victory Cruise to Alaska.

Well, when did life become so complicated? Think about it. Our generation enjoys more creature comforts in the history of mankind, and yet we still feel a nagging sensation that something's not right. The answer to this honest dilemma will likely surprise you because the biblical solution is countercultural. You see, a satisfied lifestyle is fostered from the inside out. It's a process by which we allow God to transform our earthly weaknesses into godly virtues.

To help you, we'd like to send you a brand new inspirational book on this topic. This resource is devotional in nature and intended to help you understand how to fill the void not with more activity and obligation, but with a truly satisfying spiritual makeover that draws you closer to God. It's not a lengthy book. Instead, it features brief inspirational entries that are complemented by a Bible verse and a short prayer. We're calling this resource *Encouragement for the Heart of a Disciple*, and right now you're invited to request a copy when you give a generous gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory.

We'll repeat this information later, but right now let's continue the message we began yesterday titled *Discipleship is Transforming*.

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Throughout this series, I'm gonna use the words discipleship and spiritual transformation interchangeably, because that's what discipleship is. It is about a spiritual transformation.

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And the Bible says you have everything you need right now if you're a.

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Christian, to experience that transformation. Look at Galatians 4:19. Paul referred to the Christians at Galatia this way.

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He said, my children, with whom I.

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Am again in labor, underline that word labor, until Christ is formed. Underline that word in you. Now, this verse is pregnant with meaning. Pardon the pun.

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That word formed is the word morpho in Greek. Paul said, I am laboring, I am.

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Struggling, until Christ is completely formed in you, until you morph, if you will, into Jesus Christ.

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That word formed, morphed is a word.

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That literally is a biology term. It refers to that embryo, that fertilized.

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Egg inside of a mother. Think about it. That tiny, minuscule egg has the ability.

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To transform, to morph into a being that is millions of times the size of that tiny microscopic egg.

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Well, in the same Way the Bible says when you become a Christian, you don't only receive the forgiveness of your sins, but the moment you trust in Christ, there is planted in you that.

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Fertilized spiritual egg that allows you to.

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Grow and change into the image of Christ. Peter described it this way in 1 Peter 1:23.

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He said, for you have been born again, not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable.

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That is, through the living and abiding word of God.

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If you are a Christian, that egg, that potential, is within you right now.

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The imperishable seed. Spiritual transformation is not about religious confirmation. It's not about theological information. It's about a supernatural change in our life. Why is it we don't experience that transformation?

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Pastor? If we've already received the imperishable seed, if we have all of the potential to morph into the person of Jesus.

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Christ, what keeps us from doing so?

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Well, there are four barriers to experiencing.

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The spiritual transformation God wants you to experience. First of all, the belief that spiritual transformation is not necessary. Necessary.

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As long as we have our ticket to heaven, that's all that matters, right?

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That's what people think about this idea of spiritual transformation.

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Oh, that's too hard. That's too complicated.

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I'll meet you in heaven. But as you read the Bible, does God really give us an option on this?

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Does he tell us it's possible to be forgiven by Christ without ever following Christ?

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Listen to what Jesus said himself. John 3:36. He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. Or skip down to John 14:24.

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He who does not love me does.

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Not keep my words. Now listen to this. If you don't hear another word, isn't it illogical to think that we would.

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Spend all eternity bowing down and worshiping God? But right here, in these few years.

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We have on earth, we would never want to submit to God. Or put another way, why is it.

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We think that if we are day.

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In and day out resisting God's commands in our lives, refusing to submit to God's will, that somehow we're gonna in.

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Heaven automatically start submitting to God and be happy there? If we're not happy here doing that, why would we be happy up there doing that?

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That's why people end up in hell. They don't wanna submit to God here. Why would they want to submit to God up there?

What I'm saying to you is this idea of spiritual transformation not being necessary is not found anywhere in Scripture. A second barrier to spiritual transformation is the belief that spiritual transformation is not desirable.

Have you ever found that? It's the unpleasant things in life that we determine are optional on our calendar.

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Or in our lifestyle.

