Pathway to Victory

Guest (Male): Hey podcast listeners! Thanks for streaming today's podcast from Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory is a non-profit ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Dr. Robert Jeffress. Our mission is to pierce the darkness with the light of God's word through the most effective media available, like this podcast. To support Pathway to Victory, go to ptv.org/donate or follow the link in our show notes. Now, here's today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.

Dr. Robert Jeffress: Hi, this is Robert Jeffress, and I'm glad to study God's word with you every day on this Bible teaching program. On today's edition of Pathway to Victory: Yes, we've talked about the fact that Satan has a plan to destroy our life. We need to know how to survive those attacks, but God has called us to do more than survive. He is actually inviting you and me to join him in overthrowing the kingdom of Satan.

Guest (Male): Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress. In football, they say the best defense is a good offense, and the same principle applies to spiritual warfare. Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress describes a powerful weapon God has given us to move forward in faith and push back against the forces of darkness. But first, let's take a moment to hear some important ministry updates.

Dr. Robert Jeffress: Thanks, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory. I'm looking forward to our next study in the Divine Defense teaching series coming up in just a moment. But first, a comment about one of America's greatest treasures: Alaska. Alaska holds a special place in my heart. The sheer magnitude of God's creative power on display is something everyone should experience at least once.

That's why I'm so excited to personally invite you to join us for the 2026 Pathway to Victory Cruise to Alaska. Imagine starting each day without worrying about a single meal because everything is prepared for you with sumptuous offerings that satisfy every taste. The world-class service aboard our luxury liner means you can simply enjoy the journey.

What really makes this trip extraordinary is the fellowship. Picture yourself in casual conversation with like-minded friends, sharing stories and laughter while watching eagles soar past towering pine trees. This is purposeful travel at its finest, connecting with God's creation alongside people who share your faith and values. I truly hope you'll be there, and you can find all the details for signing up at ptv.org.

One more thing: At the end of today's program, I'll be answering a common question among fellow believers. So many are asking about loved ones who've taken their own life. Stick around when I explain what the Bible teaches about suicide. But right now, let's open our Bibles to Ephesians chapter six as we continue the teaching series on spiritual warfare. I titled today's message: Storming the Gates of Hell.

In Ephesians 6, Paul says God has given us six strategies, six weapons. We looked at the first three, and those weapons—the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the feet shod with the preparation of the gospel—are more defensive in nature. They help us stand firm. They protect us against Satan's attack. But the next three weapons are more offensive. They mean going forward: the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

We're going to look at the first of those three offensive weapons today: the shield of faith. Look at Ephesians 6:16. Paul says, "In addition to all"—some translations say "Above all else," meaning this is really important—"take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one." Shields are always important in battle.

In Paul's day, the Roman shield was four and a half feet tall, two and a half feet wide, and it was covered in leather that had been soaked in water. Therefore, when the missiles started coming, the flaming arrows, all the soldier had to do was hold up the shield, and as soon as that flaming tip met the water-soaked leather, it would be extinguished immediately.

In the same way, we have a shield as Christians that protects us from the many different flaming arrows: arrows of doubt, disobedience, discouragement. We have a shield. It's not a shield of leather. It is a shield of what? Faith. Faith is our shield that immediately extinguishes the flaming missiles of Satan and allows us to keep moving further down God's road for our life.

What do you mean when you talk about faith? Don't you agree that's the key word in this passage? Take up the shield of faith. I want you all to listen to me. I want you to think about what faith really is. Here's what faith is: Faith is the assurance that God will do what he has promised to do, and acting accordingly.

I don't know all the time if it's God's plan to heal, or God's plan to take care of a financial need, or it's God's will to give you a job or not. You can ask for those things, but faith means quietly resting in whatever God's answer is. But there are some things God has promised to do, and faith means believing those things that he has promised to do and acting accordingly.

Think about Noah. He believed with all of his heart what God said—that there's going to be a flood—and he acted accordingly; he built a boat. Think about Abraham. Abraham believed that God would make him the father of a great nation, and he acted accordingly by moving his family to a land that God would show him. Think about Rahab the harlot. She believed what God said—that God was going to give the Israelites victory over the Canaanites—and she hid those two Hebrew spies, risking her own life.

Faith is believing God will do what he has promised to do and acting accordingly. In the realm of spiritual warfare, faith means moving forward in following God's plan for your life in spite of the flaming missiles of doubt, discouragement, depression, or whatever else Satan may fire in your direction.

