Pathway to Victory

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Hey podcast listeners, thanks for streaming today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.

Pathway to Victory is a nonprofit 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.

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

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This Bible teaching program on today's edition of Pathway to Victory.

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What do we mean by Perseverance?

Somebody has said that courage is the desire to begin pursuing your dream. But perseverance is the determination to continue pursuing your God-given dream in spite of unexpected setbacks, undeserved criticism, and unrelenting hard work.

Speaker 1

Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress. You know, few things are more inspiring than seeing Rocky reach the top of the stairs at the Philadelphia Art Museum or by watching Rudy lead his team to victory.

So how can we experience that same kind of victory in our own lives? Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress teaches us to choose perseverance over defeat.

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. Before we begin our next Bible study together, I'm eager to describe an outstanding book I've come across called the Legacy Life. It's written by my friend and colleague, David Greene, founder of the Hobby Lobby.

When David uses the word legacy, maybe you think his book is about giving an inheritance to your kids? No, it's far more than that. David wrote, "Legacy isn't what we leave behind. It's what we set in motion." And in that sense, this is a book for anyone who cares about God's Kingdom and wants to make a personal impact. The Legacy Life will inspire you to develop an eternal perspective where your charitable gifts, no matter their size, are changing lives today and for eternity.

And I'm going to send you a copy of David's book when you become a Pathway Partner today. It's my way of welcoming you to our family of supporters as you decide to give a monthly automated gift to Pathway to Victory. For 30 years, Pathway to Victory has been a trusted source of uncompromising truth. And now, with your partnership, we will be poised to make an even greater impact in the year ahead.

As a Pathway Partner, you will set your legacy in motion as you empower Pathway to Victory to teach the truth with boldness. Plus, you'll have the joy of knowing you're taking a strong stance for the gospel. David will give our contact information later in today's program, but right now, let's give our attention to Philippians chapter three. I titled today's message "Choosing Perseverance Over Defeat."

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We're looking at 11 biblical attitude choices that are necessary to experience the abundant life Jesus promised in John 10:10. And today we're going to look at the second of those attitude choices, choosing perseverance over defeat. There are two great illustrations in the Bible of perseverance and why it's so important.

The first is found in Joshua, chapter six, the story of Joshua and the walls of Jericho. You remember the story: God had given Joshua a dream of inhabiting and taking charge of the land of Canaan, the promised land. The only problem was there was a giant obstacle between Joshua and his dream, and it was that 9-acre city of Jericho and the large wall that stood around it. In Joshua 6:2, God said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand with its king and the valiant warriors." He said, "Joshua, I'm gonna give you this city, but I'm not gonna do it without your effort." He goes on to detail the instructions of what he would have to do.

God told Joshua, "I want you to take the men and march around this nine-acre wall once a day for six days. Then on the seventh day, I want you to march around the wall seven times, and on the seventh time, you're to have the priests blow the trumpets and the people are to shout, and the wall will come down." So Joshua did that. He got the men out, but I'm sure by the fifth day they started to have some real doubts. "Joshua, are you sure you got the instruction right? We don't see any sign of any walls falling down." If they had given up on the fifth day, they would have missed the blessing, but they kept going. I imagine by the seventh day they were tired of lugging that armor around in that hot Palestinian sun. It's awfully dry down in Jericho. But they kept doing it. And by the end of the seventh time, when they blew the trumpet and shouted, the walls instantaneously came down. My point is they were ordered to do something that seemed to make no sense whatsoever, and yet God blessed them. Why? Because they had faith.

Here's another great story of perseverance, the story of Naaman and the unusual command. It's found in 2 Kings, chapter 5. Naaman was the captain of the Syrian army, and he contracted leprosy. So he asked the prophet Elisha what he should do. Word came back from Elisha exactly what he needed to do to be healed from the leprosy. Look at 2 Kings 5:10: "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean."

Verse 11: "But Naaman was furious when he heard that instruction." Now, why was he so mad at that instruction? If you've ever been to the Jordan River, you understand why this idea of washing in the Jordan is an oxymoron. Nobody washes in the Jordan; it is a filthy mud hole. Naaman was told to do something he didn't want to do, but he heard enough that he was finally willing to obey. Verse 14: "So Naaman went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan according to the word of the man of God. And his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean."