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Dieting, exercise, and controlling our spending are not practiced behaviors because they're not desired behaviors. We end up ultimately doing what we want to do, the things that are important to us.

We usually find a way to do those things if they're really desirable to us. For example, I enjoy Saturday afternoon spending with Amy.

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That's our time we have blocked off.

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To do something together. Am I able to do it every Saturday? No. I mean, we had a funeral service yesterday that kept us from doing that.

But I'm gonna find a way most Saturdays to work my schedule around to do what I really want to do. It's the same way with discipleship.

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The reason a lot of people don't.

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Become more like Jesus is deep down, they don't have a desire to become like Jesus.

You know, I appreciate the honesty of the person who prayed, "Lord, I don't love you. I don't want to love you, but I want to want to love you." That's an honest prayer.

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Some people here today or watching the.

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Broadcast may say, "Lord, I'm not like Jesus. I'm not sure I even want to be like Jesus, but I want to want to be like Jesus."

You know, the first step in wanting to want to be like Jesus is to believe it's really something desirable. We've allowed Satan to deceive us into thinking spiritual transformation is undesirable. Following Jesus is undesirable.

Let's face it, many of us deep down have that feeling that, well, if...

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I obey God in my life, if I follow God in my life, if I submit to his rule over my.

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Sexual desires, well, I'll end up being frustrated the rest of my life.

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Or if I end up surrendering my vocation, my vocational dreams to God, I'll.

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End up in a hut as a missionary in some third world country.

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If I turn my money over to the Lord and allow him to have the final say in how I spend.

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Oh, I'm gonna end up a pauper.

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If I have a desire to be a really significant person in this world and I turn that desire over to God, I'll end up in obscurity.

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We have that deep down feeling that following God is gonna cause us to have a miserable existence. But no, the Bible says the most important thing we can do is to be like Jesus.

And it's a good thing. It's not a bad thing for us to do. You know what becoming like Jesus is? It means to live within the kingdom of God.

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The kingdom of God is talked about.

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Throughout the entire Bible.

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For example, in Matthew 4:23, Jesus said, and Jesus was going about in all.

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Of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and.

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Proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.

Matthew 10:7: "As you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

Luke 4:43: "He said to them, 'I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.'"

All throughout the Bible, you read Jesus.

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Talking about the kingdom of God again.

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We've used that phrase so often, we.

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Don'T even know what it means. A king's kingdom. Listen to this. A king's kingdom represents that piece of real estate over which the king has authority.

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It represents that place where what the.

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King wants done actually gets done.

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So when we talk about the kingdom of God, we're talking about that realm.

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Over which God has authority. You say, well, the Bible says he's.

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Sovereign over all the universe. Well, theologically that's true.

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But practically speaking, there's one tiny speck in this universe where God's will is not being done. It's called Planet Earth.

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And right now, for God's own reason.

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He'S allowed this tiny rebellion to occur on earth against his will. But guess what? One day that rebellion's gonna be subdued. One day Christ is coming back, and what the king wants done on earth is going to get done on earth.

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Can you imagine how different this world.

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Is going to be when Jesus Christ has the final say in everything? When everybody lives a transformed life, when the poor are no longer afflicted, where people are no longer mistreated, where everyone.

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Loves one another and loves the Lord.

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And submits to God's rule?

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That is gonna be a tremendous experience. We are all going to enjoy the benefits of living under the rule of God. We call that period of time the millennium, the new heaven, the new earth. But it is a future time.

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But here's the good news. Jesus said, you don't have to wait until then to begin experiencing the blessings of the kingdom right now. Here's why.

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Because you can make a decision right.

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Now, regardless of what other people around you are doing.

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You can say, I'm going to submit to God's rule in my life right.

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Now, and I'm going to enjoy those benefits.

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You see, the kingdom of God doesn't have to be just relegated to the future. It can be experienced right now.

In fact, in Matthew 13:44, Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. And from joy over it he goes, and he sells all that he has and he buys that field."

You know what he's saying? He's saying to submit to God's rule in your life right now is priceless.