A great illustration of somebody who held up that shield of faith when he was under attack is the Old Testament patriarch Job. Remember Job? He was having, in chapter one, what we would call a really bad, horrible day. In just 24 hours, think of all that happened to him. There was a fire that destroyed all of his livestock, his livelihood. Then there was that freak windstorm that killed all of his ten children. If that weren't enough, there were these illnesses that were incurable. Job was discouraged, rightly so, but he held up the shield of faith.

There are three truths that made up Job's shield, three truths that constructed his shield of faith that it's vital you and I have in our shield of faith: three convictions and appropriate actions that followed. First of all, Job believed that God is in control; therefore, he could trust him. If you're going to have a shield of faith that allows you to move forward in spite of Satan's flaming arrows, your shield of faith has to be an assurance that God is in control and therefore you can trust him.

It's hard to believe God is in control sometimes, isn't it? We look at what's happening in the world in general or in our world in particular, and we think, "God, are you asleep at the switch? Don't you know what's going on?" I mean, if there really is a God in control, why doesn't he reconcile my marriage? Why doesn't he return that prodigal child? Why doesn't he heal my illness or the illness of a loved one? If God is in control, why do these things happen?

We're tempted to think a lot of things. Maybe God is apathetic; he doesn't care. Maybe God is impotent. He wishes he could help, he'd love to help, but there are these natural laws that preclude him from doing anything supernatural. Is God impotent? Not the God that I serve. Maybe it's that God doesn't even exist. Maybe we've just conjured up this God to make us feel better, but in fact, he doesn't answer because he can't answer.

To have faith means that God is in control even when we see evidence to the contrary. That's the conclusion, by the way, Job came to. It's interesting: When you read the book of Job, Job did not immediately come to the right answer. It took him some time to process things. He had some questions he wanted to ask God.

God is not troubled by your questions. God's not bothered by you asking questions. What he's bothered by are not difficult questions, but it's wrong answers. God doesn't mind you asking the question as long as you come to the right biblical answer. In Job 42:2, after suffering all of these losses, listen to what Job said: "I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." That's the shield of faith.

I know that you're going to do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Do you believe that? Do you believe that God has a plan for your life and that nothing is going to change that plan? Do you have that assurance? Ladies and gentlemen, when those fiery missiles come into your life, you need to know that God is in control, and you can trust him even though in the darkness you cannot see what God is doing. That's what Job believed: God is in control, I can trust him.

Secondly, Job believed God rewards the righteous; therefore, obey him. Job was very honest. He said, "God, there doesn't appear to be much upside to worshipping and following you." I mean, look around. The wicked, the righteous—doesn't seem to be much difference between the two. Both groups—Christians and non-Christians, righteous and unrighteous—they all have family difficulties, they all struggle with health problems, they all die. So where's the upside of being a believer?

In Job 21:17, he voiced that question when he said, "How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, or does their calamity fall on them? Does God apportion destruction in his anger?" "God, why don't you save some of this calamity and pour it on the unrighteous?" is what he's saying. "Why don't you give them the same stuff you're giving us? What profit is there in following God?"

Yet, in James 5:11, we read this about Job: "We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealing, that the Lord is full of compassion and merciful." Even though Job had questions, he kept obeying God because he felt like there would be some reward in doing so.

It's interesting how Job's story ends. It ends with Job seeing the rewards of his obedience: blessing him with a new family, blessing him with multiplied possessions, and Job and his family lived happily ever after. It would be nice if life always ended that way, but it doesn't, does it? The writer of Hebrews knew that.

The writer of Hebrews, when he talked about faith, gave all of these examples of men and women who obeyed God in spite of their circumstances. You know what the writer says? "They all died without ever receiving the promise, the full promise of what God was going to give them." What does that mean? It doesn't mean God denied the rewards; he just delayed them. Ladies and gentlemen, God's reward for obeying him is not always today. It's sometimes someday. But that reward is coming. If you're going to move forward in your walk with God in spite of those flaming arrows, you must believe that God will reward you; therefore, I must obey him.

Finally, Job believed that God's kingdom would one day prevail; therefore, serve him. Abraham Lincoln said, "I would rather fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail." In other words, Abraham Lincoln was saying the same thing Job said: "I want to be sure I'm on the winning side." Whether it seems to be I'm winning or losing at any particular time, I know how this story ends, and I want to be on the winning side.