Can't you just see it? He goes down, and the water comes back up. Don't you know he immediately checked to see if the leprosy was still there? It was still there. He goes down the second time, the third time, the fourth time. Had he stopped and said, "I need to go to a faith healer or somebody else; this isn't working," he would have missed the blessing. But he went down the fifth, the sixth time. It was after that seventh time of coming up out of the water that he saw the leprosy was gone. That's what perseverance is: continuing in spite of the obstacles.

What have we seen about perseverance so far? First of all, we ought to only persist in the God-given goals for our life. Secondly, persistence doesn't necessarily mean overcoming obstacles; it means continuing in spite of obstacles. Finally, persistence sometimes requires that we continue in activities that don't seem to make any sense. Remember Joshua and Naaman?

Now you say, "I agree with you; I need to be more persistent in my life." But how do I develop that quality of perseverance? Let me close today with praise: four practical insights about developing perseverance that I think will be a great encouragement to you.

First of all, understand the value of perseverance. You know, you may be one of these people who deep down think you could never be successful because you're not as gifted as other people. Many people feel inferior about their gifts and abilities, thinking that some successful people are just inherently more gifted than they are. That is just not true. In fact, I read a book one time by Dr. David Weschler called "The Range of Human Capacities," in which his basic thesis is that there's not that much difference in people. He says, "The differences that separate the masses of mankind from one another with respect to any or all of their capabilities are small as compared with other ratios or orders or differences in nature. They are pitifully insignificant."

There's not that much difference in people. Napoleon Hill made the same observation in the last century. He studied people's success and spent years studying the two most successful men of his age, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Listen to his conclusion of why they were such successes: "I had the privilege of analyzing both Mr. Edison and Mr. Ford year by year over a long period of years, and therefore the opportunity to study them

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Yes, the solution starts with your attitude. It's a simple choice to share. Shift your perspective from victim to victor. It's all part of God's plan and our agreement to choose perseverance over defeat.

Just before I turn the microphone over to David, I'll interject this very important invitation. Earlier, you heard me reference the benefits of becoming a pathway partner. A pathway partner agrees to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory with a multi-monthly automated gift. Signing up is quite simple, but the outcome of your generosity reaches right into eternity. In fact, one day in eternity you'll experience the incredible privilege of meeting believers whose lives were changed because you decided to become a pathway partner.

When you take this step today, I'm going to send you David Green's excellent book. It's brand new and called *The Legacy Life*, and it comes with my thanks. When you become a pathway partner or when you give a one-time generous gift, look, you don't need to be wealthy to leave a legacy. In *The Legacy Life*, David challenges the idea that legacy is only about money.

Here's the exciting truth: as a believer, every time you partner with Pathway to Victory, you're living out a biblical legacy mindset. Your generosity touches lives in your city, your country, and around the world.

Thanks for responding today. Hurting people need to learn about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Families across our country desperately need direction, and our polarized nation needs the guiding light of God's Word. So thank you for signing up today. When you do, you will be used by Christ to change lives.

Here's David to tell you more today.

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When you support the ministry of Pathway to Victory by becoming a Pathway partner or by giving a generous one-time gift, we'll say thanks by sending you the Legacy Life. In addition, you'll receive "Choose Your Change, Your Life." That's the book by Dr. Jeffress that has served as the basis for this series. To request your very own copy, call 866-999-2965 or go online to ptv.org. When you give $100 or more, you'll not only receive these two books, but we'll also include the audio and video discs for this month's series, "Choose Your Attitudes, Change Your Life." Plus, you'll get a personal or group study guide. To go along, call right now at 866-999-2965 or online simply go to ptv.org. You could also mail your gift to P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222. That's P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, TX 75222.

You know, few things wreak havoc on the mind like the effects of worry. So how can we release ourselves from the grip of worry once and for all? Join us for a message titled "Choosing Faith Over Worry" this Friday on Pathway to Victory.

Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress comes from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. Experience the breathtaking majesty of America's last frontier on the 2026 Pathway to Victory cruise to Alaska.

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This seven day journey combines spiritual growth with unforgettable adventures aboard a five star luxury cruise ship.

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It's a vacation you won't soon forget.

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Space is limited, so reserve your cabin today. Call 888-280-6747 or go to ptv.org. 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 visit 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.