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It has dividends. You can't even begin to imagine the value of living in the kingdom of God again. We've deluded ourselves into thinking that living.

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Under God's rule in our life is miserable.

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No, it's the only key to real satisfaction. I just jotted down some of the benefits of living under the rule of.

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God in your life right now.

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You may want to jot these down. Think about it. Freedom from worry, contentment with your finances, harmony in your relationships, power over destructive addictions, inward peace in spite of outward circumstances, and the assurance about God's approval for your life.

A lot of people believe spiritual transformation is not necessary or desirable.

A third barrier to spiritual transformation is believing that spiritual transformation is not possible.

Maybe these last few minutes, as I've...

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Been describing the kind of life you could be experiencing, your spirits have started.

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To soar just a little bit in.

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Thinking about what that kind of life would be. But you've fallen back to Earth again.

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As you remember the person you are right now. Maybe you're the kind of person who breaks every New year's resolve by January 5th.

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Or maybe you think about diets you've.

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Been on that have never worked before.

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Or attempts you've made to control your.

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Anger that never work. You think this kind of thing is impossible. I remember seeing a cartoon in an.

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Editorial, and it had two panels on it.

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In the first panel, a news reporter.

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Was announcing the government is now targeting.

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Single adults with its Abstinence only program.

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In the second frame, the reporter continued, future programs will try to keep birds.

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From flying and fish from swimming. You know, that's the common thinking today. Control your sexual impulses if you're not married.

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Not return evil for evil and actually forgive people. Refusing to allow addictions to destroy your life. Well, that's not natural.

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No, it's not natural. But God says we don't have to live a natural life. We can live a supernatural life.

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That's what that prefix, super super means.

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It means above that which is natural.

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And you know why you can live that kind of life? Why?

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It's possible it's because of that power God has placed in you.

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It's found in Romans 8, verses 2 and 4. I love the way the Living Bible says it.

For the power of the life-giving Spirit. That's the Holy Spirit, and this power is mine. Through Christ, Jesus has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death.

So now we can obey God's laws if we follow after the Holy Spirit.

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And no longer obey the old evil nature within us. Do you realize the moment you become.

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A Christian, God not only gives you the forgiveness of your sins, but he infuses you with the Holy Spirit of God who empowers you to live exactly.

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The same kind of life, the supernatural life that Jesus lived. Spiritual transformation is possible. Finally, the barrier to experiencing this kind of life is because spiritual transformation is not planned for. It's not planned for.

Just imagine you've been living in your present home for about 10 years, but your expanding family, some sagging floors, some peeling paint, some out of date appliances, have convinced you you need a new home. On the other hand, you like where you've lived.

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You like the neighborhood.

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The house has a lot of memories. So you give up the idea of a new house. You decide what you're gonna do is renovate your house.

You believe it's essential that you do it. You believe it's necessary that you do it. You think it's a desirable thing to do.

And fortunately, Aunt Ethel kicked the bucket last month and has left you some money that makes it possible for you to do it.

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So even though your renovation is essential.

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It'S desirable, it's possible, it still requires planning, doesn't it? It doesn't happen just like that.

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If you're really gonna renovate that house.

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Into a new space, what do you have to do? Well, you have to hire maybe an architect for an expansion. You have to enlist a contractor.

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You have to go to Home Depot.

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And pick out the appliances and the materials you're gonna use.

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You have to set a budget. You have to have a plan to.

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Turn your dream into a reality. Did you know it's the same way in our spiritual transformation?

Spiritual transformations, the renovation of our lives, don't happen automatically. They require a plan.

Think about it for a moment. What plan do you have right now to keep yourself free from concerns about money? What plan do you have to conquer the addictions that may be destroying your life?

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What plan do you have for refusing.

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To allow resentment to be your response to offenses?

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What plan do you have for making.

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Obedience to God's commands your normal response? Listen, you can believe that the transformation of your life is essential, that it's necessary, that it's desirable, that it's possible, but it won't happen until you execute a plan. Is renovation, whether it's of your house or your life, costly? You bet. Is it difficult? No doubt about it. But in the end, it's always worth the effort.