Job believed that. He believed one day God was going to win. You say, "How did Job know that?" I mean, he didn't have all these commentaries on the book of Revelation. He didn't have an eschatology degree from seminary. In fact, Job's book, many people believe, was the first book written in the Old Testament. How did Job know all that? Are you just reading into what you think Job believed? Not at all.

Listen to this in Job 19:25-26. He said, "And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will take his stand upon the earth. And even though my skin is destroyed, yet one day from my flesh, my new body, I will see God." Job believed that there was a reward coming for serving God. That's a decision we have to make. Whom are we going to serve? Which God are we going to serve? Whose kingdom do we want to be a part of?

Do you remember in 1 Kings 18:21 when Elijah was on top of Mount Carmel and he told the Israelites, "It's time to make a decision. You've got to quit playing footsie with these Baal worshippers. Decide whom you're really going to worship." He said it a little more eloquently than that. He said in 1 Kings 18:21, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, serve him. If Baal is God, serve him. But make up your mind."

I think Elijah would say the same to every one of us today. We've got to decide whose kingdom we're in, whose kingdom are we serving? If money is your god, then serve it with all of your heart, Elijah says. Don't be half-hearted. Don't be double-minded as James says. If you really believe money is king, serve it with all of your heart.

If pleasure is your god, serve it with all of your heart. Engage in any pleasure you can dream of. Don't be half-hearted. Don't let guilt dampen your pleasure. Just go ahead and go for it all. If fame is your god, exalt yourself every way you possibly can. If your job is your god, don't give it 80% of your time. Go ahead and work on Sunday. Go ahead and neglect your family. Give it everything you've got and maybe you'll get one of those trillion-dollar pay packages like Elon Musk. Who knows what will happen?

Quit being half-hearted in what you're doing. Decide who your God is and serve him with all of your heart. But if Yahweh is God, serve him. The Bible says the shield of faith that we have to raise up in order to move forward is a shield that is built on trusting God, believing he's in control, obeying God, believing that he rewards the righteous, and serving him and him alone. Remember what the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 11:6: "For the person who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek after him."

We're going to do something different today. I'm going to ask nobody, please, to be moving for any reason. We always give people an opportunity to trust in Christ as Savior. If you're not yet a Christian, the most important thing you can do is to trust in Jesus to be your Savior, to believe with all of your heart that when he died on the cross, he died to pay the penalty of your sins. Nobody said it more clearly than Jesus himself: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes, trusts in, clings to him shall not perish but will have everlasting life."

Today, if you've never trusted in Christ as your Savior, I'm encouraging you right now to say, "God, I know I'm a sinner. I know I deserve your punishment. But I believe that Jesus died for me, and right now I'm trusting in him and him alone to save me from my sins." But today's message has been mainly directed at Christians.

I believe just in a crowd this large, I'm talking to a number of you who have felt the enemy's attack in your life. Maybe he's trying to discourage you. Maybe he's trying to distract you. Maybe he's trying to get you to follow a different path in life. Maybe you have felt those attacks of the enemy, and maybe in recent days, they've become more intense.

In the last five or six months, I really have been under enemy attack. I don't want to be melodramatic about it, but I have been. I imagine many of you have been as well. It's sometimes a sign that we're doing exactly what we're supposed to be doing. But maybe like me, you would say, "God, I need your help. I need your intervention." I'm praying right now as I continue to move forward that you would give me the faith to trust you, to obey you, to serve you with all of my heart.

Pastor, I'd like you to pray for me as I move forward in the plan that God has for me. I'm praying for supernatural strength and power as I move forward. If that's your prayer, I'm just going to ask you to stand up wherever you are. Thank you. Just keep standing. Others? Yes. Yes. Yes. Others? Pastor, pray for me. Yes. Anyone else? Yes.

Father, I thank you that when we are even faithless, you remain faithful, for as your word says, you cannot deny yourself. I thank you for the men and women in this worship center. I thank you for the multitudes listening or watching who would say, "God, I need your help. Help me to move forward, not to stand still or retreat, but to move forward in the plan you have for me. Remind me of the days past when you have been faithful and have acted in a supernatural way. I pray you would do the same thing again."

Thank you for the assurance we have that we have a great high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses, one who was tested in all things as we are and yet without sin. Father, we pray for our church that as we move forward in these final days, that you would give us the determination not just to survive Satan's attacks but to be used by you to overthrow his kingdom as we await the glorious return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It's in his name that we pray. Amen.

When we hold up that shield of faith, Satan's forces don't even stand a chance. That's the overarching message in Ephesians chapter six. Now, stay with us because I'm going to conclude today's Pathway to Victory by answering a question from one of your fellow listeners. Tariq wanted to know, "Pastor Jeffress, what does the Bible teach about taking one's life? Is suicide an eternal death as well as a physical death?" My answer is coming up in just a moment.

These are the spiritual wars that are raging today, and at Pathway to Victory, we've made it our mission to come alongside you with resources that equip you for winning the battle against our enemy. Today, I want to send you a resource that clearly teaches how to put on the armor of God. So before time runs out, be sure to request a copy of my bestselling book called *The Divine Defense*.

In addition to teaching how to deal with Satan, my book will answer some of your toughest questions about the prince of darkness, demons, heaven, and hell. My book *The Divine Defense* is yours today when you give a generous gift to the ministry of Pathway to Victory. In closing, let me remind you that your gifts, no matter what amount you choose to give, are truly making a difference.

We cannot provide these daily visits in isolation. You're the one who gives flight to this ministry. We believe there's no better time to be engaged with our culture than right now when the battle is raging and the stakes are high. Here's David with all of the details.

Guest (Male): To request your copy of the bestselling book by Dr. Jeffress called *The Divine Defense*, contact Pathway to Victory with a generous gift. It also comes with a copy of the *Equipped for Battle* brochure. To request these resources, call 866-999-2965 or visit online at ptv.org. You know, another convenient way to give is to text PTV to 78800.

When your gift is $100 or more, you're also invited to request the audio and video discs for this month's teaching series and also a book written especially for children titled *Suit Up for Kids*. This book is designed to help you share these powerful strategies with the kids and grandkids in your life. These resources can be yours today when you call 866-999-2965 or visit ptv.org. You could write to PO Box 223609 Dallas, Texas 75222. Again, that's PO Box 223609 Dallas, Texas 75222. And now, it's time for today's edition of Ask Dr. Jeffress.

A listener named Tariq asks, "Is suicide an eternal death as well as physical?"

Dr. Robert Jeffress: Many years ago, when I was a youth minister in the church I now serve in, First Baptist Church Dallas, I had a friend who worked in our youth area. He was an older man, and he was a deacon in the church, and one day he decided to end his life with a shotgun. I remember the funeral service. I was sitting in the audience, and I wondered how our pastor at the time, Dr. W.A. Criswell, would handle the service of a man who had committed suicide. What would he say to the family? What would he say to the other members?

I'll never forget what he said. With the most compassionate tone he could possibly use, he addressed the wife, the widow, and their children. And he said, "You know, in our bodies, we get sick. We don't condemn somebody for getting sick. We recognize that as a frailty of human existence. Just as we get sick in our physical bodies, sometimes we get sick in our minds. And we don't condemn people for getting sick in their minds."

That is a beautiful way to view suicide. I believe suicide is wrong. I don't think God ever wants us to get to the point that we despair and listen to the enemy who says you have no value, you're all alone, your situation is hopeless. I think it's wrong to take a life that God has given you. But does that cause you to lose your salvation? Of course not.

Romans 11:29 says the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. John 10:28 and 29, Jesus said, "I give eternal life to them and they shall never perish; no man shall snatch out of my hands those whom the Father has given me." If you're somebody who is struggling with regular thoughts about taking your life, get help. It could be a chemical imbalance that has led you to this point. It may be some other cause. But if you're regularly thinking about suicide, get help immediately. And if you know someone, a child, a teenager, a young adult who's struggling with this issue, get them help. There is help. There is hope for a Christian.

Guest (Male): I'm David J. Mullins. God has equipped you with powerful weapons for spiritual battle. Discover the helmet and the sword Thursday on Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress 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. To become a Pathway Partner, go to ptv.org/donate or you can follow the link in our show notes. We hope you've been blessed by today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.

Oh, and one last thing before we go: Have you reserved your spot yet for the 2026 Pathway to Victory Cruise to Alaska? You've been hearing me and Dr. Jeffress mention it, so what are you waiting for? Just picture yourself on the deck of Holland America's elegant *Koningsdam* and stepping out on deck to witness nature's grandeur. It's beautiful. These moments in God's creation will deepen your faith in powerful ways. It really will. Experience five-star dining, luxurious staterooms, and visiting iconic ports like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. We're also bringing along our own Christian entertainment; you'll love it. Seats are filling up, so book your spot today at ptv.org.