In the weeks ahead, we're going to discover what developing a plan for your spiritual transformation actually looks like as we continue this series, Seven Marks of A Disciple. I'm speaking to some of you right now who love that idea of a changed life. You want to transform your life. You want to experience the kind of life that I've described.

If that's true of you, the first step is to make sure you have that spiritual seed inside of you, the Holy Spirit of God who gives you the power to live a transformed life. How do you receive the Holy Spirit of God? God's supernatural power? That's what becoming a Christian is all about. You see, the moment you trust in Jesus to forgive you of your sins.

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God not only issues you a pardon.

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From your sins, he gives you power over your sin. He gives you the ability to become that new person, that new creation in Christ.

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And that's why the most important decision.

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You ever make in life is that primary foundational decision to trust in Jesus as your Savior. Many of you have tuned into this broadcast so that you can receive God's gift of forgiveness through Christ in your life.

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And today, if you would like to.

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Trust in Jesus as your Savior, to know all is right between you and God, to receive the power of His Holy Spirit. I want to invite you right now to pray this simple prayer in your heart to God.

As I prayed out loud, knowing that God is listening to you right now, would you pray this with me?

Dear God, thank you for loving me. I know that I have failed you in many ways and I'm truly sorry about the sin in my life. But I believe what I've heard today, that you love me so much you sent your son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins.

And right now I'm trusting in what Jesus did for me. Not in my goodness, but in what Jesus did for me to save me from my sins. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for giving me the gift of your Holy Spirit and help me to spend the rest of my life following you.

I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Even at this very moment, God is working through his word to transform lives. And if you've taken this life-changing step today by placing your faith and trust in Jesus, please get in touch and let us know. The team at Pathway to Victory loves hearing how God is using this Bible teaching program to bring light in the darkness.

If you're among those who are willing to invest in this worthy mission so that others will come to a saving trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, we invite you to join us today. We can't accomplish this mission alone. Pathway to Victory is not a one-man job. Instead, God has drawn thousands of people together, listeners just like you, to accomplish his purposes. And when you give, your generosity truly makes a difference.

For example, one of our listeners in Oklahoma City sent us this note. He said, "Pastor Jeffress, my full-time job is a police officer, but my passion is teaching the Bible. I'm actively engaged in my church teaching Sunday school classes and small groups. I lean on your Bible teaching to help me because you always relate God's truth to everyday life. Thanks so much and keep up the good work." What an encouraging note!

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And now it's your turn.

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This loyal listener is doing his part in transforming lives. Can we count on you to help us reach more people like this man?

And when you participate today with a generous gift, you'll receive a copy of the brand new devotional resource *Encouragement for the Heart of a Disciple*.

Here's David to tell you more.

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You're invited to request your copy of the brand new devotional by Dr. Robert Jeffress, *Encouragement for the Heart of a Disciple*. When you contact Pathway to Victory with a generous gift, call us toll free at 866-999-2965 or give online at ptv.org. When your ministry gift is $100 or more, we'll send you the Encouragement Resource set, which contains the new devotional, six Clutter Free Prayer Cards, the *Clutter Free Christianity* book, the *Life Application Guidelines* guide, and the *7 Marks of a Disciple* message series on DVD, video, and MP3 format audio disc set.

If you'd prefer to write, here's that mailing address: P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222. Again, that's P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222.

I'm David J. Mullins. If the essence of discipleship is a changed life that comes from a transformed heart, then who is responsible for that heart transformation, us or God? Learn more when you listen Friday to Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress.

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Comes from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. You made it to the end of today's podcast From Pathway to Victory and we're so glad you're here.

Pathway to Victory relies on the generosity of loyal listeners like you to make this podcast possible. One of the most impactful ways you can give is by becoming a Pathway Partner. Your monthly gift will empower Pathway to Victory to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and help others become rooted more firmly in His Word.

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To become a Pathway partner, go to.

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Ptv.Org donate or follow the link in our show notes. We hope you've been blessed by today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.